I Know This is Unethical, But How in the Sam Hell is it LEGAL?

[PlasmaTwa2]

Now I know our current healthcare is superior to places like the U.K. and Canada and at my age with my health I don't really even feel like I need health care, but seriously, $300.00 for a flimsy plastic POS? :dunno:

Say what you will, but I have never had to pay three hundred dollars for an ankle brace. :tongue:

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

I can't really speak to the brace, since I don't know what the cost of engineering and producing it were. And even if I knew, I couldn't say what a "fair" markup would be. But I got really sick last year and I demanded and got a detailed bill. One of the charges was $20 for aspirin. At the highest price pharmacy in my area, I'm sure I could buy three or four bottles of aspirin for $20. That certainly fit my definition of price gouging.

As for your future insurance needs, I'm sorry to tell you that you now have a documented pre-existing condition. That being the case, if Rep. Bachmann and her pals are able to get the healthcare reform package repealed, you may not be able to get private insurance. And if you get on an employer's open enrollment plan, there's no guarantee that the ankle will be covered in that case either. Oh, and if you happen to "forget" to tell your insurance company about your prior injury, and then need surgery or whatever on the ankle, if they find out about the ER visit (which they likely will), they'll likely deny the charges and also drop your coverage.

In the United States, true, we have some of the most advanced medical technology. But I wouldn't claim that we have the best health care system. Our system, our pharmaceutical industry and our doctors revolve around keeping people on a medical hamster wheel, so that they can be charged for something from cradle to grave. IMO, we don't do a very good job with preventative care or followups. My vets kept up with me even after my dog and my cat died. But after I got out of the hospital and paid off the last bill, I haven't heard a single word from any of the doctors that "took care" of me.

Well at least we can agree on the gouging. As far as my health and the history of all four of my grandparents, aunts, uncles, parents, there is no extensive history of serious issues like cancer. One grandparent had prostate cancer, but he was in his 60s - quite a relatively long life. There is no cardiac issues in my family either - no heart disease or stroke. I've been blessed with quite a lot, even though I know at any moment life can always turn for the worse.

 

[vodkazvictim]

Actually those braces are normally $50. But they recognised that BSS could be conned into paying more and nobody would care because nobody cares for him.

My friend worked in a factory. She got repetitive strain injury on her knee. She got keyhole surgery. She's fine now and it didn't cost her a penny. I would rather not risk exposing myself to american medicine :thefinger:

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

Say what you will, but I have never had to pay three hundred dollars for an ankle brace. :tongue:

I can't say I know a TON about Canada's deal, but I know the waiting is horrible up there. Both systems have both good and bad sides, because family up there has told me just that.

The bottom line is either getting a job that covers you fully or pay out of your pocket for coverage. I don't smoke and my health is fine so I am not terribly concerned at the moment.

There's only 40 million Americans without insurance currently, and of course the estimates of illegals in the country has been as high as 30 million anyway, so who really know how many don't have coverage.

 

[Rey C.]

Well at least we can agree on the gouging. As far as my health and the history of all four of my grandparents, aunts, uncles, parents, there is no extensive history of serious issues like cancer. One grandparent had prostate cancer, but he was in his 60s - quite a relatively long life. There is no cardiac issues in my family either - no heart disease or stroke. I've been blessed with quite a lot, even though I know at any moment life can always turn for the worse.

It's good that you have few family history concerns with catastrophic diseases. But with the repeal of this bill, along with insurance company desires to get more information on each American (with or without their knowledge), all it will take is a cheap (in the future) genetic test to see whether or not you're "worth" insuring.

Taking the devil's advocate/purely capitalistic point of view, before an auto insurance company writes a policy for you, they research your driving record, your credit history, whether you own or rent a home, who is in that home who might also drive the vehicle and also what type of vehicle you're seeking to insure... all BEFORE they set a price or decide to insure you or not. So could you blame a health insurance company if they elected not to insure you because of your ankle? I mean, it sounds like a relative certainty that you're going to have to have that worked on sooner than later, right? Knees and ankles can become $20K-$50K surgeries easy. So like the one-eyed guy with 2 DUI's and a Corvette: DE-NIED! :ban2:

To your ER situation, all you can do is ask LOTS of questions up front. Once you sign the paper, there's nothing you can do then. You've already given them permission to arse-bang you at that point. Capitalism is not about solving some or any of society's ills. I'm not sure why some people think that. Capitalism is based on the premise of charging what the market will bear. Once demand is negatively affected, only then would/should the price be dropped. If people are paying for $300 plastic braces, then I guess that is the "correct" market price. Once demand drops, even with the same number of ankle injuries, then they would likely drop the price.

I've never tried this, but my understanding of the Emergency Room Act, that Reagan signed in 1986, is that no ER can refuse you emergency treatment, regardless of nationality, citizenship or ability to pay. So even if you refuse to sign the promise to pay contract, I don't believe they could just let you lay there and die (legally). It was Reagan, by signing that act, who guaranteed all these illegal aliens de facto free treatment, and it could be the root cause of the ER financial issues that some of you folks complain about. In my area, we don't have an illegal alien problem. Our problem has been unemployed people, who insist on bringing their sick kids and wives in for care, whether they can pay or not. So my local hospital is hanging on by a thread. And the 45 million uninsured figure that is quoted are citizens of the U.S. The illegals would be on top of that.

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

It's good that you have few family history concerns with catastrophic diseases. But with the repeal of this bill, along with insurance company desires to get more information on each American (with or without their knowledge), all it will take is a cheap (in the future) genetic test to see whether or not you're "worth" insuring.

Taking the devil's advocate/purely capitalistic point of view, before an auto insurance company writes a policy for you, they research your driving record, your credit history, whether you own or rent a home, who is in that home who might also drive the vehicle and also what type of vehicle you're seeking to insure... all BEFORE they set a price or decide to insure you or not. So could you blame a health insurance company if they elected not to insure you because of your ankle? I mean, it sounds like a relative certainty that you're going to have to have that worked on sooner than later, right? Knees and ankles can become $20K-$50K surgeries easy. So like the one-eyed guy with 2 DUI's and a Corvette: DE-NIED! :ban2:

To your ER situation, all you can do is ask LOTS of questions up front. Once you sign the paper, there's nothing you can do then. You've already given them permission to arse-bang you at that point. Capitalism is not about solving some or any of society's ills. I'm not sure why some people think that. Capitalism is based on the premise of charging what the market will bear. Once demand is negatively affected, only then would/should the price be dropped. If people are paying for $300 plastic braces, then I guess that is the "correct" market price. Once demand drops, even with the same number of ankle injuries, then they would likely drop the price.

I've never tried this, but my understanding of the Emergency Room Act, that Reagan signed in 1986, is that no ER can refuse you emergency treatment, regardless of nationality, citizenship or ability to pay. So even if you refuse to sign the promise to pay contract, I don't believe they could just let you lay there and die (legally). It was Reagan, by signing that act, who guaranteed all these illegal aliens de facto free treatment, and it could be the root cause of the ER financial issues that some of you folks complain about. In my area, we don't have an illegal alien problem. Our problem has been unemployed people, who insist on bringing their sick kids and wives in for care, whether they can pay or not. So my local hospital is hanging on by a thread. And the 45 million uninsured figure that is quoted are citizens of the U.S. The illegals would be on top of that.

I understand the basic politics of the situation. It's really a mess, and ironically the Latinos here illegally probably have it the best because they're getting paid cash under the table and will just walk into any damn facility and use it.

We have a thing called GAMC in my state which lets you pay some pretty low premiums if you qualify. The only problem is they max you out at around $10-20K a year If I remember correctly. Everyone from Chicago to Milwaukee have been abusing that shit though which sucks for us who have several generations into the state.

The real irony of the situation is that the bottom and top Americans are getting covered, not the working-class man and woman.

 

[Frank Fire]

I can't say anything bad about my healthcare they pay for all my doc vists and if i am out of network i only pay 20% but some do what they want to do because they can its not right this is something that i say that we need to fix everywhere

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

The bottom line is I'm going to take better care of myself from now on. Lots of broccoli and other green veggies. I also have to cut back on my consumption (alki').

 

[Hot Mega]

I'm pretty sure what you got from your description is an AFO (Ankle Foot Orthosis) and they're actually more expensive than that believe it or not.

I think the average cost of one is about double what you were charged.:eek:

Maybe you should turn your :cussing: into a :nanner: ..:o

 

[Rey C.]

The real irony of the situation is that the bottom and top Americans are getting covered, not the working-class man and woman.

Here is a case where we agree. If you're poor enough (especially the elderly and those with kids), you'll probably qualify for Medicaid. And if you're rich enough, you don't give a fuck one way or the other... cause you can cover it. One thing I don't agree with is this belief that people who make $200K +/- are "rich". Even though that is substantially above the median income, it sure as hell isn't "rich"! If you're rich, then one hospital bill of $100 grand couldn't wipe your savings out, now could it? If you're rich, then a kid who gets accepted to an Ivy League college wouldn't cause you to have to keep working til the day you die.

IMO, what we have in this country is an expanding impoverished class, a shrinking middle class (some of whom are just "upper middle class", but foolishly believe that their cheesy McMansion in a gated subdivision of clones, means that they're "rich") and a truly wealthy class. And even among the wealthy, you have the working elite of managers and CEO's and then the super rich who work just because they want something to keep them busy.

I believe in capitalism. I always have, since I was a kid who learned that if I made a profit on the cattle I helped my dad with, I could buy stuff. And who doesn't like to buy stuff? And then, as George Carlin said, once you get enough stuff, you have to make even more money to buy a place for your stuff.

But even as I believe in capitalism, I'm sick of hearing people talk about corporations as if they are living beings, with the same rights as any American citizen. I also see the warnings that Jefferson issued about banks/bankers as being equally applicable to health insurance companies, and every other corporate sector:

I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs.

--Thomas Jefferson

 

[TheOrangeCat]

Try and look on the bright side - maybe they threw in a free prostate exam while they were fucking you in the ass with that bill.

 

[Hot Mega]

I'm pretty sure what you got from your description is an AFO (Ankle Foot Orthosis) and they're actually more expensive than that believe it or not.

I think the average cost of one is about double what you were charged.:eek:

Maybe you should turn your :cussing: into a :nanner: ..:o

Oh, re: how is it legal? See capitalism.

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

Here is a case where we agree. If you're poor enough (especially the elderly and those with kids), you'll probably qualify for Medicaid. And if you're rich enough, you don't give a fuck one way or the other... cause you can cover it. One thing I don't agree with is this belief that people who make $200K +/- are "rich". Even though that is substantially above the median income, it sure as hell isn't "rich"! If you're rich, then one hospital bill of $100 grand couldn't wipe your savings out, now could it? If you're rich, then a kid who gets accepted to an Ivy League college wouldn't cause you to have to keep working til the day you die.

IMO, what we have in this country is an expanding impoverished class, a shrinking middle class (some of whom are just "upper middle class", but foolishly believe that their cheesy McMansion in a gated subdivision of clones, means that they're "rich") and a truly wealthy class. And even among the wealthy, you have the working elite of managers and CEO's and then the super rich who work just because they want something to keep them busy.

I believe in capitalism. I always have, since I was a kid who learned that if I made a profit on the cattle I helped my dad with, I could buy stuff. And who doesn't like to buy stuff? And then, as George Carlin said, once you get enough stuff, you have to make even more money to buy a place for your stuff.

But even as I believe in capitalism, I'm sick of hearing people talk about corporations as if they are living beings, with the same rights as any American citizen. I also see the warnings that Jefferson issued about banks/bankers as being equally applicable to health insurance companies, and every other corporate sector:

No doubt, at this rate there will a permanent under-class some day. I see the roofers come through with a dozen illegals working away, and the owners of the illegitimate businessses are the ones driving the Hummers. They can do houses in two days and undercut the American businesses. This is just one example of serious problems in America.

One of my closest friends realizes the crux of the matter because he's been a construction foreman for a good ten years now. There is no way around it at this point as the traitors sell out for their cheap labor and undercut American businesses.

I'm pretty sure what you got from your description is an AFO (Ankle Foot Orthosis) and they're actually more expensive than that believe it or not.

I think the average cost of one is about double what you were charged.:eek:

Maybe you should turn your :cussing: into a :nanner: ..:o

I'm pretty sure what you got from your description is an AFO (Ankle Foot Orthosis) and they're actually more expensive than that believe it or not.

I think the average cost of one is about double what you were charged.:eek:

Maybe you should turn your :cussing: into a :nanner: ..:o

The brace looked similar to this one, only white:

http://www.precisionorthotic.com/images/richiebrace.jpg

I would have to dig that bill up again, but it was more than what I've listed so far. Pretty sure it was about $1,500.00.

Is it true that a sprain is worse than a break, because my foot cracks everytime I walk up stairs and it bothers the heck out of me.

 

[Crazy4theBrat]

my moms got bronchitis right now
went to the doc, and got a prescription.
$440.000 for the medicines.

its a grim situation there.

Unfortunately your Mom has to pay for all the "babymamas" who go into the ER on a weekly basis to get their dosage of pain medication. These slugs often call 911 to have an ambulance pick them up too, because otherwise they would have to pay the fare for a taxi. Instead, the county gets to pay $1,500 for their transportation. But what do they care? It's not costing them anything.

 

[JacknCoke]

here we go....

 

[SpexyAshleigh]

This kinda stuff makes me so thankful I live in Canada. While yes, wait times in ER's might be longer if you're not suffering from something life threatening, I'd rather have to wait a few hours and walk out of the hospital taken care of both physically and financially than be seen right away for something minor and have to pay a weeks salary just to see a doctor.

 

[Rey C.]

my moms got bronchitis right now
went to the doc, and got a prescription.
$440.000 for the medicines.

its a grim situation there.

Unfortunately your Mom has to pay for all the "babymamas" who go into the ER on a weekly basis to get their dosage of pain medication. These slugs often call 911 to have an ambulance pick them up too, because otherwise they would have to pay the fare for a taxi. Instead, the county gets to pay $1,500 for their transportation. But what do they care? It's not costing them anything.

Wait, wut?

Of course, you realize what a complete non sequitur that is, right? It would be like saying the price of gas is going up because of all the people not paying their car loans on time.

MP's mother is paying $440 for her medication for the same reason that my mother used to pay several hundred dollars a month for hers: pharmaceutical companies can charge people not covered by Medicare Part D or Medicaid pretty much whatever they want to in the U.S. Neither Bristol-Myers nor Pfeizer, nor any other big pharma company that I'm aware of, owns a hospital or an ambulance company. You don't fill prescriptions at a hospital, whether there are 50 or 5000 "babymamas" in ambulances or not. The price of prescription medication is based on what the distributor pays the producer of that medication.

Also, it's pretty damn interesting that many of the EXACT same medications that U.S. consumers pay hundreds (even thousands) of dollars a month for can be had from Canada, and other countries, for a fraction of the cost. And yet, some of our (faux) "free market" friends in the GOP wanted to restrict Americans' access to overseas prescription medication... ya know, cause it "might not be safe". Pretty odd that we don't hear daily stories of Canadians dropping dead from bogus meds though. I'm sure it had nothing to do with protecting the U.S. profits of the shitasses in big pharma, who lined their pockets with "donations" (i.e. bribes), huh?

My mother now gets her maintenance meds from Canada. And she pays a fraction of what she used to pay.

 

[TheOrangeCat]

This kinda stuff makes me so thankful I live in Canada. While yes, wait times in ER's might be longer if you're not suffering from something life threatening, I'd rather have to wait a few hours and walk out of the hospital taken care of both physically and financially than be seen right away for something minor and have to pay a weeks salary just to see a doctor.

:2offtopic but, Ashleigh, I don't suppose you have a naughty nurse's outfit in your fun closet? You see, I have this stiffening that I think needs the tender ministrations of a trained professional ............

 

[Ulysses31]

I take something called Domperidone (Motilium) for nausea which I get a lot. Apparently its banned in America and I couldn't imagine living without it, just thought I'd throw that in there. If I ever came to the US with a box of Domperidone in my pocket would they take it off me?

 

[TheOrangeCat]

Motilium - It's not banned, but not approved for prescription as an anti-nausea med (I know, effectively the same thing, but it can be bought for off-label uses in some pharmacies in the States). regarding coming to the US with your meds, I believe the rule is that as long as you have a valid prescription from a licensed medical practitioner in your country of origin and the med is approved there, they can't take it off you unless there is proof of your intent to supply that medication illegally in the states.

Motilim also stimulates lactation. How are your tits?