Thanks for sharing this story. I'm always amazed how much faith Americans have in their medical system, which seems more-or-less completely unjustified if you actually look at the statistics. There are multiple problems, too many to list really, but I think the root of it all is that the medical school system is designed to choose candidates with zero intrinsic motivation to learn. That's why the vast majority of doctors can't name a single finding in their field in the last year, and it's why the average chronic disease takes 8 years to diagnose. 99% of doctors don't learn or think about anything they aren't made to by the government. It's pathetic. And sure, the fact that our government as a whole is super corrupt makes it worse, but really the best place to start would be throwing out and replacing the entire school system-- which is responsible for both destroying intrinsic motivation, and also selecting those who have none to run the medical system (and everything else).
So...what the hell's wrong with you, Shooter?
111–120 of 132 posts
Re: So...what the hell's wrong with you, Shooter?
#112Earlier 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?
Just yesterday my insurance company decided that a routine physical and cholesterol blood test was not covered. After calling them up, they assure me that they will cover preventative care but somehow this physical exam is not preventative. Their definition of preventative clearly is not the normal definition and is meant to screw with people. Most likely it is a billing error or some such. So I'll spend the next few…
This is what convinces me the system is utterly broken for you guys.
I mean you can understand fuss and screw ups with expensive, complex or unique treatments. But when you have a faff just to go for a dental check up.....
Here I book my appointment, turn up, get 10 minutes or so check up and polish and then pay £16. No fuss or drama.
If you need to go back within the month it is free (on the £16 payment) too. Bargain.
Re: So...what the hell's wrong with you, Shooter?
#113Thank you for sharing your story. I hope this serves as a wake-up call to anyone who doesn't believe that someone can be misdiagnosed many times by medical professionals. Perhaps this is related to what marze said, but based on your experience it sounds like you looked into some CAM approaches (especially from the documentary you mentioned). If you don't mind sharing this with us, I am curious to know if the doctor w…
Thanks. I had to Google "CAM" because I wasn't familiar with the acronym off the top of my head. The diagnosing physician was definitely a member of IFM...I distinctly remember a certificate on his wall from them for something. In retrospect, the IFM-affiliated doctors and the DOs were all more compassionate and slightly more helpful than most of the 'traditional' MDs. I guess because they emphasize the more holistic…
I agree, "alternative" does seem to have a negative connotation at this time, maybe because so many things now fall under that term. Thanks for letting us know the doctor was IFM-affiliated; it's good to know that option is available.
Re: So...what the hell's wrong with you, Shooter?
#114Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think the insurance companies considered Shooter's treatment experimental, which is why they gave him trouble. But apparently did pay at the end.
You missed the part where he has to keep on fighting to keep the coverage and says that he expects to lose his coverage eventually. And it sounds like you don't have enough experience of being on the wrong end of an insurance companies attempts to kill you to be less credulous about their nature. The problem is that in the US at this time, health insurance companies are structurally evil. Evil in that they are the so…
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Re: So...what the hell's wrong with you, Shooter?
#115I think this note deserves a posterous page - whether you add more stories or not. Just for it's online presence prominence. imho, you putting your story on the web will help many who are at the initial misdiagnosed stage. if you don't, I am going to do it (and put your email in the contact). I don't know if I am threatening you or pleading wit you. But please create a posterous - copy the content and email to post@p…
This post is both personal and medical in nature... Posting this story elsewhere is something only Shooter should do.
Also, HN seems to have excellent PageRank.
Re: So...what the hell's wrong with you, Shooter?
#116Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think the insurance companies considered Shooter's treatment experimental, which is why they gave him trouble. But apparently did pay at the end.
You missed the part where he has to keep on fighting to keep the coverage and says that he expects to lose his coverage eventually. And it sounds like you don't have enough experience of being on the wrong end of an insurance companies attempts to kill you to be less credulous about their nature. The problem is that in the US at this time, health insurance companies are structurally evil. Evil in that they are the so…
I don't think you can say the companies themselves are evil. Evil implies a deliberate choice to hurt people instead of helping them. I don't think insurance companies have that choice. They're in the business of collecting modest premiums in return for being on the hook to pay out large amounts of money for the few most sick patients. Of course they're going to drag their feet on paying and try to get the sick ones off the books. If they paid all the claims, they'd be out of business. They don't have a choice, so you can't call them evil.
The unfortunate second-order effect is that it attracts the wrong kinds of people. They need software to find people most likely to cost them money, and jack up their premiums until they switch. Would you want to write that software? Like, the line of code that says,
if policy.expected_payout > policy.current_premium*0.6:
policy.schedule_increase()Re: So...what the hell's wrong with you, Shooter?
#117Earlier quoted context omitted.
Speaking from personal experience, it is the norm. In the US you are completely on your own, and your insurance company is not your friend; no matter how dutiful you were in paying your premiums. If you have a chronic, treatable condition, expect to fight it out with your insurance company 2 to 3 times a year over whether or not they will live up to their contractual obligations. It is my considered opinion that if O…
Ouch, I cant believe such a basic right is being so abused in your country! Well I did because I was over there a few weeks ago visiting my cousin and she ranted about it - but she is a super-hardline liberal so I obviously took her comments with care (bit of truth, bit of OTT). Sounds like she might have been spot on!
No, haven't you heard? Health insurance in America is the best in the world! Obama only wants to change it because he's a Commie!
Re: So...what the hell's wrong with you, Shooter?
#118Earlier quoted context omitted.
You missed the part where he has to keep on fighting to keep the coverage and says that he expects to lose his coverage eventually. And it sounds like you don't have enough experience of being on the wrong end of an insurance companies attempts to kill you to be less credulous about their nature. The problem is that in the US at this time, health insurance companies are structurally evil. Evil in that they are the so…
I don't think you can say the companies themselves are evil. Evil implies a deliberate choice to hurt people instead of helping them. I don't think insurance companies have that choice. They're in the business of collecting modest premiums in return for being on the hook to pay out large amounts of money for the few most sick patients. Of course they're going to drag their feet on paying and try to get the sick ones…
> They don't have a choice, so you can't call them evil.
See my response below for an elaboration of why I use the term evil in this context. And all of the human beings involved in this system have choices as to how they can react. The fact that some of those choices have costs does not automatically remove the element of choice. The executive who chooses to perpetuate the system in it's current form is making a moral choice and should be held to account for it.
Re: So...what the hell's wrong with you, Shooter?
#119Earlier quoted context omitted.
Tobacco tax gets NOWHERE near covering the medical costs that the system has to bear for example. The UK govt. makes approx GBP 10Bn a year from tobacco, and spends approx. GBP 2Bn on medical costs associated with it. if you don't save for yourself you will still get a state pension. You will have to live on Tesco value bread even though you "paid taxes your entire life" The problem I and others have with this is tha…
You sure about those figures? Last I knew they were pushing through legislation about tobacco based on the premise that it was costing the UK too much in healthcare. What is your source? I and others like me have a problem with people like you who do not understand the principle of true charity. No strings attached. Sure I agree that we need to improve the way we provide some of our benefits, there are probably too m…
and others like me have a problem with people like you who do not understand the principle of true charity
True charity doesn't involve coercing the donor - and the donor is free to switch their donation to another charity that does a better job!
I'm also puzzled how you think means testing is unfair
Because it punishes those who do the right thing: work hard, pay your taxes, save what you can, get nothing. And yet those (note that I said this in my earlier comment - you seem to have overlooked that rather crucial qualifier) choose not to contribute, get everything handed to them on a silver platter.
It's easy enough to implement this: anyone who leaves their free education without some qualifications needs to work for X years before they are entitled to anything further from the taxpayer.
Those who have, have
Ermm, no, those who work hard, earn. Those who don't, take.
Re: So...what the hell's wrong with you, Shooter?
#120Earlier quoted context omitted.
How might you resolve the conflict of interest that private insurance companies are better off if they refuse your treatment and you die than if they pay for it?
The problem is not in the conflict of interest - other types of insurance work mostly OK. The problem is that the health insurance companies can somehow get away from their obligations without being sued to death. Maybe that's because of vague contracts, or maybe something else. I don't know the exact reason.
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