http://stagingpoint.com/2007/06/16/physician-heal-thyself/ a microscopic cog in the catastrophic plan Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:22:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://stagingpoint.com/2007/06/16/physician-heal-thyself/comment-page-1/#comment-6733 Andy Tue, 19 Jun 2007 12:29:46 +0000 http://stagingpoint.com/2007/06/16/physician-heal-thyself/#comment-6733 I know what you mean, Kim. This is a topic that's got Michele and I interested/concerned lately with the baby on the way; we have very good health insurance, but are aware that baby-related medical costs are going to add up regardless. I have only a marginal understanding of medical insurance now; I'm sure dealing with them regarding all the baby stuff is going to drive me mad. And I'll echo your last sentence about insurance companies! It would be nice to sense that they were supporting and watching out for us, rather than watching for gaps in our coverage to be exploited. But I should say that we have had almost no bad issues with our insurance to date, so I don't want to bash them before actually seeing how they work with us regarding the baby stuff. I know what you mean, Kim. This is a topic that’s got Michele and I interested/concerned lately with the baby on the way; we have very good health insurance, but are aware that baby-related medical costs are going to add up regardless. I have only a marginal understanding of medical insurance now; I’m sure dealing with them regarding all the baby stuff is going to drive me mad. And I’ll echo your last sentence about insurance companies! It would be nice to sense that they were supporting and watching out for us, rather than watching for gaps in our coverage to be exploited.
But I should say that we have had almost no bad issues with our insurance to date, so I don’t want to bash them before actually seeing how they work with us regarding the baby stuff.

]]> http://stagingpoint.com/2007/06/16/physician-heal-thyself/comment-page-1/#comment-6732 kim Mon, 18 Jun 2007 17:17:35 +0000 http://stagingpoint.com/2007/06/16/physician-heal-thyself/#comment-6732 I have heard that the U.S. health care industry spends enormous amounts of money on administrative costs compared to nations with a single-payer system, and my personal speculation (and complaint about my insurance company) is that they spend much of those administrative costs trying to deny people's claims (Jon works with insurance companies and this was his idea). I never had any problems with my health insurance companies until I actually had to go to the doctor a lot - starting with prenatal visits, childbirth, and then Molly's well baby visits. We pay thousands of dollars a year for the most comprehensive plan Jon's company offers (and his company undoubtedly pays thousands of dollars more) and our insurance has still randomly denied our claims and made us jump through all sorts of hoops for basic things that they should cover, like tests when I was in the hospital during childbirth or Molly's flu shot. Our coverage has otherwise been wonderful and it is doubtless that other people with serious health problems have benefitted from their insurance coverage, but I'd be much happier if my insurance company was as concerned with, you know, my health, as it was with employing people whose main concern is trying to get out of paying what they've agreed to pay. Okay, rant over. :) I have heard that the U.S. health care industry spends enormous amounts of money on administrative costs compared to nations with a single-payer system, and my personal speculation (and complaint about my insurance company) is that they spend much of those administrative costs trying to deny people’s claims (Jon works with insurance companies and this was his idea). I never had any problems with my health insurance companies until I actually had to go to the doctor a lot – starting with prenatal visits, childbirth, and then Molly’s well baby visits. We pay thousands of dollars a year for the most comprehensive plan Jon’s company offers (and his company undoubtedly pays thousands of dollars more) and our insurance has still randomly denied our claims and made us jump through all sorts of hoops for basic things that they should cover, like tests when I was in the hospital during childbirth or Molly’s flu shot. Our coverage has otherwise been wonderful and it is doubtless that other people with serious health problems have benefitted from their insurance coverage, but I’d be much happier if my insurance company was as concerned with, you know, my health, as it was with employing people whose main concern is trying to get out of paying what they’ve agreed to pay. Okay, rant over.

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