Just recently I discovered that I have a kidney stone... and let me tell you, these things are no laughing matter! So, of course I had to go see a Dr. and find out how to take care of this thing. The latest and most advanced procedure that he wanted to do was to use some sort of shockwave to break it up so I could pass it. However, the nice little price tag for that procedure was only $12,000!
Now, normally, with conventional medical insurance that would be taken care of, but our family does not have conventional medical insurance b/c we simply can't affor it. We do belong to a group that helps protect us from outragious medical bills, but it's not insurance; technically we're classified as self-pay. So, I didn't want to go that route.
So, I'm going to go with the second option which is much more involved, but is cheaper for some reason (which I really do not understand). They're actually going to go in with a scope and a lazer and bust it up that way, so that I can pass it. It will be done as an outpatient surgery. And here's where I get to the point of this blog. To even schedule the surgery, I have to put down $500 just to bring the lazer to the hospital. Now, fortunately, I think we're going to be able to handle that by the grace of God.
But what about those people who can't come up with $500 on the spot? It really hasn't been that long ago when we couldn't have done that either. What are they suppose to do? Would a guy just have to suffer for months with a kidney stone until he could raise the money to get the lazer?
I don't have any solutions to this health care crisis that we're currently in, but I do have a new appreciation for it. I hope that the leaders of this country that we put so much hope in, will be able to come up with a solution.
2 comments:
Yea that is strange that the shock wave thing that sounds so simple.. with no cuts or real indepth tubes or whatever cost so much.
I mean my entire pregnancy and hospital stay is half that!
And you better believe there is a lot more involved with giving birth to a child... getting an epidural... IV... cutting the cord... following the contractions for hours and hours... then the care for the newborn following the birth!
And thats cheaper?
Its robbery I think.
Theres no way that shock wave thing cost them 12 grand to use.
Wow.. that is something! And the way they charge for everthing like that with extremely high prices is so wrong. I'm not one who believes in a lot of gov't involvement, but I'm starting to think they should step in and do something about it... even charging the insurance co.'s extremely high prices.
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