We Brits are so fortunate really

[Janbrit]

In the sense that we don't have to battle against medical insurance companies to obtain medical care; we receive it as right through our wonderful NHS service I really do feel for you that have to struggle to pay medical bills just to get diagnosed; reading through the forum it is evident that you not only face the daily battles that ALS throws up but also the daily battles of actually being able to provide the money to get the right treatment. I have heard the USA described as the Land of the Free, I would add a rider to that description being that "well it is until you read the small print"

 

[MaxEidswick]

>I have heard the USA described as the Land of the Free, I would add a rider to that description being that "well it is until you read the small print"

 

[pecas]

My dad died at 60 because he was destitute and put off getting a mole removed that he knew was cancerous. (I made a standing offer to pay for his dental and medical care, but he was too proud to ask. When I was cleaning out his house, I found several teeth that had fallen out because of poor dental care.) It's a rough row to hoe. I strongly believe that health care is a human right. How do you turn your back on the sick and dying? It's so painful.

 

[Janbrit]

Pecas that is so sad, thank you for sharing xxx

 

[Clearwater AL]

Recently a guy I know was going off about ObamaCare... being Socialized Healthcare, Socialized Medicine and more about President Obama being a Socialist.

The guy is a double dipper... receives Veterans Health Care (and Compensation) and on Medicare! (Explanation mark times 10X) His wife is on Medicare! (I guess that kinda makes him a triple dipper, maybe even a quad dipper counting his compensation.)

Veterans Health Care and Medicare are (ARE/IS) Socialized Healthcare.

Try and take either away from him (and her).

Try and take Medicare from anyone on it and tell them to find better for the price.

Ask any sensible Canadian or Brit if they'd rather have our healthcare system.

PS. I did tell him to keep watching our FoxNews... just so he doesn't get confused.
PS. PS. Before anybody jumps me let me call them... "Government run Healthcare Systems."

 

[pecas]

I will never understand how the ACA is socialized anything, when I purchased my insurance directly from a private company. (shrug)

 

[gooseberry]

If anyone wants my healthcare bills from a so called cadillac plan....they are yours. In for over $8000 in deductibles and coinsurance...copays never stop. Hit some limits so things will be fully covered now through the end of the year but really...a cadillac plan!? Cant wait for VA benefits to kick in...

 

[LaurieCALS]

I don't let anybody put down my Obamacare without a fight. Having been uninsurable, having been in a junk policy-- paying $750/month for a $20,000 deductible plan that covered noting-- I will never complain now that I'm covered through the Marketplace. My co-pays are low and it's awesome. I've even inquired at my doctor's offices to be sure they are receiving decent reimbursement by the insurance company, and they say yes they are. I think doctors have been against the ACA because they were afraid they wouldn't be paid well.

America is a land of the rich, by the rich, for the rich. But at least we got Obamacare.

 

[Barbie]

Every one deserves healthcare! we need to take care of our own!

 

[Atsugi]

In the 90's, Krissy and I visited London. We were on the tube late at night, when a drinking couple came aboard, having a loud, semi-public conversation denigrating American healthcare. They didn't know we were Americans. They attempted to get us to badmouth the American system and praise the British NHS, and were surprised when we defended the US (in our American accents).

I didn't think much of it then, having been in the military all my life. But then, after Krissy died, I started a Masters program in Healthcare Administration. It was eye-opening to learn just what a horrible "system" we have. Life expectancy poor, surgery outcomes poor, infant mortality rate high, and of course, the most expensive system in the world, no matter how it's measured.

The ACA is a step in the right direction, but it will take 50 years of continuous Democratic Congresses to fix our system to be as good as the British or German systems.

 

[gooseberry]

Having been in the ER over the last several years with my husband for kidney stone attacks, here are some things we have heard from people around us who said they had come to the ER because they didnt have any insurance:

A man who had a blood glucose of 44...vety low. He was a repeat customer. Er doc asked why he wasnt taking his meds and seeing primary care doc....man said he didnt have money for copays

Had someone with tendonitis for 6months with no insurance

Lady who shopped all weekend and decided her neck muscle spasms had gotten too bad she would go to ER because her meds were too much

There was the man that was at least 400 lbs who hadnt had a bowel movement in 2weeks and had no doctor...he presented with abdominal pain. Gee ya think? They gave him laxative and sent him home.

Health care in this country is a problem.

 

[Janbrit]

Hey people! sorry, I didn't mean to cause a row! it's not that long since I was diagnosed but already my MND nurse has put in place the breathing consultant; the occupational therapist; the hospice support and counselling and an MNDA association visitor to come and see me. She has also passed me over to wheelchair services who will be providing my chair when the time comes. I have nothing so far to complain about other than the disease itself; perhaps I am just fortunate to have such a good support team taking charge of me but I would absolutely hate to have to go through the calls to a medical insurance scheme just to get the right treatment

 

[gooseberry]

The insurance battles make life so much harder....we have fought many of them!

 

[dalvin]

I guess I was fortunate with my insurance. The only thing they ever questioned was why I needed the formula for my peg. After the doc wrote an explanation, it went on through. The va took over in April so no more problems that way but all of my basic needs, ie, wheelchair, meds and peg surgery was paid for by the insurance.

 

[LaurieCALS]

My PALS had no insurance at the time of his illness so we got him on Medicare and social security disability. Unfortunately there are a lot of rules about how sick you have to be before a particular step can be taken. I don't recall exactly how low his lung capacity had to be before he could have the bipap, but it was very low. He was given no clinic to attend, just six months recall with the neurologist. Needless to say, he was way overdue for each piece of equipment he got.... after all the stupid paperwork and evaluations that were required. My PALS was unemployed and almost homeless at the time of diagnosis. People say there are services available from the Department of Children and Family, but I spent hours trying to get him some kind of help from any kind of agency, to no avail.