I don't know much about the healthcare debates that have been rocking our country but I definitely want to know more especially after what Daniel got told this not too long ago. Here's the story:
For about 1 1/2 to 2 months Daniel has had this sore on his upper gum that started out as what seemed to be a common canker sore. Because I thought it was a canker sore (or maybe something stuck in his gum pocket) I didn't rush to make the needed dentist appointments for the family. Well, it kept growing and irritating Daniel more and more (I know, I'm such a bad wife) that finally after a month or so, I made the appointment. We found out it was a growth on the gum that definitely needed to be cut off and biopsied (just in case it was something serious). The dentist referred us to an oral surgeon who he knew took medicaid (that is what we are on...actually, we're on PCN, but it's a type of medicaid). Daniel made the appointment with the oral surgeon for a consultation. There, they checked the growth out and made a course of action. But, they weren't sure if medicaid covered that kind of dental work. The lady in the office told Daniel that she would check on it and that they could go ahead and make an appointment and when they found out if the surgery was covered they could either keep the appointment or work something else out, since they were SO busy. She told Daniel that the soonest they could work on him was the middle of October.
Well we waited a few days and the lady finally got back to us. Unfortunately, medicaid doesn't cover that kind of surgery. We would have to pay the costs ($300 for the doctor's office and $200 more dollars for the biopsy) out of pocket. What could we do? Daniel definitely needed that growth cut out...it was only getting bigger and more irritated. So he told her that he would go ahead and get the surgery and just pay out of pocket. *Now, here is the whole point of this post* She then told him that she could move up his appointment to the Friday of that week (it was a Tuesday by that point). Daniel was a bit perplexed, didn't you say that the office was busy and full until the middle of October? He asked her that exact question and you know what she told us? She explained that since he would be paying out of pocket they could get him in right away. They only see medicaid patients once a month because they don't make as much money off of them. Daniel and I couldn't believe she just outright said that.
Daniel wasn't as surprised as I was.......he could tell you all the reasons why healthcare sucks these days. But, I was shocked. I was shocked that making money seems more important to them then treating and caring for patients.
Well, Daniel got that growth cut out---a procedure that took all of 10 minutes--- this last Friday ( 9/25/09) and now we are waiting on the biopsy information.
Crazy, huh?
5 comments:
Hey, Marquita, I invite you to read my healthcare rant on my blog if you want to. From the mom of Nancy and Canadian Dave.
www.myrnalayton.blogspot.com
Yes, that is ridiculous! I am surprised that she actually came out and told you the truth. ;)
When Casey's dad was an OB in Oklahoma, I think he was the only OB at his hospital that would take Medicaid - the rest of the OB docs wouldn't because they didn't make enough money off of the patients.
I only know bits and pieces of the health care debate as well. I looked at Nancy's mom's post and also we had a lot of friends in Oregon that were from Canada - they all had positive things to say about the "socialized" health care system in Canada. And we're kind of experiencing it ourselves now in the military with the health care system they have.
The only downside it seems to me is that the doctors and nurses don't seem to care quite as much. Not much emphasis on customer service and friendliness - that's just been my experience. I wonder if the reason is because they get kind of complacent in their jobs. There's no reason to have ambition or to provide excellent care and customer service - your pay is the same no matter how many patients you see or don't see, and the patients have to come back to you because your their only option (in the military).
So I don't know - with socialized health care would their be much ambition to excel in your field and provide excellent care and continue to make advancements in that field?
Also won't people take advantage of the system, like they do with welfare, etc.?
But at the same time, our current system really stinks. ;) At least with a socialized system everyone would be able to get care.
And because there is so much emphasis on making money as doctors, the care we receive even now does suffer. Sometimes it seems that it's all about money and time. It's ridiculous when you sit for an hour waiting for an appointment and then spend 1 minute with the doctor, who doesn't really listen to your concerns and thinks they immediately know what to do for you. Sorry, that's an over-generalization...there are plenty of good doctors out there who are doing it for the right reasons - to really help people, etc. But I think too many fall into the money trap.
Anyway, sorry for the long comment. I'm not really that informed on the matter so this is all just my "uninformed" opinion. ;)
I don't think military health care = socialized health care. That sounds more like dictatorship health care to me. ;)
I don't think we have customer service problems in a socialized system, at least not anymore than you would have in the States. Because health care isn't a business so they won't treat you poorly if you can't afford it or treat you better if you can...you just get treated.
that is a crazy story! It's good to read about what you guys are up to, though. :)
I hear ya loud and clear.
It's been awhile, but almost feels like yesterday . . . fun to see your family pics.
--Mark
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