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Health Care Costs in US

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Lyme Disease
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Posted 6/7/2014 11:18 PM (GMT 0)
Im curious how your health care works in th US. Do you have to have private insurance or "obama care" to have your dr appts paid for? What about specialist appts? and Naturopaths?


Here in BC Canada, if we dont have medical coverage provided by our employer, we pay approx $70 monthly and that covers all dr appts incl specialists, ER visits, and all required surgeries. You can see your dr every week if you need to. Naturopaths are not covered unless you have "Extended Health" and then the visits are usually 80% covered. But you only get so many per year. Any supplements are not covered but any prescription meds are 80% covered as well.


Just wondering how expensive your treatment is?
Posted 6/7/2014 11:31 PM (GMT 0)
Insurance doesn't cover anything here in the US. If you are lucky you can get it to cover the antibiotics and bloodwork. But I would say that about 80% of folks pay for the bulk of treatment out of pocket.

I spent about $12,000 out of pocket last year, despite having health insurance.
Posted 6/7/2014 11:35 PM (GMT 0)
Opugirl - arent your dr appts paid for?
What about required surgery?
Posted 6/7/2014 11:39 PM (GMT 0)
Its all bull now here in the us. My out of pocket max was supposed to be $2500..that didn't work out last year.

Because of the conflicting viewpoints on lyme, insurance is not required to cover more then 30 days. They do have to cover antibiotics. Doctors do not have to accept insurance, therefore you must pay out of pocket.

This year, I have a high deductible. I have to spend $6k out of pocket before insurance even kicks in. Next year I am canceling my health insurance and doing this Christian option which is similar but not really insurance. Insurance/health industry is so corrupt down here that I can't put money anymore into a broken system.

I am seriously considering giving birth in Canada so my child will have dual citizenship. Now just to convince the hubby.
Posted 6/7/2014 11:44 PM (GMT 0)
Most insurance in the US only pays for "Participating Providers."

"Out of Network" providers (most LLMD's are Out-of-Network) may or may not be covered. Under Obamacare, most Out of Network providers won't see a penny until the huge deductible for Out-of-Network care has been met (>$5000/yr. for me; some are higher yet)...

Oral abx are usually covered. IV abx typically requires pre-authorization by the insurance co. (i.e., the insurance co. gets to practice medicine, which is technically illegal), and most insurance co's will only cover up to 30 days of IV abx for Lyme.

BTW, my out-of-pocket medical last year was over $24,000...
Posted 6/7/2014 11:47 PM (GMT 0)
I guess I can't complain.

Our debt is growing because I haven't been able to work. I've had to pay for a few medical things - like an MRI for $900 because if I waited for the "free" one, it would take a year.

So, all my blood tests, dr's appts, specialist appts have been covered...
If I get a lot of out of pocket expenses - such as hotels out of town, mileage, etc. I can claim on my income tax return..and get some money back.

So, I can't complain about the health care costs...but I can complain about the lack of Lyme disease recognition and treatment here. It really hasn't changed much...thank goodness some Naturopathic drs. have decided to treat...and also they are now legally allowed to prescribe antibiotics.

So, basically in the US...only the rich get the health care that everyone deserves?
Posted 6/7/2014 11:51 PM (GMT 0)
Bingo.
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