View Full Version : family health "care" rant
Pardon my rant...we are currently watching health care decisions play out with family members - our infant twin granddaughters and the other end of the spectrum, DH's elderly mother. In both cases, there seems to be a ridiculous amount of over-doctoring and thus increased expenses for all of us. The twins, born a month preemie, but very healthy have had the following: CT hip scans, proton pump drugs for acid reflux (babies do spit up occasionally), physical therapy and now helmets because the back of their heads are slightly flattened from laying on their backs as advised. MIL is now on her umpteenth trip to the ER or hospital this year for dizziness and has had multiple CT scans, X-rays and is on at least eight medications (which is probably what causes the dizziness). She literally visits some sort of doctor every week to have something or other checked. And then my own recent medical experience of mild flank pain and urinary issues - I was immediately sent by an internist for multiple tests including CT scan. Then sent to urologist who ordered another CT scan - this time with contrast and finally a cytoscopy. He said all was perfectly normal and when I asked what about the flank pain and pointed to the area, he said "oh, that's not your kidney. Most likely muscle strain." So, after being in a state of panic for two months and $1000 poorer, it was all for nought. Just really flustered with the state of medical care these days as it doesn't make any sense.
But it makes money!
Yeah--I know, I'm a huge cynic.
iris lilies
10-25-18, 2:19pm
When I make a post on forums similar to this sentiment, I am resoundingly slapped upside the head to be reminded how lucky I am to have all of these healthcare options and who do I think I am to complain and oh yeah way to be not empathetic to others. And I can just can my white privilege rant.
But I hear ya, OP.
Teacher Terry
10-25-18, 2:29pm
You can definitely go down the rabbit hole with health care. That’s also happening to our pets if not careful.
sweetana3
10-25-18, 2:29pm
Elderly mother in law is going thru the decision process to figure out what to do about her heart issues. She is 86 and was recently diagnosed with a serious genetic heart issue and has probably just had a silent heart attack. Doctor has said her heart is worn out. So how far does she take various procedures? This is the conundrum.
She did decide that due to her quality of life, she would let them do two procedures to try and reduce the afib and then to see if there were any correctable issues doing a heart cath. After that, if nothing changes, this new tired state may be her new normal.
iris lilies
10-25-18, 3:41pm
You can definitely go down the rabbit hole with health care. That’s also happening to our pets if not careful.
Yesterday I had two healthcare appointments, one for me, one for my dog.
My own bill was $108. My dog’s bill was $384.
He goes to a specialist skin doctor. He is nine years old. I talked to her about the future of his medication because she said she has seen it stop working. We discussed an alternative medicine she has and that sounds good if it is needed. I told her That he is near the end of his life and I will not be making extensive new tests and etc at this point.
Her reaction to that was “oh come now,let’s not say that!” anout the end of his life.
He is a 9 year old bulldog with a compromised immune system, poor circulation, and who knows what else internally. At this point every day with him is a gift. I wish she respected that because that is the REAL issue, his gift of Life.
catherine
10-25-18, 5:53pm
Medical technology has definitely made decisions around healthcare agonizing.
Regarding elderly parents: When my MIL fell ill in VT and we took her to a community VT hospital, they encouraged us to look at the big picture. They offered, and would have performed surgery if we had insisted, but they gently suggested that we let nature take its course, which we did, and my MIL died two days later. But do we second-guess ourselves from time to time? Yes.
Regarding furry friends: When my dog got cancer, our vet offered us the option of going for inpatient diagnostics at a high end pet hospital to better evaluate her prognosis and treatment options. They offered, and would have given her, chemotherapy, which may have extended her life a few weeks, and I'll admit we were tempted, but in the end all we got from the fancy high-end pet hospital (with superb boutique customer service) was a huge bill. And she died two weeks later.
There are so many options these days, and the medical community rightfully feels they are not doing their jobs if they don't at least offer what's available.
The cynical me says that human doctors see what your insurance will cover. If it's top-notch, they will fire away with tests, etc. I know that when I make an appt, the first question is what insurance do you have.
catherine
10-25-18, 6:03pm
The cynical me says that human doctors see what your insurance will cover. If it's top-notch, they will fire away with tests, etc. I know that when I make an appt, the first question is what insurance do you have.
Some procedures are profit centers for doctors, but not many, unless they do them themselves, in their practices. Many things they don't get reimbursed much, if anything, for.
They ask about insurance for your benefit as well as the ease or difficulty with which they may have to fight for you. They are well aware that out-of-pocket costs are skyrocketing, but frankly, simply knowing what insurance you have doesn't give them a clue as to what will get covered in most cases. They only ask so they know what hoops they'll have to jump through to get it approved.
It's probably human nature to be more liberal with tests that will be covered by insurance but I know that doctors care about what you can afford. They tell me that all the time.
ETA: I guess my suggestion would be to be transparent with the doctors. Tell them you only want tests done if they definitely feel the test(s) will shed light on your issue.
Teacher Terry
10-25-18, 6:17pm
Vets have gotten really pushy and greedy. As much as I love my dogs they have a limited life expectancy. We have spent a lot of money on therem. My 13 yo big dog had a fast growing tumor on its leg which was where his leg bent so I had to do surgery or he wouldn’t be able to walk and he was still in good shape. Our vet practice is big and my favorite 12 up Maltese had congestive heart failure and was on a ton of medications. Then she had a few strokes. The vet who I didn’t know tried to tell me if I apparently bunch of money on tests he could save her. Now I am arguing with him and insisting she be put to sleep which I didn’t want to do. He was trying to take advantage of my grief.
Chicken lady
10-25-18, 7:19pm
My $300 alpaca got stomach cancer. When we decided against the several thousand dollars for surgery, he starved nearly to death. When hecouldn’t get up anymore, I called the vet and paid $90 for her to give him a shot and stand there until she was sure he was dead. If I had it to do over, I would use a bullet. It would be much faster, cheaper, and less stressful for the animal, who did not want a stranger in his pen or a shot which I am unconvinced was a painless death.
Chicken lady and I must have both been raised on farms. I had a suffering cat once at her end of life, who died instantly when I shot her in the head. I did it with compassion but I’m almost afraid to post this reply ...
My parents had a cat that needed to be put down. Vet #1 would not do it. Vet #2 also refused at which point my dad mentioned that when he was growing up on the farm they would put extra kittens in a gunny sack with heavy stones and throw the sack into the slough. Vet #2 relented.
Yep, every spring my grandpa would gather up the kittens, put them in a burlap bag and throw them in the irrigation ditch.
iris lilies
10-25-18, 10:09pm
Chicken lady and I must have both been raised on farms. I had a suffering cat once at her end of life, who died instantly when I shot her in the head. I did it with compassion but I’m almost afraid to post this reply ...
If your are a good shot, and you know where to hit them, I am fine with that.
I have been through enough pet euthanasias to know things don’t always go swimmingly at the veterinarians place.
Teacher Terry
10-26-18, 12:54am
Yes things don’t always go right and if you are a good shot fine. PT, the most painful slow way for any living thing to die is to drown. Ugh!
How do you measure pain? Is drowning worse than being burned at the stake, for instance, or having someone chop off your limbs one by one?
Chicken lady
10-26-18, 5:28am
Oh, I derailed thus thread badly. I am sorry. It was meant as a commentary on health care costs for animals and care decisions and how our subjective responses affect them.
my Dad put my brother in charge of end of life decisions because he’s afraid my mom or I would keep him “plugged in” forever (i’m Pretty sure mom would still be in charge legally, but dad is hoping the power of attorney will enable her to let go of responsibility for the decision.)
iris lilies
10-26-18, 1:09pm
It was likely that healthcare professionals would look to DH anyway for any decision. Because my brother is out of state.
Oh, I derailed thus thread badly. I am sorry. It was meant as a commentary on health care costs for animals and care decisions and how our subjective responses affect them.
my Dad put my brother in charge of end of life decisions because he’s afraid my mom or I would keep him “plugged in” forever (i’m Pretty sure mom would still be in charge legally, but dad is hoping the power of attorney will enable her to let go of responsibility for the decision.)
For a while in my life, some years into my marriage, I wanted my brother to make my end-of-life decisions because I know that he would make the decision to pull the plug quickly. I was not confident that DH would or could do that based on my observations of his actions when our pets died.
And my brother who is in the healthcare field and his wife who is an emergency room nurse said that it didn’t matter what my documents said, It was likely that healthcare professionals would look to DH anyway for any decision. My brother is out of state anyway, to complicate matters.
But now I believe DH will carry out my wishes to the best of his ability and so that is now my official document that he is in charge.
Just want to weigh in and say as the mom of premie twins, now all safely grown, I am thrilled they are giving the twins lots of healthcare and checking for all kinds of things.
There are all sorts of things to watch out for with low birth weight babies, and I am so glad for your family your grandchildren are getting lots of healthcare, and not having to fight for it.
That, for me, is the system working well!
It was likely that healthcare professionals would look to DH anyway for any decision. Because my brother is out of state.
For a while in my life, some years into my marriage, I wanted my brother to make my end-of-life decisions because I know that he would make the decision to pull the plug quickly. I was not confident that DH would or could do that based on my observations of his actions when our pets died.
And my brother who is in the healthcare field and his wife who is an emergency room nurse said that it didn’t matter what my documents said, It was likely that healthcare professionals would look to DH anyway for any decision. My brother is out of state anyway, to complicate matters.
But now I believe DH will carry out my wishes to the best of his ability and so that is now my official document that he is in charge.
My parents chose me for that job. My mother said it was because I was their most reliably cold-blooded child. I assured her that when the time came I would make her pay for that remark.
That, for me, is the system working well!
Well they have been very fortunate. The maternity and neonatal bill was in the range of $200K and completely covered. Blows me away...
iris lilies
10-26-18, 7:02pm
Well they have been very fortunate. The maternity and neonatal bill was in the range of $200K and completely covered. Blows me away...
That actually does not seem like much to me. They must be healthy little girls
iris lilies
10-26-18, 7:02pm
My parents chose me for that job. My mother said it was because I was their most reliably cold-blooded child. I assured her that when the time came I would make her pay for that remark.
So, it’s your mom who has The wit and you get it from her
They must be healthy little girls
For the most part, yes. Not just grandma talking but everyone who sees them...melts with adoration. Nothing cuter than identical twins. So...I will try to be more grateful.
Teacher Terry
10-26-18, 8:40pm
Both my parents had DNR’s and all of us kids honored that.
happystuff
10-28-18, 11:46am
We have healthcare through dh's work and still can't afford to go to the doctor due to co-pays and the leftover amount unpaid by insurance. As this is a hot-button topic for me, I'll leave it at this.
catherine
10-28-18, 11:54am
We have healthcare through dh's work and still can't afford to go to the doctor due to co-pays and the leftover amount unpaid by insurance. As this is a hot-button topic for me, I'll leave it at this.
I'm not saying the healthcare system isn't messed up, but the doctors are just as frustrated with it as we are. I don't see the doctors as being responsible for high healthcare costs.
I'm not saying the healthcare system isn't messed up, but the doctors are just as frustrated with it as we are. I don't see the doctors as being responsible for high healthcare costs.
Agreed. It is rare for a MD to know what your insurance provider is and covers. Torte reform is the first thing that would help drop the cost of healthcare. Frivolous lawsuits run rampant and cost a fortune to defend so tons of money wasted. The FDA processes for the goods we use costs a bloody fortune as well. Then the 7 years of proprietary ownership to capture those costs and create a margin because after all, we are capitalists in all things. And the FDA as well covers big Pharma too.......huge markup on drugs-the biggest markup in all of healthcare.
Remember too, Americans want what they want when they want it. The best and no waiting. That costs as well. You would be amazed how many people demand an MRI needlessly. But they are persistent so docs give in and order it. Then it becomes a standard of practice and if they don't order one, then it's negligent if on the outside chance, it might have made a difference. But meanwhile, our community of less than 500k people has 7 of those damn things and they all run 24/7:(
My brother nearly lost his foot in a farming accident. His orthopod saved it. 3 surgeries over 4 days, all the xrays (a CT on admission), 4 nights in the hospital. And the bill was $40k. He was totally pissed. I said "they could have amputated your foot on an outpatient basis and sent you home for $10k. But you have your foot. You can't have Mercedes healthcare at a Volkswagon price. He shut up.
I could go on and on with examples...........but I won't.
We should have universal healthcare for all US citizens to please the left and no publicly paid for or subsidized healthcare for anyone who is not a citizen to please the right. This could be the great compromise of our generation, but both sides are too entrenched to make this work even though healthcare is the #1 issue in this election.
We should have universal healthcare for all US citizens to please the left and no publicly paid for or subsidized healthcare for anyone who is not a citizen to please the right. This could be the great compromise of our generation, but both sides are too entrenched to make this work even though healthcare is the #1 issue in this election.
I'll differ a bit that anyone who is here legally is covered rather than citizenship. We waited 6 years for our citizenship and did emmigrate legally in 1961.
So much change required at the legislative level. Any facility that receives ANY federal funding (ie: Medicare, Tricare, Medicaid), is required to care for all who arrive. Hence the ER care given to uninsured and illegal aliens. Funding is at risk if anyone is turned away.
And that's just the beginning of the cascade of Legislative change needed. sigh....................
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