Medical coverage?

[Rodney Mills]

Two weeks ago I had my six month check-up at my family doctor, who, in addition to family practice is a full professor of Geriatrics. I have mentioned before that my wife and I attend The Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston for all our medical needs, and we have been extremely satisfied both for the doctors, specialists and the hospital service.

I mentioned to my doctor that my hip had been quite painful for quite a while, he suggested an orthopedic specialist and then called in his physicians assistant and told her to get me an appointment. She came back later and said "Can you make it on Monday at 1pm? (That was five days later,) I said " yes."

I met with the specialist and said she needed a MRI scan of the hips and that their machine was down. She told her nurse to call a clinic across the road and set me up. The nurse came back and told her they can do it in three days time. She said, "No. no, call them back and give me the phone". The bottom line was I crossed the road to the clinic and had the MRI scan of the hips done immediately. She knew I lived seventy miles from Charleston and saved me a trip. Her assistant called me two days later and the gave me the results and further treatment instructions.

My wife had developed a problem in her throat, our family doctor again made an appointment for a consultancy with an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist. We had a weeks wait. The assistant to the E.N.T. doctor telephoned my wife with instructions that they had made an appointment for an Ultra Sound of her neck for the same morning, so the results would be ready for the doctor's examination. The doctor examined my wife's throat, about a yard of tubing stuffed up her nose and down her throat. (we always go with each other for any medicals, so I was watching). She (the doctor) said it looks good. I'm watching the tube go down her throat and attached to the tube is a miniature camera lens, and on a screen, behind my wife's chair, I'm looking at what the doctor is seeing. the doctor removes the tube, turns my wife's chair around and proceeds to show her on a screen what she had been looking at..."This is your nasal passage, past your tongue, down, down, here are your vocal cords, and everything is nice and clear, it looks perfect, what I would expect from someone your age, blah,blah."

Her report was; all clear, no cancer, as at our age that's the number one scare.

The doctor checked something on her P.C. and said to us. "I recommend a speech therapist, they can give you exercises that can clear your problem up, and one of our specialist has a late cancelation. I can check and see if she can squeeze you in for an exam." Yes! And we saw her.

The therapist gave her a bunch of tests for breathing flexibility and strength of vocal cords etc., and she has an appointment next week for the first of four to five sessions to correct her vocal problem.

I am writing this to give you an idea of the type of medical service we are receiving as pensioners, and the waiting time for specialists, and how the doctors work with us, because comments that have been made regarding the U.S. medical system is totally wrong.

In the states sixty percent of the nation are covered with medical insurance by their place of employment. This includes every state or government employee; cops, firemen, postal workers, teachers, etc., all union employees have medical coverage, and a large percentage of private employees, with the exception of fast food chains and the like. My wife and I are part of the seventeen percent that are over sixty-five and are covered by what is called Medicare. Pre-sixty-five aged people on and below what the government considered the poverty level, whose only form of income falls below the minimum rate, are covered by what is called Medicaid, their doctors and hospitals and medicines are paid for by the government (Medicaid). A large percentage of the self-employed buy private insurance for themselves and their employees. This leaves a percentage of around twelve percent that are uninsured. The affordable care act or 'Obama care' is available for these people.

'Obama care' works something like this: If you earn below a certain level, 'Obama care' pays your medical insurance, if you earn above that there is a sliding scale that pays out a credit towards the cost of your insurance, but if you earn above a certain salary level you are on your own and should be able to pay for medical insurance yourself. Many in this upper percentage elect not to carry insurance. My youngest son is forty-seven, forty pounds overweight, doesn't exercise, and is a prime candidate for coronary decease or diabetes. He does not have medical insurance. "I can't afford the premium dad." He smokes two packs of cigarettes a day. If he quit smoking that money would pay for his medical insurance. I have told him quite bluntly that I will not be paying his medical bills when they fall due.

The first year 'Obama care' came out if you refused to buy insurance you were fined a hundred dollars for the year. it went up each year and next year it will cost the uninsured six hundred and ninety dollars a year or two percent of your income, whatever is greater if you don't by the 'Obama care' group insurance. The object is to get all the uninsured healthy without medical coverage into the program, not just the sick ones.

The Republicans hate 'Obama care' and have taken it to court forty three times and lost each case and still have raised another issue. They will cancel it if they win the presidency, yet they offer no alternative program to the currently twelve million enrolled in 'Obama care'.

Okay, that's my recent medical history and story. Yesterday my cousin in England posted the following on her Facebook, my wife is a 'friend.'' of my cousin. Following is my cousin's posting from her 'Facebook' verbatim, the only change I have made is to her name. The hospital is The Princess Alexandria Hospital outside London:


[Betty had been feeling lousy and phoned her G.P., she had an appointment set for three days time. The G.P. told her she should go to the hospital, which she did and following is a copy of her "Facebook" post and what she said happened.]

BETTY Oct. 26 Princess Alexandria Hospital.

Waited five hours for a bloody doctor. You have a blood clot in your leg possibly heading to your lungs. Hardly any iron in your blood. Let's do a blood test to check the oxygen from your main artery in your wrist!!! OW!! (I'm used to blood tests but F!!) nope nothing let's try the other wrist. Ow!! A tiny bit of bleed not enough to check your oxygen levels. 2) We have no beds to offer you even though we should be observing you. So here are 5 Herperin injections, go home, do not exhort yourself and come back in the morning. WTF???

JOANNE [A friend?]... Sounds about right for the NHS. Even after you have had major surgery aged 75 (mum) for cancer and should be in intensive care they keep you in post op recovery then discharge you as soon as you are conscious! Looks like you got some VIP treatment! Hope you are feeling better.

BETTY Oct. 27, Still no bed!!! am back in emergancy

Thanks everyone for your nice comments..no they really shouldn't have sent me home last night. On top of this I am having bad palpitations and my heart rate is sky high! I am severley anemic. I'm on treatment for my blood clot just waiting CT scan and ultra sound.

(5 hours later) still not had my scans

BETTY Oct. 28 Treated as a outpatient still no beds and now more scans, radioactive

______________

That's the last we have heard from Betty...Oct. 28th and still an outpatient.



The following is from BBC news.


EU doctor suspended from UK work for 'poor English test'


An Italian doctor has been suspended from practicing medicine in the UK after failing English language tests.

Dr Alessandro Teppa is one of the first EU doctors to face disciplinary action over language skills following a change in the law in 2014.

His suspension will last at least nine months, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) has ruled.

Another medic - a Polish doctor who failed language tests three times - has been allowed to work under supervision.

Dr Teppa qualified in 1998 in Italy and was granted a licence [sic] to practice in the UK in 2012.

He failed an English assessment two years later and was put under an interim suspension order that year.

Repeated tests

In a document, the tribunal panel said the standard of his English was currently "insufficient to support safe and effective medical practice in this country".

He told the panel he had since been taking English language lessons at his home in Italy.

He must return for a further hearing in the next nine months.

The medical regulator for the UK - the General Medical Council (GMC) - agreed with the decision.

Niall Dickson, chief executive of the GMC, added: "This doctor should not be able to practise in the UK again until he can demonstrate he is able to communicate effectively."


A separate case involved a second doctor, Dr Tomasz Fryzlewicz, who qualified in Poland and has held a licence to practise in the UK for the last nine years.

He failed English language assessments in October 2014, December 2014 and again in February 2015.

The panel ruled he must only work under direct supervision for the next year and must pass an English language assessment within 12 months.

But the chief executive of the GMC said there should have been tougher sanctions.

Mr Dickson added: "We are disappointed that the MPTS panel did not suspend Dr Fryzlewicz as we had requested but we are satisfied that the panel has placed sufficient conditions on his clinical practice to make sure that patients will be protected."

'Understanding instructions'

Dr Fryzlewicz was previously employed as a heart specialist at various hospitals, including the Royal Stoke University Hospital, the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Essex and the Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield.

Some colleagues who worked with Dr Fryzlewicz said they weren't always sure he understood what they said.

Dr Simon Woldman, clinical director of specialised cardiology at Barts NHS Trust told the tribunal: "When I spoke to Dr Fryzlewicz, I was never really sure that he had understood the instructions he was being given...

"When Dr Fryzlewicz spoke, you had to concentrate quite hard to understand what he was saying."

-----------------------

I read an article today in a British magazine and the subject was British junior doctors demonstrating Oct. 17th in London. Complaining about the conditions and hours they have to work in "Britain's strained National Health System" who are attempting to introduce longer hours to produce "full medical service seven days a week," which means longer hours for the doctors plus they are facing a pay cut. the article concluded with the following:

"...So let Mr Hunt, along with the prime minister and chancellor of the exchequer confront voters with the truth: If Britons love their tax-funded health system so much and want it to work, they will have to pay more for it. And if not they should start considering the alternatives: probably a social insurance system akin to that used elsewhere in Europe." The article went on to say that "...many [junior doctors] are leaving for Australia and New Zealand, where conditions are better."...

Please don't respond with how expensive medical is in the US. I refer you to my opening paragraph referring to the percentage of people covered by employees medical insurance programs, Medicare for Seniors, Medicaid for the poor, Obama care for balance, overseas visitors come with private medical insurance, sure they see the bill and the prices, but it's turned over to the insurance company for payment. The ones that get the medical bill are the ones that will not purchase insurance like my youngest son. And they either walk away from it or pay-it-off at ten dollars a month, just to keep the collection agencies away. Nobody gets turned away from medical treatment.


P.S. Note in the first sentence following the paragraph heading "UNDERSTANDING INSTRUCTIONS", this doctor who could not speak English was employed at the same hospital my cousin is stranded in the "Emergency Waiting Room," The Princess Alexandria Hospital in Essex. He was employed as a "Heart Specialist?

[j.sabourn]

Myself have never been pushed away by the Australian Medical Services. When working, most shipowners covered you as regards such, probably through BUPA. The only British Company that covered me by such was John I Jacobs, the usual others claimed off the NHIS. As regards your wifes operation on her throat had exactly the same treatment out here not so long back without having to be in a Medical Insurance scheme. My wife is due her second false hip in January, all done on the what is called the National Health Service in Britain. However when she was across a few years ago it cost her 100 pounds for a prescription for a cold, there is something wrong with the system somewhere, the only answer I would give it is overloaded, the cause of this is misuse by people from outside the country. Medical assistance should never be refused, however those using the system who have not paid into when working via the contributions everyone made, should be made to pay what they can and should not be free in their case. As regards the Dr. or Surgeon who couldn't speak English is the same as having a master on a ship in the same situation with an English crew. In Australia that is one of the stipulations for anyone coming here to live legally is that they can speak and understand English which I quite agree with. He may be a heart surgeon but if he cant communicate to other people he should go and practice where people speak the same as himself. His own country is probably also in dire need of his services. Cheers JS

[gray_marian]

That's a horror story Rodney re "Betty". If that was my mum I would be straight back to her doctor demanding admittance to another hospital toute suite. I don't know Essex so have no idea what other hospitals are available to her but would not settle for that.

Personally my immediate and extended family have had excellent care from NHS in the UK. From my youngest sister's brain treatment in the 60's, my dad's heart transplant at Harefield by Professor Sir. Magdi Yacoub in the 90's to my mum's stroke last year and third sister's thyroid op to the present day cancer treatment of my niece and brother in law and kidney failure second sister, all within the last six months..........Mmm, maybe I should go for a check up, lucky white heather or what I'm touching wood as I say this.

PS, Forgot dad's dialysis, side effect of heart rejection medication [compulsory] last three years of his life and mum's new knees & cataract ops.

[happy daze john in oz]

Well Rodders, your story is very similar to that of me and her indoors. But we do have an excellent GP and that here in Oz is the first, and maybe the most important, step to good service. I have never experienced any problem with our Medicare system here though the system is vey much abused by some, mainly imports. They think the emergency department of hospitals is where to go with a cold or some other minor ailment. Some hospitals have now developed special clinics adjacent t the hospital, if you do not arrive in an ambulance you are sent there. If you prove to be a genuine case you are then taken to emergency. If not you have to wait at the clinic and will receive a charge, around $20. Since this began non emergency cases have declined by 80%

[John Pruden]

as you know the last few years for me has been a battle with health never went or needed a doctor until I was 55 never away from hospital these days a clot going though my heart gave me a heart attack and stroke had a couple of strokes only small thank god 2 heart attacks then the cancer from diagnoses to treatment 5 and a half weeks still getting over the op but climbing the ladder every day of back to health in the clinic is a patient that had his op a week after mine he went to America after a couple of months at an appointment who walks in the lad I thought had gone to America he told me it was cheaper to fly back here than to use the treatment in America now I am not in any way knocking the American health care system but if you as a tax payer should be entitled for you to get the best there is to get you back on your feet and working again to help pay taxes to whatever country you live in? at this time a very dear friend of ours is waiting to pass through cancer we are on death watch and to say it in the nicest way the sooner she passes the better it is pitiful to see such a nice lady go through what she is going through.. jp

[Keith Tindell]

Our NHS is not perfect, but I suspect very few of us would not be willing to pay extra into it. My son pays in to a private health insurance , and it is not cheap. I dread to think how much the tablets alone would cost that I have to take daily would cost.There are always horror stories, but my experience has always been good, and the only worry is that if the nhs can cope with the influx of incomers of all denominations . It was finally stated yesterday on the BBC that there is now going to be charges for all non EU people using the NHS, yes, believe it or not , but tourists from all over the world have been treated free. I spoke to a USA tourist while I was in Germany a while ago, his wife had an occasion to visit a hospital in UK, and he was amazed it was free.So long live the NHS,but let's tighten up on its misuse, KT

[Captain Kong]

So far I have had excellent treatment this past 12 months. A few bad ones in the past. A lot depends on the Hospital, some are the pits, like Bolton. always full of slams and afaghans. cant get a bed because they fill up the hospital.
Salford Royal voted the Best in the country this year.

Last December went to Salford Royal Hospital with eczema on my ankle. the doctor told me to strip off and said I had a Cancer on my shoulder. just a tiny freckle, This was Tuesday, he said come in Saturday morning and we will cut it out.
Saturday had the Op and the surgeon said there was another Tumor in there. had a test, Malignant Carcinoma.
So as it was Christmas week he arranged an appointment a Christies Hospital , the very best Cancer hospital in UK, or I could go to Wythenshawe Hospital, same Surgeons at both hospital so no problem, on 8 January went in and they cut out a Tumor as big as my finger. I told them I was off to the Pacific in a few days so he put dissolving stitches in so I needn't go back to have them removed. Came home six weeks later phoned them , come in tomorrow for a check up, Had a good examination , all clear , So No problems, Excellent Service.

Three years ago I had extremely violent pains across the abdomen and my sides, I could not stand up, I crawled on my hands and knees to the phone, the Ambulance came and took me into A&E, I was examined, on a drip of pain killers, and into a bed. Next day a Sunday. a mid eastern Nurse was going around the beds giving medication. I asked for my BP tablets. she says, LOUD voice, ` No, we do not give medication to Drug Dealers, ` WHAT??!!!! `You are a Drug dealer, your son has been in this afternoon and said you have stolen tablets off his girl friend and have been selling them.`
I said my son is in the Queen Alexandra Hospital , Portsmouth, a Consultant Hepetologist. my other son is on holiday in Italy with his wife.
She says You are still a Drug Dealer so you get no medication,` I want to see the Doctor, ` He is not in until tomorrow, Monday.`
So I phoned my Doctor son. told him the situation. he said `Ask for an ERCP to find the source of the pain.`
Monday the Doctor arrives, he is also from the Middle East,. I told him what my son told me, I need an ERCP,
No you don't he says, and walked away.
I climbed out of bed got dressed, and walked out. The pains subsided . So a few weeks later I flew to San Diego, joined the cruise ship and sailed to Hawaii, half way across, three days the same pain started again and I was doubled up screaming. The ships Doctor, who had trained in Seattle, [ I did a Bio on him later] wanted to sell me a bottle of Bisodol for indigestion for $40, No way ,I said. We arrived in Honolulu I knew it was very serious. I got a taxi to the Queens Medical Centre, in the Emergency Room. on a trolley, Doctor Sean Ray, examined me, `OMG` he says `you have about four days to live without treatment. if you had sailed on your ship you would have been buried at sea. , who is your next of kin,` I said my son, Doctor Richard A. He says ` I know him, have you got his phone number,`? I said `no.`
He says , `I have it here and pulls out his mobile, presses the button. and then says , `Here talk to your son,` fantastic.
10,000 miles from home and he knows my son.
He told me, trust them , I know them all and your in good hands.
I had the MRI scans, CT scans and so on. in a private room with all facilities. Lovely Nurses, for 24 hours a day, sat in with me, all wear Hawaiian shirts , so nice and colourful. seen by two Surgeons, Doctor Lim and Doctor Ogihara, explained every detail to me, and then I had two operations , one on my Pancreas and one on my liver and removing my gangrene gall bladder. I was in there for three weeks, Anne was in a Hotel recommended by the hospital.
Thre treatment was fantastic, I even went into Cardiac arrest during the Liver operation, .
That team really did save my life. and will always be forever grateful to them, when I left hospital it was Valentines Day, all the Nurses lined up and gave me a kiss and a hug and Valentine Cards. Wonderful.
That was a Friday, Monday was Presidents Day, I got a phone call at the Hotel, It was Kathy Steiner, Charge Nurse, "What are you doing today?" I said , `Not a lot,` so she said be ready at 10 am and I will take you out.
She arrived at the Hotel, and Anne and I got in her car and she took us up the east coat of Oahu past all the Volcanoes, and to North Beach, it was lovely, then she took us to a restaurant and bought us lunch with a bottle of wine. and then down the west coast to Pearl Harbour and back to the Hotel that evening. What lovely people, that would never happen in UK.
This year I went back to Honolulu and the first thing we did was to go to the Queens Medical Centre to thank them all for their treatment in saving my life and the kindness shown to us.
When I came to the payment, I had assured the Surgeons that I was fully Insured for this, and they did pay no problem, They told me that the last three patients had never paid them and disappeared.,
I was very impressed with my treatment and the quality of the Nursing and all the medical staff, they were wonderful.
cheers
Brian.

[gray_marian]

Have never heard of this happening in the UK but stand to be corrected of course, Boston in the USA allows surgeons to perform procedures on two patients simultaneously. Can overseas members confirm if this happens in their country?

[j.sabourn]

#8... Marian would hate to go under the knife and wake up and find I was a woman as they had got the bits mixed up. There again who knows may not be so bad. Cheers JS

[Captain Kong]

Hi Marian
sounds more like Bolton than Boston.
Brian

tho` it is possible if doing a live transplant, from maybe a kidney doner.