denturally-challenged mountain man primitive sees a physician

[franksolich]

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6311292

Oh my.

The mountain man primitive who, like all men, nightly pitches his tent one day's march closer to the mausoleum:

ThomWV  (1000+ posts)      Sat Aug-15-09 09:00 AM
Original message
 
Poll question: When is the last time you saw a medical Doctor?

When was the last time you saw a medical Doctor in hope of treatment?

Poll result (132 votes) 

More than 5 years since I've seen a Doctor  (31 votes, 23%)
3 to 5 years since I've seen a Doctor  (15 votes, 11%)
1 to 3 years since I've seen a Doctor  (14 votes, 11%) 
About a year since I've seen a Doctor  (7 votes, 5%)
I've seen a Doctor within the last 6 months  (24 votes, 18%) 
I've seen a Doctor within the last month  (33 votes, 25%)
I am under continious care and see a Doctor more often than monthly  (8 votes, 6%)

I'll be the 49% of the primitives using any of the last three choices is on taxpayer-paid medical care.

The bonfire starts with a bang.

greennina (18 posts)      Sat Aug-15-09 09:02 AM
Response to Original message
 
1. Why only go to five years?

I haven't been in over 25 years, and I don't think most of my friends have been to one in over a decade. Only the rich can afford to go to the doctor yearly.

ThomWV  (1000+ posts)      Sat Aug-15-09 09:04 AM
Response to Reply #1
 
4. It says "More" than 5 years in the first block

greennina (18 posts)      Sat Aug-15-09 09:09 AM
Response to Reply #4
 
9. Of course it does.

There's no reason for you to be insulting. The real point is that the poll is seriously flawed. Most people can't afford a doctor so the time will be greater than five years. Having no real options to show just how bad health care is in this country seriously disenfranchises many of us. Instead of being able to pick a reasonable option, I'm forced to pick one that makes it incorrectly appear that I have much better health care than I have. It is very slanted against the truth of what is really going on in this country. Pull your head out of the sand.

ThomWV  (1000+ posts)      Sat Aug-15-09 09:16 AM
Response to Reply #9
 
16. I'm sorry if you were insulted, that was not my intention

The der alte sau primitive:

proud2BlibKansan  (1000+ posts)        Sat Aug-15-09 09:14 AM
Response to Original message
 
12. 9 months ago 

I didn't see that as an option.

Lisa:

liberalhistorian (1000+ posts)        Sat Aug-15-09 09:42 AM
Response to Original message
 
18. Hubby and I don't have insurance right now, so we'll only go to any medical professional if it's absolutely necessary. The difference between going to a doctor with insurance and without is almost like being in another world. If you can even find a doctor who'll take you without insurance, that is.

ThomWV  (1000+ posts)      Sat Aug-15-09 09:53 AM
Response to Reply #18
 
21. Interesting, I have insuracne and I still don't go.

I have insurance, the same insurance as Congress-critters. But even with it I avoid doctor visits like the plague simply because I can't afford them. Really, having insurance doesn't mean that the bill will be paid - its no guarantee at all.

Hmmmm.  So the mountain man primitive, besides yanking his own teeth, must doctor himself, too.

Uh-oh.

TreasonousBastard  (1000+ posts)      Sat Aug-15-09 10:39 AM
Response to Original message
 
23. I'm curious about some of the responses here...mainly the "can't afford" ones.

How broke do you have to be that a $20 copay is going to take food out your kids' mouths? OK, copays and deductibles adding up to thousands before ridiculously expensive insurance kicks in sucks, but avoiding care because of that?

If you make around the median income for your area, why not be able to afford a doctor visit? Car payments? Mortgage payments on that house you overpaid for? (Or humongous rents from your greedy landlord?) Vacations? Eating out a lot? Something else eating up your paychecks? Why isn't health care a financial priority?

Afraid to go to the doctor because he might find something bad, and expensive? Truth is, that's an old one that used to be mainly men who believed ignorance is bliss, and suspected that if you didn't know what you had, it would go away.

OK, some people are broke enough to not be able to afford even minimal care, but then I see "Someone better pay the whole thing or I'm just going to sit here and suffer. That'll show 'em." Sure will. How about expanding Medicaid instead of Medicare? How about not letting Medicaid wither on the vine?

It's expensive to live in the US, and some places are much more expensive than others, sapping even good paychecks, but demanding completely free care for everything might be a bit much. Why not a free apartment? Free clothes? No limit on food stamps, and everyone gets them...

The tularetom primitive, who made a mint during the "lousy" Bush economy of yore:

tularetom  (1000+ posts)      Sat Aug-15-09 10:42 AM
Response to Original message
 
24. I last saw a doctor in 1998 when my finger became disconnected from my hand by a saw. on a memorial day weekend. I got the stump sewed up in the ER. Then, per instructions by the ER doc, I returned there 10 days later to have the stitches pulled. I debated doing it myself, but ultimately went back to the ER because I assumed it wouldn't cost me anything. After all, I had excellent employer paid health insurance.

Boy was I wrong. Because removal of stitches was deemed a "non emergency" by the bean counters at blue shield, they refused to cover it being done in an ER. Thus began a three month hassle between myself, my wife, the hospital, and blue shield over who must pay for this non emergency performed in an emergency facility. My contention was that I went back there under instruction by the ER doc and thus it was really just a continuation of my original visit.

Of course, we lost. And had to fork over the dough for the second ER visit. It wasn't a huge amount only 3 or 4 hundred bucks. But I'm sure all the hassle cost blue shield that much to keep denying our claims and appeals.

Want high blood pressure? Try actually using the "best health care in the world".

[terry]

ularetom  (1000+ posts)      Sat Aug-15-09 10:42 AM
Response to Original message
 
24. I last saw a doctor in 1998 when my finger became disconnected from my hand by a saw. on a memorial day weekend. I got the stump sewed up in the ER. Then, per instructions by the ER doc, I returned there 10 days later to have the stitches pulled. I debated doing it myself, but ultimately went back to the ER because I assumed it wouldn't cost me anything. After all, I had excellent employer paid health insurance.

Boy was I wrong. Because removal of stitches was deemed a "non emergency" by the bean counters at blue shield, they refused to cover it being done in an ER. Thus began a three month hassle between myself, my wife, the hospital, and blue shield over who must pay for this non emergency performed in an emergency facility. My contention was that I went back there under instruction by the ER doc and thus it was really just a continuation of my original visit.

Of course, we lost. And had to fork over the dough for the second ER visit. It wasn't a huge amount only 3 or 4 hundred bucks. But I'm sure all the hassle cost blue shield that much to keep denying our claims and appeals.

Want high blood pressure? Try actually using the "best health care in the world".

Why would you go back to the ER to have stitches removed?  If the ER doc really said you had to come back to the ER then your beef is with the ER not the insurance company.   If the ER doc said you have to come back to have the stitches removed why wouldn't you just say "why can't I go to a regular doctor, nurse practitioner or nurse?"  I have never heard ER docs say anything other than "follow up with your regular physician"  or "go see this specialist".  ER's are for EMERGENCIES not follow up.

[Texacon]

Only an idiot would go to an ER to have stitches removed.  'Nuff said.

KC

[GOBUCKS]

Only an idiot would go to an ER to have stitches removed.  'Nuff said.

KC

No, an idiot would have better sense.
If you went to a doctor's office, it would be done by a nurse or PA.
You would not even see a doctor.
And it is not possible that an ER doctor would tell you to return to the ER.

[JohnnyReb]

 

25 years ago I didn't have insurance...needed some fairly complicated X-rays ....went into the hospital one morning at 4 am to get them done. Little girl at the front desk asked, "...and what is the name of your insurance company?" I says, "American cash. I'll be paying cash." That just throw a moneywrench in the works. They wanted money in advance but didn't know how much to charge me. They didn't think that I might be carrying enough cash to cover the charges blah-blah-blah....had a little fellow that worked for me with me (a happy go lucky kid, funny as hell type) I told the girl and the other hospital hired help, "See that smiling little fellow over there? That's my driver ...and see that greasy little brown lunch sack he's carrying....it's full of $100 dollar bills.....I think there's enough in there to cover todays charges."
Well, they finally decided to take ...now get this...$200 and send me a bill for the balance.

About a week later I got a bill for $650 minus the $200....and a notice to come back for more test. A week later I had to go to the big city so me, the kid and the greasy brown lunch sack went by to pay the bill  ....But I had some questions for the girl. They had charged me $100 for use of the ER...that was for a locker to put my clothes and a place to undress and put on the backless grown, ...$50 for the gurnie(sp) that they rolled me down to X-ray on....and then $50 more dollars for another one I had to get on in the X-ray room. ...that's was $200 bucks of the total bill....I told the little girl at the front desk, "Next week when I come in for more test, I'll get naked in the parking lot and meet ya'll at the X-ray room. I ain't paying these prices again." They didn't charge me for those things the next time.

[vesta111]

25 years ago I didn't have insurance...needed some fairly complicated X-rays ....went into the hospital one morning at 4 am to get them done. Little girl at the front desk asked, "...and what is the name of your insurance company?" I says, "American cash. I'll be paying cash." That just throw a moneywrench in the works. They wanted money in advance but didn't know how much to charge me. They didn't think that I might be carrying enough cash to cover the charges blah-blah-blah....had a little fellow that worked for me with me (a happy go lucky kid, funny as hell type) I told the girl and the other hospital hired help, "See that smiling little fellow over there? That's my driver ...and see that greasy little brown lunch sack he's carrying....it's full of $100 dollar bills.....I think there's enough in there to cover todays charges."
Well, they finally decided to take ...now get this...$200 and send me a bill for the balance.

About a week later I got a bill for $650 minus the $200....and a notice to come back for more test. A week later I had to go to the big city so me, the kid and the greasy brown lunch sack went by to pay the bill  ....But I had some questions for the girl. They had charged me $100 for use of the ER...that was for a locker to put my clothes and a place to undress and put on the backless grown, ...$50 for the gurnie(sp) that they rolled me down to X-ray on....and then $50 more dollars for another one I had to get on in the X-ray room. ...that's was $200 bucks of the total bill....I told the little girl at the front desk, "Next week when I come in for more test, I'll get naked in the parking lot and meet ya'll at the X-ray room. I ain't paying these prices again." They didn't charge me for those things the next time.

Do Dentists qualify as doctors.?

We need Separate insurance for Dentists, --Go to the ER with an abscessed tooth that is pouring poison into your heart and  other internal organs and walk out with a prescription for antiobiots.  Ever have a dry socket and dentist on vacation, Mama the pain.

It is like the inside of ones mouth is off limits even in an emergency to ER or PC Doctors.

Why can't in an emergency a Medical doctor pull a tooth, it they can transplant hearts kidneys and livers--- whats a tooth to them?

[DumbAss Tanker]

tularetom  (1000+ posts)      Sat Aug-15-09 10:42 AM
Response to Original message
 
24. I last saw a doctor in 1998 when my finger became disconnected from my hand by like a complete idiot I cut off my own damn' finger with a saw. on a memorial day weekend. I got the stump sewed up in the ER.

 

Fixorized.

[Texacon]

25 years ago I didn't have insurance...needed some fairly complicated X-rays ....went into the hospital one morning at 4 am to get them done. Little girl at the front desk asked, "...and what is the name of your insurance company?" I says, "American cash. I'll be paying cash." That just throw a moneywrench in the works. They wanted money in advance but didn't know how much to charge me. They didn't think that I might be carrying enough cash to cover the charges blah-blah-blah....had a little fellow that worked for me with me (a happy go lucky kid, funny as hell type) I told the girl and the other hospital hired help, "See that smiling little fellow over there? That's my driver ...and see that greasy little brown lunch sack he's carrying....it's full of $100 dollar bills.....I think there's enough in there to cover todays charges."
Well, they finally decided to take ...now get this...$200 and send me a bill for the balance.

About a week later I got a bill for $650 minus the $200....and a notice to come back for more test. A week later I had to go to the big city so me, the kid and the greasy brown lunch sack went by to pay the bill  ....But I had some questions for the girl. They had charged me $100 for use of the ER...that was for a locker to put my clothes and a place to undress and put on the backless grown, ...$50 for the gurnie(sp) that they rolled me down to X-ray on....and then $50 more dollars for another one I had to get on in the X-ray room. ...that's was $200 bucks of the total bill....I told the little girl at the front desk, "Next week when I come in for more test, I'll get naked in the parking lot and meet ya'll at the X-ray room. I ain't paying these prices again." They didn't charge me for those things the next time.

LOL!

KC

[Celtic Rose]

Do Dentists qualify as doctors.?

We need Separate insurance for Dentists, --Go to the ER with an abscessed tooth that is pouring poison into your heart and  other internal organs and walk out with a prescription for antiobiots.  Ever have a dry socket and dentist on vacation, Mama the pain.

It is like the inside of ones mouth is off limits even in an emergency to ER or PC Doctors.

Why can't in an emergency a Medical doctor pull a tooth, it they can transplant hearts kidneys and livers--- whats a tooth to them?

You go ahead and have your ER doctor pull your teeth.  I'll contact my dentist before it gets to that point and have them fix the tooth. 

[vesta111]

You go ahead and have your ER doctor pull your teeth.  I'll contact my dentist before it gets to that point and have them fix the tooth. 

Ah Rose, it must be grand to be able to come up with $300.00 per tooth, the antibiotics and pain pills. Not to mention accidents that knock out teeth and need to be capped at $1,200.00 per tooth.  No guarantee on capping, less then a year later the cap may fall out.

We have wisdom teeth that get impacted as a young adult, there are diseases that cause  problems and sneak up on us even if we brush and floss 5 times a day.
 
Don't forget each of us has 32 teeth that can crack on an olive pit, loose enamel from acidic foods and drinks.  Some races inherit bone structure in the jaw that causes TMJ that is Not covered by insurance.

[AprilRazz]

Ah Rose, it must be grand to be able to come up with $300.00 per tooth, the antibiotics and pain pills. Not to mention accidents that knock out teeth and need to be capped at $1,200.00 per tooth.  No guarantee on capping, less then a year later the cap may fall out.

We have wisdom teeth that get impacted as a young adult, there are diseases that cause  problems and sneak up on us even if we brush and floss 5 times a day.
 
Don't forget each of us has 32 teeth that can crack on an olive pit, loose enamel from acidic foods and drinks.  Some races inherit bone structure in the jaw that causes TMJ that is Not covered by insurance.

Join the military and you will have free dental. Of course it is as close as one can come to socialized medicine in this country so your tooth will have to wait about 3 months.

[The Village Idiot]

Someone get the queen of priss off the internet