Author Topic: Doctor's and amount of visits.... (Read 794 times)

Mohawk · « **on:** August 23, 2011, 12:39:15 PM »

I have kind of a gripe. My daughter was born on August 12th. Very healthy. As of this Friday it will be her fourth doctor's vistit, at a $30 a pop co-pay. Yet, when we are there they don't really do anything. She has not been ill, these are considered "Health Checks". So I'm paying $30 bucks a visit, and my insurance is getting charged who knows how much, all for her doctor to say"Yep, she gained 2 oz, looking good". Really? Or,"Her color looks good", Really, I could have determined that at home, no jaundice, color is pink and applicaple to good coloration of a newborn. $120 in two weeks to tell me my daughter looks good?

Really??? And it wasn't like they really "checked" for anything. On half the visits the Dr never even physically made contact with the baby. No wonder premiums are so high in this country.

BUGEYE · « **Reply #1 on:** August 23, 2011, 01:05:22 PM »

It's all about money. he wants to give you your 30 seconds and go to the next one. they overbook to screw as many people as possible.
after I walked out on my doctor, he now sees me on time and takes more time with me.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #2 on:** August 23, 2011, 01:11:59 PM »

they want to see me every 3 months

i go every 6 months or they won't refill the scripts

i always get my bloodwork orders and have that done a few weeks pryor

or they will just give me bloodwork orders and come back in 3 weeks

i hit them up for enough free samples of viagra to cover my co-pay

cpileri · « **Reply #3 on:** August 23, 2011, 02:11:50 PM »

Actually, alot of things are happening to a newborn in the first few days and weeks of life; almost any of which can be serious or not. It depends, but someone who knows what to look for has to check. Many of these can be determined simply by looking (such as jaundice) or by weighing the infant (i.e. is the baby eating). A trained nurse can do many of the newborn checks; but you better believe if the nurse felt a tight belly or currant jelly stool, the doctor would have been in there in a big hurry.
The system is what it is, unfortunately: look on the bright side- all these copays will go towards your deductible and once you meet that, you can scheduel something really expensive.

Hope this helps understand.

C-

As fo rthe money: its all abotu the INSURANCE company getting money! Often, the co-pay is the total amount the doctor gets for the visit.

Lon371 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 23, 2011, 02:45:26 PM »

Look on the bright side, My grandbaby was born July 15th. Doctors around here were so covered up, his 2 week check up came at 4 weeks. Knock on wood he is fit as a fiddle. We have a few friends in the medical field. So it is not like he was at risk.

I am 48 and not been to a doctor in 3 years. Was only there then because brochitis kicked my butt. The way I see doctors if I can still go to work and come home to supper I dont need them. Rates are too freaking high. Our so called family doctor has a 3 week waiting list

really? yup. So if your ill go to the emergency room. All the family practices are slow. Several have closed up shop, and going to work for the big outfits(less liability and headache.

Eat you junk food and drink your Mt Dew, ya only live once. Oh yeah and a Ibeprofin once in a while

Lonny

hillbill · « **Reply #5 on:** August 23, 2011, 03:27:23 PM »

apparently it is all about the money. i havent been to the doc in my life until lately at 46 yrs my dentist noticed i have high blood pressure.ive been about 6 times and all he has done is change my meds to no avail.he never mentioned diet or asked for any tests.im not obese and dont eat anything but deer meat and stuff from the garden.i may actually die waiting on this locally reknowned doctor to fix me.my insurance is good and i pay cash for my co pays and he is getting ready to retire.oh well, may be time for a new doc.

XD40SC · « **Reply #6 on:** August 23, 2011, 03:40:19 PM »

Lawsuits, for not doing EVERYTHING they could ; also enters into the equation.

Old Syko · « **Reply #7 on:** August 23, 2011, 03:57:11 PM »

What ever happened to being a responsible parent? As a parent you know when something isn't right. The only thing that is happening is just as the OP and others suspect, a rampant generation of revenue to either the doctor or the facility he represents. My family and I have enough connections to the industry(and what an industry it is) to know how the game is played. If you trust yourself and your wife and other family members to know what is right or wrong with the little one and how to handle it then do just that. If that trust and knowledge isn't there then stick to the doctors schedule and hope they don't foul things up as they do all too often. Had we took doctors advice my son would have died soon after birth. Two granddaughters could have easily been lost had we trusted the usual medical professionals.

BTW, have a good friend who is a big wheel doctor in DC. Tell him the copay is all he may get and he will likely laugh until he passes out. Then he'll laugh some more while he drives ONE of his many $300,000 buggies across Baja because he can. His multi-million dollar chase helicopter wasn't paid for with $30 copays.

powderman · « **Reply #8 on:** August 23, 2011, 04:07:14 PM »

MOHAWK. With a newborn it might be necessary but there are a lot of docs out there that really milk insurance companies. Glad the little one is doing well. POWDERMAN.

Empty Quiver · « **Reply #9 on:** August 23, 2011, 04:20:03 PM »

I'm gonna defend the Dr. a bit. He has seen a lot of babies and he will tell you that the vast majority are healthy every time he sees them. Sorta like walking around your car looking at the tires, and glancing at the wipers and looking around under the hood while you check the oil level. Honestly how many times have you found a flat? How many times do you find the battery terminals corroded? How many times do you add oil after pulling the dipstick?

Yet you still do all of these things and why? Because sometimes you see something that just ain't right, and you save yourself some misery down the road. Do you trust the wife or neighbor kid to look for you? No, you do it yourself because it is your responsability, you know what you are looking for and you know why you're looking for it.

Trust the Dr. he might just know what he is doing. Ain't a doctor in the family either. I do have a sister in law dying of cancer who thought Dr's were hocum and money grubbers, early diagnosis and treatment would likely saved her a bunch of troubles.

BBF · « **Reply #10 on:** August 24, 2011, 11:43:59 AM »

Looks like that highly endorsed American health system isn't all that great. Waiting three weeks for a family doctor appointment.

Just about every little hamlet has a Walk in Clinic. If you can't wait for a day or so. Then there is the Emergency Unit in the Hospitals. We have a Nurse Practitioner attached to our regular MD. She is available any weekday. I open my wallet to show my Health Card. Period !!

Yep Canada's Health Care really sucks....................................................................NOT !!

BUGEYE · « **Reply #11 on:** August 24, 2011, 12:22:41 PM »

Quote from: scatterbrain on August 24, 2011, 11:43:59 AM

Looks like that highly endorsed American health system isn't all that great. Waiting three weeks for a family doctor appointment.
Just about every little hamlet has a Walk in Clinic. If you can't wait for a day or so. Then there is the Emergency Unit in the Hospitals. We have a Nurse Practitioner attached to our regular MD. She is available any weekday. I open my wallet to show my Health Card. Period !!

Yep Canada's Health Care really sucks....................................................................NOT !!

just curious, why do wealthy canadians come down here for health care?

Lost Farmboy · « **Reply #12 on:** August 25, 2011, 01:22:35 AM »

Quote from: 45-70.gov on August 23, 2011, 01:11:59 PM

i hit them up for enough free samples of viagra to cover my co-pay

Great idea. My doctor would be shocked to see me asking for medication.

Gaz-52 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 25, 2011, 02:23:56 AM »

Quote from: BUGEYE on August 24, 2011, 12:22:41 PM

Quote from: scatterbrain on August 24, 2011, 11:43:59 AM
Looks like that highly endorsed American health system isn't all that great. Waiting three weeks for a family doctor appointment.
Just about every little hamlet has a Walk in Clinic. If you can't wait for a day or so. Then there is the Emergency Unit in the Hospitals. We have a Nurse Practitioner attached to our regular MD. She is available any weekday. I open my wallet to show my Health Card. Period !!

Yep Canada's Health Care really sucks....................................................................NOT !!
just curious, why do wealthy canadians come down here for health care?

Are they going for legitimate health problems or for plastic surgery and "boob jobs " ?

Dixiejack · « **Reply #14 on:** August 25, 2011, 07:58:32 AM »

I got T-boned by my 120 lb. Lab and hobbled to my doctor a couple of days later. He x-rayed my knee and said it looked like I had torn cartilage and would probably need surgery. But first, he said I needed an MRI and he would get approval from my insurance co. Some woman called from the insurance company and asked me a bunch of questions---did I fall in my house or yard, was I in a wreck, or did I get hurt on the job? What she was trying to find out if my home owners ins. or my car ins or my employer should pay. I told her my dog did it and he didn't carry liability insurance. By then I was PO'ed. Finally 2 weeks later the doctor's office called with an appointment for me to get an MRI (my insurance approved it). Sure enough I had to have surgery and after being on crutches for two more weeks I had surgery. The insurance company approved it.

The total bill came to about $8,000.00. The insurance company paid $6,500.00 and the doctor had to discount the rest of the bill except for $325.00 that I paid. The insurance company mandated what the doctor could charge and what they would pay. The freaking insurance companies are the problem with our medical care these days. I don't approve of doctors charging for unnecessary services, but they have to cover their expenses. I don't want a doctor who went to a tech school nor do I want to fly with a pilot who learned to fly by taking online courses.

BBF · « **Reply #15 on:** August 25, 2011, 09:44:03 AM »

Quote from: BUGEYE on August 24, 2011, 12:22:41 PM

just curious, why do wealthy canadians come down here for health care?

They got the $ to blow on little extras like private or semi private rooms. Some don't want to wait any time, perhaps it is winter and they prefer Palms. Then there are those that fly to Asia, India or some Carib country. I don't mind.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #16 on:** August 25, 2011, 10:37:24 AM »

Hey doc's figured out a way to get on the extended warranty band wagon. Same as most HVAC contractors with the "CHECK UP" or the AUTO's CHECK UP and pest control season check up etc . Don't play the game and when you need any of the above you can't get an appointment.

Dixiejack · « **Reply #17 on:** August 25, 2011, 01:13:32 PM »

Lots of Canadians winter just south of me in Southwest Georgia on down into the Panhandle of Florida. Renting house trailers is cheaper than staying in a beachfront hotel. They are only 1 to 2 hours drive from the Gulf. That's nothing, time wise, since we have paved roads now. LOL I will also hand it to them--they are thrifty. Several years ago my wife and I were eating in a seafood restaurant in Panama City, FL and a college age waitress walked over to our table to fill our glasses. She didn't look too happy and turned her head toward two couples walking out. She turned back and ask us if we knew the difference between a canoe and a Canadian. Naturally I said no. Without even smiling she said a canoe will tip. She had definitely been stiffed on the tip.

I know that's off topic, but it was brought up about wealthy Canadians.

cpileri · « **Reply #18 on:** August 25, 2011, 02:55:16 PM »

Quote from: Dixiejack on August 25, 2011, 07:58:32 AM

The freaking insurance companies are the problem with our medical care these days. I don't approve of doctors charging for unnecessary services, but they have to cover their expenses. I don't want a doctor who went to a tech school nor do I want to fly with a pilot who learned to fly by taking online courses.

Amen, Brother!

You hit the nail on the head.
C-

mechanic · « **Reply #19 on:** August 25, 2011, 04:39:19 PM »

Just be thankful to God the little one was born healthy. I have friends whose newborn spent months in intensive care. It took them 20 years to pay the bill. He is now healthy and a productive member of society, so all worked out well.

Ben

powderman · « **Reply #20 on:** August 25, 2011, 05:38:01 PM »

Quote from: mechanic on August 25, 2011, 04:39:19 PM

Just be thankful to God the little one was born healthy. I have friends whose newborn spent months in intensive care. It took them 20 years to pay the bill. He is now healthy and a productive member of society, so all worked out well.

Ben

Amen to that. My grandaughter Jadyn will be 5 yrs old in Oct and has had over 500 blood transfusions due to a rare disease. POWDERMAN.