I think I understand healthcare issue now. My son, James, had surgery on Monday to correct a detached retina. He has no idea how it happened, but it happened, according to the doctor, because he is severely nearsighted. The optometrist spotted the problem and referred him to an ophthalmologist. This specialist then did surgery to correct the problem. He blew a gas bubble into Jim’s eye and then told him to lie face down on my couch for a week. This is not much different than what Jim did during his teenage years, so I agreed.
Before the surgery, Jim’s blood was drawn and he was diagnosed as being a diabetic. Now he has to go to an internist to have the problem addressed. It’s hell getting old, or so I am told.
Luckily, Jim has insurance. But, if he did not, he would have been paying for this for a long time. When we returned on Tuesday to the doctor for the “post op checkup,” Jim saw another doctor (not his surgeon, who was supposedly off doing more surgery type things). We went into the waiting room which was set up in a theatre like atmosphere with the patients facing away from the reception, but towards a 50 inch LED TV which was playing “The Lake House”. Oddly enough, next to the window where patients check in is a sign that says, “Expect to be here 1-3 hours” (At least they warn you, other doctors don’t.) Jim was called back immediately because he was priority patient.
Once inside the magic door from the waiting room, we were led through a maze of hallways into another waiting room where there were more people. (It began to feel like the stages of purgatory, or a Disney waiting line.) Jim was taken into a room where an assistant checked him out, undressed the surgical eye, and did some preliminary things. After this, he was taken again around a corner, down a hall, and into…ANOTHER WAITING ROOM! Luckily, because of his “priority patient” status, he was put into an examining room. The doctor came in (at least I think he was a doctor, he did not have on the official doctor coat, nor the heart listening thingy). He looked in Jim’s eye, said, “Keep following your doctor’s orders.” And left. Jim saw the Doctor a grand total of two (2) minutes!
When Jim went to leave, he was given a copy of the bill for services had he not been insured. The grand total for the two minute visit and the ride through Doctorland, was $268.00! Or, about 134 dollars a minute. We tried doing math on the intake of this particular doctor’s office. IF he and the other doctors saw only 30 patients each that day (There were more waiting to see him and the five other doctor’s in the practice. Jim had an early appointment.) the office would have pulled in close to $48,240 that day! For the week, it would have been 241,200 and over a year period, $12,060,000, assuming that they take two weeks off for vacation. Now, I know there are overhead costs, but …
Jim has not gotten the bill for the surgery center yet. But he was in there for about 6 hours. They called in another doctor for the diabetes who may or may not be covered under his insurance, even though Jim did not ask for the consult. That bill will be interesting.
Total cost for the eye surgery? My bet is on about $20,000.
How do people that have no insurance afford health care? Those that would oppose changes and even a public option are probably those who can afford it. But, we have to ask ourselves, if the government is to “promote the general welfare” as it promises in the Preamble to the Constitution, is it not its duty to be sure all citizens can be treated?
Next time you go for a doctor’s appointment, ask what the “usual and customary” charges would be for the services provided had you not had insurance. Could you have afforded it?
Food for thought.
Doughnut
No comments:
Post a Comment