That having been said, this failure of the government health system to notify the then-congressman of what was seen on the MRI back in 2012 is probably due more to bureaucratic failure, rather than failure on the part of the radiologists. This reinforces the basic hard truth that government run health care, no matter what its advocates proclaim, will generally be subject to more serious medical errors due to bureaucratic bungling, as opposed to health care in the private sector.
And this case also illustrates another hard truth that even conservatives tend to gloss over in the debate over health insurance: being the recipient of health care insurance coverage does not necessarily equate to access to the necessary health care that an individual needs. Health insurance does NOT equate to health care; in this case the then-congressman had what most would consider to be a "Cadillac" health insurance plan, yet the medical care he received through it was substandard. (The inverse of this axiom is true as well: one can have a minimal or even no health insurance plan, and still receive quality health care which the individual requires. So coercing citizens to have such and such a health insurance plan does not necessarily make those citizens healthier.)
So true. Insurance DOES NOT EQUAL care. Everyone needs to inform himself as to health. There is enough information online to get the general outlines of illness, symptoms, procedures. Etc. There are ways to seek out preferred medical professionals, including asking around (including online). I bet that even here on FR if someone were in a desperate situation they could pop up a vanity of Does Anyone a Know a Great Oral Surgeon in Ohio, and people would offer suggestions. So you can seek out where, how much, what might I have, and as long as you don’t go nuts thinking every bump is cancer, you are helping with your own CARE with online research.
I love the Health Share idea, where people of like minds (often Christian but can be just a general healthy and Gd-fearing life) pool together money, focus on their actual HEALTH, and are helped with large medical costs if needed. We just started this year. Instead of paying $2000 a month we now pay $500 a month (in Dec our old insurance went up to $2500 a month and only covered 80% after deductible was met). After $1500 self pay (like a deductible) Liberty pays 100%, and you can choose any doctor or hospital you wish. The monthly cost would be far less for a smaller family. $500 covers 6 of us.
Every FReeper should consider a health share. Last year, in October, I had brain surgery at an exceptional hospital. With cash discounts you get when you direct pay, if we had paid cash for our whole year of health services last year, we’d have come out AHEAD Of those premiums.
Amen to that! Health insurance does not guarantee good health. Even going to the doctor frequently has little or no statistical advantage to longevity.