If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#21
|
|||
|
|||
OT Breast Cancer Rant
In article zlnui.16734$J13.1088@trnddc02, Taria
wrote: Thanks Patti, I am just curious how it all works. The grass is always greener, you know. Last mammogram I had (we personally have insurance through employment) was in a hospital and the made me sign a paper that informed me if I couldn't pay they would help connect me with a program that would. They had to offer it to me. We are HMO in a somewhat remote location (medically that is) which means many of our doctors are sub par. I have had to make the decision to go to a doctor of choice for cash. It wasn't easy financially at that time but when it comes to good health not a lot is more important. Nationalized health care is coming here. I just don't like the idea of not having choices. There isn't much the government does well, any government. Taria Just trivia here - in FL, a GP can specialize in any field. If a "regular everyday GP" wants to practice brain surgery, they can. :/ Patti wrote: No, Taria. It is not a choice for everyone. Medical insurance has become more common as an employment perq., and now more individuals are taking it out themselves - it is quite flexible and you can choose what elements can be covered. On the other hand, if you are prepared to pay the full amount yourselves, it is open to 'everyone' - all who can afford it, anyway. But, the theoretical choice is there for everyone. Having the National Health Service, as it is called, is a great boon to the vast majority of the population. Very few people pay privately for their family doctor; people over a certain age, or with a life-dependant medication, receive free prescriptions. Children and seniors receive free eye tests. Children receive free dental treatment, on the whole - though some dentists' practices are now 'private only' (there has been quite a bit of trouble about dentists' contract terms). Mostly, you can opt to see a specialist privately, as it is normally quicker. However, if you have an accident on the road (or anywhere) you are taken straight to the nearest hospital in a free ambulance, and you are treated free. Some specialisms have awfully long waiting lists; and there are certainly problems. Some medications are not funded by all Health Authorities (eg some of the Alzheimer's and cancer treatments which are very expensive). In those situations, you could opt to pay for it, if you can afford it. Just a summary - apologies if I have omitted 'stuff'. . -- Happy quilting & quilty hugs!! Connie I've started a FREE eZine ... and I've posted *LOTS* of free applique patterns! Check it out! http://sewverycreative.blogspot.com/ ----- It's BACK!! AND they APOLOGIZED! LOL! |
Ads |
#22
|
|||
|
|||
OT Breast Cancer Rant
And there are the people like DH and myself. We are currently (since
June) without health insurance. It was costing us more than our mortgage payment. We tried to keep up the insurance, and let the mortgage go, now we are out on both... sigh. Insurance costs for us is over $1000 a month. We are currently trying to get AHCCCS (the Arizona "Medicaid") but not sure we will either qualify or be able to afford that. sigh. So we are going without meds, and trying to cope. It isn't easy and makes us both wish there were at least basic National health coverage for everyone here in the states. Pati, in Phx http://community.webshots.com/user/PatiCooks Connie wrote: In article , Anne Rogers wrote: Now, what I'm wondering is how it would handled in Europe? Hubby, on his trip, just sprained his knee and had to go to a local hospital - he said UK's healthcare system REALLY kicks our butt (in fact, he's talking about either running for office and changing things or moving there - but then, he IS on pain-killers). Will anyone from the UK pipe up and let us know?? My mum had a lumpectomy, not a mastectomy, she was in hospital 8 days!!! This was a private hospital, rather than NHS hospital in the UK, she'd still have been in 4+ days on the NHS. As with everything, somethings are better in the UK, some are worse, I've lived 27 years in the UK, and only 1 in the US, with various problems I've had at this particular time, the US system has treated me well, we do have very good insurance, but even with less good insurance, I likely still could have done pretty well, due to the element of choice, something that in practice you don't get in the UK, or at least don't get in some areas (both geographical and medical!). On the other hand, whilst pregnancy and postnatal is underfunded and understaffed, I'd still far rather be pregnant and have a baby in the UK , I have American friends who've done both and prefer the UK system! Cheers Anne Yea, I guess that would be the case - each system having it's pros and cons. But still, no one in your system gets left out, right? I mean, the single mom who barely keeps ends at arm's length will STILL have healthcare, right? Her baby has less chance of dying of some childhood illness merely because she couldn't afford vaccinations, right? My point is, I guess, that with your system, even though the choices are limited, everyone's covered. No one's left out. I used to volunteer at local food kitchens and you'd be surprised at how many people are left without healthcare ... more than you think. Most are kids. What's most important to me - and I guess, because I DO have good insurance and choices I might be skewed in my priorities - is that single moms who can barely afford day care, much less food, can still get healthcare for their babies. Little old ladies can still get adequate healthcare - and not just dumped on a sidewalk after a dangerous (and traumatizing) procedure. |
#23
|
|||
|
|||
OT Breast Cancer Rant
Depending on the insurance coverage, having this type of surgery done
on an out-patient basis and then being sent home once you are out of recovery *IS* standard. Not to be mean to the men here but it's men who run the insurance companies and those particular men obviously don't think women need better post-operative health care! If just one of those insurance company executives had to be treated like this after having a breast removed (yes, men can get breast cancer), you can be sure that the coverage would be different! Too many insurance companies have tried to reduce coverage for things like hysterectomies, pregnancy and other female specific health issues only to find that the cost for treating the woman after the complications started was much more expensive. Fortunately, yearly mammograms are 100% by most insurance companies. They finally learned that old adage about an ounce of prevention! Don't fool yourselves, it's the insurance companies who rule the world, NOT the politicians!! CiaoMeow ^;;^ PAX, Tia Mary ^;;^ (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at http://community.webshots.com/user/tiamary steve wrote: Hello All Well, I am on a rant today, let me tell you. A former student of mine, whom I think very highly of, is at home this evening caring for his mother who had a complete left breast mastectomy today. That is not even half of what irritates me. She arrived at the hospital at 6:00 am and was discharged at 12:30 pm. 6 1/2 HOURS LATER!!!!!!!!!! What are insurance companies and Doctors thinking? Obviously not about the patient. Is this the norm? Please tell me it isn't. I did find this link for a petition to back a bill before congress. http://www.lifetimetv.com/breastcanc...gnpetition.php I have went to it and so has Bert. I am sure that most of you have already been to such a site already. I am simply outraged over this. I'll probably email my three congressional delegates but doubt if anything will come of it. All three are under investigation for corruption. Thanks for letting me vent. Steve Alaska -- ÐÏࡱá |
#24
|
|||
|
|||
OT Breast Cancer Rant
In message , Anne Rogers
writes Yea, I guess that would be the case - each system having it's pros and cons. But still, no one in your system gets left out, right? I mean, the single mom who barely keeps ends at arm's length will STILL have healthcare, right? Her baby has less chance of dying of some childhood illness merely because she couldn't afford vaccinations, right? Absolutely! The problem is, I can't see the NHS staying entirely free for long, dental treatment for years has always had small fees attached (current problems with dentists in the UK are a whole other story!) and I can see things like that coming in in other areas. However childhood vaccines are going to be near last on the list for having a charge attached to them, as would anything relating to children - there is no payment for anything relating to children and anything that could potentially have a charge has numerous clauses giving it free to certain people, so women get things free whilst pregnant and upto a year after the birth. Though it seems great that it's basically free, when you dig deeper there are a lot of issues, physical therapy is often restricted in the number of sessions, they also seem to use a restricted number of techniques. If you have a rare condition that isn't life threatening, you often can't see a specialist as if they are not in your area, your GP has to apply for funding for you to see someone out of area, which you won't get in many areas if it's not life threatening. It's complex, I don't think there is any right answer, if you go to nationalised health care, you are almost certainly going to have a private system running along side it, because there always are people who will pay. Cheers Anne Actually NHS is not free. We pay for it all our working lives by a deduction from our wages. It used to be by stamp that employers put on cards for us. They were called National Insurance stamps. Shirley -- Shirley Shone http://www.allcrafts.org.uk |
#25
|
|||
|
|||
OT Breast Cancer Rant
Very good point Shirley. I completely forgot to mention that.
.. In message , Shirley Shone writes Actually NHS is not free. We pay for it all our working lives by a deduction from our wages. It used to be by stamp that employers put on cards for us. They were called National Insurance stamps. Shirley -- Best Regards pat on the hill |
#26
|
|||
|
|||
OT Breast Cancer Rant
In article , Tia Mary
wrote: Depending on the insurance coverage, having this type of surgery done on an out-patient basis and then being sent home once you are out of recovery *IS* standard. Not to be mean to the men here but it's men who run the insurance companies and those particular men obviously don't think women need better post-operative health care! If just one of those insurance company executives had to be treated like this after having a breast removed (yes, men can get breast cancer), you can be sure that the coverage would be different! Too many insurance companies have tried to reduce coverage for things like hysterectomies, pregnancy and other female specific health issues only to find that the cost for treating the woman after the complications started was much more expensive. Fortunately, yearly mammograms are 100% by most insurance companies. They finally learned that old adage about an ounce of prevention! Don't fool yourselves, it's the insurance companies who rule the world, NOT the politicians!! Now, that's true ... but it's the politicians who control the insurance companies. They pass the laws and regs that ins companies have to adhere to. For example, after YEARS of being pushed, Jeb Bush (FL) changed the Medicare law in FL to allow people who need major transplants to be "grandfathered in" if they were on the list prior to turning 21 (that credit goes to my SIL who pushed Jeb so hard and all the wonderful people who supported her). So politicians CAN affect regs and laws when it comes to healthcare. Otherwise, what's the point of e-mailing our congressman and pitching a blue fit over how poorly people are being treated by the ins companies? However, AFAIK, when the laws are changed and ins companies DO have to allow more coverage, we all pay for it. That's why insurance is so ungodly expensive. But then, that's how it is with ALL kinds of insurance. Because FL lawmakers put more pressure on home insurers (rental and "home") to give better Flood coverage to policy holders IF they offer that coverage AND because of all the crappy weather we had (hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, etc) last year, many ins companies have eliminated flood insurance here. We've had USAA for the past 12 years (if not longer) and we've been covered under their Flood policy for the past four years(?) - but they've stopped offering Flood ins in Fl (many companies have). But we were "grandfathered in" since we already had the policies to start with. Anyone just moving to Fl is outta luck, though. But believe me, our rates went UP. We're paying nearly twice what we paid last year. CiaoMeow ^;;^ PAX, Tia Mary ^;;^ (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at http://community.webshots.com/user/tiamary steve wrote: Hello All Well, I am on a rant today, let me tell you. A former student of mine, whom I think very highly of, is at home this evening caring for his mother who had a complete left breast mastectomy today. That is not even half of what irritates me. She arrived at the hospital at 6:00 am and was discharged at 12:30 pm. 6 1/2 HOURS LATER!!!!!!!!!! What are insurance companies and Doctors thinking? Obviously not about the patient. Is this the norm? Please tell me it isn't. I did find this link for a petition to back a bill before congress. http://www.lifetimetv.com/breastcanc...gnpetition.php I have went to it and so has Bert. I am sure that most of you have already been to such a site already. I am simply outraged over this. I'll probably email my three congressional delegates but doubt if anything will come of it. All three are under investigation for corruption. Thanks for letting me vent. Steve Alaska -- Happy quilting & quilty hugs!! Connie I've started a FREE eZine ... and I've posted *LOTS* of free applique patterns! Check it out! http://sewverycreative.blogspot.com/ ----- It's BACK!! AND they APOLOGIZED! LOL! |
#27
|
|||
|
|||
OT Breast Cancer Rant
Actually NHS is not free. We pay for it all our working lives by a deduction from our wages. It used to be by stamp that employers put on cards for us. They were called National Insurance stamps. well yes, but typing "free at the point of use" every time was a bit too much, if the government is paying for it, then it must come from tax some way or other! Cheers Anne |
#28
|
|||
|
|||
OT Breast Cancer Rant
Its is very hard to imagine that this would happen, my mom who five years
ago had a lumpectomy stayed over night in the hospital, but mind you it was to have only been a day surgery thing as well. Her operation was to have been at 11:30am, had to be at the hospital at 6am, she didn't have the operation until 6pm. Because the operation was so late and only done at the insistence of her Doctor at the time, ( the hospital it self wanted to postpone the operation) that was the reason why she was able to stay over night but none the less was out at 7am the next day. Turns out that the type of cancer my mom had was the most aggressive and deadly.Hers was thankfully at a barely stage one and no lymph nodes involved. She is now 5 years cancer free. Steve I hope that your friends mother has enough love and support behind her as my mom did. It does help. It is horrid that a human being can be treated like this with out fear of consequences. Health care no matter where you are is suffering because of the bottom line. Its sad to know that a human life is not as equal to a dollar any more. Should be the other way around in my books, life is more important then the dollar but as "They" say money makes the world go round. By the way who are "They" "Them"? Dawn in Alberta When life gets you Down Get up and Mambo "steve" wrote in message ... Hello All Well, I am on a rant today, let me tell you. A former student of mine, whom I think very highly of, is at home this evening caring for his mother who had a complete left breast mastectomy today. That is not even half of what irritates me. She arrived at the hospital at 6:00 am and was discharged at 12:30 pm. 6 1/2 HOURS LATER!!!!!!!!!! What are insurance companies and Doctors thinking? Obviously not about the patient. Is this the norm? Please tell me it isn't. I did find this link for a petition to back a bill before congress. http://www.lifetimetv.com/breastcanc...gnpetition.php I have went to it and so has Bert. I am sure that most of you have already been to such a site already. I am simply outraged over this. I'll probably email my three congressional delegates but doubt if anything will come of it. All three are under investigation for corruption. Thanks for letting me vent. Steve Alaska |
#29
|
|||
|
|||
OT Breast Cancer Rant
Pati C. wrote:
And there are the people like DH and myself. We are currently (since June) without health insurance. It was costing us more than our mortgage payment. We tried to keep up the insurance, and let the mortgage go, now we are out on both... sigh. Insurance costs for us is over $1000 a month. We are currently trying to get AHCCCS (the Arizona "Medicaid") but not sure we will either qualify or be able to afford that. sigh. So we are going without meds, and trying to cope. It isn't easy and makes us both wish there were at least basic National health coverage for everyone here in the states. As a none American, I'm hazy on things here, isn't medicaid supposed to step in in situations like this, or is that something that varies from state to state? Here (WA), I see quite a lot of adverts for various drug plans relating to this, the monthly charges seem very reasonable. We're very lucky in that we have outstanding medical cover, no copays, no deductible and it seems to cover absolutely everything - but of course this is a worry in the long term, there is no guarantee DH will have this job for ever, my understanding is that in the USA, if we move to another insurer, they have to still cover anything, but not if there is any gap in coverage, but we wouldn't have the same situation if we moved over to private insurance in the UK, I'd have a lot of things excluded, but having a non life threatening genetic disorder, at times I'd struggle to get the stuff I need on the NHS. Cheers Anne |
#30
|
|||
|
|||
OT Breast Cancer Rant
In article , Pati C. wrote:
And there are the people like DH and myself. We are currently (since June) without health insurance. It was costing us more than our mortgage payment. We tried to keep up the insurance, and let the mortgage go, now we are out on both... sigh. I'm so sorry, Patti!!! I know it's not much at all when it comes down to it, but you're in my prayers - and I'm sending all the good vibes and thoughts possible. Insurance costs for us is over $1000 a month. We are currently trying to get AHCCCS (the Arizona "Medicaid") but not sure we will either qualify or be able to afford that. sigh. So we are going without meds, and trying to cope. It isn't easy and makes us both wish there were at least basic National health coverage for everyone here in the states. Pati, in Phx http://community.webshots.com/user/PatiCooks See, I think there oughta be a law that caps premiums ... it's not fair that a circumstance of fate or life would cost you so dearly - not in a country that's supposedly so wonderful to live in. Connie wrote: In article , Anne Rogers wrote: Now, what I'm wondering is how it would handled in Europe? Hubby, on his trip, just sprained his knee and had to go to a local hospital - he said UK's healthcare system REALLY kicks our butt (in fact, he's talking about either running for office and changing things or moving there - but then, he IS on pain-killers). Will anyone from the UK pipe up and let us know?? My mum had a lumpectomy, not a mastectomy, she was in hospital 8 days!!! This was a private hospital, rather than NHS hospital in the UK, she'd still have been in 4+ days on the NHS. As with everything, somethings are better in the UK, some are worse, I've lived 27 years in the UK, and only 1 in the US, with various problems I've had at this particular time, the US system has treated me well, we do have very good insurance, but even with less good insurance, I likely still could have done pretty well, due to the element of choice, something that in practice you don't get in the UK, or at least don't get in some areas (both geographical and medical!). On the other hand, whilst pregnancy and postnatal is underfunded and understaffed, I'd still far rather be pregnant and have a baby in the UK , I have American friends who've done both and prefer the UK system! Cheers Anne Yea, I guess that would be the case - each system having it's pros and cons. But still, no one in your system gets left out, right? I mean, the single mom who barely keeps ends at arm's length will STILL have healthcare, right? Her baby has less chance of dying of some childhood illness merely because she couldn't afford vaccinations, right? My point is, I guess, that with your system, even though the choices are limited, everyone's covered. No one's left out. I used to volunteer at local food kitchens and you'd be surprised at how many people are left without healthcare ... more than you think. Most are kids. What's most important to me - and I guess, because I DO have good insurance and choices I might be skewed in my priorities - is that single moms who can barely afford day care, much less food, can still get healthcare for their babies. Little old ladies can still get adequate healthcare - and not just dumped on a sidewalk after a dangerous (and traumatizing) procedure. -- Happy quilting & quilty hugs!! Connie I've started a FREE eZine ... and I've posted *LOTS* of free applique patterns! Check it out! http://sewverycreative.blogspot.com/ ----- It's BACK!! AND they APOLOGIZED! LOL! |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
OT - Breast Cancer/Hugs | Tina | Quilting | 7 | October 16th 06 02:29 AM |
Breast Cancer/OT | pami | Quilting | 150 | May 4th 06 11:56 AM |