When I had insurance, I had no choice in what I had. I was paid by a previous employer. I didn't understand how inadequate it really was till I found out it didn't pay everything, and I just did as told by docsand made a nice little pile of bills for the stuff I had to pay for. Alot of it was unnecessary stuff so tht the doc and insyrance co. could make a buck. I am very sarcastic about this and the story is so deep and wide I can't put it all here. My credit is screwed till donkeys fly. I have lived a rebel's life ... no credit cards, shun the "system" and all of that. If I neede care I paid cash. Probably less tha $300 a year. Even when i became diabetic, the meds were not expensive, but boy was the endocrinologist's first work up !!!!!! After that I lost 114 lbs, worked out and did okay. I had eye surgery after my job gave us fee insurance. To say that I got screwed every which way is putting it mildly, because I didn't understnad what it all was about. I laugh about it now, but it wasnt funny he day I was going in to a cardiologist's office for a test I was positive I did not need. The prescribing doc, was arrested later that year in an insurance scam for prescribing the tests for people that didn't need them. And billing medicare and insurance ... I looked at what some of you said about prices and H E double hockey sticks if I could pay any of it ... If I required care for a chronic disease, I have to go on welfare ! And then I'd be shuffled to the community hospital where I would probably die of neglect. I had a friend who almost did ... if we hadn't rescued her ! I get doctor care at a low cost medical clinic here in Vegas. An intermediate exam with generic meds ( 2 prescriptions ) was $50. I have had to only go once this past year. The doctors rent the space, much like a beauty parlor rents space to hairdressers, and they all share a dispensary. The one I saw, I quizzed carefully. She doesn't have a private practice. If you had to have lab work, you'd have to pay and go to a private lab and if it was something serious they refer you to the University Medical Center. The insurance I had before, didn't pay the lab costs for some things I got and now I am blacklisted there. I am a single woman without a partner that might have insurance at his job ... SCARY ... I ad a friend who's job gave very low cost insurance to him and a spouse ... we almost got legally married ( we've been friends for 35 years ), so I could benefit from this. $50 per month ... but we decided not to. The last job I had, that gave insurance, when i quit, the insurance that used to be $90 a month had exceeded $300 PER PERSON. So now, I have a statement that covers the way I feel, and that is, "I'll never see another doctor as long as I live and as long as I live without one, is as long as I live." Rainbow
- posted
20 years ago