Medicare Spending on Patients Varies Widely by State, Region
Reader Comments
Hello dear forum
Hi to all!
Iam Sarah from Poland i want to learn english. Iam 23yrs old and want to go to the uk this year.
I hope i learn here a lot about it Thx to all
Greetings to all,
Sandra
Hello dear forum
Hi to all!
Iam Sarah from Poland i want to learn english. Iam 23yrs old and want to go to the uk this year.
I hope i learn here a lot about it Thx to all
Greetings to all,
Sandra
Hello dear forum
Hi to all!
Iam Sarah from Poland i want to learn english. Iam 23yrs old and want to go to the uk this year.
I hope i learn here a lot about it Thx to all
Greetings to all,
Sandra
Hello dear forum
Hi to all!
Iam Sarah from Poland i want to learn english. Iam 23yrs old and want to go to the uk this year.
I hope i learn here a lot about it Thx to all
Greetings to all,
Sandra
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k3FZhV Great site. Good info.
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Medicare my personal experience
I'm 80 years old, been on Medicare 15 years now, with only one problem. My doctor scheduled a colonoscopy before the established waiting period, & payment was denied. We appealed, he told them it was for a specific diagnosis, not a screening exam, & they paid. We did our homework instead of just complaining.
My Part D insurer dictates whether I get a generic or a brand name medicine, & if I insist on the brand name I pay through the nose. It's my private insurance company that decides this, not the government; the insurer is in it to maximize their profits, not to provide me a service. I'd wager that's the problem JpDasenbrook of TX encountered, too. It's his insurance compnay that calls the turn, not Medicare. The same for J of CA
The government set up Part D, & turned it over to the insurance companies. They collect our premiums, dictate what medicines & what brands we can have, the government pays for the medicines, & insurance companies pocket the profits. We seniors get a benefit, the insurance companies get a gold mine, the taxpayers get the shaft.
Here's something else to consider when contemplating health care in America today. We tend to talk about health care & health insurance in the same breath, but they are different. Our doctor provides health care, insurance is one way we pay him. When it comes down to it, the end product we are buying is health care, not insurance.
In 2006, the insurance industry's "educational," arm, The Council For Affordable health Insurance, did a study called "Medicare's Hidden Administrative Expenses." I don't know what they expected to find, but their bottom line was that the government pays your doctor 95 cents of every Medicare tax dollar, but on average your insurance company only pays him 84 cents of your premium dollar. In other words, the government charges you a nickel on the dollar to pay your doctor bill, the insurance company charges 16 cents. That additional 11 cents your insurance company charges goes for advertising, sales commissions, executive salaries, stockholder dividends, etc., expenses the government doesn't have, & expenses that line their pockets, but don't pay your doctor bills.
If you're so hateful of government, & so enamored of private business that you are willing to pay them for services that line their pockets, but don't serve you, it's your privilege, but I think it's dumb.
We need a single payer system that eliminates those costs that make insurance companies rich, but don't pay any doctor bills. If you think the government would be worse at denying you medical services than private insurance companies, I've got a couple bankrupt friends who would take issue with you.
generic drugs
I have had severeal occasions where the strength of the generic "equivalent" was not equivalent. After years
of using a generic Coumadin (warfarin) at the same
dose, I tested as if I had taken NO drug. The docotor
insisted I used the brand name. Once the drugist switched
my Rx from Lanoxin (digoxin) to Digitek without my knowing it.
I started having A-Fib again. Another time, the FDA
discovered a different batch of Digitek was twice the
listed strength.With cardiac meds I will not use a generic
no matter what my insurer says.
Overtesting
My Doctor is having my blood tested monthly for anemia. He has me come into the office for about a 3-minute visit. He does the talking and when I asked "can't I just call in for test results?
His answer was "I don't talk to patients on the phone. You have to come into the office."
Using an HMO, we have to have a "Primary" physician and medical care is poor here (Arizona) compared to Chicago and it is very difficult to get an appointment. This is the 3rd doctor we have tried in 3 years. Ugh.
I believe I am being overtested as I have no reason symptoms but Doctor said my blood iron is marginal.
I've had mammogram, chest xray, bone-density, and about 4 appointments since early December. Next he wants upper GI (barium) and Colonoscopy.
I have had no GI upper nor lower - no blood in stools per test last June. I believe in Wellness and healthy living. Wholistic care but how can I find a Holistic doctor as a Primary with an HMO?
Doctors and Medicare
I think a little differently than most I think. I believe and have witnessed patient turn around on a 15 minute basis in several doctors offices. I think Medicare is being systematically defrauded in many instances, not all mind you, but many.
You go to a Dr. you expect him to do something whether this is in the form of a prescription or procedure. My mother when she died had 3 walmart shopping bags full of prescriptions. Her heart doctor would see her for 15 minutes and tell he to make an appointment for next month. And it was the same for each patient in the crowded waiting room.
As far as generic drugs are concerned I will opt for them every time over named brand drugs. Go to Walmarts for example look at the equate brands and compare them against some named brands you will find the same ingredients in the Equate brand with the same dosage etc for a lot less.
Upon leving a doctors office I always wonder, Is this really necessary?
