For those of you who have followed this word receptacle called a blog about the pain in my hip and the subsequent treatments or lack thereof, yes, getting old is the shits and I’m not even really old yet. I had to cancel the MRI. I learned it would cost me $1,000 out of pocket. It is covered by my insurance, but for hospital stays, which I guess is what an MRI is (they’ve got to be kidding me), I have a $5,000 deductible. This is exactly what is wrong with health care. I have $30 between me and starvation and the health care pirates want $987.52 from me to see what I got in my hip. Merry Christmas. For $987.52, I know what’s in there, pain is in there. What did they do before MRI’s? Hey, I’ve got an idea, let’s do that first. Why go from zero to $987.52 first. Can’t we try a few drug samples?
It could be MRI stands for Misdiagnosed Ron’s Injury so let’s get him stuck up in an MRI machine and remove all doubt. Guess what, the doctor doesn’t even see the MRI. The MRI techs phone in the results. “Yep, there is something there. He’s screwed up. The little wimp was crying and screaming on the MRI table. You’ll need to give him surgery now to find out what’s really all up in there.”
The answer in case you’re not getting this, they can treat me, but now it gets expensive. So the real answer is in case you’re not getting this, I don’t have any pain do I? Nope, I don’t. I have to live in silence like nothing ever happened and never complain about it again, just forget it ever happened or I get to satisfy a $5,000 deductible for this year, the last remaining 20 days in 2009 incidentally. Because like next year, it’s a brand spanking new $5,000 deductible.
“Your hip doesn’t really hurt does it Ron?” OH HELL NO, I’M ALL CURED. LOOK, I HOBBLE AROUND THE ROOM ALL FREE AND CLEAR IT’S A FREAKING MIRACLE. [All smiles] “Uh-hum, we thought so.”
Now just in case you haven’t had enough of this, there is more. Guess what came in the mail today? My new insurance premium. I’m one of those fortunate to pay only $3,600 a year for coverage I never use. I go to the doctor one time in two years for a hip Xray and a script of pain killers and my premium goes up 10%. The whole doctor visit cost me a little over $300. My new premium went up $360 a year. I’m sure it’s just a mere coincidence.
They say there is no greater behavior modifier than fines, penalties and taxation. They’re right.
So the next time the Little Woman says, “Why don’t you see a doctor and quit complaining about it.” The answer will be, “Fine Honey, say bye, bye to our retirement nest egg.”
I’m taking Percocet now, not for the pain in my hip, but for the pain in my wallet.
I think you and the missus and all the ducks should move to Canada. We have lots of ducks here too, and (not the best but it’s covered) health care.
I was going to say that this whole thing is a real pain in the ass – but then, that’s not where you’re experiencing the pain.
I do agree, however, that what you’re going through is another shining example of what’s wrong with Healthcare in the U.S.
Although I’m sure you would rather not be an example.
Well that sucks dude.
When Bob was laid off we had to switch to using my health insurance, and went from paying around $170 a month to $500 a month for our little family of three. The good news is that it is pretty good coverage, that I hope to never need to put to the test. Car insurance is just as bad. In this state, if you have an accident that you file a claim for, and they deem it your fault, not only will the company possibly increase your premium, the state charges you a surcharge, for a certain period of time, that is equal to or more than what the insurance paid out to cover damages.
Exactly WHY do I have car insurance then? I pay a premium, and then have an accident. MAYBE it is my fault, but maybe it was just one of those things, the road was too slippery, or the timing was just right, whatever, and there is an ACCIDENT. I have been dutifully paying my premiums, and am by all appearances a good driver, but if you say it is my fault, I am screwed. This happened to me quite a few years ago when I managed to door a bicyclists, who shouldn’t have been where he was, and when he hit my door, he fell over and hit the car next to me. He was fine, and not at all going to be found at fault, no I was the one at fault because I “opened my door into traffic”. Uh, no, I opened my door into a space between cars, and a dumbass biker who was weaving between cars hit my door. It only took 5 years for that surcharge to go away. GAH.
Not sure what to say Ron other than gee I’m sorry you are in pain both in your hip and wallet. Not good.
Wishing you well,
Kathryn