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Posted on 12/05/2025 7:14:00 PM PST by SeekAndFind
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Click here: to donate by Credit Card Or here: to donate by PayPal Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794 Thank you very much and God bless you. |
Back in the 80’s you could get employee Health insurance for a couple of dollar a week. Paid 80% of doctors bills. 100% hospital bills. and 1 dollar prescriptions. And you could go to any doctor anytime you wanted. The government came in and screwed it all up. HMO networks, Deductibles, and nothing good came of it. And the cost sky rocketed through the roof. Also back in the 80’s you could get into a doctor in a day or two. How much the world goes to hell when they tell you they are going to fix something that was not broke.
Eventually A.I. will diagnose symptoms and suggest treatment protocol. Dr. will just sign off.
Oddly you are correct. A few years ago I had to take my wife to the ER at night. I am a gringo that speaks Spanish and my wife is from Mexico and highly educated here in the USA and an American citizen that speaks perfect English. In the waiting room were about 20 people all speaking Spanish. My wife could identify their accents by states in Mexico but not for of those from Central America.
I suspect my wife was the only one with insurance.
I do not use the term mojado as it is an insult, but I do not want them here.
I needed to see an ENT doc this week. Called on Monday and was seen on Tuesday morning.
I wanted a whole-body scan on a DEXA scanner (body fitness, visceral fat, bone density). My insurance said they don’t cover it, so I paid the $95 out of pocket and got it done on Tuesday. Then on Thursday, I got a message from insurance saying that they had gotten a referral for the scan from my doctor and insurance approved it! I calle the clinic billing department this morning and they are billing insurance. When insurance pays, I’ll get the refund.
The specialist with the longest wait time is the skin doc. He’s often broke a month or more out.
I had a pulmonary embolism 17 months ago. Spent one night in the hospital then see my hematologist on an outpatient basis once a year. Getting in to see my hematologist for a follow-up has been a breeze.
I have no complaints at all...except for the almost 10X jump in insurance price for 2026! But I’m on a plan where i can see a doc in-network or out-of-network because I split time between Idaho and California.
I’m in Atlanta and betting appointments is not usually a problem.
Meh. A month ago, I made an appt for Hubby to get his teeth cleaned. So, in November, the first available appointment is in MAY. Holy crap!
A bunch of doctors retired rather than be forced to take people that didn’t pay for their care or have to treat people IAW government rules. Thanks, Obummer.
Review
What state? Everyone should mention their state before suggesting it can be quick where they live. We lived in Ohio until three years ago and could get in with a specialty or even establish care with a new PCP within a few days. Moved to Mew Mexico and first appt for a cardiologist schedule was 9 months or longer. Had kidney stones and first available was 9 months out. Medical care here is abysmal due to blue state politics.
Seems like there's an urgent care facility within a couple miles of each other.
Anyhow, I've been an active patient over the past year: two cataract removals, six months of neuropathy treatments, quarterly visits to my endocrinologist, and my primary care physician signed me up for iGlucose, where my morning blood glucose readings are transmitted electronically.
The availability of health care must be a factor in the growth of residents in North Texas: we're up to 8 million in DFW.
That's often my first line of treatment, good 'ol Dr. Google.
Just remember, faster treatment doesn't always mean better treatment. You are the one who controls your own healthcare.
I’ll go to Urgent Care if all I need is a prescription (like antibiotics or pain relief for things like sciatica or Rheumatoid Arthritis flares). Anything more serious than that, I go to the ER. That guarantees access to quick diagnostic tests and ER Doc’s access to consult with specialty docs like cardiology. I’ve had 2 heart attacks, a minor stroke, and 4 angioplasties for blocked arteries. One time, I went to the ER due to a prolonged bout of vomiting and diarrhea that left me severely dehydrated. I knew Urgent Care couldn’t run IVs to give fluids. In this current environment we really need to be discerning about own health care and make judgements on what can wait and what warrants going to Urgent Care or Emergency.
I am retired USAF. Rarely do I wait more than a few days at the active duty USAF hospital. 👍
Sorry.
Indiana
That's because you live in the United States now!
I see a physician run practice and have for 30+ years. They run a same day 7 day a week practice. They treat their physicians well. Have a lot of young mothers practicing.
or worse...your insurance changes and you have to start the wait all over again...
I’ve used Patient First as my primary care “physician” for years. They handle most things for me. Wife still has a primary care physician and waits weeks or months for an appointment.
As far as sports injuries, I'm lucky, my nephew is a surgeon. On several occasions, he was able to get me appointments with specialists he knew for whatever physical problems ailing me, in a relatively short period of time.
However, I just tried to get an appointment on my own with a hand specialist and was told there was nothing available in the near future. So I passed on it.
I have the names of two other specialists I can call and hope for the best.
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