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Please go to the Doctor
- Thread starter Living the Dream
- Start date
InfiniteBento
Member
I dont have insurance
Id love to go to the doctor but unfortunately, the United States fucking sucks
Id love to go to the doctor but unfortunately, the United States fucking sucks
Pagusas
Elden Member
Mine is so long as they are refereed by my primary.
Are you working towards getting insurance?
the-pi-guy
Member
It's hard, even for a lot of people who can technically afford it, it's still very expensive and they'd rather not unless it's an emergency.
He's just saying that it's not an option for some people, which is on topic and it is the truth.
I don't think he's being hostile or derailing the thread...
He's just saying that it's not an option for some people, which is on topic and it is the truth.
HellforLeather
Member
They are considered specialists....so it depends on your insurance. I pay about $40 co-pay to see a dermatologist then $100-$200 to have moles removed if need be.
I went recently for a check up (NHS so it's free, but busy and difficult to get an appointment at the right time). I made sure to have a couple of questions lined up so it didn't feel like I was wasting the doctor's time, always make sure to be as specific as possible.
Thankfully nothing major was found, but I knew if I didn't go I'd be agonising over minor things for ages. Obviously if you are experiencing bad pain or something on your body doesn't look right, just go.
Thankfully nothing major was found, but I knew if I didn't go I'd be agonising over minor things for ages. Obviously if you are experiencing bad pain or something on your body doesn't look right, just go.
IdreamofHIME
Member
I'm going tomorrow, getting my ears syringed! 5 months of feeling like I'm underwater, can't wait for tomorrow.
TV won't be at full volume anymore.
TV won't be at full volume anymore.
Living the Dream
Member
Guys, please don't derail the thread. My whole point was don't let your health suffer when there can be remedies for it.
I understand the frustrations of poverty and a broken system but, come on, if going to the doctor's would bankrupt you, this thread obviously isn't for you. If I made a thread about how people should eat more vegetables, you don't need to bust in that you've been living off stale crackers for the past month.
For me it's really just the time off... I'd hate to burn a personal day to go sit at the doctor's all afternoon. I'll just have to bite the bullet at some point. Maybe throw in a dentist's appointment while I'm out.
For me it's really just the time off... I'd hate to burn a personal day to go sit at the doctor's all afternoon. I'll just have to bite the bullet at some point. Maybe throw in a dentist's appointment while I'm out.
Living the Dream
Member
Better one day off than what could lead to weeks/months or death.
Shamrock7r
Member
My girlfriend actually just recently convinced me to start getting checkups. I haven't gone in what seems like forever. It's a good idea if you have the means, particularly as you get into your 30s and you are at that age where you might start to experience very minor changes to your body in terms of metabolism, energy, etc.
no it doesn't
no it doesn't
Pagusas
Elden Member
It's funny that I see a lot of people take better care of their cars then themselves. Always getting the oil changes, tire rotations and such at correct timings. Makes you scratch your head and wonder why they can do it for a piece of metal with wheels but not their own flesh and blood body.
Living the Dream
Member
She wants you around forever. She's a keeper.
InfiniteBento
Member
Yeah, I was covered last year but got denied this year. Special Enrollment doesnt apply to me so im stuck waiting until November unless I find other means but most plans want a fuck ton of $$$ 😑
Knuckle Sandwich
Member
I've gone in 5 times so far this year trying to find pick a new dr I like. My old dr would make jokes when checking my balls and stuff. Cool dude.
The car has resale value and can't draw permanent disability.
You can't leave that hanging. What kind of jokes?
johancruijff
Banned
grats for leaving humanity behind
Red Liquorice
Member
I'd rather not know.
Knuckle Sandwich
Member
Just like "believe me this isn't fun for me either" and stuff like that. I hate doctors who are too clinical.
Wish it could be that easy but here in Mexico health care is as awful as the one on the USA. If you make and appointment to the doc, the waiting periods can go from 2 to 4 freaking months... just so the doc only sees you -all pissed off- for only 5 minutes and gives you a bunch of useless pills and makes you an appointment to the specialist and wait 6 more months. Fucking no thanks. I'm actually more afraid of having to deal with all of that than getting an actual serious ill :'(
1.21Gigawatts
Banned
Good advice.
I should make a couple of appointments for the near future.
I should make a couple of appointments for the near future.
Haven't you heard, this threads not FOR you. Neither is healthcare.
How About No
Member
Actually no wait I think I would rather be bankrupt than be in preventable pain or be dead
Like I'm uninsured for like another month atm and if I felt something was off or was in immense pain I'd go get it checked out immediately
Like I'm uninsured for like another month atm and if I felt something was off or was in immense pain I'd go get it checked out immediately
Oh, okay. I thought he might call you coconuts or marbles or something, depending on how cold it was.
Yeah, I get that. But you don't want to die miserably or suffer a lower quality of life from a possible disease that could had been taken care of better or cured if it were caught earlier. I thought I had kidney stones for months, didn't go the doc, only to later find out it was a tumor growing fast and fucking my shit up. I got lucky that the pain was so bad that it just forced me to go to the doc cause I was thinking everyday that I had a fucked kidney producing stones chronicly and seriously considered buying a new kidney from India lol. It took like a year and a half for me to get rid of that fucker and it was miserable, if I had regular checkups this could have been spotted earlier and maybe have taken at least a couple months off chemo or more for me, which would've been great. Now I have to go to the doc regularly, it's annoying and stressful sometimes, but overall it takes away a lot of my anxiety to know that my body is in ok shape health wise, because there are some nasty health problems that a person can have, but they may not feel any symptoms until it's too late. Hopefully I'm not getting anyone too paranoid, but from my perspective I'd be paranoid if I didn't get checked up from time to time. Insurance is a bitch though, I didn't have it at the time, but I got lucky and was put on emergency medical.
Living the Dream
Member
That's great news man! Well not that you may have hypothyroidism, but that you got it checked out before it lead to other issues.
Most countries are like that,tho
UpDownLeftRight
Banned
I live in the UK. I'm sure as hell not going to bother the NHS with minor shit that bears no relevance on my own life let alone costing them hundreds for no reason. I need to be pretty fucking ill before I'd consider it worth wasting their time. There's always gonna be someone who needs their time more.
Ah, good thread timing. I went for a yearly checkup up today. Everything was hunky dory within me, besides being a little overweight. Made the mistake of eating before going so now I have another visit for blood tests. 
Getting tired of taking STD tests, but using a condom sucks, so meh.
Getting tired of taking STD tests, but using a condom sucks, so meh.
If I had a strong taste for life, or had a family and wanted to see them grow up or whatever, then I could see it. But I don't. So when it's time, that's cool. I'm never gonna be ready either way.
This line made my head spin. I'm in a 6 year committed relationship and we still use them when not trying to make a baby. I'd happily use condoms until I get snipped before I'd ask her to go back on the pill... those years were hell.
I can't fucking imagine not using condoms when sleeping around...
Kite
Member
My mother delayed her yearly breast examination by a few months cus she was busy at work, when she finally went she found out she had breast cancer and it would have been caught earlier if she had gone.. One of her breasts had to be surgically removed. No job, no project, no promotion is worth your health.. she retired shortly afterwards anyways.. Don't skip your checkups, especially if your employer is paying for it
Yes yes there are people w/o healthcare and people who can't take days off work. This thread isn't about you, people with good jobs should be reminded of this.
Yes yes there are people w/o healthcare and people who can't take days off work. This thread isn't about you, people with good jobs should be reminded of this.
HawksWinStanley
Member
Or she wants him healthy enough to get approved for a nice life insurance payout before she witnesses him having an "accident"...
JonnyDBrit
Member
Considering it later this week. I've got some pain in my lower left side which has been persisting a few days. Could be gas or a minor inflammation of the colon, but don't wanna risk if it hangs around too long. Hard to say because I've had issues with my intestines before that ultimately passed without too much issue (as in, had the Doctor identify them, and they confirmed it was no big deal).
Having watched tons of crime shows, this sounds more likely. Don't go on a cruise with your SO. You won't come back.
King Gilga
Member
Haha yeah, I was going to book a general check up and she was like ??? it says here that you were here like a couple months ago. Yeah that was for a specific knee thing I was thinking I should have a general checkup before I get busy. Uhhhh... Okay then, come in at 8:30 same day.
Then I called back to cancel it like an hour later because I wanted to go out instead.
I'm afraid of going to the doctor because it's expensive as shit in the US. If there's even the slightest chance I can make myself well again or tough it out, I do that.
I once had back pains and went into get a checkup on it. Used up two years worth of medical savings in one trip and one prescription for glorified pain killers. Fuck that.
I once had back pains and went into get a checkup on it. Used up two years worth of medical savings in one trip and one prescription for glorified pain killers. Fuck that.
The Albatross
Member
I agree with the OP and I think people are trying to intentionally take OP out of context to imply he's being malicious or something. I had a similar experience.. about 6 or 7 years ago, I was feeling shitty lately, felt almost like hangover symptoms all the time, like very achy joints, like I was dehydrated; I was exhausted a lot, cold, etc. Being a tough guy I figured, eh, it's normal, just getting older and so drinking will affect me more (days or weeks later......). Eventually I figured I'd get a physical, which is covered on my insurance, and my doctor ran some routine blood work and it came back with hypothyroidism, an under-active thyroid. All of my symptoms fit into hypothyroidism, I was put on a routine prescription (synthetic thyroxine, $10/90 days) for the rest of my life which has steadily been increased, and it cured all of those symptoms. Had I just "toughed it out" not only would I been extremely uncomfortable, but it would eventually kill my organs.
For me, an American with good employer-subsidized insurance, I have free twice-annual checkups (healthy visits, routine blood work, what we might call "physicals," etc), which don't cost me anything, and "sick" visits are a $10 "co-pay," which means the visit is covered by insurance but the patient pays a nominal fee at the doctor's office.
About 85-90% of Americans have health insurance (as of 2016 it was 89% but those numbers will likely change for the worse should Republicans successfully repeal the Affordable Care Act) and while most insurance plans cover "preventative" primary care doctors visits, not all do, and the co-pay can vary depending on what kind of plan you have. Some low-premium (low monthly payment) but high deductible (the amount you have to pay before coverage kicks in), will make you pay a high expense out of pocket until coverage kicks in, and while it's unusual that those apply to preventative or routine doctors visits (maybe 10 or 20% of "low deductible" plans?), those costs can be high if they don't. That does vary state by state. The federal law requires some requirements for care, but states can vary on how that's applied.
For me, an American with good employer-subsidized insurance, I have free twice-annual checkups (healthy visits, routine blood work, what we might call "physicals," etc), which don't cost me anything, and "sick" visits are a $10 "co-pay," which means the visit is covered by insurance but the patient pays a nominal fee at the doctor's office.
About 85-90% of Americans have health insurance (as of 2016 it was 89% but those numbers will likely change for the worse should Republicans successfully repeal the Affordable Care Act) and while most insurance plans cover "preventative" primary care doctors visits, not all do, and the co-pay can vary depending on what kind of plan you have. Some low-premium (low monthly payment) but high deductible (the amount you have to pay before coverage kicks in), will make you pay a high expense out of pocket until coverage kicks in, and while it's unusual that those apply to preventative or routine doctors visits (maybe 10 or 20% of "low deductible" plans?), those costs can be high if they don't. That does vary state by state. The federal law requires some requirements for care, but states can vary on how that's applied.
A Grizzly Bear
Member
No amount of these stories gets my wife to take her health seriously. I've been trying to get her to go for her checkups for 6 years and nothing.
The posts from people saying they can't afford it should be a reminder to those who either have universal healthcare or employer coverage that they're lucky to have that benefit and to take advantage of it.
PandaPandaPanda
Member
I have employer based insurance and when I go see the doctor (or other medical professional) I pay a $30.00 copay. I get invoices from my insurance company saying they paid ~$150-250+ when I go to the Dr's office(or something similar)
shit's expensive. I'm due for a follow up soon(I should make an appointment soon) but i'm actively trying to become healthier as I want to minimize the amount of medication i'm taking now and for the years to come.
Kite
Member
Seems to be on average $160
http://www.jhsph.edu/news/news-rele...le-to-most-uninsured-but-at-a-high-price.html
The Albatross
Member
I could be wrong, but if I'm reading that correctly it says that study was before the Affordable Care Act, which increased coverage and added minimum requirements for coverage.
Oh, and that's the uninsured price. I think as most people attest, the insured price for the ~85-90% of insured Americans, is likely around $0-$30 co-pay out of pocket. But, of course, that can definitely vary state to state as insurance minimum requirements differ especially with "high-deductible low premium" plans.
My husband and I have a $20 co-pay, which means we spend a flat $20 to see a doctor. I've never received any other charge, except the $100 we paid for my 1 week hospital stay, when I gave birth, so all blood work and regularly tests are covered. Despite being totally affordable for us, it's like pulling teeth, getting my husband to go. I think he just assumes he's unhealthy and doesn't want bad news. It drives me nuts.