BetterMost Community Blogs > Cellar Scribblings
Cellar Scribblings
brianr:
--- Quote from: serious crayons on February 12, 2016, 10:00:28 pm ---Thanks for the thorough explanation, brian. :)
Wait, so
a) You can't get insurance if you have a preexisting condition? That used to be standard here, but Obamacare outlawed it, which in itself is huge.
b) People of retirement age have no health insurance? So if they get something catastrophic and hugely expensive -- cancer, heart disease, etc. -- they're out of luck? Or can they still get inexpensive treatment somehow, or what?
--- End quote ---
You do not need insurance for something catastrophic or rather life threatening.
It has always amused me about the time I went to hospital with chest pains. My GP did not find anything wrong but suggested I go to the hospital. When I arrived and told them I had chest pains they rushed me into a wheel chair and to Emergency although I had run across the road for the taxi.
After attaching me to monitors they then filled in forms and asked if I had medical insurance. This was back in Australia so I said yes. Later that night they transferred me out of emergency as it was Friday night and soon to become busy with drunks. The monitor had shown all clear. In fact the specialist later told me I had very little chance of a heart attack. My mother's heart kept her going to 96 despite the rest of her body falling apart. My father died of a heart attack at 66 but was a heavy smoker. I have never smoked.
Anyway the next morning I received a newspaper, those around me without insurance did not. Then, on discharge, I was given a taxi voucher back to the train station because I had insurance.
So in both Australia and NZ I will receive excellent treatment in case of anything life threatening. However I will have to wait for an eye cataract removal (and only one) and will probably wait a year or 2 if I need a hip or knee replacement. In Australia I would have gone private but arriving in NZ at age 66 and admitting I had arthritis, i could not get cover. Fortunately I have money (declining due to world economy but hopefully that will change)
I also have an inguinal hernia. I could have had cover for that. I have twice been to the hospital but as I am not in agony, It just hurts now and then they will not put me on the waiting list. I can go to the private hospital and pay $9,000. If it strangulates, I would be rushed into the public hospital and operated on for free.
Last year while in Vienna, I got a jolt and thought OMG not now. This year I told my travel insurance and have had to pay $300 extra for my travel to Europe in April/May.
Chuck , you must love having your blog filled with my medical details ;D
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: brian on February 12, 2016, 10:28:27 pm ---I will have to wait for an eye cataract removal (and only one)
--- End quote ---
Well, there's one small advantage to Obamacare. When I realized my skin cancer surgeries etc. would use up my whole $6,500 deductible, I scheduled an eye checkup, which I was way overdue for anyway. And I remembered that when I'd last seen the eye doctor three years earlier, he said, "Good news! You have cataracts!" When I asked why that was good news, he explained that the surgery was a lot like getting Lasik only it was covered by insurance. But if I'd had the surgery in an otherwise healthy year it would have cost close to or all of the $6,500. Last year, it would be free.
So I told everyone at the ophthalmologist's office why I wanted to get the surgery in 2015. They all understood, but the ophthalmologist said that unfortunately only one eye had gotten bad enough for the insurance to cover. Then I was led in to see the surgeon, who said he could do both of them anyway, because doing one at a time can sometimes be problematic, and assured me that the insurance company would go along with his recommendation. And they did.
I would go into more details about the pros and cons of cataract surgery, but I don't want to turn Chuck's whole blog into the brian and Katherine medical blog. :laugh:
Jeff Wrangler:
--- Quote from: serious crayons on February 13, 2016, 01:41:22 pm ---And I remembered that when I'd last seen the eye doctor three years earlier, he said, "Good news! You have cataracts!" When I asked why that was good news, he explained that the surgery was a lot like getting Lasik only it was covered by insurance.
--- End quote ---
If they tell you that you won't need eyeglasses after the surgery, be skeptical. You may not need them--or you might, though maybe just for reading. My experience from going through my dad's experience last spring is that eye doctors tend to make promises about cataract surgery that they have no business making. Also be prepared for a recovery period that may, or may not, be a real nuisance, with all kinds of eye drops to be put in at different times. That might depend on your eyes, or your surgeon, but for my dad, it was a nightmare.
I'm not trying to scare you off the surgery. Just be prepared for all sorts of possibilities.
After what I saw my dad go through, I wouldn't have the surgery myself unless the cataracts were really creating a problem for my vision. I won't do it just on the hope of not needing eyeglasses any more. But, hey, I've been wearing eyeglasses since 3rd Grade, so what's the rest of my life?
brianr:
My mother, sister and brother-in-law have all had cataracts done,. Mum was a long time ago and she was kept in overnight both times. However I know all about the eye drops which is what worries me most, living alone. My sister now just buys $2 glasses which she leaves all over the house for reading. Although she is 10 years older than me, I now am the one wearing glasses. I began with reading glasses in my late 40's then full glasses in my late 50's
Now that one cataract covers my whole right eye, I cannot read with that eye, everything is blurred and glasses cannot fix it, so when both are fully developed I would be helpless. Apparently the type I have does not affect my driving. I am thinking of buying a patch to watch TV as I can see it better if I cover my bad eye. I will need to go to a shop where they sell pirates costumes ;D
CellarDweller:
--- Quote from: brian on February 12, 2016, 10:28:27 pm ---Chuck , you must love having your blog filled with my medical details ;D
--- End quote ---
--- Quote from: serious crayons on February 13, 2016, 01:41:22 pm ---I would go into more details about the pros and cons of cataract surgery, but I don't want to turn Chuck's whole blog into the brian and Katherine medical blog. :laugh:
--- End quote ---
There are days I feel like I'm talking to myself here, so anytime anyone wants to come here and discuss anything, I'm fine with that. :)
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