I went to three different doctors in Crestview this week — what fun! What I found interesting while chatting with others is that most people hate their medical insurance, no matter which company insures them.
My husband, Jim, and I have an enormous deductible — $13,970 — and many of my prescriptions are minimally covered or excluded. Our prescription carrier decided that I should take the asthma inhaler they prefer, rather than what has been prescribed, although I have bad side effects with their preferred inhaler.
We have medical insurance, but health care is difficult because of costs associated with going to the doctor.
I think everyone would agree that we need medical insurance reform; however, we may not agree on how to accomplish it. I would love to see hospitals, doctors and pharmacies post their prices so that we patients, who are their consumers, know what an office visit or procedure costs. We can be better stewards of our money and our insurance when we know what we are expected to pay ahead of time.
If Hospital A charges $45,000 for a procedure and Hospital B charges $38,000, and they both are reputable with good doctors, the choice is clear. We don't deliberately buy groceries at an exaggerated cost, so why health care?
There are too many administrators and bureaucrats to the ratio of health care professionals, and their salaries have overwhelmed the cost of medical care.
The American Medical Association has gotten into this bureaucracy, even though less than 15 percent of doctors are now members.
"The AMA owns the coding system that every doctor in America is required to use in order to be reimbursed by insurance; it makes a stunning $72 million off the program every year,” Marion Mass, M.D., is quoted as saying on Philly.com. “It is in patient's best interests to reverse the trend of ever-increasing health insurance costs, but the AMA depends on the health-insurance industry for money.” (Source: http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/healthcare/Who-stands-for-patients-in-the-debate-over-health-care-cost-and-access.html)
Many of us need insurance relief. If you are unhappy or happy with your coverage, write to your elected representatives and let them know your feelings.
Their addresses are:
•Sen. Bill Nelson, 716 Senate Hart Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
•Sen. Marco Rubio, 284 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington DC 20510
•Congressman Matt Gaetz, 507 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
Janice Lynn Crose, a former accountant, lives in Crestview with her husband, Jim; her two rescue collies, Shane and Jasmine; and two cats, Kathryn and Prince Valiant.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: A suggestion for health care reform