Medical benefits -

I will never in my life complain about my own medical benefits again.

I have been dealing with my parents benefits. They are retired military, and I have to say
it is the biggest joke I've ever experienced in my life. I have been swearing like a sailor for the past two weeks.
I had a very easy question, which of course is not answered in "Frequently Asked Questions"
and here is the pop up.



Yes folks, your eyes have not deceived you, that indeed says 30 BUSINESS freaking DAYS to answer
a question. A QUESTION...

(Don't even get me started on calling anyone...I made a dozen calls today, ZERO answers, are there any workers left?)
I understand that people want universal healthcare because of "costs"... I am telling you right now, that military medical care is as close
to Universal Healthcare in the US and it bites....(insert every swear word possible here)
I'm just talking about the coverage, don't even get me started on military actual healthcare. I wouldn't send my dog there to be treated.
Maybe other small countries can handle Universal healthcare, I'm telling you right now, we can't.
We can't even give proper care to the soldiers that would give their lives for our country/people, how the heck are we going to do it for the whole
country?

Sorry, rant over!

Out medical system needs to be restructured not saying universal healthcare but it needs to be improved in so many ways and just throwing money at it isn't the answer either.

My doctor gave me some samples as we have been trying to dial in what works and doesn't work for me, LSS I just got the prescription filled for the first time it was going to be over $1000 a month without insurance.

None of the usual apps made a difference of more than $100 off, found a place online printed the card took to my pharmacist boom total cost $25

I bet so many people don't go through that hassle or even know to search. So they don't get the prescription or go in hock to pay for it.

Here's a good one for ya. I am part of Kaiser-Permanente. They inherited me when they merged with Group Health, where I have been for 45 years. I got referred out to a specialist for a colonoscopy which I had last Friday. Today, the next Thursday, they informed me that anesthesia was not covered. What insane bubble-head made up this rule? Luckily, I had the procedure with anesthesia which I will likely have to pay for. Meanwhile the biopsy came back positive, so surgery will be required.

Fun times.

a reply to: schuyler

I got referred out to a specialist for a colonoscopy which I had last Friday. Today, the next Thursday, they informed me that anesthesia was not covered.

That's asinine...

originally posted by: JAGStorm
a reply to: schuyler

I got referred out to a specialist for a colonoscopy which I had last Friday. Today, the next Thursday, they informed me that anesthesia was not covered.

That's asinine...

Thanks. I'm going to use that in my complaint letter.

Outsourced to a Call Center in India or China ?

a reply to: JAGStorm

While I believe the government doesn't seem to care much about veterans, the Veteran's Administration does. I've noticed lately that trying to contact the VA does seem harder to do. That may be because the government is cutting funding to them, so contact people always seem the first to go. I've had nothing but good treatment from the VA. When I first went in about 10 years ago, the emergency doctors that first saw my feet wounds said that normally they would amputate both legs from the knees down to save the patient. The podiatrist at the VA hospital I go to was good and caring and had a different idea than immediate amputation. He ended up saving both of my feet (and legs!). I've probably racked up a quarter million dollars of medical expenses through all of this, what with all the MRIs, bone scans, irradiation treatments, etc., and haven't had to pay a dime. I don't see how it could get any better than that.

originally posted by: Gothmog
Outsourced to a Call Center in India or China ?

I have never experienced that. Good old American people actually at the place I'm calling.

a reply to: schuyler

Not covering anesthesia seems to be a regular thing.

When I had my shoulder done, we were told the terms of the surgery and cost and how much insurance would cover. We planned for the expense and paid up on the day of.

Then, two months later, we got hit with the anesthesia bill that no one warned us about.

It's the government, the government is very inefficient. I think they hire the relatives and friends of politicians to run things. Ask the people who work with government programs at the lower levels, there is more paperwork and delays than anything. If they don't have all the paperwork and have to account for the money, the money seems to disappear and nobody knows where it went.

I did not have any problems handling my mothers insurance through the vets, she got the insurance when my stepfather died, he died of a hundred percent service connected condition. She did not qualify till he died though, because he got a good disabled vet pension from the vets and then her income was too high as his wife to qualify. When he died the pension went away and the insurance was available to her. But it took a year of waiting for it to be approved.

a reply to: JAGStorm

Under my insurance, you have free colon cancer screening, but if cancer is detected, you pay the whole thing. Yeah, it is that much stupid.

a reply to: JAGStorm

I live in Canada, Universal Healthcare central, and I've never ever had something like this happen to me or my family.

Now, with my extended insurance benefits? Definitely. I've never waited 30 business days though.

Seems like its run less like "Universal Healthcare" and more like the lowest of the low quality self-pay health insurance. Very sad for military members, and honestly baffling that that's the level of care they're offered.

a reply to: JAGStorm

Morning dear. I was with Senior Services in the City of Dearborn.

A trick? Go ..go ...in person to the VA. Tell them you're not leaving until you see a Social Worker. There. Nowhere else. Don't call, and no appt. Go.

I know this is prob less than helpful for you...but I've learned a lot as an EMT and Life Support spec.

I can only tell you what I've seen...works. esp w VA.

We have a great VA in both Ann Arbor and Detroit...alas, I know ...all things being equal ...not all are the same.

If you need to discuss? I can help.

My 95...ninety five years old friend...yesterday ..couldn't get into a a Sec of State nor get an answer...to get lic plates. (YES. He tested ok...at 95!!!)

I sent him to a Kroger Grocery store, and in 10, he walked out w it.

There's always a a way....Sorry, and thnx for your struggles w parents. God will reward you ...

Contact anytime...😎☮️✌️

a reply to: Atsbhct

I live in Canada, Universal Healthcare central, and I've never ever had something like this happen to me or my family.

I have a rare medical issue. I can tell you first hand that people from Canada with this same issue all come to the US because it takes months if not years to get medical help, especially multiple MRI’s. I am not exaggerating. This is not something I heard or second hand stuff, these are real people that I know that are going through this.

a reply to: mysterioustranger

You are so so kind!!
Yes I am going to have to do something soon.

a reply to: JAGStorm

For sure, that definitely happens with things that can be taken care of by paying for what you need if you want it quickly. But, I think the key word is rare.

A simple question like you had would never take 30 days to answer, in my experience, and doesn't really equate to universal healthcare here.

originally posted by: Atsbhct
a reply to: JAGStorm

For sure, that definitely happens with things that can be taken care of by paying for what you need if you want it quickly. But, I think the key word is rare.

A simple question like you had would never take 30 days to answer, in my experience, and doesn't really equate to universal healthcare here.

I know what you are saying and I’ll agree with that. The problem is that the US is different.
What will work in Canada, or Sweden etc, won’t necessarily work here. I’m using the military as an example because it’s been around a very long time. It’s as close to universal healthcare as we have and it would get a grade of an F.

Someone mentioned it on here, that they have spend XYZ on care through the military at no charge.
It does not matter if 2 million dollars are spent if they don’t give you proper care. I’ve experience this with my family.

The only way I can compare it, Would you rather have surgery in Mexico for 100 bucks, or in the US for 5000. I know which one I would choose... Cheap or free is not always better.

a reply to: JAGStorm

Ugh. For sure. Such a complicated issue.

The U.S. would need some type of combined universal + private healthcare to make it work.

But it does seem like the country is on the brink of needing some kind of new healthcare plan.

Such a shame that military members, of all people, aren't given adequate access to their health benefits.

I personally like the concept of universal health care, but my own experiences with our current system (medicare/medicaid for me) make me more than a little wary.

It seems that for very typical, "normal" health concerns, other nations universal healthcare systems are quite adequate. For specialists and more unique problems, the system in the US seems to have better results.

When I was finally accepted on disability, after four tries over years and years, I had to also switch my health to medicaid. Different from the VA, for sure, but my experience with that traumatized me when it comes to the phone. 60-80 hours per week for 2-3 weeks was what it took, and I never got anyone on the other end that could speak clearly. About half of that time was spent on hold. Every third sentence, for the entire time, was me asking "can you please repeat that?"

I finally got it sorted, and now every year I get a letter telling me Im about to lose all my benefits. When I call in, they tell me Im good to go. Makes me want to ignore those letters, but given the seriousness of it, I cant do it.

I really have sincere doubts about making any of these systems universal. I think there are more immediate issues we could handle long before we even go there. Issues that I suspect would be made substantially worse if we moved to a more universal system. And also, issues that many in our country have never had to deal with.. much less individuals from other countries.