I have been sick. Really sick. As in bronchitis, sinus infection, and ear infection all at the same time. I tried to continue working through it all, but it all just came to a point where I had to take a break. I was going to work and coming home, throwing together a sandwich for FabGrandpa, and going to bed. My co-workers told me I looked and sounded horrible. On Tuesday, I finally made an appointment at the clinic in Kanab, and drove down there as soon as someone relieved me at the entrance station.
It is 85 miles to the clinic. I tried to go to the doctor at the clinic there about three weeks ago, but when I walked in, the receptionist told me all the doctors were in a meeting, but “I could go to the emergency room” which was right down the hall from them. No way! walking down that hall would mean the difference between being charged $44 to see a clinic doctor, and more than $500 to see an emergency room doctor. Since I have no health insurance, I declined the offer. I asked if the ER doctor could walk over to the clinic to see me, and they just sort of snickered at me.
I mean, ok, if “I” could walk down the hall, so could they. It was obvious that I was sick, and that it was probably bronchitis, and it would have taken that ER doctor all of 2 minutes to diagnose and write me a prescription. But no. So I took the walk out the door. And I can tell you, if there was another option out here in the boondocks, I would have taken it rather than go back to that same place this week. They KNOW they have us over a barrel out here, and that is why it is the way it is. But it is true all over the United States. We can either pay up big bucks, or we stay sick. If I had an option to get health insurance, you can bet I would.
But I am not going to pay $1200 a month to have health insurance. I know I have ranted about this before here in my little space, but I just have to do so again. $1200 a month, is equal to $14,400 a year. I can get a whole lot of health care out of pocket for $14,400. The whole trip down the mountain in an ambulance and associated visits to the cardiologist last summer didn’t total $14,400. I won’t be getting health insurance until it is affordable, so I suppose that tells you that I won’t be getting, ever.
The good news is, that I did get to the doctor. He prescribed a Z-pack antibiotic, and since I have been taking it for a few days now, I do feel better. I just wish I felt better about health care in America.
I’m glad you were finally able to see a doctor and get the right meds to feel better.
Since you asked the question on FB as to whether you should use the ER for non-emergency care my answer is NO. I worked n healthcare (Respiratory Therapist) for 30 years with 23 of those being in a hospital. Actually all 23 were in the same hospital and in those years I did my share of ER rotation. I can tell you the ER being used for non-emergencies is the reason they’re so backed up. You have someone coming in with a sore throat and diagnosed with a cold virus or the flue and in the mean time someones sitting in the waiting area in a full blown asthma attack, fighting for each breath and getting worse by the second. I’ve done my share of waiting room triage and starting treatments without a doctors order because, let’s face it, the doc doesn’t have time to go to the waiting room to see patients but I know and the triage nurse know that this patient is only going to get worse and possibly go into respiratory or cardiac arrest unless something is done NOW. All the while that person with the sore throat is talking, laughing and texting their friends while taking up a bed that could have been put to better use.
People complained when insurance companies started requiring a doctors permission BEFORE going to the ER unless it was a matter of life or death and this is the reason why. I say if you’re not on death’s door and can wait to see your doctor than call and make an appointment. There are quick centers( or as I call them Doc in the Boxes) in a lot of areas just for those non-emergency cases. Their waiting areas are empty because people opt for the ER instead.
I have a SIL who plans her ER visits. She actually called one night saying she had a migraine and if she wasn’t better in the morning could my husband or I take her to the ER since her husband would be working. My opinion, if it’s bad enough you’re thinking of an ER then GO NOW. If you can wait until the morning then you can call your doc at that time and I’ll be happy to drive you to HER office.
I’ll get off my soapbox now but this is a subject I’m very passionate and opinionated about.
I agree with you 100% and just couldn’t believe my ears that a receptionist in the clinic would even suggest that I go to the ER!
Seems like I always get stuck going to the emergency room. Without health insurance I often wait too long and then it is an emergency. I get stuck paying through the nose. But still not as much as the outrageous monthly bill for health insurance.
Our health care system here in Canada is not perfect but at least people who need medical attention get it without paying through the nose. Since there are no available doctors here in our town and ours is about 45 minutes away if I need assistance I go to Emergency and wait, usually only about 3 hours. Here in Ontario if you go to a walk in clinic and you have a family doctor, our health care bills your family doctor for the visit, sometimes resulting in your family doctor telling you to find another doctor so Emergency is it!
I’m glad you finally got diagnosed and got some medication. Any plans to rethink working out in the middle of nowhere?
No, as much as the health care situation sucks here, the job is great, and the view is divine! I wouldn;t trade for a minute.
Oh man I hear you about that! It sucks that they can get away with that crap out there. I had no idea!
The terrible part is not only do they have the sketch-ball tactics you experienced but the huge markup for basic services is also unheard of IMO.
Take birth for example… $8,000-$12,000 in a hospital. Out of a hospital, just $3,500. It all just makes me sick.
Talina, I know, and I feel like that price difference is why doctors and other health care officials try to talk womeon out of home births. Come on–women have been birthing babies since the beginning of time–why do you need a hospital involved for a non-risk or low risk pregnancy?
So glad to see you back and that you did get to see a doctor. My heart goes out to everyone who have had their pockets robbed by the cost of health care. I mean the cost of insurance is through the roof.
I’m with Dee on the emergency room and having people who have soar fingers from texting. I think the biggest part of the problem is people running to the emergency room for non emergencies, but guess what they wait the longest here on the Island everyone is taken by priority. I took my granddaughter in once and when I had just registered her, the guy behind me said, “I hope you don’t mind the wait.” excuse me, he said the wait time is 6 hours, I’ve been here since 10 this morning. Being that was in the health care field, I asked him the reason for their visit. It was wisdom teeth. Oh, I said, have you tried to get to a dentist, as he started to explain the nurse came out and called our name. So much for the 6 hour wait. But then in Ontario my dad cut 3 fingers off with a saw and he was 4 hours waiting to get stitched up, but he wasn’t beading to death, I think they take children a lot faster.
Personally I’m for universal health care. I’ve traveled in England and Canada with traveling companions who got sick and had to be treated and guess what? A very short wait and a very low cost. Some things can be done better by the federal government, and I think health care is one of them.
Hot topic for sure. First off glad that you got the meds you needed and are on the mend. We too do not have health insurance…it would cost us about $1300 a month and since we only bring home $2000 a month that does not leave much to eat with, pay our bills with, provide utilities, etc. We were fortunate when we lived in Bellingham to have a family doctor that we had been see!!!ing for many years before we had no insurance. We have been 8 years without insurance. We are paying hospital bills that are over 6 years old because of lack of insurance. I feel bad that the hospital and doctors have had to wait so long to get paid but that is our life and what we have to deal with. I wish insurance was affordable…I would jump on it in a split second. I am not holding my breath for our situation to change.
I do not like it when people use the ER for non-emergencies. I had a friend who had medical coupons and used the ER on a regular basis for routine medical needs. So very frustrating!!! She used to say that was what the ER was for…for those who didn’t have appointments with regular doctors – WRONG.
It is like the issue I am having with my eye. I thought for the last year I just needed new glasses. But we had been unemployed for months, held a minimum wage job for six months, then more unemployment and playing catch up with our bills from the unemployment. Now that we have different jobs we have a little money in savings. I go to the Optometrist, he gives me a new prescription for glasses – I pay $302 for the glasses and $50 for the exam. Glasses did no good. Went to an Opthamologist (should have done that in the first place) and found out I have 3 cataracts on my one eye…could the Optometrist have said, go to the Opthamologist before you get new glasses…did he..NO!!! Now I am scheduled for surgery – about $8000 if paid in cash/paid in full at the time of the surgery – $11000 if not paid in full/in cash. By scrimping and cutting way back we think we will have the cash by the time I have the surgery the middle of July.
Sorry to run on…this is something that really gets my ire up…not being able to get adequate and time related medical care when needed.
Alice, I understand completely. We are on the same page here. And it is ridiculous that routine eye surgery such as cataract removal is so expensive. They don’t even keep you in the hospital for it. Did you shop around to different hospitals for a lower price? Believe it or not, hospitals in different areas of the same city often have lower rates.
So glad you’re feeling better and that you were able to see a doctor.
If you don’t have health insurance now, you will eventually be FORCED to buy it with Obama-care, whether you can afford to or not!