 |
Full Topic |  |
| Joined: | Sat Nov 8th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 202 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
My explanation of benefits (EOB) statement always shows that only a small portion of what is billed is actually paid. Usually doctors, therapists, hospitals, pharmacies, etc. must write off the rest. It may be the only place you can't get the charge quoted before service BUT it's also the only place providers don't know what they will get paid until after the service is rendered (and it's often many months after the service). The only people I know who pay full price up-front (cash) are the Amish.
Our idea of what health care should be has expanded dramatically over the last 30 years. I truly wonder if preventative care and screening really saves money. High blood sugar used to be a fasting level over 120 and high blood pressure used to be sustained numbers greater than 140/90. Now days people are labeled diabetic with a fasting blood sugar over 100 and hypertensive with a BP around 120/80. All of a sudden people who were considered healthy ten years ago are now encouraged to undergo constant expensive screening and take medications that truly make people feel sick. My doctor sometimes orders things I don't want and probably don't need because it has become a 'standard of practice' that must be followed to defend the art and practice of medicine in the ever looming potential malpractice litigation.
A relative wanted a cardiac stress test several years ago 'to see how the old ticker is doing.' I suggested that if there was concern, it might be a good idea to just go ahead and start living the healthier life the doctor would no doubt prescribe. If there was no intention to change a lifestyle, there was no need to find out how bad things were.
I don't think veterinary medicine is really comparable. Hard as it is, if the cost is too high some people will choose to euthanize. Many people (not most here on this forum) offer their pets little or no routine care. Very few people I know can afford the expensive treatments available for animals. Miracles are out of reach for the majority. Most animals we keep as pets have a considerably shorter lifespan than a human and we accept that. People expect or at least hope to live long healthy lives and then die in our sleep one day far away.
..............reform is needed but is it in the way we pay?