New healthcare thread...

[NationalTitles18]

 

[JDCrimson]

Thats a fair comment but how much was the surgeon and hospital going to charge for this procedure?

View attachment 47442

 

[NationalTitles18]

Thats a fair comment but how much was the surgeon and hospital going to charge for this procedure?

Also a fair comment, but how much in student loans was the surgeon paying back after 13-14 years of training prior to beginning their career in earnest?

But for most insurances (in regards to patient costs) a good question is what is the deductible and another is what share of the total cost is the patient stuck with paying?

It should be noted here that the republican mantra for decades has been that patients have to share in the cost burden for tests/procedures so that those pesky little boogers don't use resources unnecessarily.

IOW, this problem is a feature and not a bug to some.

 

[arthurdawg]

Also a fair comment, but how much in student loans was the surgeon paying back after 13-14 years of training prior to beginning their career in earnest?

But for most insurances (in regards to patient costs) a good question is what is the deductible and another is what share of the total cost is the patient stuck with paying?

It should be noted here that the republican mantra for decades has been that patients have to share in the cost burden for tests/procedures so that those pesky little boogers don't use resources unnecessarily.

IOW, this problem is a feature and not a bug to some.

I am fortunate to practice with a large group and we can manage uninsured and underinsured patients fairly well. But for solo docs the margins are pretty thin at times and you can't expect them to provide tons of charity care before they are running a negative. Overhead and fixed costs always escalate, while reimbursement always drops and gets tied to more paperwork.

The other issue is that we don't expect Wal-Mart to let you walk out with a basket of groceries for free if you have no funding, but doctors are expected and required to follow up on uninsured patients all the time with the understanding those bills won't get paid. As I noted, I don't care one way or the other because I am in a large diversified group and can do it easily, but the system has so many holes!

BTW, the proposal to push Medicare Advantage plans above... Don't expect them to pay for your cancer care. They are horrible form our perspective in oncology.

 

[NationalTitles18]

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/biden-propose-expanded-medicare-medicaid-coverage-obesity-drugs-official-says-2024-11-26/

Biden to propose expanded Medicare, Medicaid coverage of obesity drugs, official says

 

[CrimsonJazz]

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/biden-propose-expanded-medicare-medicaid-coverage-obesity-drugs-official-says-2024-11-26/

Biden to propose expanded Medicare, Medicaid coverage of obesity drugs, official says

My only problem with this is the potential to create even more shortages than what we already have. A client of mine went ten weeks without her injection due to one such shortage and she actually IS diabetic and without this medication, her insulin usage nearly doubled. As long as diabetics are in danger of not getting their medication due to overprescribing to overweight people, this is a sticky situation for me.

Now, if the pharmaceutical companies can increase their output so that there is enough for everyone, then I'm totally on board here. Losing excess weight is the single most effective means of preventative care and would radically reduce the cost of healthcare in this country.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

I am fortunate to practice with a large group and we can manage uninsured and underinsured patients fairly well. But for solo docs the margins are pretty thin at times and you can't expect them to provide tons of charity care before they are running a negative. Overhead and fixed costs always escalate, while reimbursement always drops and gets tied to more paperwork.

The other issue is that we don't expect Wal-Mart to let you walk out with a basket of groceries for free if you have no funding, but doctors are expected and required to follow up on uninsured patients all the time with the understanding those bills won't get paid. As I noted, I don't care one way or the other because I am in a large diversified group and can do it easily, but the system has so many holes!

BTW, the proposal to push Medicare Advantage plans above... Don't expect them to pay for your cancer care. They are horrible form our perspective in oncology.

That's not the only ripoff. You'd think that people should realize, on the principle of "no free lunch," that when they offer free dental and ocular care, plus a grocery allowances, that they are making money hand over fist elsewhere. I notice that the most common commercial for advantage plans, paid for, I'm sure, by some insurance consortium, attempts to blur the distinction between traditional Medicare medigap or "Part C" plans. The mellifluous female voice starts out by saying that, if you don't have a Part C plan, "commonly known as Advantage," and then goes on to spell out all the benefits you're missing. Certainly, they're both medigap plans, but she might as well say "a dog, commonly known as a cat"...

 

[TexasBama]

That's not the only ripoff. You'd think that people should realize, on the principle of "no free lunch," that when they offer free dental and ocular care, plus a grocery allowances, that they are making money hand over fist elsewhere. I notice that the most common commercial for advantage plans, paid for, I'm sure, by some insurance consortium, attempts to blur the distinction between traditional Medicare medigap or "Part C" plans. The mellifluous female voice starts out by saying that, if you don't have a Part C plan, "commonly known as Advantage," and then goes on to spell out all the benefits you're missing. Certainly, they're both medigap plans, but she might as well say "a dog, commonly known as a cat"...

You're paying for cancer treatment out of pocket, but hey, what about that free gym membership!

 

[jthomas666]

That's not the only ripoff. You'd think that people should realize, on the principle of "no free lunch," that when they offer free dental and ocular care, plus a grocery allowances, that they are making money hand over fist elsewhere. I notice that the most common commercial for advantage plans, paid for, I'm sure, by some insurance consortium, attempts to blur the distinction between traditional Medicare medigap or "Part C" plans. The mellifluous female voice starts out by saying that, if you don't have a Part C plan, "commonly known as Advantage," and then goes on to spell out all the benefits you're missing. Certainly, they're both medigap plans, but she might as well say "a dog, commonly known as a cat"...

I've got a few years before Medicare kicks in and I'm already getting calls about supplemental plans damn near nonstop.

 

[TexasBama]

I've got a few years before Medicare kicks in and I'm already getting calls about supplemental plans damn near nonstop.

I’m on Medicare and get something in the mail or on text almost daily.

 

[CrimsonJazz]

A lot of people seem to think diet is the biggest contributor to this. I think lack of exercise likely plays a role, too.

 

[crimsonaudio]

A lot of people seem to think diet is the biggest contributor to this. I think lack of exercise likely plays a role, too.

Lots of fat guys who eat too much soy.

 

[stlimprov]

Just a guess, but how about: we weren't really testing for that before a certain point, and then when awareness increases the most likely people to get tested are those that are low enough that they are observing effects.

Have levels really dropped? Was a baseline established? How do we know that the measured data is representative of general population? Maybe, maybe not. I have no way to know from looking at that.

In other words, I'm willing to bet a dollar that there is very little control in that "study". It is a red flag that there is no hint of citation.

 

[mdb-tpet]

Lots of fat guys who eat too much soy.

We sit a lot more than we used to in our jobs. We drive a lot more than we used to. We exercise less. We walk less. We watch more TV. We drink too much alcohol. We eat worse/lower nutritionally dense foods. We're getting more and more (untested) chemicals in our environment every year. The planet is getting hotter.

Think You’re In Your Car More? You’re Right. Americans Spend 70 Billion Hours Behind the Wheel

Survey shows an eight percent increase since 2014

newsroom.aaa.com

There's just nothing going in the right direction.

 

[crimsonaudio]

We sit a lot more than we used to in our jobs. We drive a lot more than we used to. We exercise less. We walk less. We watch more TV. We drink too much alcohol. We eat worse/lower nutritionally dense foods. We're getting more and more (untested) chemicals in our environment every year. The planet is getting hotter.

Yep, and much of that is under our individual control, if we're willing to put in the effort.

There's a longish thread on obesity in the non-political forum where many of us have ranted against the 'modern' lifestyle corporations are using to profit off our collective health decline. Many forget that some 30 years ago most people were relatively healthy weight, morbid obesity was rare, and we largely ate whatever we wanted. The food wasn't poisoned and the answer to every problem wasn't from a pharmaceutical company.

So yeah, one can remain healthy and vibrant now, but it takes a LOT more effort than it did when I was a young adult - and it's not due to aging.

 

[CrimsonJazz]

The sedentary lifestyle is one that can sneak up on you and just take over before you realize what is happening. My job is not physically demanding, but Lord is it ever stressful. It is so easy to finish my day and not want to do anything else. Add to that the normal, everyday stressors of living and it takes a Herculean effort just to get back outside and move around some. Thankfully, I have plenty of pictures of me lying in a hospital bed a couple months back. That kinda helps with the motivation part.

 

[dtgreg]

We sit a lot more than we used to in our jobs. We drive a lot more than we used to. We exercise less. We walk less. We watch more TV. We drink too much alcohol. We eat worse/lower nutritionally dense foods. We're getting more and more (untested) chemicals in our environment every year. The planet is getting hotter.

Think You’re In Your Car More? You’re Right. Americans Spend 70 Billion Hours Behind the Wheel

Survey shows an eight percent increase since 2014

newsroom.aaa.com

There's just nothing going in the right direction.

We may or may not be drinking more alcohol than in the last 50 years but definitely not than in history prior.

 

[75thru79]

All I can tell you is if you are a male, older than 50ish then I would recommend you have your testosterone levels checked. I never gave it a second thought but I had mine tested a few years ago and it was somewhat low. Not clinically low for a man in his mid-60s but low as compared to a 35 year old. The doctor said I should give testosterone a try and if it doesn't help me than I could just stop.

Once I started taking testosterone I immediately dropped about 20lbs and my love handles completely disappeared. I also have tons more energy than I did before and it really lit a fire in the romance department. The only warning I would give is to make sure your wife/girlfriend is down for the increased libido because you'll be bugging her nonstop.

 

[crimsonaudio]

All I can tell you is if you are a male, older than 50ish then I would recommend you have your testosterone levels checked. I never gave it a second thought but I had mine tested a few years ago and it was somewhat low. Not clinically low for a man in his mid-60s but low as compared to a 35 year old. The doctor said I should give testosterone a try and if it doesn't help me than I could just stop.

Once I started taking testosterone I immediately dropped about 20lbs and my love handles completely disappeared. I also have tons more energy than I did before and it really lit a fire in the romance department. The only warning I would give is to make sure your wife/girlfriend is down for the increased libido because you'll be bugging her nonstop.

This is great advice - while I don't show any of the typical signs of low-T, it reminded me that I've wanted to get it checked, so I made an appt with my PCP. Thank you!

 

[75thru79]

This is great advice - while I don't show any of the typical signs of low-T, it reminded me that I've wanted to get it checked, so I made an appt with my PCP. Thank you!

The only thing I would warn you is that PCPs will only look at your T levels compared to men your age. While your level may be technically on the lower range, as long as it's within the guidelines for your age group, they won't want to prescribe it. You may have to go to one of those "Men's Health" doctors to get it and if you have to do that insurance won't pay. I have to pay for mine out of pocket,