My unintended experiance with being "uninsured". A bouncy

[CC27]

marble falls (9,377 posts)

My unintended experiance with being "uninsured"


My wife and I both came down with what her doctor diagnosed as bronchitis. No problem: her Cadillac health care plan after 28 years with the CIA covered everything for her. I'm on VA health care and because I used to get bronchitis almost every year and because neither of us could take the 50 mile drive to my primary care physician in Austin or 80 miles to Temple Medical center I decided to hunker down: rest, push fluids and shelter in place.

That was Monday.

Thursday, neither of us were any better and were decidedly worse, in fact.

I called VA to get authorization to use the local hospital emergency room.

At Scott and White I got incredibly good and quick service. Second only to the care I get at VA.

What I had was type B influenza. You know, the one not covered by this flu season's inoculation.

What I also got was $250+ in prescriptions and a bill I haven't seen yet that I am confident will be more than a $1000.

This is the sort of thing that will make some people miss rent, a car payment, a weeks work, lose a job, become homeless. We've all heard that the average American is four or so paychecks from the streets.

The biggest thing I learned? We need single-payer now more than ever. ACA was a good start, lets get to the next logical and better step. Oh, and regulating the vampire pharmaceutical industry is a necessity, also. For the price of the codeine cough syrup alone I could have bought a good bindle of smack on the street. Something is very wrong.

Meanwhile: back to my sick bed.

Use spell check before typing these bouncy tales. K thanks.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027828748

[FlaGator]

The biggest thing I learned? We need single-payer now more than ever.

Translation: "The biggest thing I learned? I shouldn't be burdened with paying for my own medical care, you should."

[jukin]

The biggest thing I learned? We need single-payer now more than ever.

The VA is tht and kills thousands of vets due to neglect and mismanagement every year.  So NO!!

OAN, why isn't the DUchebag on his wife's  Cadillac plan?  Let me guess it costs  money.

The left is nothing more than a huge criminal parasite on the rest of us.

[franksolich]

Oh my.

It's blinding, the glare from all the colors.

comment 3207:
http://conservativecave.com/index.php?topic=81827.3200

[I_B_Perky]

The VA is tht and kills thousands of vets due to neglect and mismanagement every year.  So NO!!

OAN, why isn't the DUchebag on his wife's  Cadillac plan?  Let me guess it costs  money.

The left is nothing more than a huge criminal parasite on the rest of us.

I think that is what the VA was designed for... to kill off the vets.  God knows they tried to kill dad multiple times and fortunately they were too incompetent to even do that.   

Can you tell I hate the VA?   

[BannedFromDU]

Translation: "The biggest thing I learned? I shouldn't be burdened with paying for my own medical care, you should."

    That is correct. Any appeal for single payer is an appeal for unlimited free shit.

[miskie]

I think that is what the VA was designed for... to kill off the vets.  God knows they tried to kill dad multiple times and fortunately they were too incompetent to even do that.   

Can you tell I hate the VA?   

I deliver mail for a living. - And I can tell you that every single vet who relies on medicine through the mail from the VA gets it late. They have all complained to me about it at least once.

As for 'Cadillac Plans' - I have one. Thankfully, I am close enough to the government beast to have not (yet) been hurt by it. My plan has had increases in costs, but they have only amounted to a few percent a year - probably averaging about 3%.

[Patriot Guard Rider]

I deliver mail for a living. - And I can tell you that every single vet who relies on medicine through the mail from the VA gets it late. They have all complained to me about it at least once.

As for 'Cadillac Plans' - I have one. Thankfully, I am close enough to the government beast to have not (yet) been hurt by it. My plan has had increases in costs, but they have only amounted to a few percent a year - probably averaging about 3%.

I guess I'm lucky. I get my care through the VA and without exception, every time I've gotten meds through the mail, they arrive within 3 days.

[Delmar]

I guess I'm lucky. I get my care through the VA and without exception, every time I've gotten meds through the mail, they arrive within 3 days.

I have had really good luck with them too.  I use the MyHealtheVet online to refill prescriptions and they have always come very quickly. 

[Patriot Guard Rider]

I have had really good luck with them too.  I use the MyHealtheVet online to refill prescriptions and they have always come very quickly.

IMHO, the complaints come from those suffering from PTSD who need in-house help but no beds are available, those who desperately need operations and can't get it scheduled, etc.

Seriously, I'm hoping Trump wins. He has a commitment to take care of the vets. I wish he'd simply issue credit cards to vets with valid VA ID cards so they can use them at any hospital anywhere. The bill goes to a SMALL VA office where those bills are perused and approved. Close the VA hospitals, sell them to another entity and use those funds to help pay for medical care.

[98ZJUSMC]

I guess I'm lucky. I get my care through the VA and without exception, every time I've gotten meds through the mail, they arrive within 3 days.

I've never used mine (Marion, Il VA), but all I've heard about it from those that have is that it is very good.  I'll see, one of these days.  They (VA) sent me a form to sign up about three years ago.  Didn't fill it out.  Tricare is still my primary, for a while anyways.  I haven't used it in years. 

What the f**k is this .....ANNUAL bronchitis?     F***king p*s*y.

[98ZJUSMC]

Seriously, I'm hoping Trump wins. He has a commitment to take care of the vets. .

Same here.  Stupidity votes for a third party/GOPer implant or, stays home,  at this point.  I understand voting your conscience, but ....... anything else guarantees the most despicable POS this country has seen, yet.  Zero is nothing compared to that horrific t**t.

I wish he'd simply issue credit cards to vets with valid VA ID cards so they can use them at any hospital anywhere. The bill goes to a SMALL VA office where those bills are perused and approved. Close the VA hospitals, sell them to another entity and use those funds to help pay for medical care

Quite a few, could go away.  Many are just around for patronage jobs and political reasons.  It would save money.

[jukin]

But wiat!!! It gets better. Under the world's smartest and bestes executive, Obama, the 10 billion dollars congress gave to help the VA give quicker service has....wait for it....INCREASED WAIT TIMES FOR VETERANS.

All Hail King Shit Midas, Obama the First.

[Carl]

    That is correct. Any appeal for single payer is an appeal for unlimited free shit.

With a doc to declare they are disabled and entitled to an endless gravy train while they smoke or snort their life away.