Hey America! Health care anyone?

So its Wednesday morning as I write..After 7am Monday I reported to a local hospital, having been booked in for a bone fusion in my foot under the public system. Its a very long and tedious story I will spare you. But I was previously booked for the same operation in a private hospital using my private health insurance, but that had to be cancelled and I couldnt rebook until next year.
So 10 days ago I get a phone call offering me this booking under the public scheme, I was way down the list, but no one above me was ready and willing to go that quickly this close to Christmas. So I took it.. Same Surgeon. Different Hospital. No Private room. But best care anywhere. (I think every hospital I have been in has the BEST staff, working under trying conditions.) But anyway.
7.30 Monada. Booked in.. Fasted already.. 11am. into theatre.. 2.30 through recovery and back on the ward. (2 person room) Bad night sleeping (I never sleep in hospitals, every noise, and the beds are too narrow)Tuesday. Surgeons see me, pharmacy sees me, physio sees me. Pharmacy sees me again , Physio comes back to make sure I have all I need to cope at home and checks I can use crutches and walking frame. (old hand at both.) and signs me out. Daughter picks me up before 2pm Tuesday and spends half an hour placing everything where I can use and reach.. And I slept the sleep of the dead until my customary time.
Free Cami boot. Free meds and antibiotics to cover me(apart from $7.70 for some Oxi in case I have strong pain. But I dont) Free Toilet seat with arms to push off and stand. I already had A walking frame, Crutches and a shower seat. Follow up appointments already booked for a week ahead. and I will get a couple of drop in visits from people to make sure I am coping on my own (which I am)
Total I expected to pay for this with Private insurance next year. About $1800 was my copay, for Hospital, surgeon and team and post care.
Total I paid to have it done sooner under the public system with the SAME SURGEON. $7.70 and only because I opted for the extra meds.
Gotta love our Medicare.😷

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idontcareok · 70-79, M

so what who cares about that, same operation for me, would of been maybe 15 dollars, also why tell the world about your operation? so what

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

@idontcareok really? You state you live in the US, how would you get away with such a low charge?

idontcareok · 70-79, M

@samueltyler2 medicare would pay a certain amount, then my private insurance from my former employer would pay the difference, okay, not many people have that, but i di, lucky me when i retired i was offered different packages, mine was very good, was about 20 yrs ago. now few companies offer anything,

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

@idontcareok that is amazing. I do wonder how much of the cost of the durable medical equipment would be covered by your insurance, but you are indeed lucky that you do have a form of medical insurance close to universal medical care, Medicare is such!

idontcareok · 70-79, M

@samueltyler2 well, medicare doesn't pay everything, my private ins, pays it, if i had no private ins, it would cost me like where you are,

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@idontcareok And thats the problem. While you are covered brilliantly, there is no reason a nation like American shouldnt be. There is just no need for anyone to lack any care..But like you say "You dont care"

Diotrephes · 70-79, M

@whowasthatmaskedman

And thats the problem. While you are covered brilliantly, there is no reason a nation like American shouldnt be. There is just no need for anyone to lack any care..But like you say "You dont care"

One of the main problems with the American health system has to do with systemic racism. In the past it actively prohibited Blacks from becoming doctors and nurses in the health care system and limited them to segregated facilities. It was only after WWII when the politicans realized that America had suffered a severe manpower problem during the war because of the lack of healthy people to fight that things started to change. As a result, the American health system started to improve but it still has a long way to go.

edit typo

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@Diotrephes Yes. The Tuskegee airmen was a long time ago now. Even the civil rights movement is old. But it can take a long time to correct inequality of opportunity when your are born with it and your parents didnt have the tools to fight it..😷