Going private

[Dorsetmike]

I may have raised this before so consider this an update (memory is failing as well as the eyes!).

My optician told me back in February that I needed a short laser procedure on my right eye to rectify a problem stemming from a cataract opp 2 years ago, she referred this to my GP who took 2 weeks to refer me to the eye clinic at the hospital, they took a further 3 weeks to find me a consultation on June 20. It's got to the state where I can only read large print books without a magnifier, and have my screen font enlarged - even then I need a magnifier when text is grey on white, which is often the case, what happened to black? Even newspapers print grey now!

My sight has continued to deteriorate such that I may soon have to give up driving, which with my other problems means more or less housebound, taxi to go shopping. I've tried various ways to get an earlier apponintment, through my doctor, the hospital and other means, getting either no response or "I'll ask xxx to follow it up" then nothing.

Yesterday I Googled "private eye care", first result was local so I phoned and was offered an almost immediate consultation, which I could not manage due to a prior commitment, so made one for next thursday, treatment could follow within 48 hours! No mention of cost until the appointment, but, for what I am told is a 5 minute procedure, I can't see it costing more than part of an arm, let alone a leg as well.

I fail to see why the NHS has to take so long to do anything if the private clinic could respond in days rather than months.

One thought springs to mind, maybe the consultants spend 4 out of 5 days doing private work and one day in the NHS.

 

[musicteach]

I had my yearly eye exam last week and had lasik eye surgery today. I must say, I can see! Amazing..

 

[JHC]

I fail to see why the NHS has to take so long to do anything if the private clinic could respond in days rather than months.

One thought springs to mind, maybe the consultants spend 4 out of 5 days doing private work and one day in the NHS.

Private is good until things go wrong then you are shipped off to the public system. both my Wife and myself have chosen to go private but after basic stuff ups have landed up in the public system, your analysis of the time allocation is a bit off as far as NZ is concerned but the UK may be different. but what choice do you have? I have medical insurance and it gets things done quickly but not any better and it costs quite a bit.

 

[teddy]

I would not be here if it was not for my private health insurance. I would have died while waiting the nine months for surgery. Just had a cancer opp which I was told would be quick, but it ended up taking over five months to complete. Wish I had gone private. Now I need to see a heart specialist. Two months wait just for the initial appointment. Guess what. I will not be withing for this to drag on and on.

teddy

 

[teddy]

NHS has buggered up my appointments so they have put them back by six weeks. You could die waiting for this bunch of tossers to get their act together. Don't wonder I have a heart condition. It could break anyones.

teddy

 

[Chi_townPhilly]

I saw a couple of these posts- and it really shook me up to see what some people are experiencing. I'm also resisting the temptation to make this 'political,' [which would inflame passions, I'm sure], but suffice it to say that I wish the best for people who are standing by for treatment and hope that they can get needed care, through whatever means is effective, and without crippling out-of-pocket costs.

One thing I learned from the brother of my ol' college best-friend (said brother is a small-business owner, and thus is at the vanguard of America's Brave New World of healthcare) is that, increasingly, it'll be essential to take charge of one's own preventive medicine in our new environment. Of course, this is no help for conditions already acquired, or for congenital maladies-- but the simple reality is this:

"Managed care"~rationing.
When care is rationed, there will be little sympathy for a heavy smoker who develops a respiratory condition, an obese person* who has a circulatory disorder, or a heavy drinker who compromises his liver. Personal 'wellness' plans will shift the odds in your favor. [But there will be no guarantees, even for the most conscientious.]

Again, to everyone who's currently suffering, good luck and best wishes for health coverage and health CARE- care that will (finally) help your respective situations.

*[Just to be clear, I'm saying this while looking in the mirror, as I'm a (hopefully) former obese person, who's putting in some work to put this problem behind me for good.]

 

[JHC]

It is the tax payer that builds and staffs the hospitals, OK the insurance companies
Build the odd one but although they have nice rooms and decent food the operating theatres are pretty basic and this is where the majority of mistakes occur, if the insurance companies had to rely on their own resources it would be unaffordable.

 

[Krummhorn]

Last year I had to sign up for Medicare ... my former employer health insurance automatically went to "retired" mode when I reached 65. Needless to say, I much preferred my former insurance coverage in comparison to Medicare, which is run by our government. I now have less coverage and have to pay more money ... absolutely stupid in my opinion - but those who make the rules (Congress, Senators) have their own retirement and medical plans, which we, the taxpayers, are paying for in addition to our own "peon" status insurance health plans governed by these same weasels.

They vote themselves 35% raises, but the pensioners (as I now am, officially) got a 1.5% increase in Social Security - which is based upon inflation during the months of August, September and October, which if those months are "flat" then there is no raise in our pensions. Another stupid idea by idiots who have their own plan which we pay for.

If I don't use Medicare, then all medical expenses are then what is called "out of pocket expense" ... and since I must inject insulin twice a day, the cost of that medication would bankrupt me within a year without the [lousy] insurance. My private sector insurance paid 80% of the cost of that med ... Medicare pays only 45%, and has a higher monthly premium to boot.

So I also have a "medigap" insurance policy ... it is supposed to fill the "gap" where Medicare doesn't pay or cover. Premiums for that are $165 per month and yet I find now that it is only handing out at most $30 a month to my health care providers ... now they are saying if "medicare doesn't cover it, neither do we!" So that the hell is "medigap" insurance all about anyway. We have to have it or go broke ... and without it, we go broke ... thank you Senators and Congress of the US ... our elected dooshbags for sure. But ... they didn't get my vote ... I never vote for an incumbent ... never.

My eye doctor, an Ophthalmologist, has wait times up to a year for routine exams, so I have a standing appointment ever year ... my primary care physician books 3 months out, as does my Endocrinologist. Because of all the problems with Medicare, most doctors locally are now no longer accepting new patients with Medicare - and that is going to leave lots of people stranded for medical care ... that is ... until our dooshbags in the domed buildings in Washington DC get their head out of their [deleted by me] nothing is going to change ... but heck, THEY have their own healthplan and retirement that WE pay for, so they are not worried about the rest of their constituents.

Sorry for the rant ... but I've worked all my life for the retirement years and now that I'm "here" I have to live like a peon with below poverty level earnings.

 

[JHC]

Heck Lars what a shambles we (NZ) are not so bad after all

 

[Dorsetmike]

Lars, you shoulda stayed here in UK after your vacation, NHS sounds great compared to Medicare! (plenty of good organs here too.)