Muenkel 0 #76 February 5, 2008 Kallend, My condolences to you for the loss of your family friend. _________________________________________ Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #77 February 5, 2008 QuoteQuoteYou want to go to urgent care clinics any time you need medical care during normal business hours without needing an ambulance to get there. The waits are usually much more reasonable; often under an hour. Not just normal Business Hours, Most Urgent Care places are open pretty late. Of the 3 that are closer to my home than any ER, One is open till 10pm and the other 2 are open till Midnight. everyone should check thier area and see if there are Urgent Care places near them and when they are open. Could save them ALOT of time in the future should they need care quickly. Many hospitals have both the ER and the urgent care clinic. However, if you say you nearly blacked out and say you have a history of heart concerns, they might direct you towards the ER. Pop, I found that lying down on the ground can get some attention. Well, worked for me when I went to the college hospital with what turned out to be appendicitus. But that was 8am when people were just showing up, not a full emergency room. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanatos340 1 #78 February 5, 2008 QuoteMy insurance company provides me with a list of the closest urgent care places, and the co-pay is the same as if I go to the ER. You might want to check with your insurance co. about them. Also you may have "Out of Network" options as well depending on your Insurance that willlet you visit any of these places but you have a Higher co-pay. Look into all of your options. A little research ahead of time (Talk to the Urgent Care Places and Your insurance Company) can save time and Money in a time of need. It is easy to scream the system is Broken (And I cannot disagree with that) but a little research and you may find that things are not as bad as you think. The ER should be your absolute last option. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFXpert 0 #79 February 5, 2008 Quote8 hour wait to see an emergency doctor on a Monday evening is simply rediculous! Oohhhhh. I see what the problem is. You didn't get the memo: Unless you're dying, never under any circumstances go to any doctor on a Monday.Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freethefly 6 #80 February 5, 2008 QuoteMyself, being HIV+, no insurance company will cover me. Tell me, what choice do I have? Again, if you're able to work, group health plans have to cover you despite pre-existing conditions IF you change from one group policy to the new one (unless that's just an Arkansas phenomenon...I doubt it). Even though they don't have to cover you if you did not change from another group plan, most do. Prior to medical school I was a social worker. Had several clients who went back to work after being on disability for some time. They made sure they would be covered before taking a job, but none had any difficulty with this. linz I have an appointment with vocational rehab tomorrow. I've worked in the welding field all of my life but, with advanced HIV, severe neuropathy, wearing out extremely fast and the severe nausea being on my feet all day is somewhat difficult. I have been trying to make my homebased business work out for me but t-shirt sales have been slow as of late. I do hope that I can get into something that will allow me to work around my illness that can provide insurance. I am a damn good graphic artist as well as a pro with Photoshop and know my way around a commecial embroidery machine and garment printer. I need something that won't keep me on my feet for 8+ hours straight. Believe me, I much prefer to work."...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFXpert 0 #81 February 5, 2008 Quote When I called to contest that one, they said something about the prior billing company hadn't been up to speed. Who the hell keeps all their receipts for 2 years? Me. I keep 10 years. I keep them all but have a special file for medical receipts. What do I win? Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
normiss 622 #82 February 5, 2008 It was my experience with an urgent care facility that they screen out serious issues...if they can treat the ailment...then they will....serious? They're referring youto the ER, and billing you for the visit. $150 in my experience...so after 3 hours at urgent care, many more hours in ER. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanatos340 1 #83 February 5, 2008 Quoteif they can treat the ailment...then they will....serious? They're referring you to the ER, and billing you for the visit. $150 in my experience Of course they will bill you for their time. They did their Job. I dont know many people that work for free. Someone has to pay for their time and overhead. If you do actually require EMERGENCY Care, they should send you to the ER. My point to all this is that there are alternatives to going to the ER and if more people would take advantage of these options, the waits and level of service in the ER`s would improve. Urgent Care Places are great for things like Needing Stitches of Small Cut, Minor Broken Bones, Ear Infections, Severe Colds/Flu, and other non-life threatening situations that cannot wait for a regular doctors appointment. Unfortunately most people will run straight to the ER for these problems and end up getting in the way of people that do have life threatening situations. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lawrocket 3 #84 February 5, 2008 Quoteif you can't afford to insure and maintain a vehicle, you have the option of mass transit, and life goes on. So, what you do is publicize the OTHER options out there. Get insurance that has a high deductible. Take some money (tax free) and put it into a HSA. Make insurance become something for high-cost events, like hospitalizations, etc. Need flu shots for your kid? $20.00 at a local clinic, instead of a $10.00 co-pay. Need a physical? $50.00 or $100.00 cash at a GP. Got a bad infection? Go to urgent care. Pay $100.00 to see the doctor. Get a shot in the ass of penicillin ($20.00) and a generic prescription ($20.00). Pay for it out of your HSA. It's why I think that socialized health care - if done - would best be accomplished by a cash credit. Instead of returning $800.00 per person, how about giving $2,000.00 to be used toward medical expenses. It's amazing what people do when it's their own money they are spending. Of people used health insurance like "insurance" then we would likely see the price fall. Instead, they use it as a collective payment subsidy for all things medical. As far as the drug companies go... I'm torn on it... However, plenty of drug companies want their products used instead of generics. My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Richards 0 #85 February 5, 2008 I am not sure when you last came up here for health care, but to even get a family doctor I was on a wait list for almost a year. Our system is far from perfect. My biggest handicap is that sometimes the hole in the front of my head operates a tad bit faster than the grey matter contained within. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Richards 0 #86 February 5, 2008 QuoteQuoteAlso, feel free to send me any guns/ammo you can no longer own legally in Canada. (There, I got guns into this thread, Bitches!!) OK it's not quite that bad. We can own guns we simply haver a shitload of irritating restrictions, like if a burglar comes into my house I have to unlock my gun locker, then take the trigger lock off and then get the ammo which has to be stored in a seperate location before he can kill me. We also have dumb limitations on pistol capacity (5 round mags) and assault rifles became grandfathered prohibited. No concealed carry law (just scream at a 911 recording as you die) because apparently we are being protected from ourselves and.......Fuck it you're right....it is that bad up here. My biggest handicap is that sometimes the hole in the front of my head operates a tad bit faster than the grey matter contained within. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pop 0 #87 February 5, 2008 QuoteI am not sure when you last came up here for health care, but to even get a family doctor I was on a wait list for almost a year. Our system is far from perfect. I was refering to emergency care7 ounce wonders, music and dogs that are not into beer Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lawrocket 3 #88 February 5, 2008 QuoteQuoteGovernment education? I had it, and it worked okay for me. So your fine with what only works for you? Actually, I see public education as something that causes no harm. But I still look to private first. QuoteInsurance is actually driving up the cost of medicine because everyone expects insurance to pay for everything. Next time you or your family need medical care do you plan to not use your insurance? If you do use the insurance, then you are part of the problem then, according to your words. It depends. For common things, I pay out of pocket. We've got a high deductible, anyway, which dramatically reduces our monthyl payment. Doctor's visits, well-child, immunizations, etc., are out of pocket. When my son had surgery, it got to our deductible and the insurance company put in a couple hundred. So we pay cash (tax free) for just about everything... But in the event I am in a bad accident or something, we have insurance to provide peace of mind for catastrophic losses. My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pop 0 #89 February 5, 2008 Quote So we pay cash (tax free) for just about everything... But in the event I am in a bad accident or something, we have insurance to provide peace of mind for catastrophic losses. Sucks for people who cant afford insurance. They are stuck having to use emergency rooms, which pisses me off cause i have to wait 8 hours. 7 ounce wonders, music and dogs that are not into beer Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lawrocket 3 #90 February 5, 2008 You'd be amazing how much more affordable insurance is when it only covers the rare catastrophic event. I decided to just get some individual quotes on insurance for my family. Me, wife, little boy and little girl. It's all about the deductible. If I get an HSA plan with a 1500/3000 deductible, I'll pay $836.00/month for it. No small sum. If, however, I increase the deductible to a 3000/6000, it is now $575.00 per month. If I work up to a $3500/7000 plan, it is now $200.00 per month! Over the course of a year, there's $10,032 in premiums with a $1500 deductible, meaning for $11,532 they'll cover all of you (simplistically) If I do a 3500/7000, then I'll have $2400 in premiums. Assuming I pay $3500in deductibles before they even cover a cent, I still make out ahead with a total of 5,900.00 per year! And what are the odds that in any given year you'll run up $3500 in expenses? That's only six months of premiums that you COULD be putting away, tax free, into an HSA. It is simply mind boggling how much MORE affordable insurance can be if it is used appropriately. You pay up the ass if you want them to pay for everything. I pay LESS for my health insurance and end up receiving MORE for my money because I don't expect insurance to cover everything. People hose themselves by playing right into the hands of the insurers because they are greedy! My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 1,623 #91 February 5, 2008 QuoteQuoteQuoteAlso, feel free to send me any guns/ammo you can no longer own legally in Canada. (There, I got guns into this thread, Bitches!!) OK it's not quite that bad. We can own guns we simply haver a shitload of irritating restrictions, like if a burglar comes into my house I have to unlock my gun locker, then take the trigger lock off and then get the ammo which has to be stored in a seperate location before he can kill me. We also have dumb limitations on pistol capacity (5 round mags) and assault rifles became grandfathered prohibited. No concealed carry law (just scream at a 911 recording as you die) because apparently we are being protected from ourselves and.......Fuck it you're right....it is that bad up here. Apparently it's working. Canada's homicide rate is around 1/3 of the USA's rate, and the worst large Canadian cities have similar homicide rates to the safest large US cilties.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lawrocket 3 #92 February 5, 2008 How do they kill each other without guns? I thought banning guns would end that sort of thing. My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #93 February 5, 2008 Emergency Rooms are supposed to be for life threatening emergencies. It's amazing how many people will abuse the system when a visit to the doctor's office or local clinic would have taken care of the problem or at least screened you out. If you were not sure, maybe a call to a medical hotline would at least point you in the right direction. I have an inch-thick book at home that covers most of the common health problems that can pop up anytime and what to do with them. It helps a lot."Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TrophyHusband 0 #94 February 5, 2008 Quote I think the government's primary responsibilities should be to feed the people, educate the people and provide healthcare for the people. i gotta disagree with that. i don't think the government ows me a check, a meal, or a doctor. what they do owe me though is the opportunity to get those things for myself. the problem as i see it with healthcare, is that it is so fucking expensive. that is the issue that i don't see any politicians talking about. why is it so expensive? lets follow the money. who is making all the money in the medical industry? pharmaceuticles, insurance companies, and trial lawyers. i do believe in capitalism, but there must be some parameters within which private industry must operate. i'm not sure how to handle the pharms, the want of profit makes them do a hell of a lot of research to find new drugs. the problem is that they rape americans on the price and then sell them a lot cheaper to many other countries. i understand that this may have a lot to do with the arduous and expensive process of getting fda approval, so we can start there. insurance companies charge huge amounts of money, pay as little as possible, and find every reason not to pay. they need to be looked into, but since they are one of the most powerful lobbies in washington, i doubt that will happen. now we get to the trial lawyers. first let me say this, we do need them and they should get paid. we have the right to sue when someone fucks up and that shouldn't change. the problem comes when that right is abused. there are several problems here. lawyers can file lawsuit after lawsuit with litte to no merit and get away with it. lawsuits with no merit are sometimes settled because it would be cheaper to settle than to fight and win. the payouts on lawsuits are huge. there needs to be a cap on non-monitary damages, and there needs to be a cap on how much money the lawyers can make off of it. lawrocket, please correct me if i'm wrong. we then need a safety net for those that truly cannot get insurance either because its still too expensive or they are ineligable because of prior existing conditions. our system here is far from perfect, but it can be made a lot better without going to socialism. "Your scrotum is quite nice" - Skymama www.kjandmegan.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TrophyHusband 0 #95 February 5, 2008 QuoteApparently it's working. Canada's homicide rate is around 1/3 of the USA's rate, and the worst large Canadian cities have similar homicide rates to the safest large US cilties. that's because it's too fucking cold to go out and kill something you can't drag home and eat. besides, have you ever been to canada? they are the nicest people in the world. something about their culture or genetics produces people who are easy to get along with. i think you could give them all guns and you wouldn't notice an increase in homocides. "Your scrotum is quite nice" - Skymama www.kjandmegan.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #96 February 5, 2008 QuoteDon't let the door hit you in the ass. Exactly Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Royd 0 #97 February 5, 2008 QuoteBecause two hours is better than eight, and the rooms arent filled with illigal mexicans. Is that the liberal coming out in you? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #98 February 5, 2008 QuoteAlso, feel free to send me any guns/ammo you can no longer own legally in Canada. (There, I got guns into this thread, Bitches!!) He is against firearms ownership, and would want to strip all of us of our second amendment rights if he had the power to do so. In light of that, he should take his ass to Canada, and never return. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #99 February 5, 2008 If he wants real emergency care, maybe someone will volunteer to shoot him in the head or chest. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lawrocket 3 #100 February 5, 2008 Quotelawyers can file lawsuit after lawsuit with litte to no merit and get away with it. Not really. Here in Cali, at least, lawyers filing unmerited lawsuits get bankrupted pretty quickly. Quotelawsuits with no merit are sometimes settled because it would be cheaper to settle than to fight and win. Laws here are generally set up to prevent that - especially with health care providers. They have a lot more protections than most others do. And if you sue a government hospital (like a county trauma center, etc) and lose, well, Code of Civil Procedure section 1038 provides that the plaintiff shall pay the costs and attorney fees. Quotethere needs to be a cap on non-monitary damages, In California the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act ("MICRA") limits pain and suffering to $250k. That's 1978 dollars, by the way. Back in the 1970's, the Cali legislature passed a series of laws limiting liability. Personally, I think the number should be upped. So, the good lawyers typically only take cases of catastrophic injury. The $4 million per year CEO with brain damage and needing $500k per year in medical expenses. Quoteneeds to be a cap on how much money the lawyers can make off of it There is. Med Mal limits what a lawyer can make. 1) 40% of the first 50k ($20k); 2) 33.333 of the next $50k ($16,666.67) 3) 25% of the next $500k ($125k) 4) 15% of anything over $600k. Plenty of other states have done this and others are lookign into it. My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
