tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536178837256094246.post6287969408108955899..comments2023-10-12T02:48:59.370-07:00Comments on The Nefariouspoo of Sarah (A Field Trip into Disability Advocacy): In ResponseSarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02841767505240383644noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536178837256094246.post-78583028669948849732008-02-04T01:27:00.000-08:002008-02-04T01:27:00.000-08:00haha, seriously nurse k...Obviously you haven't at...haha, seriously nurse k...Obviously you haven't attempted to obtain private pay health insurance as an individual with type 1 diabetes (for more than 16 years), degenerative disc disease, and a colorful medical history. <BR/><BR/>Haha. Feel free! Funny!<BR/><BR/>I'd be spending my entire salary on health insurance!<BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, I'm bound to the insurance my employer offers. And, that being said, it isn't terrible insurance, but insurance for individuals with any sort of chronic oondition in our "free market" system (cough cough: elitist) just isn't designed to be affordable for any but the wealthy.<BR/><BR/><I>Many if not most plans cover diabetic testing supplies and pump equipment better than other medications and such. I can't say that I've ever paid a co-pay on either, even in my string of crap-jobs in college and whatnot.</I><BR/><BR/>Congrats to you and you are blessed with your luck. Unfortunately, this just isn't the norm.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02841767505240383644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536178837256094246.post-31081239062346185532008-02-03T21:32:00.000-08:002008-02-03T21:32:00.000-08:00Feel free to buy better insurance if it makes bett...Feel free to buy better insurance if it makes better financial sense for you. Many if not most plans cover diabetic testing supplies and pump equipment better than other medications and such. I can't say that I've ever paid a co-pay on either, even in my string of crap-jobs in college and whatnot.<BR/><BR/>If you are in a govt plan, you are at the mercy of the govt and their whims, not the free market which offers many choices rather than one-size-fits-all.Nurse Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06408755992926959084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536178837256094246.post-29367939428891278362008-01-18T19:46:00.000-08:002008-01-18T19:46:00.000-08:00I know that probably no one will see this as it's ...I know that probably no one will see this as it's an old post, but I just wanted to comment that as an American living in the UK, I *love* the NHS and will not move back to the US until they get their head out of their *** regarding health insurance for pre-existing conditions. Oh and living in London I have access to the best specialists in the country (among the top ten in the world and better than what the US has to offer) for my two top/most rare diseases all right in my city. In the US I'd have to visit at least 4 states in different parts of the country. Yes, you do have to wait to see specialists, but my parents who are *double insured* which the best health care they can find (they can afford anything) have to wait nearly as long and that's if they have a specialist in their network that treats whatever the problem is at the moment. My dad has prostate cancer and is jerked around all the time with not being able to get the best people...<BR/><BR/>So yeah, I'll stick with my UK heathcare ANY day over the US. Because if I am dissatisfied with the waiting lists I can always pay to get seen sooner and STILL not spend as much on healthcare costs as well-insured people in the US!!!!The Sick Chickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01466354344248534122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536178837256094246.post-39362080062334248402007-12-23T20:14:00.000-08:002007-12-23T20:14:00.000-08:00I am fortunate. I have insurance. My insurance d...I am fortunate. I have insurance. My insurance didn't qualify me for an insulin pump because I hadn't been diagnosed for 6 months yet. Only they didn't tell the pump company this and the pump compnay didn't ask when they called for authoization, so I found out 6 months after I had been sent and started on the pump.<BR/><BR/>I am fortunate. I have insurance. My insurance only covered my physical therapy at one location, even though that location made me worse. It only covers one brand of glucometer, one where the test strips cost 5$ less per hundred but I waste 2-3 strips per day for not enough blood, so the total cost is higher. The total cost to the company is higher, I mean, not to mention the total cost to my fingers. My insurance would cover 80% of a psychiatry visit if I were prescribed meds but only 50% if the same psychiatrist did not prescribe me meds. It does not cover my allergy medication because claritin is over the counter now. Never mind claritin doesn't work nearly as well.<BR/><BR/>My patients are fortunate. Low-income children in our state are all elegable for insurance. More than half my patients are on the state Medicaid. Sometimes they can get better care than those patients who have private insurance. Also, many of my patients on state Medicaid, their parent's don't have insurance.<BR/><BR/>I have cared for adult patients who have no insurance. Some are homeless with multiple medical and mental health problems. Some are self-employeed workers or part-time workers.<BR/><BR/>I have a friend who can get health insurance through her medical school, but her insurance will not cover genetic conditions. 98% of her health needs are related to a genetic condition, including a wheelchair, doctors visits and sometimes surgery. She also had the choice of paying $$$$ for Cobra to stay ono her parents insurance.<BR/><BR/>Socialized health care in the Canada and UK models may not be the answer. But non-socialized health care in the US model we have now is chaos. As a patient and a provider, I firmly believe that as a bare minimum, we need basic and catestrophic coverage for all, and it would truly be in the best interest of the US to have a more socialized system for all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536178837256094246.post-15058934608718038452007-12-21T21:55:00.000-08:002007-12-21T21:55:00.000-08:00Regarding the CGMS, I still use it once in awhile,...Regarding the CGMS, I still use it once in awhile, but haven't had great luck with it. I hope you have better luck.Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13564731989568599206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2536178837256094246.post-1882123240483508742007-12-21T19:39:00.000-08:002007-12-21T19:39:00.000-08:00Good response. Your Pharmacist May Hate You is ac...Good response. Your Pharmacist May Hate You is actually one of the blogs I read regularly, and I read that entry (and your comment on it).<BR/><BR/>I can't deny that there are gaps in coverage with the current system- like I said, it's far from perfect, and I fear the day I ever lose insurance. <BR/><BR/>I'm just not sure what the answer is, and I'm not convinced I want health care as it is in Canada or the UK.<BR/><BR/>I actually thought I did until I looked more into it and before I got into nursing school and started seeing things, such as the ICU man I previously mentioned.<BR/><BR/>Another blog I encourage you to check out is kevinmd.com. He has a lot of interesting points.Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13564731989568599206noreply@blogger.com