Slightly Sarcastic

The Clusterf**k That Is The US Healthcare Industry

Posted on09 Jul 2010

This is not going to be an educated in-depth look at the US Healthcare industry, but more a rant, a bitchfest of someone caught in the midst of the outrageous cost of health insurance and the ridiculous prices of medical care topped off with the sad state of the economy. It’s an endless circle of greed, incompetence and political malfunction, sprinkled with a dash of brains, invention and hard working Americans.

Our family has been hit pretty hard by the recession. My husband has had to figure out how to replace a $10,000 a month income in a field that is getting harder and harder to find work. For a little background; He worked for the Va Natural Gas Company for the past 10 years. Their company sold out to Atlanta Natural Gas who then got rid of all employees in VA and sent that work to Atlanta or India (that’s a whole other rant since the Gas Company services, where?, not Atlanta, GA, but Virginia) Anyway, we didn’t really worry he’s always had more work than he could manage anyway. Boy were we in for a surprise. It’s been a year now. He’s found lots of odds and ends and a couple of good size contracts but nothing steady which is really scary when you have kids to take care of.

I have been paying health insurance for 25 years straight. For 10 years I worked for the Government and was able to get great coverage for $12 every two weeks. Now I realize why people keep a job JUST for the health insurance coverage. Once I didn’t work for the Government anymore health insurance premiums cost us a ton more. We started papying $700 a month about 10 years ago and it has steadily increased. A couple months ago we had to stop paying our $1,000 a month health insurance bill – we just couldn’t do it. We have paid this for YEARS and have never had any major health bills so the insurance company really made out. A couple days ago I had to take my 5 year old in for a physical and PPD shot (checks for tuberculosis) – all kids have to have this before starting kindergarten. I knew going in that I would be paying cash but I didn’t really think much of it and was expecting a to pay a couple hundred bucks. She ended up having to get the physical, ppd and 3 other shots to catch her up on all her shots. I go to check out and the bill comes to, $131 for the office visit and $365 for the shots – and that’s with 25% off. Are you F**CKING KIDDING ME????!!!!!!!!!!! $496.00 for a school physical and 4 shots – for a five year old!!!! I sure hope none of us gets really sick.

Is it just me or this too much?

So, how many people get caught up in this? Can’t afford the outrageous health insurance premiums can hardly afford the ridiculous cost of healthcare without insurance. To make it worse you just KNOW this is because the insurance companies are one of the greediest, richest industries in the US. They are known for their brutal treatment of policy holders and for the lavish lifestyles of the people who run the companies. (This is a bitchfest I’m not going to get into anything positive about health insurance in this post, go find that somewhere else)

It’s sad when you start joking with your husband that you are going to divorce him so you can go on medicaid in order to cover your kids healthcare. It’s even harder worrying 24/7 that something is going to happen before we can start paying health insurance again. I wonder how many people fall into this category. They don’t make enough to pay health insurance premiums and they make to much to get any help from the Government.

You Just Never Know When or Where

Here is an interesting report comparing US Health Care with other major countries:

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: How the Performance of the U.S. Health Care System Compares Internationally, 2010 Update

Despite having the most costly health system in the world, the United States consistently underperforms on most dimensions of performance, relative to other countries. This report—an update to three earlier editions—includes data from seven countries and incorporates patients’ and physicians’ survey results on care experiences and ratings on dimensions of care. Compared with six other nations—Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom—the U.S. health care system ranks last or next-to-last on five dimensions of a high performance health system: quality, access, efficiency, equity, and healthy lives. Newly enacted health reform legislation in the U.S. will start to address these problems by extending coverage to those without and helping to close gaps in coverage—leading to improved disease management, care coordination, and better outcomes over time. (Read Full Report)

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Featured Articles, family stuff

http://dazeedreams.blogspot.com/ Donna

You don’t even want to get me started on a rant about this. I think everyone deserves healthcare. And I don’t think it socialized medicine. I think it is the right of every citizen. And it is totally unfair that a government worker only has to pay 12 dollars a paycheck and regular citizens have to pay either the whole amount or at least 150 dollars a check. NOT FREAKING RIGHT!!!!!!
http://newhousingdevelopments.net/906/can-the-us-economy-handle-850-billion-in-new-spending.html Can the US economy handle $850 billion in new spending?

[...] Slightly Sarcastic » Blog Archive » The Clusterf**k That Is The US Healthcare Industry [...]
http://inside-my-head.com Leigh

It is ridiculous! We have state subsidized insurance on our children, for which we pay $35 a month for our daughter, my ex-husband pays the same for my son. But we can’t get the same break for insurance on ourselves, we’re ineligible, and our employers don’t offer health insurance. I do work for the government – just not a branch that offers health insurance. It’s more than ridiculous!
http://john-sealander.blogspot.com John Sealander

Healthcare is insanely expensive. It doesn’t need to be. Why does a surgical procedure that costs less than $4000 for my dog end up costing $75,000 if I needed the same thing myself? Why does the $25 cholesterol screening that I have done at my local health food store end up as a $400 bill to my insurance company if my doctor orders exactly the same blood work from Labcorp? Everybody grossly overcharges, because they know that the consumer (you) is never going to see the final bill. Personally, I wish I could just see my veterinarian for healthcare instead of my doctor. Veterinarians are better trained than most doctors, they have more up-to-date equipment, they charge reasonable prices, and they definitely speak better English.

As a small business owner, healthcare is my largest single expense. I’m convinced that healthcare would be hugely less expensive if we just paid for services rendered like we do when we take our car in for service. Insurance companies don’t like to lose money. As long as they are part of the equation, healthcre is going to be insanely expensive.
http://www.Momspective.com Julie From Momspective

I left a witty retort then the page got all wonky on me and deleted it so I will just now confirm that the healthcare industry saw what I said and erased it. Those Asshats.
sheila

Donna – I had no clue how expensive health insurance was until I turned 30. Growing up we were military so it was free,then I started working for the Government and they pay about 80% of your health insurance. But, there are millions out there who don’t fall in this group.

Leigh – The more it’s talked about the more confusing it becomes but the more obviously f*cked up it is.

John – You are exactly right. The people who are paying cash get screwed because they get charged the amount the Dr charges the insurance company which is overinflated. I get 25% off when I pay cash but I think 50-65% would be a closer mark.

Julie – I think I had a wonky plug-in, damn I love witty retorts.
http://mymommadrama@gmail.com Momma Drama

I totally agree with you and I think there are a lot of people in the exact situation you’re in. I’ve actually worked within the health insurance industry for six years. I actually worked for BCBS of “insert state” for 2 years.

The company I work for now is scrambling because of the new healthcare reform. They make their money selling contracts to employers – for the best rate. In the end it’s the employers decision. My insurance? Oh you’d think it’d be cheap since we work with the insurance company, find them clients and such. Nope. I pay $400 a month for a high deductible plan. The PPO is closer to $700. With my high deductible plan, my family has to pay $5000 out of pocket before the insurance company (that I pay $400 a month to) will pay ANYTHING. I can’t stand it. Hubby went to the emergency room to get his thumb stitched up shortly ago, we just got the bill, $1100. They charged him PER HOUR he was in the emergency room. Like yeah, he was just hanging out flirting with the doctoros and nurses. THEY MADE HIM WAIT! Ok, sorry, we just found out today… so I’m a little sensitve.

The whole situation with the healthcare industry is horrible. I think it should be changed!
http://www.myfrugalways.com plin

Thinking about health insurance here in US really makes me sick to the stomach. My wife and I recently had a new child and with a company health insurance, we thought our out of pocket cost shouldn’t be too bad. Boy were we in for a surprise. When we first contacted the hospital they verified that the hospital does take our insurance. Little did we know that the even though the hospital is “in the network” the hospital pediatricians are not. So long story short, we were charged some 2k for two fifteen minute visit by the hospital pediatrician.

It seems like even with health insurance, you have to verify with everyone that comes in contact with you whether they take your insurance or else you are in for a surprise.
sheila

Momma Drama – Obviously if insurance companies don’t even look after their own employees they aren’t going to give a crap about anyone. It’s all about the $ – however they can get the most – pathetic.

Plin – It’s really sad that just about every person you talk to has a health insurance horror story. I’ve had a few kids myself and know exactly what a pain it is to make sure everything falls within your insurances reach.
http://www.wwnewsflash.com/sheila-e#915038 World Wide News Flash

Slightly Sarcastic » Blog Archive » The Clusterf**k That Is The US ……

I found your entry interesting do I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog …
http://www.scrink.com Christy

My husband lost his job almost 7 months ago. My insurance is good, but it’s only as good as it can be. Both of my children have health issues. My oldest as an immune deficiency, IgA. We are in the hospital with one or both of them a couple times each week. The bills add up, they add up fast. When I see posts like yours I laugh and then I want to cry. It’s a roller coaster.
http://thedeevolutionofman.com/ megaman

I can’t agree with you more, it’s the greed of not only the insurance industry, but the Drs. as well, charging excessive fees, over-charging and the insurance companies just pass that off to us.

Something needs to be done, I’d say we all should stop going and just die, but shit they rob you blind when you die too, morticians are standing in line with their wallets open.
http://www.cynicalmusings.com Cynical Musings/ JLandsberger

Sad as it is, my husband was undecided for awhile whether to stay in the military or not. When we sat down and figured out how much my medication (I’m on six for bi-polar disorder) alone would cost…well, it wasn’t the only reason he decided to stay in, but it definitely had an effect. There isn’t a chance in h*ll that any insurance company would cover me.
I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you guys.
http://www.smalltownmommy.com Anne

When I was pregnant with my younger daughter (during the last recession) our Cobra ran out. Since I was pregnant, I was uninsurable. My husband was fortunate to get a job that offered healthcare because we would have lost everything without it.
http://www.margsanimals.com/blogs Marg

I totally agree with you. Insurance is just out of site and so are the doctor fees. I just don’t know what can be done. It is all so scary. Wish there was something we could do about it.
http://www.shoot-me-now.com Katherine

Wow you just struck a BIG nerve with me. I have a huge problem with health care costs, the cost of insurance and with all the people who desperately need medical care and can’t get it. I have a few close friends who not only have lyme disease, but their KIDS have lyme disease…. they need lots of medicine and can’t get half of it b/c they don’t have health insurance and can’t pay for it. The moms go without meds so the kids can have them… therefore the moms are constantly in pain, which changes the whole dynamic of the family…. AMEN to your post!
http://www.redheadranting.com/ Jen

I’ve been on both sides of this (doctor/patient, not insurance side). Doctors are indeed inflating their prices because of insurance but they don’t recoup enough for what they are forced to discount the insurance companies so they are suffering too. In my father’s last years of practice he was using his savings to cover payroll and all the other costs he couldn’t cover with payments from patients.

I have state insurance because I can’t afford to cover my kids, I pay about $65 per person a month which I know is really cheap. I don’t go to the doctor unless necessary and when I do I often feel humiliated by the staff because of my state insurance. I’ve had a rant of my own about that for a long time but it’s too painful to write.

It sucks all around and the blame lies directly at the door of the insurance companies. Maybe if they let go of all the people who make all the different paperwork that needs to be filed it would be a lot less expensive?
http://www.donechute.com/ Don E. Chute

All the comments above me sum it up. I really can’t add more. It sucks, Obamacare scares the crap out of me! I heard this morning on Fox, that the IRS will be responsible to make sure we all have insurance, I guess check a box or something on tax-forms. They will be adding 17,000 more agents though!

Please don’t let me start ranting on Social Security Disability! 35 years of working, 51 years old. Almost died in September. It’s a fightfightfight ever since.

Great post.

PLU!
http://www.melissashomeschool.blogspot.com melissa

I will not say a thing nice about health insurance companies. I will however not say one nice thing about health care providers either. They think they are worth what they charge, and they are just as greedy and selfish. But I won’t rant. I will tell you that public health will give your children shots for free, and do the physical for next to nothing. Also if you contact medicaid, which you pr0bably don’t qualify for, they will tell you how to sign up for the state insurance offered in your state. The price you pay out will depend on your income. Your kids will probably qualify but you and your husband will have to go uncovered. When dealing with a doctor’s office try to negotiate before you go in. Some have flex pay plans, and some will offer you to pay what the insurance company will pay. As for a hospital if you ever need care be sure to negotiate your bill. Most of the time they will again allow you to pay what an insurance company would pay, which is usually about a quarter of your actual bill.
http://everyday-adventurer.blogspot.com/ Ratty

I don’t have much to add except that I agree. Insurance companies have been charging more than an actual doctor bill usually is. That’s not insurance at all. It’s prepaying for something they might deny us anyway.
http://www.polprav.blogspot.com/ sashamlick

it was very interesting to read.
I want to quote your post in my blog. It can?
And you et an account on Twitter?
http://www.injaynesworld.blogspot.com/ injaynesworld

First of all to Don: If you want accurate news, you might want to expose yourself to a few other sources besides Fox.

Sheila: I’m so sorry for all the crap you’re going through. Of course we should have single payer health care in this country. Administrative costs for Medicare are only 3% compared to right around 20% for the insurance industry. It would have made so much sense just to abolish the age requirement for Medicare and let all who wanted to simply buy in, but Congress is so far up the ass of the insurance industry lobbyists, they wouldn’t even go for a public option.

I believe the new health care reform act is a good start, but we have a long way to go the catch up to the more civilized nations.