tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post7300095468025351568..comments2024-01-05T05:32:54.346-05:00Comments on S.A. Larsen, Award-winning author of middle grade & young adult fiction: Today's Health Care System ~ JOKES.A. Larsenッhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-72780018703572449282014-06-13T21:11:37.629-04:002014-06-13T21:11:37.629-04:00Gosh, this almost sounds like a prayer. I love it!...Gosh, this almost sounds like a prayer. I love it! Thank you so much for the encouragement. It's not my intent to sound ungrateful for what we do have, but I just go so stinking frustrated. I really appreciate your words. <br /><br />Thanks!S.A. Larsenッhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-76083773991884633582014-06-08T08:30:24.134-04:002014-06-08T08:30:24.134-04:00Wishing your husband all the best - my sister suff...Wishing your husband all the best - my sister suffers from such a condition but is much better now although it's taken awhile. We feel blessed with the UK's NHS system with all its flaws and imperfections it continues and remains an essential lifeblood in providing healthcare for all. I hope that more nations will find it in their hearts and souls to see that such a system is probably a good way to start in ensuring basic medical help is provided. Take care<br />xOld Kittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13185547869183611159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-38259243375168874402014-06-07T13:52:29.498-04:002014-06-07T13:52:29.498-04:00Thanks so much. And I hear you on the side effects...Thanks so much. And I hear you on the side effects of meds and such. My oldest has ADHD. He was diagnosed when it was first becoming 'labelized'. lol We said no to meds for the first five years and took the behavioral modification approach. He did have to go on meds for about ten months in fifth grade. He just couldn't sit still in school. He's fine, now, and at the time, our insurance company didn't give us any problems. <br /><br />Congrats to you for being a true advocate for your child. S.A. Larsenッhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-42878076310225858352014-06-07T01:02:54.381-04:002014-06-07T01:02:54.381-04:00In England they have universal healthcare. My unde...In England they have universal healthcare. My understanding is that for some things it takes a long time to get assistance on, but you can pay extra fees and get things done faster if you have the money to do it. <br /><br />My husband has a cpac. He sleeps a LOT better and I sleep with him. Every once and a while it is on his nose funny and is noisy, so I go to the other room. But it really helped. I've heard that dentists can make a device that helps with sleep apnea too.Sharon K. Mayhewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07799235347319851345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-45837004765995373532014-06-06T16:29:40.323-04:002014-06-06T16:29:40.323-04:00You are right on, there. I have Raynaud's Synd...You are right on, there. I have Raynaud's Syndrome, so I have a specialist I see once a year. When I began seeing her two years ago, the nurse would bring me in, ask the appropriate questions, and then I'd see my doctor. Recently, the 'hospital' enacted changes which put another middle man between me and my doctor. I had to not only see the nurse, but a PA and basically tell this poor PA the exact thing I told the nurse except the PA had no prior knowledge of my health problem. This just made the process take forever, because I had to explain everything to her. My appointment, which usually takes approximately 30 minutes took almost 2 hours. I can't see how that was cost efficient. And I could tell my doctor was irritated by the whole change - she had no control over it. S.A. Larsenッhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-79446544876197220052014-06-06T16:24:25.433-04:002014-06-06T16:24:25.433-04:00That's very true. I think the majority of us c...That's very true. I think the majority of us can only pay 'more' for so much longer. I know my family can't afford much more of an increase/decrease in benefits.S.A. Larsenッhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-24920783002864817752014-06-06T16:22:41.759-04:002014-06-06T16:22:41.759-04:00Gosh, this is just as horrible. Whoa... You are so...Gosh, this is just as horrible. Whoa... You are so right when you say healthcare is big business. Kind of stinks. I understand needing to make a profit, the economy, etc... But I think it's gone way beyond that. S.A. Larsenッhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-56455803999565412822014-06-06T12:21:17.011-04:002014-06-06T12:21:17.011-04:00Wow, Catherine. I had no idea healthcare was like ...Wow, Catherine. I had no idea healthcare was like that in China. Hmm....makes you wonder.S.A. Larsenッhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-7610361151089785812014-06-06T10:01:41.311-04:002014-06-06T10:01:41.311-04:00That is so bad! I feel for him. That said, my son ...That is so bad! I feel for him. That said, my son who came back from China (teaching there) got excellent coverage from Obamacare, including free dental! In China, healthcare is pretty much free. Somehting to be said for faux communism. (Faux, because they have Starbucks, and fancy malls too).Catherine Stinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08131569196977321229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-91249103736351995702014-06-06T07:03:24.282-04:002014-06-06T07:03:24.282-04:00So frustrating. I'm sorry people are going thr...So frustrating. I'm sorry people are going through this. I have no health issues, but have issues with my coverage. It keeps getting shoddier, the network gets smaller, and it gets more expensive. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-73375131999219110162014-06-05T22:36:42.056-04:002014-06-05T22:36:42.056-04:00Wow, sounds horrible, especially since you should ...Wow, sounds horrible, especially since you should not have paid a cent, the cyclist who hit you should have paid the whole bill. <br /><br />But, anyway, most doctors, clinics and hospital do not have a say in what they charge, a lot of doctors don't have a clue what they are charging, they are employees like anyone else, working for a large corporation which is nothing but a big business making money on people's misfortunes. Or that's how it is with my employer and most of the medical groups in my state. <br /><br />I just had to say it because the doctor I have worked with for the last 14 years is in the same boat that I am, and that his patients are in. (Side note: our employer sent my doctor to collections over a $25 bill.)Chris Loehmer Kincaidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16831717125652627898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-24744241581550781422014-06-05T13:22:36.103-04:002014-06-05T13:22:36.103-04:00Whoa, Sheri, You REALLY opened up a can of worms o...Whoa, Sheri, You REALLY opened up a can of worms on this subject.... I AM SO WITH YOU ON THIS!<br /><br />When I was HIT on the lakefront last year by an insane speed cyclist, I was FLATTENED. MY hit spilt open from the puncture of that jerks helmet. 14 stitches there, 4 on my lip, tons of abrasions and a broken wrist. <br /><br />I can not TELL YOU how much this ass cost me. My insurance only covered so much. The PRICES the doctors and hospital charge was INSANE... $600.00 bucks for a cast! INSANE... SO my issuance paid a whopping fifty bucks. SO guess what I got the BILL! And a nervous twitch. After months of MORE bills coming in, this "accident" cost me out of pocket close to THREE GRAND! Because the insurance I have only covers "So much".... I not only blame the insurance companies I think the HOSPITALS AND DOCTORS are REALLY to BLAME! They have gotten COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL! Our government NEEDS to STEP In and SET A PRICING STANDARD. NO EXCEPTION. This way the insurance companies WILL HAVE TO PAY because it is the STANDARD rate in this country.... ENOUGH SAID!<br /><br />Ahhhh. That feels so much better. LOL. As you can see, I am right behind you on this! Thanks for inviting me to RANT! LOL.Michael Di Gesuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17047267262428143113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-91743085451340290272014-06-05T10:05:31.968-04:002014-06-05T10:05:31.968-04:00I'm so sorry you and your family are going thr...I'm so sorry you and your family are going through this, Sheri. I'm afraid it's only going to get worse. And wait until you're over 70. I have insurance through the retired teachers' organization and it used to be good and I think it is better than a lot of insurance. Or it was. Now, well... let's just say I'm not getting the tests for my heart murmur I've always had in the past. Doctor? System? I don't know. Hope your hubby and family stay healthy.Beverly Stowe McClurehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02176195451841801819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-5331752148289728112014-06-05T09:52:27.518-04:002014-06-05T09:52:27.518-04:00I've been blessed with a wonderful pediatricia...I've been blessed with a wonderful pediatrician for my kids. When my son was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of two we went through the insurance and got an old school doctor who believed in nothing but meds. But these meds have so many damned side effects that we were concerned. We had a second opinion--same network--and the dr. knew the first dr and didn't want to change opinions. Our Peds dr finally said screw it and took the hit by sending us to an out-of-network doctor. Apparently the doctors have to pay something when they send you out of network. Anyways, since my son only had one seizure in a year this dr said it wasn't worth putting him on meds. He may outgrow it. and guess what. he did. I don't know what to say. The middle class folks are screwed. I hope everything works out for you and your husband.E. Arroyohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06634213563563094173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-24813637863924066592014-06-05T07:10:23.954-04:002014-06-05T07:10:23.954-04:00The new evaluation system being forced on teachers...The new evaluation system being forced on teachers is horrendous -- judging us based on standardized test scores. But what's even more horrifying is that this same "data-based" evaluation is being forced on doctors. Hospitals are being denied funding and insurance if patients return with the same problem within a certain period: If the treatment doesn't work, or if the patient doesn't take his medicine when he goes home, or if the patient ignores all the doctor's advice and goes back to the bad habits that caused the condition in the first place -- and lands back in the hospital, THE HOSPITAL IS PUNISHED.<br /><br />This is the worst thing I have ever heard, and I swear, seems a giant conspiracy to prevent people getting the care they need.Dianne K. Salernihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16459839567235304842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-52601508766693356972014-06-04T20:33:20.472-04:002014-06-04T20:33:20.472-04:00Welcome to my world. I work in a family practice c...Welcome to my world. I work in a family practice clinic. Many times, every single day, we work our bodies and souls to exhaustion to do what is right by the patient, only to hear that their insurance company won't pay for the tests or treatments that our doctors know are absolutely necessary to their good health. I probably hear your sleep apnea story once a month. Once every single month! I don't know if it helps at all to know that you are not alone. <br /><br />The doctor I work for said that he heard the statistic that of all of the profits from all of the companies in the US, 49% of them are made by insurance companies. I probably should try to find that statistic somewhere to verify it. But from what I see the insurance companies doing every single day to every single one of their customers, I would believe it. <br /><br />What I don't get is why the American citizens put up with this. I don't have any answers either, but something definitely needs to be done. Chris Loehmer Kincaidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16831717125652627898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-32682507908938064352014-06-04T20:17:15.358-04:002014-06-04T20:17:15.358-04:00Sheri, this is terrible! Unfortunately, I think th...Sheri, this is terrible! Unfortunately, I think this is only the beginning of what's to come. Glad your hubby is getting the care he needs.Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-82104900425099640402014-06-04T13:59:50.499-04:002014-06-04T13:59:50.499-04:00That's terrible. I agree with Alex on the Obam...That's terrible. I agree with Alex on the Obamacare. Though with my income level, Obamacare may be more expensive than some of the other options when I get laid off and have to purchase insurance.Natalie Aguirrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03756087804171246660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-26381152178142224662014-06-04T12:45:38.504-04:002014-06-04T12:45:38.504-04:00That is just insane. Imagine how bad it would'...That is just insane. Imagine how bad it would've been with Obamacare. Glad your husband had the test done.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-19834947695585698012014-06-04T12:25:40.804-04:002014-06-04T12:25:40.804-04:00See, this is a perfect example of how messed up th...See, this is a perfect example of how messed up the system is. I do not claim to know the answers to fix it, but we really need to figure something out to help those who can't get it and those of us who do have it yet are siphoned to death. When my husband was with his former company (who we're still paying under COBRA for), our healthcare plan cost just over 700 a month out of our pocket. I can't remember what the company paid in. That didn't include dental, which was an extra 200 monthly. When he left and we started paying through COBRA, we opted for a higher deductible to try and keep the monthly cost down. Shoot, we have four kids who are actually living. Then, we had a few unexpected surgeries, which meant we had to pay 5,000 per family member first. Holy ... we have medical bills up the ying-yang, right now. And to have the insurance company rather my husband have a stroke first is just stupid. How cost effective would that be with him out of work and us having four kids? like I said, the system is broken. I wish the politicians and heads of insurance companies would listen to us instead of the dollar bill. S.A. Larsenッhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-48496715964658197302014-06-04T12:17:07.400-04:002014-06-04T12:17:07.400-04:00No. We have it through my husband's former emp...No. We have it through my husband's former employer - we're still under COBRA, right now, but looking into new insurance for our car dealership. I agree that everyone needs coverage, and I don't claim to know the answer to the issues. I just would like fair coverage, especially for those of us who pay up the wazoo. S.A. Larsenッhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-13041722759629989612014-06-04T11:07:14.566-04:002014-06-04T11:07:14.566-04:00Do you have insurance through Obamacare? We're...Do you have insurance through Obamacare? We're the only first-world country with insurance through our employer. It's archaic. Unfortunately, the initial plan for the healthcare and what got compromised means things aren't going to be all that different. I still think everyone needs protection. It's worked extremely well in MA for years, and we haven't become socialists. Theresa Milsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03477761307315565259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-84600407838079238982014-06-04T10:37:47.125-04:002014-06-04T10:37:47.125-04:00I agree with Lee - socialized medicine is not the ...I agree with Lee - socialized medicine is not the answer. It's sad though when you pay your dues and can't get the care you need.L. Diane Wolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06425864276166334896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-39369490093512511512014-06-04T10:31:54.358-04:002014-06-04T10:31:54.358-04:00I think a lot of the fault with health care is wit...I think a lot of the fault with health care is with the insurance companies. They want to line their pockets with as much money as they can and not hand it out to people who need it for their procedures. Of course, the hospitals charge much more than necessary too. If they were non-profit, they'd probably be much better and cheaper. It's a screwed up system. Glad they were able to test him again. Sleep apnea is not something to mess around with.Cherie Reichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16663147386014122939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4513702670120363707.post-9173918317572241332014-06-04T10:03:53.284-04:002014-06-04T10:03:53.284-04:00I've seen socialized medicine in action. It ai...I've seen socialized medicine in action. It ain't pretty. If you think private insurance is a nightmare, just wait until the government really takes it over. Oh, wait! I think they already have and we're starting to find out what that's all about. There are other government operated business that are in something of a mess. I think the post office is a great example. Fortunately, they don't dabble in health issues. Sorry about what's happening about your husband's situation, Sheri. Hope you can find coverage somehow.cleemckenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15456109243453726483noreply@blogger.com