Dude. I got multiple $100-200 bills over six months (almost 1k total in bills), thinking each one was the last of the bills, after breaking a pinky and having to go to an out-of-network orthopedic specialist in rural upstate Michigan. I got no sympathy from the insurance company, even though the closest in-network doctor was like 90 minutes away, I didn't have a car, and my finger was in diabolical amounts of pain and pointing sideways. It's no surprise that I know scores of people in their twenties and thirties who forego medical attention because they don't want to deal with that shit. What a mess.Also my knee has started hurting the past few days. It's gotten progressively worse, and today I came in to work with a limp. Set up a doctor's appointment, but got the bill for my last one and it was $215 for a 20 minute appointment that insurance is refusing to cover. My friend told me: "Welcome to your mid-twenties"
a few years ago I woke up with crushing chest pain and shortness of breath. I was a fat guy loaded up with stress in my late 30's... the logical thing to do is call 911 and NOT die from a heart attack, right? Nope. I went to the computer and googled "Chest pain and shortness of breath" and waited an hour or so until 7am when my normal doctor's office scheduling line opened up. I didn't want to pay the hundreds of dollars for an ER visit. Stop and think about that... All of the symptoms and life situations of a dude who could be having a heart attack and I went to google. How messed up is that? blergh.It's no surprise that I know scores of people in their twenties and thirties who forego medical attention because they don't want to deal with that shit. What a mess.
while I was trying to be "punny" - this whole healthcare situation is JACKED and probably not funny at all. From where I sit, which is a place of spoiled-rotten-white-collar-comfort, we are living in a system that is completely unsustainable. Something HAS to change. But as long as lawyers and lobbyists are running things... nothing will. We will just continue to spend more per person on healthcare than we should - and STILL have to put up with Rx commercials.
Damn, this was in-network, so I don't understand what the fuss is all about in my case... This accurately describes my attitude. =/It's no surprise that I know scores of people in their twenties and thirties who forego medical attention because they don't want to deal with that shit.
I have dealt with a lot of injuries in my life. It's pretty natural for a guy who spends as much time playing hockey as I do. In fact just last night I was dumb enough to grab a puck out of mid air and sprained a finger (possibly broken, but I highly doubt it). As such, I've been to the doctor enough times to know that if something hurts (a knee, e.g.) it's normally not worth a doctor visit. The most likely thing is that they're going to tell you to take motrin and rest. Unless you think something is seriously broken and needs surgery, I'd stay away.
Too late, scheduled already, but I wanted to talk to them about back (> 1 yr) pain as well. I suspect I just have weak tendons, as I've had wrist, ankle, and knee injuries in the past year. The struggle of being tall and lanky. =/Unless you think something is seriously broken and needs surgery, I'd stay away.