For some reason, I used to have really unfriendly feelings toward our local HMO. Those feelings started to disappear when they hired my husband. It's hard to hate the organization that provides your family's paycheck. It's even harder to hate them when the per-paycheck premiums for health insurance are about half of what we used to pay.
Then you read the fine print: a deductible? That's evil! Here's what it means: your kids get sick and instead of paying a $15 copay to have the kids ears and throat checked, you start to stress. You think, "How much will it cost to take the kids in? Will it cost extra if they have to do a nebulizer treatment in the office? Will my flu shot cost extra? Will they charge me more if I see them for two problems in one appointment instead of just one?!?!" And you find yourself saying, "Well, maybe I'll take the kids in tomorrow. He only looks a little dehydrated" .. or... "There's only a little bit of blood" ... or... "His breathing isn't that labored. He'll make it through the night."
Okay, so I'm exaggerating a little bit with the "make it through the night" bit, but the point still stands. Instead of being able to go in to the doctor and get some reassurance (or a prescription, or advice, or whatever...) you start thinking, "The doctor probably wouldn't be able to do anything anyway."
Of course this is the reason evil HMOs came up with deductibles: it encourages people to stay home instead of going to the doctor, which is good financial sense for them. That's what they mean when they see "keeping costs down." Peace of mind is out the window, but whatever. They seem to be able to sleep through the night, even if my two-year-old son cannot.
This was on my mind a bit yesterday, since 80% of my household is sick right now. Nothing major, but it still got me thinking: I hate IHC.
Change of heart: My husband just got the details of his annual pay raise. I love IHC. I always love my husband's employers this time of year. My heart softens and I start to compose sonnets to the people who make it possible for me to have the best job in the world: a stay-at-home Mom (which, incidentally, is also the stinking stinkiest job in the world sometimes. See previous posts. But it's also the best.)
I'm almost resolved not to say the word "evil" when I pay $200 for a 15-minute visit to my wrist specialist next January.
But I might think it.
Oh, do I feel your pain. Last year Wade went in to the doc about a lingering sore throat--a routine strep test needed to be done so it didn't develop into something more serious. $200. For a test I could practically do myself. It's a joke. Last week, after dealing with an ear infection for 2 weeks, I finally broke down and went in. Another $200. I even resorted to putting Hydrogen Peroxide in my ear hoping to postpone the inevitable. I can't believe that companies get away with charging this much for routine things. Especially when IHC is doing it to themselves. Don't get me started on the whole stupid deductible thing...we paid $7 a paycheck when Wade worked at the State and got a whole heck of a lot better healthcare.
ReplyDeleteYou can totally feel my pain since your husband works there, too! The pain of paying your own Christmas bonus. The doctor is just the middleman.
ReplyDeleteI understand. Last year, when Jason was diagnosed with cancer, it ended not being the cancer that was stressful but all the medical bills afterwards! How sad is it that having cancer much easier then medical bills. Yes, something needs to change!
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