Comparing U.S. and other medical systems

[cassiesmom]

One thing I would like to see change is the way services are paid for. (I work in a claims office) We received a claim for a service that is not covered under the insurance plan I work for. The patient had the service at a hospital in the PPO network, so the claims came in with the billed charges and the contracted rates. But the patient will not get to know the contracted rates - she will get a bill for the services at the billed charges, which are a LOT higher than the contracted rates. That stinks.

The other thing that is frustrating to no end is the cost of prescription drugs.

[sparks19]

One thing I would like to see change is the way services are paid for. (I work in a claims office) We received a claim for a service that is not covered under the insurance plan I work for. The patient had the service at a hospital in the PPO network, so the claims came in with the billed charges and the contracted rates. But the patient will not get to know the contracted rates - she will get a bill for the services at the billed charges, which are a LOT higher than the contracted rates. That stinks.

The other thing that is frustrating to no end is the cost of prescription drugs.

This I agree with. the way the billing and rates and stuff go here is ridiculous. I know we did a TON of pricing and shopping around when I was pregnant and it AMAZES me the differences between what the customer sees and what insurance sees and not only that but the differences in price between a customer with insurance and a cash customer

there needs to be regulation in that area for sure

[catmandu]

I heard a story that Chemo Therapy for cancer is outdated, that there are a lot better ways to fight cancer , but that there so much money invested in chemo therapy and chemo therapists that they cant afford to change over.
If you have the money there are cancer clinics that will use these homepathic cures which are easier on the patient , or try to find natural meds to fight this on the internet.

[carole]

I can't even begin to understand the American Health system, but all I know is i prefer what we have here from what i do understand, no health system is perfect and our's is far from it either.

We have waiting lists like any other public system,and because of that i choose to have private medical insurance at least for surgery cover, i cannot really afford anything else.

We do have subsidised Doctors visits and ACC here which contributes to your care if you have an accident, that recently had an overhaul and we are now paying a lot more than we used to, i guess our government just cannot sustain it as is.

We have free dental care until you are 18, providing it is just standard care,not for wisdom teeth removal that sort of thing, and free blood tests still at this stage, i am wondering how long that will last though.

All in all i am happy with it as it is,but i guess it is because i have the security of knowing if i need surgery i can have it quickly due to taking out insurance, but i pay through the nose for that, and i will not be able to continue paying as i get older, as it will be too expensive and i will have to rely on the public system then.

At accident and emergency they try and get you out within 6hrs, which is far too long, we went there recently with my mother and were there for four hours, so that is not too good.

[Cataholic]

One thing I would like to see change is the way services are paid for. (I work in a claims office) We received a claim for a service that is not covered under the insurance plan I work for. The patient had the service at a hospital in the PPO network, so the claims came in with the billed charges and the contracted rates. But the patient will not get to know the contracted rates - she will get a bill for the services at the billed charges, which are a LOT higher than the contracted rates. That stinks.

This happened to me. J had speech, covered at 20 visits a year, cause anyone knows that speech problems clear up on that 20th visit, duh!

Anyhow, I asked if I could continue the service, at the discounted rate, and was denied. Add that on top of the fact the insurer did not count the payments made for additional speech treatment as medical care going towards the significant deductible, and things stunk.

I think one of the largest lobbying groups in DC is the insurance industry. Too bad, as that will keep things the way they are for a long time now.