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Nevrenuf
| | Posted on Friday, August 21, 2009 - 08:31 am: | 
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the one thing i haven't seen in none of this is what about those countries that have all their employees exercise before work to reduce stress levels and hopefully become a little healthier. what kind of health insurance do they have because they do basically preventive medicine.
since the "lets get it on" thread started, i've taken off 17 lbs and have maintained that. although not easy. i don't smoke, drink very little and i eat right 98% of the time. i get sick at most once a year and this year was because of what was being passed around at work. when i did get sick,it wasn't something that i had to go to a dr. for. i took care of myself and got better. i am on the other hand under va care for an accident that happened while i was in the service. although my disability is for one thing, they want to know how the rest of you are doing also. which in my case, because of genetics, i have a problem with my cholesterol.(history of heart disease on both sides of the family) i have to take, right now it's symvastatin, for the rest of my life to keep it down. and it doesn't matter how much i exercise or how much salad i eat, it wouldn't make a difference. believe me, i tried to avoid the medication altogether and i just couldn't do it. bottom line, if i was paying for healthcare right now, i would be one of their best customers because i wouldn't be costing them a penney outside of administrative costs to send me a bill every month.
if people started taking better care of themselves along with preventive medicine, and you got rid of all of these ambulance chasers and bad doctors, medical coverage could be affordable imo. but thats just me. i have been know to be wrong. |
Vampress
| | Posted on Friday, August 21, 2009 - 11:11 am: |
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This whole thing really blows me away. I guess you don't realise how good you have it until you look around sometimes.
Lemonchili pretty much summed it up above for us.
I have had a few trips to the ER over the past few years for the non-life-threatening things (a nasty cut hand, an allergic reaction) which didn't cost me a cent (although the doctors which attend you all bleary eyed coming off night shift can be cause for worry!).
Neverenuf made a good point about people needing to keep a check on their general health. I am as guilty as most on that one.
The government here however try and promote a healthier lifestyle by offering small incentives and access to self help programs. They advertise it a lot to get people more active.
I would say that most over here take out private insurance for different reasons though. We (personally) have it more to cover the things we don't see coming, than the things that can be prevented-accidents etc.
Also the private insurance here seems a lot cheaper and covers a lot of 'extras' such as therapeutic massage,chiropractic, dental etc.
After reading all this, it seems to me that we are so spoilt it's more about just being 'comfortable' . |
Alchemy
| | Posted on Friday, August 21, 2009 - 02:21 pm: |
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I had a female friend in France that was a little overweight. Over time her doctor diagnosed her with cellulite (I think). I saw her over a year or two of business meetings and she kept loosing weight. I finally commented on it.
She told me she had a 30 minute appointment with a doctor (full MD) every 2 weeks. He discussed her diet, exercise, stress etc as they consider excess weight a serious health condition that merits action.
She was prescribed to spend several hours at a topshelf german gymnasium/SPA (in Germany across the border) every weekend. She was to do various activities (swim/massage/walk) and she loved it. There were also scrubs and maybe vitamins involved. The costs were covered (I was in disbelief). The physician monitored her progress on a regular schedule and it worked amazingly well. She said it was not any one thing but the personal attention of the private physician and the resources he was able to invoke to get her to a healthy weight.
Shortly thereafter she was engaged and her life has benefited (IMO) from the resolution of this unhealthful weight.
If the healthcare system acts early and seriously these lifestyle patterns can be improved.
Our system is so very focused on disease. Unhealthful does not get much attention. Room for improvement and it has to start with changing our existing system somehow. |
Blake
| | Posted on Friday, August 21, 2009 - 04:02 pm: |
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I'd rather have fat folks than the government intervening.
>>>She was prescribed to spend several hours
I wonder, what would have been the consequence wrt her health coverage had your friend been of the mind to say, screw you, I'm happy like I am? |
Lightstick
| | Posted on Monday, August 24, 2009 - 11:41 am: |
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The top priority of Health Care Reform right now is the survival of the Insurance Companies. |
Alchemy
| | Posted on Monday, August 24, 2009 - 01:40 pm: |
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.... I'm happy like I am?
I have no idea what would happen so can't comment with any knowledge. I can only say that she was very enthusiastic about it and very happy with her doctor. This feeling might very well have changed if the physician were different.
Here is a difference in the US at the company where I work and I can speak with knowledge. Each year I must fill out a personal survey of my personal habits and have lab work done that is reported to my company. I MUST agree to COOPERATE with any life-styple changes they advise - ie diet, exercise or drugs OR I MUST pay $500 more for my company healthcare. They call it a $500 discount in their spinmeister world.
As a conservative I refuse this every year and it has cost me thousands of real dollars.
I do NOT like the fact that they are collecting personal lifestyle information from me regarding my diet at home and what I drink or smoke etc and the collection of this information is being farmed out to a third party who is "supposed" to respect my privacy but is the low cost bidder and could be gone tomorrow.
I do not like receiving calls at home monthly and being grilled as to my compliance with their program.
Now this company is generally a very good company but feels they have the right to invade my privacy as long as it is only a $500 dollar "voluntary" penalty (this year) I have to shoulder should I refuse.
I would gladly participate in the program voluntarily where it not for the collection of this personal data into some DATABASE with my name on it. I don't trust them at all when it comes to data privacy and they will not allow one to participate anonymously - they HAVE to track the data.
You can bet that data is being used or will be used one day. My employer could drop healthcare benefits any time (or only offer it to those that comply) they please and my info might make it difficult or impossible to get insurance as our present system is constructed.
Most of my co-workers gladly turn over their personal information to avoid the penalty but it is just wrong in my conservative eyes. |
Cityxslicker
| | Posted on Monday, August 24, 2009 - 01:56 pm: |
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Have you read those surveys closely?
I went to a local clinic and opted out of my network to get to a specialist; I was a cash paying customer; however his only day for appointment was when he was working at the 'free' clinic ....
Patient survey (brought to you by the wonderful people of DSHS) wanted to know if there was a gun in the house, how many times a week I drink, do I use other drugs, have I any domestic violence issues with the police response, are there any small children at home, what my annual income was, and if English was my primary language....
I handed it back to to the clerk and told her it was none of her business. She said they have to collect that information in order to continue to get state aid to run their clinic. I told her I wouldnt fill it out especially due to the lack of privacy statements on that paperwork.
She got disgruntled and snippy. The next week I handed her boss a 5,ooo fine and infraction for HIPAA violation and reported back to the state.
(this is Washington State)
Having my license and creditials has its benefits. My doctor has no need knowing my position on the second amendment.
The left hand in this biz has no g'd idea what the right hand is tied behind its back and handcuffed through a belt loop.
Its gonna be a boon doggle of epic proportions. |
Nevrenuf
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 - 06:30 am: |
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i wouldn't agree with none of that crap at all either. i just think you should have one yearly physical to get a discount with out all the bs. i have to give up a little info to get my disability but you shouldn't have to give it up when it's private. |
Court
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 - 07:46 am: |
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Covered my ass. |
Cityxslicker
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 - 01:33 pm: |
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its been going on for years, most of the practices I consulted for were small out of network clinics that did not see Medicare, Medicaid, or Insurance patients. One would however see you if you were the result of a car accident if you were represented by a lawyer and claimant responsibility had been assigned by court order. Most were general practioner, but a couple Chiro and PT were opting out too. I expect the trend to continue, and expand cash will always find a way. |
Court
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 - 06:29 pm: |
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The sole luxury I afforded myself when I moved to NYC in 1997 was to find the best M.D., D.D.S. and D.V.M.
I must say I am thrilled with the health care in NYC.
The M.D. is considering, he's contacted all his current patients, of going to this program.
Interesting. |
Blake
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 - 11:18 pm: |
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"The sole luxury I afforded myself when I moved to NYC in 1997 was to find the best M.D., D.D.S. and D.V.M. "
Please share your method for doing that. I'm just getting to the point where that is becoming important to me and I'm thinking similarly but don't have a clue how to go about it. |
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