The Examining Room of Dr. Charles: Torches and Pitchforks
A *particular HMO*, which is a subsidiary of a big *health insurance company*, sent me a letter some time ago. It announced an arbitrary change to what they were willing to pay me for a pediatric well child visit. For a 30 minute office visit they were willing to compensate me with 10 dollars. Let’s count those dollars, with wide eyes and anticipation ― one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten!
You remember the physical your mom used to drag you to, during which the doctor made sure all your shots were up to date, screened you for any kind of developmental problems you might have, awkwardly talked to you about safety and sex and drugs and how to stand up to bullies, asked about your diet and exercise, made sure your family history didn’t put you at risk of anything, measured your height and weight and plotted them on a chart, listened to your heart for any murmurs that might one day harm you, listened to your lungs for wheezing that might slow you on the soccer field, checked your skin for moles that could turn into cancer someday, pressed on your belly to check on your liver and spleen, and… well you get the idea.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten! Sweet!
The government redistributes some of your tax money in the form of Medicaid dollars to private companies like United Health Group. They are “farming out” Medicaid these days, outsourcing it to private industry. Maybe the idea is that the free market coupled with lean, mean HMOs might save everybody money in the long run. It doesn’t. The National Bureau of Economic Research concluded that government mandates requiring Medicaid beneficiaries to switch to HMOs do not improve the efficiency of the Medicaid program, mostly because they lead to substantial spending increases with no demonstrable quality improvements. Where does that increased money go if I’m getting 10 dollars?
I was so intrigued by this most recent pay cut that I decided to check out the top brain of the *health insurance company*, figuring its CEO must have taken a cut, too. After all, that would only be fair, since his company needs to discount the 100 dollars a thirty-minute, comprehensive pediatric history and physical deserves to only $10.
I typed “ceo of *particular health insurance company* salary” into Google. I pressed enter. A list of links came up. I scanned them. I learned the name of *particular health insurance company’s* CEO. He’s been in the news, a lot lately, I guess. According to Forbes Magazine he personally made at least $124.8 MILLION in 2005. But that was just milk money compared to his $1.5 BILLION in stock options. Let’s count: one, two, three, four…
7 Responses
So? We live in a free world, and you could also be a CEO if you tried. Ah, let me guess – you want “FREE” healthcare, right?
You expect, perhaps demand, that I and other taxpayers pay for your healthcare and that of your children right? Noway – take care of yourself, and if you can’t afford to take care of your own children then you shouldn’t be having children!
“Your comment is awaiting moderation. ”
Ah, somehow I’m guessing my comment will be censored like a good Nazi would censor. Like I always say, liberals hate truth and will have no problems terminating free speech!
Das ist streng verboten!
Carry on Nazi!
Why don’t you come talk to me when your mom dies after hospitalization with $350,000 in medical bills? I am thankful medicare was there to pay for it, and to leave something in my mom’s estate to care for my disabled sister and nephew, who also rely on social security.
Grow up, kid, or go back to using Dad’s computer to surf some porn already. Or go back to the right-wing circle jerk, with Rush on the radio and Fox on the TV.
Like I said, you’re a fucking moron.
Both my parents died. However, in their case – they set aside money and investments, had health insurance, left some money to us kids. Both ended up in a rest home, and my father had to have lots of medical care.
In all of their ordeals not one penney of taxpayer’s money was used – and his total medical was over $350K – and that doesn’t even include the rest home care for both. There in lies the difference between the intelligent and the ignorant.
Perhaps if public schools taught children on personal finances instead of how wonderful it is to be a homosexual or transvestite more people would be able to take care of themselves.
BTW – you, again, are wrong. I do not listen to Rush.
And like I said – and was right – you’re a censoring Nazi!
I’m certainly no Nazi, and you are certainly very free in how you use that word. Protecting my private space is somehow “censorship”? Shall I come write all over your house, your car, your property? This blog is *my* property.
Anyway, sorry about your folks, but I’m glad they were wealthy enough to take care of you. Not all are so fortunate. My mom’s care was covered by private insurance as well – the $350 K was *just* the part covered by Medicare. And that is so wrong, when we draw dollars out of a system we all pay into? Interesting.
I don’t think public schools teach the things you say they do, but if you want an education on transvestites, or perhaps transexuals, I can recommend some excellent blogs to you. Is there some personal reason you hate homosexuals, or is that just part of your general hatred?
Glad you’re not listening to Rush, but wherever you’re getting your info, I think you ought to reconsider those people’s motives. You’re being taken advantage of in a big way – unless, of course, you’re one of those paid to spew right wing crap.
Donna, I just took a side trip to this guy’s blog and I must say he does have a lot of angry. If he wasn’t so disturbing (under his categories list he has ”illegal scum”) he would be laughable (blogs of woman who think like him are listed under “Dynamic Dames”).