Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: How can you buy high quality healthcare?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

61–70 of 114 posts

Re: Ask HN: How can you buy high quality healthcare?

#61

Post by arebop »

et-al wrote: post #44
decafninja wrote: post #16

Concierge healthcare. It's also gotten more widespread than when it first became a thing, so even there I would make sure to do due diligence to see what level of service you're getting. But if you're willing to fork over the money, the level of care that you're supposedly given seems far better than even anything in stories you hear about in Europe or Asia. Seems like you should expect to pay five digit amounts per…

fwiw, FAANGs often offer complimentary One Medical plans.

One Medical is mass-market quasi-concierge medicine. It's a good compromise for middle class people. But the level of service is starkly different between One Medical and MD2. As you should expect when the costs are two orders of magnitude apart.

Re: Ask HN: How can you buy high quality healthcare?

#62

Post by decafninja »

manacit wrote: post #36
decafninja wrote: post #16

Concierge healthcare. It's also gotten more widespread than when it first became a thing, so even there I would make sure to do due diligence to see what level of service you're getting. But if you're willing to fork over the money, the level of care that you're supposedly given seems far better than even anything in stories you hear about in Europe or Asia. Seems like you should expect to pay five digit amounts per…

This is what I came here to say - the answer is "Concierge Medicine" In my experience, that's generally a primary care doctor that has on the order of 1/4th or fewer as many patients, but they all pay a membership fee in order to make that sustainable. That means they can spend significantly more time - like hours every week - with you. That doctor is then well connected in the community, and can call up a friend at…

Not sure why you're being downvoted. Maybe because some people perceive this as unfair - which it certainly is. It doesn't change the facts though. It is what it is.

Re: Ask HN: How can you buy high quality healthcare?

#64

Post by mtalantikite »

orev wrote: post #49
legitster wrote: post #38

So, other medical systems around the world are cheaper, but that doesn't make them magic. Chronic pain - especially back pain - is often an unsolvable quagmire for most doctors. Not a doctor, but several family members have had to go through something similar. So here is my advice: - Get imaging tests (Xray, MRI). And screen out the any of the worst case scenarios (like tumor or etc). But if there is nothing inherent…

By “Fitness Instructor” I think you mean “Physical Therapist” (and definitely not a Chiropractor). In the US, a fitness instructor can be literally anyone who runs an aerobics class, while a physical therapist actually has medical training.

It really depends. I know plenty of people that are "fitness instructors" (mainly yoga and Pilates teachers) and I'd recommend them over regular PT in most situations. They know a ton about anatomy, how to read body imbalances, and can work with you to train your body back from injury.

Personally, I had a debilitating shoulder injury, couldn't put any weight on my right arm at all, and one of my yoga teachers put me on the path of fixing it up. Same with a low back injury, I couldn't even sit at one point and she helped fix me.

I'd 100% recommend someone with back pain visit a highly trained yoga or Pilates teacher. Some Pilates studios even take health insurance, since some are considered PT.

Re: Ask HN: How can you buy high quality healthcare?

#65

Post by atlasunshrugged »

jakobov wrote: post #34

Also try being less polite and demanding better service.

I'm not sure why you're being downvoted. Unfortunately, sometimes you have to be really pushy with doctors. They are under a lot of time pressure and aren't always spending the time with you that you may need. You need to be your strongest advocate, sometimes that means getting aggressive with demanding support.

Re: Ask HN: How can you buy high quality healthcare?

#66

Post by forvo101 »

bowsamic wrote: post #54
mattlondon wrote: post #46

Sounds like you are paying for what the NHS in the UK will offer - they'll get you there but it is often slow and quite convoluted, but it is free! Private care in the UK can be very fast - e.g. I went from an initial consultation with a doctor for "knee pain" to having two sessions with a consultant and an MRI complete and booked in for physiotherapy within 48 hours. Things are often done the same day or within 24-4…

Unfortunately private care in the UK may not be so great when the NHS starts to fully break down

Can you elaborate please? Why will the private care in the UK suffer if NHS starts to break down?

And, will NHS really break down? I know it has been considered many times but enough of the population seems to be against the idea that I suspect it may not break down soon. Do you have any reason to believe it may break down?

Re: Ask HN: How can you buy high quality healthcare?

#67

Post by decafninja »

arebop wrote: post #61
et-al wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

fwiw, FAANGs often offer complimentary One Medical plans.

One Medical is mass-market quasi-concierge medicine. It's a good compromise for middle class people. But the level of service is starkly different between One Medical and MD2. As you should expect when the costs are two orders of magnitude apart.

My employer provides something similar. While it's certainly no MD2, it's also starkly better than going through the general medical system.

Re: Ask HN: How can you buy high quality healthcare?

#68

Post by webmobdev »

atlasunshrugged wrote: post #19
codegeek wrote: post #3

Look into medical tourism if that's an option for you. Country like India is a great choice for the money. They have excellent hospitals and doctors for a fraction of the cost of US healthcare. I say this as an Indian American who has lived in the US for half of my life. Don't be fooled by "Oh India is 3rd world". Not when it comes to Healthcare (if you have some money which will always be much less than what you nee…

How can you determine what places are any good or not? I've seen one or two medical tourism marketplaces come and go and it doesn't seem like a solved problem. I'd be happy to try out somewhere for dentistry/something not serious or if I was truly desperate, but not sure about everything in the middle

Referrals / word of mouth. You need to talk to a few people, preferably those who have had treatments, and consider their opinion. Don't go for "medical tourism". Research multi-speciality hospitals and doctors, and contact them directly.

Re: Ask HN: How can you buy high quality healthcare?

#69

Post by okr »

shiftpgdn wrote: post #53
legitster wrote: post #38

So, other medical systems around the world are cheaper, but that doesn't make them magic. Chronic pain - especially back pain - is often an unsolvable quagmire for most doctors. Not a doctor, but several family members have had to go through something similar. So here is my advice: - Get imaging tests (Xray, MRI). And screen out the any of the worst case scenarios (like tumor or etc). But if there is nothing inherent…

It's worth keeping in mind that the quality of Xray and MRI machines vary greatly and the facility doing the scans typically won't be upfront with what machines they're using. You are the only person who is ever going to advocate for the treatment you get so you'll need to be very firm but polite to get this information.

How i would i be able to differentiate the quality of the machines?
Post reply on HN