Health Care Up in Flames
Is this really what we have to look forward to when we go under the knife? I consider myself and my family very lucky that we have a decent health insurance plan. I say that but the truth of it is that we in the middle class get it the worst!
The lack of proper insurance seems to be only part of the problem. The competency of doctors and especially their staff is another piece of the puzzle. I have a friend at work who has been trying to see a Nuerologist for 6 weeks. After filling out all of the neccessary paperwork she’s been told that she needs a different referral than she got in the first place. And then, as if to add insult to injury they tell her that since she’s from out of town that they only see people that live in Portland! Let’s just call it what it is. Health care is ridiculous. It’s too expensive for 97% of America. I’ll let you take a wild guess at which 3% of America that our current health care system is built for. As a country, we get the lowest of the low actual care and service for our money. And, the last three presidents we’ve had in this country treat this downward spiraling issue as if it were abortion. No one will even touch it. No one speaks of it. It’s really pathetic and it needs to change. The largest, most powerful country in the world is living in denial of one of the issues that could tear the country apart. Let’s dig a bit deeper, shall we?
So, let’s make this situation totally hypothetical and imaginary and say that for some whacked out reason I don’t need a referral to see a specialist, here’s what happens:
- I call to make an appointment with a doctor. I have to give them all my background information on the phone. Then, I guess, they lose it. Either that, or they get off the phone with me and promptly set the paper on fire. That must be what happens because I have hung up the phone with them, waited five minutes, and then called them back and they promptly start all over again with the information.
- So then after 30-180 days goes by I get to go to my appointment. I get into the office 45 minutes early for my appointment and guess what’s waiting for me? Candy? Strippers and a big cake? No. The exact same paperwork. So, then I have to give them all my information, usually 2 or 3 times because each page seems to ask for the exact same information.
- Then, I turn in my paperwork, and I’m told by more than likely the meanest person on the planet to sit down and wait. I haven’t gotten any eye contact from anyone since I walked in the door now so I sit down and read a magazine that I read like 4 months ago or sit and stare in a downward angle towards nothing in particular. The doctor, meanwhile, is in her office playing online video poker or on the phone with her travel agent setting up plans for her next getaway to the Bahamas.
- By this time I’m feeling like some sort of barn yard animal. A goat or a sheep or something. I have three horns, one of which is growing straight out of my ass, and I like to eat beer cans and other non-edible trash. Anywhere from 15-45 minutes after the actual time that the appointment was suppossed to begin the nurse comes out and calls my name. I get excited. Why? After this kind of treatment you would think one would have walked out long ago, but not me, because I really need this….this health care. The real fun is about to begin!
- Seeing a specialist is kind of like buying a time machine on eBay. You spend a lot of money for something that doesn’t exist and isn’t worth it. Really. In my experience it is just not worth it. Because you go in, they ask you where it hurts, and then they leave the room and come back in five minutes with a printed out article from the Internet telling you how to deal with your pain. That’s it. Oh yeah, and then they charge your insurance company $200 for their 15 minutes of really tough doctor-like work.
I mean, come on. It’s like we have the worst of the worst when it comes to healthcare for our country. If you stop for a moment and write down the worst things about each healthcare system in existance in this world you would have a carbon copy of the United States healthcare system, and I’m not exaggerating! We have all the bad things that come with socialized medicine like long waits, preferencial treatment woes, and terrible bed side manner. On top of all that we have to pay more for in taxes and insurance premiums than any other country! And, we have a shorter expected lifespan than all other 1st world countries!
I think that the only thing I’m missing here is the drug companies. Ah yes, our final charge of the day. I don’t even feel like getting started with them. I’ll leave it to anybody who wishes to leave a comment.
April 22nd, 2005 at 1:28 pm
Drug companies, like Ray-Ray and the FBI, uh never mind there drugs are actually affordable, and they do not have recalls. When the last time you heard “Major drug supplier Ray-Ray has issues a recall on crack, a recent study shows the users of crack, may be become desirous, and leads to a increase chance of heart attack, and may cause cancer”? Never! Health care? We really do not have health care, we have sick care, you get sick you go to the doctor, and it is not very good sick care at that. I mean look at the baby boomer, and vets who fought for this country, and it’s right to invade and steal oil. These mean and women have worked hard all their lives and our government will do nothing to help enjoy a descent quality of life. I but have the health issues are directly related to living in, or serving this country.
I spend about 15% of my total income on health insurance (my salary is 35,000 – 50,000 )for my family. That is more than I spend food. Now food I need to survive, there is no “if” or “incase” about it. Where as insurance is always an if, if I get sick. Even if I do not get sick, or brake a bone I still have to pay for health insurance. I fell like making up my own disease just to get my moneys worth (wait someone already did that, it was called AIDS). I love my family, and I do not to risk any happing to any them if can be prevented, and he something dose happen (God I pray that it dose not), I want someone to fix it. Dose that mean I should risk the other needs of my family? Health in the country is a joke. Man I cannot wait to gem that call from Nintendo so I move to Japan, health is cheaper, better, and they have better anime and toy