So...what the hell's wrong with you, Shooter? • Hacker News Board

Re: So...what the hell's wrong with you, Shooter?

#31

Post by ars » Thu, Oct 08, 2009, 8:34 AM UTC

ErrantX wrote: post #26

sachinag wrote: post #13

I am assuming you are an American citizen. If you haven't already, you need to: 1) call your Congressperson's local office (not DC) and ask for someone in constituent services who works with health care issues. Do this tomorrow. If your insurance company is denying you any care, and you have a paper trail, they should help. If your Rep can't help, then contact your two Senators' offices. Generally, Reps are much bett…

It seems awful to me that all of that effort is needed just to make sure your not screwed over by the insurance company :( Or is it just the norm and Im not used to it?

Most hospitals have a person who's job it is to deal with insurance companies for you.

Changing to a public plan isn't going to make it better (since they will still be trying to control costs by not treating unnecessary things).

The one thing that will make it better is more integration, but then you have people complaining that the insurance companies are telling doctors what to do.

There is no perfect way to both: control costs by challenging doctors on what they bill, and at the same time not making it hard for people to get the services they need.

Re: So...what the hell's wrong with you, Shooter?

#32

Post by aw3c2 » Thu, Oct 08, 2009, 8:42 AM UTC

ars wrote: post #30

aw3c2 wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks. Now who is Shooter? edit: Before I get downvoted because of emotional responses I want to clarify that I really have no idea who Shooter is and neither do I know about the relevance for this site.

Emotional response? Is it really that hard to read the second line on the page? Specifically the name of the person submitting the story? Or maybe search for the word Shooter on this page? I also did not know who it was, but it wasn't that hard to find out.

Of course I did click on the username to see the profile. I did not see a "check out my startup" in his submission nor anything else distinct. So is it http://www.amazon.com/D.-C.-Phillips/e/B001HCUZK0 (searched the web for his email alias) or what?

Re: So...what the hell's wrong with you, Shooter?

#33

Post by mike463 » Thu, Oct 08, 2009, 8:47 AM UTC

This is an amazing story. I'm glad you're onto the road to recovery.

For hacker news -- this is actually a perfectly reasonable amount of information to provide.

Having worked in many facets of systems engineering (in addition to an eye-opening stint in tech support) I can see many analogies between the medical diagnosis you had to obtain and computer diagnostics.

Just like medicine, a lot of computer problems aren't even diagnosed. A computer reboot is the way of fixing some problems without bothering to diagnose them, like antibiotics.

Generally, a hard computer bug getting fixed happens best if -- a LOT of people encounter it OR someone takes a personal interest in the problem OR there is meticulous documentation that makes it easy to pinpoint what is happening.

People don't notice that this is the same in the medical profession. You helped yourself by carefully documenting what happened, and I believe that's what helped you in the end.

All the best to you (and congratulations on fatherhood!)

Re: So...what the hell's wrong with you, Shooter?

#34

Post by hristov » Thu, Oct 08, 2009, 8:48 AM UTC

That's an interesting story. Sorry about all your troubles, but you seem to be handling yourself well and you have a family so it is not all that bad.

It's a shame about the insurance companies.

Re: So...what the hell's wrong with you, Shooter?

#35

Post by gscott » Thu, Oct 08, 2009, 8:50 AM UTC

I have a friend who has the exact same condition, he went everywhere but was diagnosed with Lymes disease from a local doctor, the heavy metals put her onto Lymes and it has changed his life. His story is very similar in length so TMI as well but tom_obrien10001@yahoo.com is his email.

Re: So...what the hell's wrong with you, Shooter?

#36

Post by ErrantX » Thu, Oct 08, 2009, 8:50 AM UTC

ars wrote: post #31

ErrantX wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It seems awful to me that all of that effort is needed just to make sure your not screwed over by the insurance company :( Or is it just the norm and Im not used to it?

Most hospitals have a person who's job it is to deal with insurance companies for you. Changing to a public plan isn't going to make it better (since they will still be trying to control costs by not treating unnecessary things). The one thing that will make it better is more integration, but then you have people complaining that the insurance companies are telling doctors what to do. There is no perfect way to both:…

That's interesting.

I wasnt directly suggesting it was reason to support a public plan btw. Just that it sounds pretty stinky.

I also would add that I think you've got the wrong "problem".

control costs by challenging doctors on what they bill, and at the same time not making it hard for people to get the services they need

Is never an issue over here [UK] (not just because of the public aspect).

Re: So...what the hell's wrong with you, Shooter?

#37

Post by ars » Thu, Oct 08, 2009, 8:58 AM UTC

ErrantX wrote: post #36

ars wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most hospitals have a person who's job it is to deal with insurance companies for you. Changing to a public plan isn't going to make it better (since they will still be trying to control costs by not treating unnecessary things). The one thing that will make it better is more integration, but then you have people complaining that the insurance companies are telling doctors what to do. There is no perfect way to both:…

That's interesting. I wasnt directly suggesting it was reason to support a public plan btw. Just that it sounds pretty stinky. I also would add that I think you've got the wrong "problem". control costs by challenging doctors on what they bill, and at the same time not making it hard for people to get the services they need Is never an issue over here [UK] (not just because of the public aspect).

I think in the UK the insurance people tell the doctors what to do. But they hide it well, and it doesn't seem to cause a problem. (Or maybe it just doesn't bother the people as much, the US has a more independent culture.)

Could a doctor in the UK prescribe an experimental treatment? Could he prescribe it and get insurance to pay for it? I bet not without a fight.

Perhaps the difference is that there, the fight is behind the scenes so the patient never knows about it (if it's rejected I bet the doctor never even mentions it as a possible treatment).

In the US the insurance belongs to the patient, so it's the patients job to handle them (with help). In the UK it's not so.

Re: So...what the hell's wrong with you, Shooter?

#38

Post by ars » Thu, Oct 08, 2009, 9:00 AM UTC

aw3c2 wrote: post #32

ars wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Emotional response? Is it really that hard to read the second line on the page? Specifically the name of the person submitting the story? Or maybe search for the word Shooter on this page? I also did not know who it was, but it wasn't that hard to find out.

Of course I did click on the username to see the profile. I did not see a "check out my startup" in his submission nor anything else distinct. So is it http://www.amazon.com/D.-C.-Phillips/e/B001HCUZK0 (searched the web for his email alias) or what?

Wait, are you asking who Shooter is in a global context? Or just who is he with regard to the title of this submission?

Because if it's the first, that was not obvious at all.

If it's the first I also don't know, but did not attempt to find out (does it matter?)

Re: So...what the hell's wrong with you, Shooter?

#39

Post by aw3c2 » Thu, Oct 08, 2009, 9:05 AM UTC

ars wrote: post #38

aw3c2 wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Of course I did click on the username to see the profile. I did not see a "check out my startup" in his submission nor anything else distinct. So is it http://www.amazon.com/D.-C.-Phillips/e/B001HCUZK0 (searched the web for his email alias) or what?

Wait, are you asking who Shooter is in a global context? Or just who is he with regard to the title of this submission? Because if it's the first, that was not obvious at all. If it's the first I also don't know, but did not attempt to find out (does it matter?)

Yes, the first! What a misunderstanding. :-)

Re: So...what the hell's wrong with you, Shooter?

#40

Post by axod » Thu, Oct 08, 2009, 9:10 AM UTC

Thanks for sharing.

Public health care is sorely needed in the US IMHO. Whilst it doesn't magically mean everyone gets expensive treatments, at least it takes away some of the problems. The last thing you want to do when sick is have to deal with money/insurance.

Really hope things get better for you, and enjoy the new baby!