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Owned1 -> RE: Yearly exams and mammograms (8/16/2006 10:02:16 PM)
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ORIGINAL: Emperor1956
quote:
Owned1 asks: If I may ask of those who reside in the US, do you have to pay for preventative tests like those being discussed here. I think if you have a insurance co they would pay? but even that I am not sure of.
I am fortunate and spoiled living in Canada with they system we have here.
I can take this one on (I work in health care. Everything said above about the need for regular pap smears, colo-rectal exams and mammograms..AMEN, and there is no need for the sort of deep bruising Rayne described...get a better mammography center with a hi-res machine and (depending on your breast size and shape) a curved platen. But on to USA health insurance.)
One of the places our health care system is weakest is encouraging and paying for preventive care. Generally, USA medicine is reactive -- come in with a problem and we throw the best technology and doctors in the world at it, at a huge cost, and with little foresight. Come in with a desire to forestall a problem, and you may well be on your own. Most good health insurance plans will pay for a mammo, pap and fecal blood occult test once a year for women over 40. But the plans all vary in what the will cover and when. For example, some only allow a mammo ever 2 years, unless the woman has a history of breast cancer in her family or other preconditions. In any event, the patient will probably have to pay a "co-pay" of $20 - $50 per procedure.
If you had an American-style HMO plan, you probably would get these services for free. For all the many problems capitated care had in the USA, it still handled basic preventative medicine better than traditional insurance. But you might have a longer wait for access to these services.
Finally, if you are one of the nearly 50 Million uninsured in this country, you are pretty much out of luck for preventative medicine. You would need to monitor various charities who offer these services at no, or greatly reduced, charge and go there during "Breast Cancer Awareness Month" or "Free colon cancer screening". Humiliating and ineffective. But if god forbid you present with one of these illnesses at a local emergency room, we'll spend several tens of thousands of dollars to try to get you cured AFTER you get sick.
E.
Thank you Emperor for the detailed response. That is what I thought happened in the US but it was wishful thinking it was different.
The Canadain govt is delisting preventative measures up here everytime you turn around. For some it makes the test out of reach, if you are living below the pverty line visiting the food bank to feed your kids $50 for a test is out of your reach. I also work in health care and am an advocate for preventative care. It makes no sense on so many levels, not only the cost of life but as you stated the cost to deliver reactive health care.
Thanks again
Owned
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