2012-06-29, 10:19 AM
My biggest problem with health care in america is that I really don't know the cost of anything before I do it. You may recall me talking about my $330 blood test sometimes. Yeah, that sucks.
Health care is one of the few things in America where you can't see the price tag before you have the operation done. How much does a blood test cost? How much does a glucose tolerance test cost? According to the companies, "WELL, IT DEPENDS." No, that's some bullcrap. It should be roughly the same price for every person that enters. I should know how much something is going to cost before they give the test so I can plan accordingly. Instead, I have no way to know what things cost because the actual cost is determined between the insurer and the doctor (called UCR). And the price that I pay is hidden from the doctor. The doctor has no idea what I will pay because it varies wildly from insurance plan to insurance plan, and the only way I can get a quote for what it costs is by calling my insurer. So I'll end up refusing any and all tests, go home, call my insurer to make sure the f'ing thing is covered, then GO BACK TO THE DOCTOR. How is that not wasteful?! If they kept a more consistent and reliable way of knowing what costs what I would waste less of the doctor's time and receive better health care.
So if I don't know the cost of things, how the hell am I supposed to budget for basic things a doctor might do - like a physical, an eye exam, or getting basic dental work done?
That is what angers me the most about health care in America. I don't know the cost for things because it's being hidden from me until I get a piece of mail with a number on it. And then I'm forced to pay it without much ability to state the cost is unreasonable for anyone.
And that's bullcrap.
Health care is one of the few things in America where you can't see the price tag before you have the operation done. How much does a blood test cost? How much does a glucose tolerance test cost? According to the companies, "WELL, IT DEPENDS." No, that's some bullcrap. It should be roughly the same price for every person that enters. I should know how much something is going to cost before they give the test so I can plan accordingly. Instead, I have no way to know what things cost because the actual cost is determined between the insurer and the doctor (called UCR). And the price that I pay is hidden from the doctor. The doctor has no idea what I will pay because it varies wildly from insurance plan to insurance plan, and the only way I can get a quote for what it costs is by calling my insurer. So I'll end up refusing any and all tests, go home, call my insurer to make sure the f'ing thing is covered, then GO BACK TO THE DOCTOR. How is that not wasteful?! If they kept a more consistent and reliable way of knowing what costs what I would waste less of the doctor's time and receive better health care.
So if I don't know the cost of things, how the hell am I supposed to budget for basic things a doctor might do - like a physical, an eye exam, or getting basic dental work done?
That is what angers me the most about health care in America. I don't know the cost for things because it's being hidden from me until I get a piece of mail with a number on it. And then I'm forced to pay it without much ability to state the cost is unreasonable for anyone.
And that's bullcrap.