I agree to this extent: We do have control and judgment over what happens to us—at least to some degree. Don’t be passive. If you just had an MRI and the doc orders another one, say what is wrong with the one I had? Can I get that sent? Same for many lab tests—-your primary may order them, then the specialist does—same tests. If these are not too far apart—you the patient get the results sent to the second doctor. You can ask for your lab results when you leave the doc—and probably get your whole chart entry soon after by signing a release for it to be sent. Same for ER encounters or hospitalizations. You need to ask what is the purpose of every test—get an answer. I also believe this admin is trying to destroy the industrial base of this country or else has very little interest in it because it’s "capitalism" or some nonsense, but I also think we need to walk back health costs to actual cost plus profit. They are just any old thing now because docs and hosps know they will only get a percentage and want it to be a percentage of something large. As for how doctors treat us or will react to more activism on the part of patients, you can count on fewer docs, more patients, longer waits, more docs who will not take Medicare or Medicaid, higher fees, higher premiums—a total worsening. 

When my mother was going through chemotherapy treatment the insurance company started playing games.  Sure- she tried to be a savvy customer- but she was in her 70’s and on chemo.  All she could tell was that something was wrong.  As it was it took my brother many phone  calls and quite a bit of time to straighten it out.  They made him work for it. 

As my mom said- what do people do when they don’t have someone to help them?

Healthcare debate? What a joke! It’s a fight between the corrupt, low-life politicians who take bribes from low-life bussiness people. And the politicians who are there representing the American people to have a choice between the low-life bussiness people or at least some kind of health care!

Right now the uninsured population are doing nothing but protesting the fact that the insurance companies are ripping them off. If everyone were to stop buying healthcare in this country, we wouldn’t have this problem right now. Remember, the less people who buy into big healthcare, the more it’s going to cost for thoes who still do!

I don’t believe I am in charge when I visit the doctor.  It seems pretty straight forward to me.  I didn’t know I could haggle with them about my bill.  They would probably in all sincerity tell me they were sorry but that is the way it is and don’t they have a free clinic for you who can’t pay?

 How many people end up just as sick after they leave the doctor or hospital because of the bill they receive?

When people don’t have anyone to help them they usually are stuck with the high bills or don’t go to doctors and just die.

Yes you are right it is YOU in charge of yourself…..sad thing is most people do not even know what to ask for or expect.

I will not tolerate a ”late” MD I leave after 15 minutes of waiting….I always check to make sure what is covered by my Medicare and what is not then ? the money part with the MD.Several of my Mds  eat the 20% I am supposed to pay them.

You do have to try and take charge of somethings—best thing is to brig someone who is smart about these things and bring them to al your visits—introduce them as your ”health care advocate” you get treated much better.

As far as the girl behind the desk? That Md is blind without her believe me—she reminds him of tests results—medication changes-everything.

As a nurse I had to remind Mds myself that I was NOT a Dr,—-they would be mad when they came in for rounds because they didn’t know the patient or they did the wrong procedure on a patient because they failed to read the consult orders. Nurses are the back bone of ALL Mds.They count on us to keep them contstantly updated.

Judy, your articles are usually insightful and illuminating, but this time you have missed the mark.

We aren’t in control which is why we desperately need reform (in my opinion). Almost every person that reads this site each day can give at a minimum one personal experience of someone in their life who went without healthcare, received poor care or had care but went bankrupt because of it. And the sad reality is, "we" don’t have a voice right now. 

As Diana T pointed out, asking your physician how much he charges is laughable given they do not set the fee for which they are ultimately paid. That is negotiated well in advance with the insurance company. "We" could all take to the streets like the Birthers with guns strapped to our hips and signs of insurance big wigs with Hitler moustaches, and I assure you it won’t change anything.

It’s why we need to set aside all the partisan stuff going on and support those that we voted into office. Hold them accountable for changing the status quo when it comes to health care for Americans. That is afterall one of their many responsibilities. We tell them what we want and they make it happen. Not the other way around.  Which is why I am so puzzled by the backlash from a fraction of the electorate. Instead of bashing the President and those in the Senate and Congress, why not channel that energy into a writing campaign to get your thoughts across?

But then again that is just my opinion, I have seen what years of allowing the government to dictate what is best for us without our input can do.

That’s a very nice philosophy but it is unrealistic. When my mother was in the hospital the last time, as she was dieing, she didn’t regulate anything. My aunt, her sister, who died only 3 months later with an obstructed bowel, also didn’t regulate anything in her panic to cling to life.

I was a single mother of three children without health insurance for a time and without any assistance from anyone (too proud to apply to welfare). When my toddler was ill with a fever of 104 at 2am I gave her a sponge bath. When my son was injured while riding his bike, I treated it myself. Why? Because I was a prn nurse = no insurance and no benefits at all. 

The physicians in the US are business people. Not all but nearly, have a full staff that takes care of the finicial aspects of running a business. If you stop and think for just a moment; who is bring in the money to operate that business? The physician and nobody else. All those secretaries, nurses and officer staff of any sort are paid by the physician and depend on the physician’s ability to earn. The physician must also pay the lease of the office and for any medical equipement in the office. 

Imagine yourself in that position. You have a receptionist, an office nurse who is probably an LVN because you can’t afford a 4-year RN, a transcriptionist-secretary, an insurance biller. Everyone of those people require living wages. Meanwhile, you, must repay your student loans, support your family, pay you lease on the office and office supplies, and play your mal-practice insurance. What does this all work out to? You will not be able to charge less than a certain amount no matter what your inclinations. You must see a certain number of patients per day regardless of their health concerns. Finally, even with all these people to help you, you must comb through everything to make sure it is all acceptable for a court of law.

One health carrier would prevent all of this. You will be able to handle your office as your European counterparts. Will a national healthcare system put alot of people out of work? Perhaps. But right now, whenever you go to the doctors office you are paying for an average of 3 secretaries and a nurse also.

Judy - you are not taking into account those cases where a patient is brought in incapacitated by accident, stroke, etc. and has NO say in anything that happens until much later, if at all.

My step-father had a stroke, was in hospital for 5 days then died. Medicare and their supplemental insurance paid the bills. 5 months after he died, my mother went to the ER and died within the hour from an aorta tear. While I was dealing with her estate I received an additional bill from the hospital for my step-father for several thousand dollars, which I refused to pay because it was almost a year after he died and I told the hospital that there was no money, they had received enough. The same thing happened with my mother, months after her death I received another bill and told the same hospital the same thing- they were dead and there was no money. It only took one letter for each incident. I’m sure the hospital expected me to not question anything and just pay .up.

I don’t know any women, or men, who are in awe of their practitioners these days.