JUST THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Now don’t get too shocked, or too used to me showing up here between BOTB Installments, but there is something that I just have to talk about.

This has to do with Healthcare. I’m not going to go on about the Obamacare Debacle, BUT there are some things you might want know.

Let me start at the beginning.

If you’ve been reading along here with me, you know that I’ve had some health issues lately. My doctor decided that I need to have a test done, and we all know how expensive those pesky little medical tests can be. What you may not know is that I do NOT have insurance. Yeah, yeah, I know. I’m in non-compliance. Not really surprised are you. 

Anyway…I probably should tell you right here and now that a Major Medical Policy is going to cost me $550 a month. This policy has a $5000 deductible (meaning the first $5000 of EVERYTHING), after the deductible is satisfied most things will be at a 70/30 rate. Keep this information in mind, because you’re going to need it later.

Now, back to the doc and the test he wants performed. I asked how much it would cost and he said between $1,200 and $1,500. After he picked me up off the floor, I reminded him that I did not have insurance and could not afford that. He said don’t worry we’ll shop around for you to get a better deal.

‘What the hell does that mean?’ was my reaction. ‘Are we looking for some cut-rate, back-alley, diagnostic center to do my tests’. Doc says, no, no, nothing like that. This is the new medicine. If you go in and tell the hospital or diagnostic center that you have no insurance, but you will pay cash at the time of the test or procedure, they will cut you a deal. How much of a deal, I’m wonderin’? Cause I can’t afford even half of that.

The long and short of it is, the doc’s office called around and got me scheduled. The test is going to cost me $201. Can you believe that? From $1200 - $1500, down to $201. Great news for me, right? Well. Let’s go back and think this through.

Let’s say, I’m not the rebellious sort, and someone who is also more financially solvent, and I am in compliance with the new Healthcare laws. That means I’m paying $550 a month for insurance. Let’s even go so far as to say that at this point in time I’ve satisfied my $5000 deductible. That means my insurance would kick in and pay 70% of $1200 - $1500 for this test. Let’s even say the test cost came in at the lower price of $1200. That means all I would have to pay is $400. But I would have been paying $550 a month all along for the insurance in the first place, plus have shelled out $5000 to satisfy the deductible. 

This means at this date, I would have spent $5000 (deductible) + $550 x 9=$4950 (nine months Jan – Sep for insurance premiums) + $400 (my share 30%) = $10,350, for the exact same test that I’m paying $201 for, all because I can’t afford to be in compliance with the new Healthcare Laws that are going to see that I’m well taken care of.

Now, I know there will be at least one person who will want to jump all over my case and ask me what about being diagnosed with some dread disease. There is a time and place for that Major Medical Policy, I agree, but in the end are we all just gambling that we never have to use it.

My contention is not that we don’t need some form of insurance, but rather let’s look at what the insurance companies, big pharma, and the healthcare industry (provider like hospitals, labs, and diagnostic centers) are doing to us. There is something wrong with this picture. These are the people getting rich off of your misfortune. I also hope you’ll keep in mind it was my doctor who suggested all of this. When he saw my incredulity at the outcome, he explained that the insurance industry wants to blame doctors (and a lot of us do too), but in the end it’s not the doctor who really makes out, but rather the providers.

Also, there are apparently a whole lot more rebels who are in non-compliance, out there, or why would they be offering an alternative like this.

I had one final concern and that was; ‘will I get the same type of treatment and care during this test, as someone who has insurance and is paying ‘full price’. The doc assured me, and from what I can tell with the whole set up of this thing, no one will know, except for those in the finance office.

Welcome to the Brave New World of medical care and costs. This is a real eye opener for me. BUT, if your shocked by this, I encourage you to check out just exactly how many of those ‘dread diseases’ have a cure that is being withheld from you because, treating them is such big business.