Should we reform?
Working in the healthcare and medical fields hands on for over 30 years, I have seen the changes. Some for the good and some changes were bad.
In the past, the hospitals, drug companies and health insurance companies looked out for their patients, provided time and care and received the treatment needed. Sure they didn't have the technology and the drugs like they have now, but it was a much kinder and less costly time.
I had excellent health insurance which paid for 100% of all costs including doctor visits, medications, hospital care, vision, dental. Everything was covered. Then managed care came into the picture, the HMO's the co-pay and you were restricted to follow only the managed care doctors.(whether you liked it or not.)
then came the co-pays, pay fees and eventually the costs rose and you had to pay the deductible and pay the employer more money which was deducted from your paycheck.
There were no complaints about health care back then. We had 401K's, retirement savings and decent wages.
What happened in those thirty- forty years?
Once again the corporate greedy bastards took control, weezled themselves in and created a money making machine using our money. They sucked it out of us without us even blinking.
The hospital I worked for 8 years ago cut budgets, laid off nurses and the CEO of the hospital took a pay cut of 3%. from his 500,000.00 salary. Gee how big of him. He still drives around in his limo, flying first class and hired 16 secretary's.
Since they cut our staff in half, we ended up working overtime (and forced to do so, they said it was mandatory.) So if you had a family, children and home responsibilities, it didn't matter. I once refused to work overtime because I had no one to watch my 1 year old son. So okay- write me up! my family comes first. Did they want me to neglect my son???
This is how it's been for the past several years in the USA. A place where you'd think you were safe, secure and financially fit.
Well- not the case as people are now realizing....
Nursing homes charge $8000.00 per month plus the cost of medicine.
Hopsitals- who knows- thousands...just for an Xray.God forbid you need surgery- it could go into the millions nowdays!Argh! One tylenol costs you 5.00 per pill in the hospital- Costco- 8 bucks for 500 pills. It all just doesn't make sense that we let this go on for so long.
It's no wonder there are close to 50 million people with no health insurance coverage. I for one am one of them. I had to get a tooth crowned- cost me 1500.00 for a tooth. That's all I can do this year. Maybe I'll see a doctor when and if I get a job- who has health insurance.
But wait... How much will I need to pay for that? It'll run me about 400.00 per month, plus the co-pays of 20.00 a pop, another 20.00 co-pay for the medicine. How much is that? Do the math. Hopefully we won't need the drugs!
With the baby boomers getting up there, where will they go? There aren't enough nursing homes as it is now. They're shipping people from Hawaii to the mainland nursing facilities. There are care homes but they are full as well.
You get put on a list and hope for a bed.
You are limited as to how many days you can stay in the hospital. Your insurance comapany tells you your days are up and you have to go home.
There is home healthcare and medicare pays for an alloted amount of time and your health insurance pays for a small portion, then you go to private pay and use an agency. If you need a nurse, it'll cost you $300.00 per day.Social worker needed? That's 500.00 per visit. A home health aide about $100.00+ per day, depending on how much of the day you need care.
You need to be there to care for your loved one, your mother, your father or your child or whoever requires your attention.
You are working but have a difficult time juggling work and home life. You cut your working hours, you need to be at home. If you have children you have that responsibility as well. So you quit your job. Now you're stressed, there is no income, things are tight and the stress of caring for your loved one is growing. You have to make appointments, drive them to the doctor, feed them , change them and hope someone will help relieve you once in a while.
You get depressed. No support from the other family members....
I'm just using one senerio but there are many.
This whole health care system does need a HUGE reform, that is why I started this blog.
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