Jew Make the Call: Doctor's Office/Insurance Edition

[Dan Druff]

Because there's a huge wait for specialists and certain tests/procedures. And it causes a huge tax burden.

But I do feel our current system in the US needs major reform.

Huge assumption.

If I was concerned with my eye. This would be the procedure here.

Go to General Practitioner. Free and immediate.
If he's concerned he refers you to a specialist, cost maybe $150-$180 and you get seen immediately. Take bill to Medicare they give you back about 70% in cash same day.
No money, get a referral to a free specialist. If its serious you'll be seen straight away in the ER. If it's not considered urgent you probably need to wait a month or more.

I honestly think you can cut your health bill in half, and have an excellent healthcare system.

If you're a baller like Druff, take out the optional top notch insurance, some options cost an arm and a leg but you'll get a nice red wine or Whisky with your dinner, Sir.


Our healthcare system makes yours look retarded.
Sweden, Norway, Great Britain arguably have much better then ours.

Bolded part already makes your healthcare system sound like shit.

There's a huge area between "serious and need to be seen at ER" and "can wait a month, no worries".

Often it falls in the range of, "Very uncomfortable and miserable to live with for a month or more, but not urgent or life threatening."

Other times it falls into the category of, "Obscure problem which a general practitioner will lack the experience to identify, and will end up causing real damage by the time you realize you can't wait to see a specialist any longer."

Any system where you can't get into a specialist quickly and easily is a system I don't want. I think you're too used to this shit as the norm, and don't realize the huge value of just jumping right to a specialist in the same week, and sometimes the same day.

[Dan Druff]

Also, you wrote, "If he's concerned, he sends you to a specialist."

Again, terrible.

The primary care doctor controls whether you will see a specialist or not. If he sucks and is dismissive of your real problem, it sounds like he will deny you the ability to see the specialist.

People in the UK with LPR were complaining of this exact issue. Some were being denied specialist (ENT) visits for their problem, because their idiot general doctor hadn't heard of LPR's existence, or didn't believe it was real. Others had to wait 4 months to see an ENT. Others, after waiting many months, were denied essential tests to investigate further.

In the meantime, all of the Americans in the group went straight to ENTs quickly, and all got the tests they wanted.

Tight system. I can't wait to switch to the European socialized model.

[Dan Druff]

By the way, guess why they need all this bullshit healthcare rationing.

Because when care is "free", everyone tries to go to the doctor for every little thing, and they want every test under the sun, because again it's "free".

So in order to combat this and attempt to make room for people who really need it, they deny tests, deny specialist visits, and still have staggering wait times despite that. So you need to go through some possibly awful gatekeeper of medical services (either the general doctor or some administrator approving/denying tests), and if they decide wrong, you're fucked.

This is a huge issue with socialized systems which is rarely discussed. There's a huge overutilization problem, which leads to potential tremendous wait times, which leads to denials of care in order to filter out the frivolous visits/tests, which leads to improper denials when idiots tasked to decide make the wrong decision. And even with all of this, there's still the long wait times.

Exactly how is this any good?

There actually needs to be a mild disincentive to see the doctor so people stay away unless they feel they really need to go.

[Salty_Aus]

Huge assumption.

If I was concerned with my eye. This would be the procedure here.

Go to General Practitioner. Free and immediate.
If he's concerned he refers you to a specialist, cost maybe $150-$180 and you get seen immediately. Take bill to Medicare they give you back about 70% in cash same day.
No money, get a referral to a free specialist. If its serious you'll be seen straight away in the ER. If it's not considered urgent you probably need to wait a month or more.

I honestly think you can cut your health bill in half, and have an excellent healthcare system.

If you're a baller like Druff, take out the optional top notch insurance, some options cost an arm and a leg but you'll get a nice red wine or Whisky with your dinner, Sir.


Our healthcare system makes yours look retarded.
Sweden, Norway, Great Britain arguably have much better then ours.

Bolded part already makes your healthcare system sound like shit.

There's a huge area between "serious and need to be seen at ER" and "can wait a month, no worries".

Often it falls in the range of, "Very uncomfortable and miserable to live with for a month or more, but not urgent or life threatening."

Other times it falls into the category of, "Obscure problem which a general practitioner will lack the experience to identify, and will end up causing real damage by the time you realize you can't wait to see a specialist any longer."

Any system where you can't get into a specialist quickly and easily is a system I don't want. I think you're too used to this shit as the norm, and don't realize the huge value of just jumping right to a specialist in the same week, and sometimes the same day.

I'll agree to an extent.

On the bright side it actually helps when those obscure problems happen to disappear in a day or two.

Pay the $150'ish and see a specialist straight away, get most of your money back from Medicare same day.

I'll disagree with you, GP's are well equipped to diagnose eye problems, eyesight is considered to be a priority.

[Salty_Aus]

Also, you wrote, "If he's concerned, he sends you to a specialist."

Again, terrible.

The primary care doctor controls whether you will see a specialist or not. If he sucks and is dismissive of your real problem, it sounds like he will deny you the ability to see the specialist.

People in the UK with LPR were complaining of this exact issue. Some were being denied specialist (ENT) visits for their problem, because their idiot general doctor hadn't heard of LPR's existence, or didn't believe it was real. Others had to wait 4 months to see an ENT. Others, after waiting many months, were denied essential tests to investigate further.

In the meantime, all of the Americans in the group went straight to ENTs quickly, and all got the tests they wanted.

Tight system. I can't wait to switch to the European socialized model.

I chose my local GP, if I think he's a twat I just get a better one simple.

You can always get a second or even third opinion if you think your GP has been dismissive.

GP will always refer you if you say, I want to see a specialist BTW.

[Dan Druff]

Medicine is so complex that it's impossible to be really knowledgeable in everything. You really want a specialist for specialized problems, unless it's something obvious and straightforward which any doctor can diagnose and treat.

I have a GP who I like and seems competent, but anything which seems to require a lot of experience in one field, I'm going to a specialist.

I personally don't run to the doctor for every little thing. My approach is usually "Wait and see if it gets better on its own, unless it's unbearable or seems dangerous."

In most cases, it does go away on its own, and I feel smart for not having wasted the time and money on a doctor visit. But if I had to wait a month or more to see specialists in certain cases, I'd be going crazy.

[Salty_Aus]

By the way, guess why they need all this bullshit healthcare rationing.

Because when care is "free", everyone tries to go to the doctor for every little thing, and they want every test under the sun, because again it's "free".

So in order to combat this and attempt to make room for people who really need it, they deny tests, deny specialist visits, and still have staggering wait times despite that. So you need to go through some possibly awful gatekeeper of medical services (either the general doctor or some administrator approving/denying tests), and if they decide wrong, you're fucked.

This is a huge issue with socialized systems which is rarely discussed. There's a huge overutilization problem, which leads to potential tremendous wait times, which leads to denials of care in order to filter out the frivolous visits/tests, which leads to improper denials when idiots tasked to decide make the wrong decision. And even with all of this, there's still the long wait times.

Exactly how is this any good?

There actually needs to be a mild disincentive to see the doctor so people stay away unless they feel they really need to go.

You're simply making stuff up now.

It's not free, we pay for it in some way. It's a levy on gross income combined with those wanting private cover.

Yes if your piss poor and have to live with a non life threatening issue for a while, you're shit out of luck... least you'll not die if you can't afford insulin.
How the fuck do piss poor people get treated in your own country when they have a sore knee that needs minor surgery?

I think you're overestimating wait times, in fact I'm sure you are.

[Salty_Aus]

Medicine is so complex that it's impossible to be really knowledgeable in everything. You really want a specialist for specialized problems, unless it's something obvious and straightforward which any doctor can diagnose and treat.

I have a GP who I like and seems competent, but anything which seems to require a lot of experience in one field, I'm going to a specialist.

I personally don't run to the doctor for every little thing. My approach is usually "Wait and see if it gets better on its own, unless it's unbearable or seems dangerous."

In most cases, it does go away on its own, and I feel smart for not having wasted the time and money on a doctor visit. But if I had to wait a month or more to see specialists in certain cases, I'd be going crazy.

Pay the $150'ish end of story, GP will always refer you. If not get a second opinion... simple.
You get most of it back same day if you want.

In general, our doctors are top notch.

[Hockey Guy]

The best ice pack for an eye is a full, unopened can of beer from the fridge.

This is from much experience. You're welcome.

Experience trying an opened can of beer?

For using it as a cooling agent for around your eye to reduce swelling? Yes, lots of experience.

I also have mucho experience of using opened cans of beer as an anti-thirst agent so there's that too.

[FRANKRIZZO]

Also, you wrote, "If he's concerned, he sends you to a specialist."

Again, terrible.

The primary care doctor controls whether you will see a specialist or not. If he sucks and is dismissive of your real problem, it sounds like he will deny you the ability to see the specialist.

People in the UK with LPR were complaining of this exact issue. Some were being denied specialist (ENT) visits for their problem, because their idiot general doctor hadn't heard of LPR's existence, or didn't believe it was real. Others had to wait 4 months to see an ENT. Others, after waiting many months, were denied essential tests to investigate further.

In the meantime, all of the Americans in the group went straight to ENTs quickly, and all got the tests they wanted.

Tight system. I can't wait to switch to the European socialized model.

Broseph my primary doctor always send me to a specialist that I don't even have to pay copay. I have oxford. Please reply if you have obamacare , Its saddening if you do you with copay and amounts you will be reimbursed for.