I went to the Urgent Care center today to have my elbow looked at by a doctor. I was in and out in less than 30 minutes. Once in the room, the nurse took my vitals, as usual, and left me to wait for the doctor. I didn't even have time to open a magazine before she came into the room. Based on her examination of my elbow, she came to the conclusion that I most likely have not broken anything, but that there is an infection; she believes it is the infection that is causing so much of my pain.
The doctor said that although it is most likely not broken, that because of the pain and inflammation, she would not be opposed to ordering x-rays for me, if I would like to know for sure whether or not it is broken. I declined, citing her opinion that the pain should lessen in the next few days with the antibiotics she prescribed, and the fact that an x-ray is an added expense that I'd rather not have to pay for. If there has been no change in the pain level by the end of the week she suggests perhaps then taking an x-ray.
I couldn't help but think about my visit today and how different it would have been if our nation were to adopt a socialized health-care plan. First of all, I most likely would have had to wait in a long line before I was seen by the doctor. Then, the doctor would not have had as much time to spend with me, or would have at least made me feel more rushed, because of the long line of people waiting to be seen after me. And finally, when asked about whether or not to get an x-ray, I may have said, "Sure, why not? It's free, after all!" when I really did not need an x-ray at all.
This is the last part that got me thinking the most. "Why not? It's free!" I can just imagine the throngs of people who would show up at doctor's office for just about any reason at all simply because "it's free," hence the long lines. Think of how unhealthy we are in America already. Now, let's encourage everyone to come to the clinics, the hospitals, the doctor's offices by giving them a free ticket. Great idea! Let's encourage parents to let their kids be reckless because if they get hurt, "hey- it's free!" Awesome! Let's encourage people to say to themselves, "I have an unhealthy lifstyle, sure. But it doesn't matter. I'll go to the doctor for some new pill. I'll see the specialist if I get sick. I'll visit the hospital if I have complications because of not exercising. After all, it's free!" Yeah, come on people, doesn't this sound great?! All the while, clogging the healthcare system for people who really need it- cancer, heart disease, AIDS, Alzheimer's, Lupus, mental illness, etc.
How much money will it cost the government (I mean taxpayers - the government never really pays for anything, right? It's us that pays for it) to pay for all of these new patients, these extra procedures, and these unnecessary tests? People might think it's free because it's not coming out of their pocket book, but it is not free, because it is coming out of their paycheck each week. They just need to GET A CLUE!
I had a health care insurance company that was great! They encouraged healthy living, and self-treatment in non-life-threatening and non-emergency cases. In fact, by encouraging (and teaching through resources) their customers to treat themselves at home, the company was able to keep costs down. It was the only company whose rates would fluctuate not just up, but down also, based on how much its services were used by its consumers. So, if, on a whole, insured consumers used their health care less (i.e., visited the doctor less frequently during the year for things like the common cold), premiums the next year would fall.
The company did not discourage its consumers from visiting the doctor, it simply educated them on when it was really necessary to go, and when and how to try to fix something on their own. I thought it was a great concept, because it put the responsibility for being healthy and proactive on the consumer. I was responsible for staying healthy, and for making sure that I really needed to visit the doctor when I did. By doing this, along with other consumers, I was rewarded with lower premiums. This also resulted in fewer patients in the doctor's offices, so that when I did need to visit, it was not too crowded, and the doctor could spend quality time with me.
"Quality" and "healthcare" are two words that cannot coexist in any government-run system. It just isn't possible.
9 comments:
Man, look how political you're getting. Awesome.
Let's not forget the people that die waiting for treatment, the 3 month waits for MRI's, and the govt deciding what treatment you should or should not have......can you say communism? Taxes would shoot through the roof, and yes, quality would go way down.
Just say "No" to socialized medicine. (Well, socialized anything, really.)
I'm impressed that you read the whole post. Congratulations! I think you'll be the only one.
Wow, I am impressed by your line of thought here. As much as I wish everyone could have healthcare, your opinion of what many americans would do if one standardized health care was issued for all people does have some merit. Makes one think.
Chris- welcome! Thanks for the compliment. I'm glad to see you're following my blog!
Amen. Jeremy would love to hear your views. I'll have to have him look at your blog.
Well said. Speaking from experience on the socialized govt, it is not the way to go. I have been completely disgusted with it since I married my husband (who is still a citizen of a socialized country, but much prefers our way of life). Socialization is so repressive and manipulative. Although, I gotta say I wish we could figure out a way to get 3 week paid leave for new fathers! :) (I know, can't have your cake and eat it too!)
Amen! Everytime I wonder about socialized medicine, I just remember what it's like at the DMV. Can you even imagine?
The DMV. That's a great thing to visualize. Everyone hates the DMV, right? And guess who runs that?
The DMV is the perfect example. The one time I went to a doctor there we waited and waited and waited in this gross dingey, tiny little room in hard plastic chairs on vinyl floor with a bunch on other sick people totally breathing on us. When we finally got called he took us into his office (like where his desk was) and asked a few questions and just off of that was a room the size of a walk-in closet (I'm not exaggerating) with an exam table and enough room for the doctor to stand on one side of it. Amazing. Pathetic. And sad.
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