Do you have private health insurance...??

[Daisy and Delilah]

WOW!!! That must have been uncomfortable to say the least. The cost is insane!

With the three knee replacements I had, the prosthesis' alone were $27k, 36k, and the last one(I have it in now), 54k. It was almost like the doctors/companies kept jacking up the prices to see what they could get. Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful it was paid but I feel this can't continue forever. At the same time, it's keeping other people that are dying from possibly having funds available for their needs. I know I'm not explaining this too well but I think everyone knows what I mean.

People might think I'm crazy but I actually think twice before making an appointment, etc. Why? So my insurance company won't cancel me.

[pomtzu]

People might think I'm crazy but I actually think twice before making an appointment, etc. Why? So my insurance company won't cancel me.

That's an expensive knee you have there girl!

Can they cancel you? I don't know. My private insurance was always thru my employer, and I never heard of anyone getting cancelled. If anything - they would have cancelled me with all that they paid out on me over the years. An when I was still married and my now ex was on my insurance, they paid out over $300,000 for his quadruple by-pass.
So now I'm on Medicare and have a supplemental policy with United Healthcare thru AARP. Now I'm wondering if they could cancel me at their option - or maybe raise my rates. However my brother has the same supplemental policy that I have, and he's had mega bucks worth of surgery, procedures and treatments, and they have never even raised his rates. Actually his premiums went down when he moved from FL to NC since it's based on where you live. And I pay even less than he does for the exact same coverage.

If you need to go to the doctor - go!!!!

[Daisy and Delilah]

I don't know if they can cancel me or not but it concerns me.

I forgot to mention that the last implant was a femoral implant only. They had to order several models to match it correctly so I think that's why the charge was so high. They can't remove the tibial implant. It's too hard to take out(doctor's words).
Sorry I'm off topic again.

[JenBKR]

My husband and I are blessed. He works for a small company but they provide excellent medical coverage. We don't pay anything for it, the company covers 100%. It is considered part of his pay though. Our co-pays are $10-$20 for doctor visits and $15 for prescriptions. I didn't pay a penny to have Ty - not for any doctor visits or any hospital charges. Ty was added on to the insurance plan free also. As I said, we are blessed to have this insurance.

I think that insurance can vary from state-to-state too. In PA we have a children's insurance program that can cover children who don't have insurance through their parents. We also have low cost clinics, though I am not sure how the quality is. Our health care in this country is in a sad state for sure.

[carole]

I am so thankful to have our community services card, as i said before it cuts down our doctors fees, and our prescriptions are $3.00 per item.

[pomtzu]

I am so thankful to have our community services card, as i said before it cuts down our doctors fees, and our prescriptions are $3.00 per item.

$3.00????

I have osteoporosis, and one med my doctor wanted me to take would have cost me $950 per month. The cheapest I found it was thru a Canadian pharmacy for $750 per month. I guess you know who isn't taking it!!

[carole]

Yes well not every medication is subsidised by the government, i have to take some medicine that i have to pay for as well,luckily it is still cheap compared to the prices you are quoting,this is what the article was saying also that the USA are paying double the price anywhere else is, that is terrible.

The normal price you pay for a prescription on a government funded medication is $15 per item, so is a big saving for me.

I am getting even more thankful for the system we have in place here in NZ as i read your posts, i would not be able to survive paying what you people pay, i have to have one particular medicine otherwise i would be unable to eat, so if i had to pay those outrageous prices i guess i would truly be down under.