This is what I call artificially mandated scarcity. We limit the number of our students who can actually become physicians. It's insanity and needs to change immediately. We should be forgiving the student loans of any physician who practices for 10 years, though there should be other qualifications, like practicing in places that need more doctors etc. And no payments over those 10 years, and opening up the eligibility so that more students can actually become doctors. Then we need to make it illegal for doctors to work longer hours as a normal practice. There's no reason for it. It is also insanity. And we need universal healthcare with no out-of-pocket cost for any medically necessary treatment.
We have been sold a bill of goods about how good the American healthcare system is for years. The pandemic exposed the whole thing as a lie. Even my own GP said, "(UCD), the American healthcare system sucks." Try to get a colonoscopy. It now takes 5-6 months just to get an initial consultation. I have been trying to get a shoulder replacement since January. They've thrown up a million road blocks to getting it done, while running me through every scan and exploratory procedure possible, regardless if it was absolutely necessary. In the middle of all that I'm getting calls from my supplemental insurance provider pushing me to have a CT Scan for one reason and then another, absolutely NONE related to my shoulder. The scans are not needed, they are a "service offered". And when you turn it down, they try to guilt the piss out of you. They are trying to extract every penny before getting around to the actual procedure. Gotta pay for those machines, by God.This crap is all pushed by the insurance companies and is why premiums are so high. I was referred to a specialist for another issue that was labeled "urgent". It took that office 3 weeks to react to "urgent", and then they tried to schedule me for 4 weeks out. And then they got huffy when I laughed and told them to pound sand. Most hospital and clinic lab services have now been contracted out (mostly LabCor) and they absolutely suck big time (they traded efficiency and competency for economy). And the clinics (or at least the administration people) act like the patients now work for the clinic, rather than the other way around. And if you don't like it, they tell you to go elsewhere (not always an easy proposition for seniors on Medicare). And it all starts with the insurance companies. What a rip off. I have new neighbors (very early Nike employees). The husband is Scottish so that's where they go for their healthcare. She is an American and is very familiar with the differences in both country's healthcare approaches. They praise the National Health Care System to the skies and back, while they loathe our own system. He was recently diagnosed with myeloma (missed by American doctor's) and has been receiving excellent care in Scotland. America has to stop believing the lies we are told, both about how great the American healthcare system is, and about how bad universal healthcare is. But I guess a shit ton more people are going to have to die or go bankrupt before we get off our asses......
I'm incredibly sorry you're having to go through that. But I guess we all have it coming for us. If we're lucky enough to live that long.
My granddaughter is getting ready for med school in Texas and she can have it paid for completely, if she chooses to practice in a low income area for 5 years. She still get paid but they take care of the med school cost. She's senior at Baylor.
Awesome! Need more of this. And to eliminate the cap on how many students can actually become physicians.
I’ve never had to worry about medical cost fortunately because I’ve worked a union job with full benefits since I was 20 years old. Never paid a dime and the deductibles are miniscule. Republicans make it their mission to disband those very unions that provide good pay and great benefits. Those idiots are the very thing that is wrong with America.
Of irony......just minutes ago I received a call from my health care provider telling me it was time for my annual over the phone review of my medications!! This despite ignoring their previous phone calls, blocking at least one AND telling them on an annual basis that I am absolutely NOT interested and that I'm am aware and proactive enough to review my own medications. And that if I have any questions or concerns I will contact the prescribing doctor. The person calling was rude AF and tried to talk over me. And I'm paying for this shit?? Shutting down the same insurance companies would be well worth the spike in the unemployment rate.....
You must have an ugly butt, and cheap insurance. As soon as my insurance says they will pay for something. My health care provider hounds me to make an appointment. They are very fond of taking pictures of my bum every chance they get. Had a knee operation without any waiting.
I'm blown away by the stuff my (premium) supplemental insurance offers. It's just stuff I usually don't want or need. But when I actually need something, it's like the brakes go on. As a former long term cigarette smoker, I am offered an annual lung (CT) scan. A year ago I was pronounced remarkably "clean" for my history and told "no worries". Yet again this year I was offered the scan. When I asked why, they said "Think of it as an annual "mammogram" for your lungs." Realistically, it would have to be a rare and aggressive form of cancer to show up in a year's time. So an annual scan made no real sense. I DO appreciate knowing I dodged a bullet and would like another scan in the future, but common sense says it only needs to be done every couple of years. Kinda like a colonoscopy. Yet my premiums are covering that service annually. It's just plain stupid and wasteful.,
It’s a completely useless industry from a consumer perspective. It’s just another for-profit scheme run by bad actors that are in bed with politicians. They are stealing money.
I can’t get the surgeries I want to complete my transition because, even with 80% coverage, the insurance company will fight me for every bit of it *and* 80% means I’d still have to pay thousands or tens of thousands and I can’t afford any of that. Nevermind the years long wait list, the draconian BMI limitations on surgeries, and the surgeons who sometimes just do a bad job on “ugly” trans girls because they only want the pretty ones to get good service… it’s a fucking nightmare; no wonder my people used to (and still do) fly to Thailand for six months to get everything done.
