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Cancer Complications: Confusing Bills, Maddening Errors And Endless Phone Calls

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Re: Cancer Complications: Confusing Bills, Maddening Errors And Endless Phone Calls

#71

Post by mikestew »

deisner wrote: post #23

"But none of these is her most gnawing, ever present concern. That would be the convoluted medical bills that fill multiple binders, depleted savings accounts that destroy early retirement plans and so, so many phone calls with insurers and medical providers." Is it like this in other OECD countries? I ask because I'm told that we in America have "the best health care system in the world."

I ask because I'm told that we in America have "the best health care system in the world."

I'm going to assume that you're asking an honest question, but I'll tell ya that (and I can not emphasize this enough) from my perspective the question is so naive that I seriously think I'm missing the sarcasm.

But in good faith I shall carry on...AFAICT, "US=='best'" is propaganda, or ignorance at best. We (I am an American) have poorer outcomes for more money spent. Now, many excuses will be offered as to why that is, but I'm not here to argue; as best as my research can do, that appears to be fact. On top of that, for a less capable and more expensive product, we have a byzantine system of forms and providers.

So, no, it would appear that other OECD countries do not have this issue, partly/mainly because all but a few (and I would be hard-pressed to name those few) socialize their medical care.

Re: Cancer Complications: Confusing Bills, Maddening Errors And Endless Phone Calls

#73

Post by maxxxxx »

pastor_elm wrote: post #44
swarnie_ wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Important distinction. Most western countries don't bankrupt you for getting old or sick. Oh boy, did i say something which wasn't Pro-'Merica?

Most western countries are subsidized by US pharmaceutical innovation.

I want to see numbers before I believe this. It’s just self serving propaganda by pharmaceutical companies.

Re: Cancer Complications: Confusing Bills, Maddening Errors And Endless Phone Calls

#74

Post by komali2 »

vamos_davai wrote: post #4

It's such an absurd expense that I wonder if I get diagnosed with cancer, I would just deny treatment, accept death, and hand my assets to loved ones. Not sure if anyone else thinks the same way.

I think your family would spend that money and more to get more time with you.

Re: Cancer Complications: Confusing Bills, Maddening Errors And Endless Phone Calls

#75

Post by pacala »

Filligree wrote: post #24
vamos_davai wrote: post #4

It's such an absurd expense that I wonder if I get diagnosed with cancer, I would just deny treatment, accept death, and hand my assets to loved ones. Not sure if anyone else thinks the same way.

A lot of cancers have good a prognosis, especially if diagnosed early. Would you still do so if your chance of long-term survival and full remission, with treatment, is 50% or higher?

Problem is, the treatment provider offers no hard guarantees: full remission or your money back. The claimed success rates could be based on research studies, which have a reputation to be systemically flawed.

> Over a 10-year stretch, he said, Amgen’s scientists had tried to replicate the findings of 53 “landmark” studies in cancer biology. Just six of them came up with positive results.

https://slate.com/technology/2016/04/biomedicine-facing-a-wo...

Re: Cancer Complications: Confusing Bills, Maddening Errors And Endless Phone Calls

#76

Post by rndgermandude »

JamesBarney wrote: post #65
cletus wrote: post #34

In Australia the Leftist government of Gough Whitlam introduced health-coverage-for-all in 1975 with a scheme called Medibank. In 1984 after a couple of governments, Bob Hawke's Leftist government created the Medicare scheme (Medibank became a government provider of private health insurance), which exists to this day. The most interesting stat I ever heard about Medicare was this: prior to Medicare the number one cau…

I'm all for universal coverage too. But reducing the profits of pharmaceutical companies well reduce the money they have for r&d dramatically. This will slow down the speed of pharmaceutical development. So I think it needs to be paired with reforms to the FDA to reduce the go to market costs for drugs.

What kind of evidence do you have for this claim?

Re: Cancer Complications: Confusing Bills, Maddening Errors And Endless Phone Calls

#77

Post by shereadsthenews »

lotsofpulp wrote: post #42
deisner wrote: post #23

"But none of these is her most gnawing, ever present concern. That would be the convoluted medical bills that fill multiple binders, depleted savings accounts that destroy early retirement plans and so, so many phone calls with insurers and medical providers." Is it like this in other OECD countries? I ask because I'm told that we in America have "the best health care system in the world."

No, my family in Canada and UK don't deal with any of this. In the US, it's not even worth your time figuring out how much your treatment will cost, other than whether or not the provider is in network or not. Assume it's the out of pocket maximum for your insurance, because when you go to a provider, you sign a blank check that says you will be responsible for whatever chargers they make up during the course of your…

You can't figure out whether your provider is in or out. Just yesterday I got a bill from someone I've never heard of who turns out to be a "Medication Safety Specialist" who allegedly rendered services to me worth $392. You'd think such a person would just be a functionary of the hospital who in any case bill me $27k every day, but actually they are some kind of mercenary who bill patients directly.

Re: Cancer Complications: Confusing Bills, Maddening Errors And Endless Phone Calls

#78

Post by komali2 »

creaghpatr wrote: post #40
davidscolgan wrote: post #3

This is honestly one of the things that most stresses me out as I get older. I don't use my insurance much now because I'm pretty healthy, but I know my cancer risk will just go up over time. I've considered that if something like this ever did happen, I'd move to Lithuania and do it there paying in cash over trying to do it in the US system. Universal health care can't come fast enough.

When you get old you presumably qualify for Medicare.

Why not just make it so that you always qualify for Medicare?

Re: Cancer Complications: Confusing Bills, Maddening Errors And Endless Phone Calls

#79

Post by ranie93 »

cletus wrote: post #34

In Australia the Leftist government of Gough Whitlam introduced health-coverage-for-all in 1975 with a scheme called Medibank. In 1984 after a couple of governments, Bob Hawke's Leftist government created the Medicare scheme (Medibank became a government provider of private health insurance), which exists to this day. The most interesting stat I ever heard about Medicare was this: prior to Medicare the number one cau…

I think the current friction in free flow of medication across borders is not unwarranted. I'm thinking of Thalidomide as an example.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalidomide https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_Oldham_Kelsey

Re: Cancer Complications: Confusing Bills, Maddening Errors And Endless Phone Calls

#80

Post by JustSomeNobody »

crimsonalucard wrote: post #6

This makes me so angry at doctors.

Doctors? You should be angry at the politicians who convince people that pooling our collective money together and offering decent medical benefits to everyone is a bad thing. They convince people that anyone who isn't hard working and able bodied is a burden and isn't deserving of being treated humanely.
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