One Gold story of our messed up Insurance system

[Karee 4,190]

I had to spend 4 days in the hospital in Bangkok a few years ago. I couldn't believe the difference from the U.S. I had a room the size of a small apartment. They took really good care of me there for about 10-15% of what it would've cost in the U.S. All the doctors were educated in the U.S. as well. 60 minutes did a piece on the hospitals in Bangkok a few years ago talking about medical tourism etc. They don't really have separate doctor's offices there. You go to the hospital for everything. Even for dental cleanings. It's a one stop kind of thing. Overall it was a decent experience.

I just got a job with health insurance. Looks like from the posts above, it's going to be a real pain in the a$$ if I ever need to use it.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

I had to spend 4 days in the hospital in Bangkok a few years ago. I couldn't believe the difference from the U.S. I had a room the size of a small apartment. They took really good care of me there for about 10-15% of what it would've cost in the U.S. All the doctors were educated in the U.S. as well. 60 minutes did a piece on the hospitals in Bangkok a few years ago talking about medical tourism etc. They don't really have separate doctor's offices there. You go to the hospital for everything. Even for dental cleanings. It's a one stop kind of thing. Overall it was a decent experience.

I just got a job with health insurance. Looks like from the posts above, it's going to be a real pain in the a$$ if I ever need to use it.

Ha HA the pun..In the PI you pay or die pretty much. My Brother in law is a Dentist..A filling is about 8-10 bucks. Here they start around 245.00

A guy in on of the Expat forums had a colonoscopy in the PI and it was about 225.00 total. For everything.

Teeth cleaning is about 4 bucks

I have one theory and I think managed care is somewhat to blame. Back in the day when my dad was alive and practcing medicine in a small country town, everyone in his office provided health care. Everyone at the Hospital except for one lady provided Health care.or supported it. The doctor made the health care decisions. He had ten years of training and was trusted to do his job.If he was a quack it was known quickly.Also there were not dozens of lawyerswaiting to sue you for every little thing

No if you go in a Hospital. There are wing after wing of admin people who do not provide any health care, yet the floor nurses are short handed and over loaded.

My wife's surgery claim took a year to process and many hours of appeals and reviews. I bet they spent more processing the claim than it paid

[Karee 4,190]

No if you go in a Hospital. There are wing after wing of admin people who do not provide any health care, yet the floor nurses are short handed and over loaded.

My wife's surgery claim took a year to process and many hours of appeals and reviews. I bet they spent more processing the claim than it paid

Spend a dollar to save a dime I suppose.

[Pooky 3,782]

The insurance companies, the health claims analysts, a large part of the health providers' administration costs and 90% of the ambulance chasers and malpractice suit leeches provide NOTHING toward the actual healthcare of the sick and injured.

Until they are gone from the equation, America will still suffer from the most expensive crappy medical care in the world.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

The insurance companies, the health claims analysts, a large part of the health providers' administration costs and 90% of the ambulance chasers and malpractice suit leeches provide NOTHING toward the actual healthcare of the sick and injured.

Until they are gone from the equation, America will still suffer from the most expensive crappy medical care in the world.

My ex wife was an RN who worked in a building full of RN's who did nothing but Review claims and file appeals

each one making around 75K

Yet the floor nurses are being stretched further and further and suffering burn out and complain of patient over load.

While 100's of RN's in the complex work in Admin

How f'ed up is that

[Pooky 3,782]

My ex wife was an RN who worked in a building full of RN's who did nothing but Review claims and file appeals

each one making around 75K

Yet the floor nurses are being stretched further and further and suffering burn out and complain of patient over load.

While 100's of RN's in the complex work in Admin

How f'ed up is that

And the PPACA does nothing to address this. It just adds more load to the system and, with the high deductibles, costs to those using healthcare. So yes, it sucks ... harder than a Dyson.

[Protocol417 161]

I maintain my hope that this is a stepping stone to universal health care. Wonder if Americans are warming up to the concept. I don't know if it's just because people have had the ACA to punch around, but it almost seems to me like some are coming around to the possibility that it might be a better option.

[Pooky 3,782]

I maintain my hope that this is a stepping stone to universal health care. Wonder if Americans are warming up to the concept. I don't know if it's just because people have had the ACA to punch around, but it almost seems to me like some are coming around to the possibility that it might be a better option.

Compared to the PPACA, anything will look like the "better" option. Edited September 29, 2013 by Pooky

[RGinWA 816]

In PI a birth in a hospital is 6000 P (about $120 US), but you better pay or the baby doesn't leave.

In the US a birth is $7,000 - $10,000 (The equivalent of a home or a nice piece of land in PI)

Since everything is basically cash it's relatively inexpensive. I wonder if that's because of the lack of a huge insurance industry?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Compared to the PPACA, anything will look like the "better" option.

Compared to what we had prior to PPACA just about anything would look like a better option. PPACA is what we had before only now the insurance companies are not allowed to exclude people from accessing coverage. Nothing else changes. Nothing in the delivery of healthcare changes. Except that there are some options built into the system for pilots that go towards coordinated care and results oriented remuneration building on concepts that have shown to be effective. Nothing gets worse, little gets better. No reason to hate on the legislation.

Edited September 29, 2013 by Mr. Big Dog

[Darnell 8,478]

I don't think Obama care will fix this but

Remember the colonoscopy I had back in July. We had it pre-certed Insurance was going to pay 100% as a wellness benefit

Well they did not. They applied deductible and 80/20 The insurance company was supposed to refile and fix it

Two months later I find out the doctor coded it as a treatment because he dug what he thought might be a polyp out although it turned out to be a piece of skin.

So they are saying that changed it from a wellness screening to a procedure while i was knocked out cold

and i owe the doctor 700, the hospital 400 and the anesthesiologist 350

My wife is shaking her head in amazement at the American Healthcare system

How's it going, on the letter-writing campaign, to the billing offices and the insurance company?

Need more news of that, before can make further snarky remarks.

[Pooky 3,782]

Nothing gets worse ...

You're funny

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

You're funny

What in the healthcare system is getting worse due to PPACA?

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

How's it going, on the letter-writing campaign, to the billing offices and the insurance company?

Need more news of that, before can make further snarky remarks.

No news ..waiting on call from Drs office

[Darnell 8,478]

ah. telephone usage. Doesn't count, for beating down The Man.

Must to have a postal letter campaign.