Healthcare is expensive

[Sheherezade]

Tell me about it! I am shocked by how much a SHIRT costs. It's crazy. If we were still on a resident's budget, I think I'd be shopping for Christmas as Goodwill or making my gifts. And I'm being totally serious. I remember our budget and there is no way we'd be able to do more than a single "big" toy or an outfit for the kids on what we spent. Salaries haven't changed much. Prices have.

[HouseofWool]

Insurance companies are the reason healthcare is so expensive and the mountain of evidence that I would need to see to refute that statement would be the size of Everest...

Case in point. Today I spoke with a patient who just received their first statement for services rendered in October 2010. THREE years have passed and it took that much dicking around and refiling the claim for the insurance company to ante up. The number of man-hours involved in getting the claim paid cost more than we actually received in payment. This is why healthcare in the US is broken.

[PrincessFiona]

I was just talking about this with my mom. I bought stocking stuffers and spent over $200. I was shocked. I bought the same things I always get: toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorants, socks. I have never spent so much on stocking stuffers! Granted, I have 1 extra person this year ... it still was substantial ly more than in years past.

[Sheherezade]

HoW - If you've ever listened to the This American Life episodes on health care, they are fascinating. One segment described how vet costs are now rising as pet insurance becomes more of a player and that in areas with more pet insurance, rates charged are higher. Who would have guessed?

[GrayMatterWife]

The repairman got to work and then came into the house for me to pay him.

I said, "Wow. $300 is expensive." That's all I said. Let's face it ... its 1/3 of the price of the whole damned thing and it is a new machine. $300 IS expensive.

Without missing a beat, the repairman turned to me and said "well healthcare is expensive too."

You are so much nicer than me. That would not have been my response. Kudos for your grace.

I would have told him that his opinion about my husband's line of work was irrelevant to the transaction and that if he continued with his unsolicited opinions, I'd call his boss.

Really? Mouthing off in your home. Total ignorance of appropriate client interactions.

[ides]

Insurance companies are the reason healthcare is so expensive and the mountain of evidence that I would need to see to refute that statement would be the size of Everest....

I completely agree 1000%. I wish others would see this. It's the main problem.

[WolfpackWife]

GMW - those were my thoughts, too. It just seems inappropriate.

Kris - I would have been shocked, too, but being so early into this process I have become fiercely protective of my husband's chosen field and become even more so as I grow to realize how much he'll sacrifice and endure down the road. I am saddened and shocked by how many people think doctors pocket all the money they shell out in the doctor's offices, and well formed, well researched articles illustrated how invalid those arguments are go unnoticed. Instead, whiny bullshit like the Slate article you posted about the Obamacare Whaaambulance circulate like wildfire. It really upsets me. I just don't think it was appropriate for him to have said anything, especially in your home.

Also, how did he even know Thomas was a doctor?

Also also, I keep being surprised at how freaking expensive butter is. BUTTER IS EXPENSIVE.

[SoonerTexan]

Devil's advocate (because I know Kris wasn't trying to be rude...it just isn't her)

Consider repair dude felt the same way doctors feel when a patient complains about the cost of X treatment, service, visit to his or her face? Why is it okay for anyone else, but not for doctors?

Again, the tone is important, and I likely would have been taken aback as well, but frankly implying someone is overpriced is somewhat rude no matter what the profession, especially if the service has already been provided.

I see it sometimes with photography. "Damn, $X for you just to take photos?"

Yes $X to find babysitting, pay for gas, load, cull, edit (time consuming!!! It's the charting of photography), and deliver your photos. Not to mention the overhead of software, computers, and expensive camera equipment...

(though I still think some photographers are a little crazy, but mostly due to the (lack of digital) options they offer)

[diggitydot]

Healthcare is expensive

Complete tangent, but FWIW, I think a great photographer is worth their weight in gold. I hate having my picture taken, but after finally having portraits done (in a very fun session with a great photographer) that turned our really well, I'm sold.

[PrincessFiona]

Devil's advocate (because I know Kris wasn't trying to be rude...it just isn't her)

Consider repair dude felt the same way doctors feel when a patient complains about the cost of X treatment, service, visit to his or her face? Why is it okay for anyone else, but not for doctors?

Again, the tone is important, and I likely would have been taken aback as well, but frankly implying someone is overpriced is somewhat rude no matter what the profession, especially if the service has already been provided.

I see it sometimes with photography. "Damn, $X for you just to take photos?"

Yes $X to find babysitting, pay for gas, load, cull, edit (time consuming!!! It's the charting of photography), and deliver your photos. Not to mention the overhead of software, computers, and expensive camera equipment...

(though I still think some photographers are a little crazy, but mostly due to the (lack of digital) options they offer)

I knew I put it in the debate section for a reason.

[WolfpackWife]

I agree, ST. I definitely think it can be rude to express that someone's service is expensive - but I'm positive Kris wasn't trying to be. We paid a repair guy $75 to un-mash the button on the lid of our washing machine because it wasn't agitating during the cycle and we COULD NOT figure out WTF was wrong. He came and was like "um, this thing is just stuck in the up position so it thinks the lid is open. Just un-stick it. That's $75, I take checks" and we were both staring at each other in shock after he left. The simplicity of the fix sort of made it seem like we should be exempt from the charge, but that's not how it works!

I just think Kris was justified because I'm constantly on the defensive about the whole "doctors are rich bastards who just want to bleed you dry", and there is SO MUCH in the media about doctors pay but yet no mention of any other expensive goods and services - not to mention overpaid morons like Miley Cyrus or Michael Vick who, in my opinion, add little to no value to society, yet doctors are raked over the coals for being paid what they are paid but little effort is EVER made to clearly illustrate exactly how they are paid and exactly WHY things cost what they do (and, more importantly, that a $X treatment/surgery doesn't mean all that money is going to a mortgage payment on a doctors sprawling suburban mansion).

I know you were playing devil's advocate, and recently I'm always just a second away from putting on my boxing gloves when this topic comes up...it's so unfair to the profession and such misunderstood issue. Hence my "you tell 'em, Kris!" stance.

[SoonerTexan]

What isn't a debate Kris?

Honestly, I really don't mean to imply you were horribly rude or he should have even opened his mouth. I think we tend to come from a very biased (by nature of the fact that we are all married/dating/etc. doctors or doctors to be) perspective here, though, and wanted to point out the other side.

We know the whole story of where healthcare costs truly go and what it takes to be a doctor. We don't have the same understanding for other professions. It seems a little unfair to be upset with the rest of the world for not understanding our story, while failing to do the same ourselves.

[PrincessFiona]

Answer, btw? I don't think it would be rude to say "wow that costs a lot" to a photographer or a doctor. I may have been sensitive because I have been exposed to so much Dr bashing lately. I don't think it would be rude to tell a photographer "ouch that exceeds my budget I'm afraid I can't go with your services."

[diggitydot]

Healthcare is expensive

Answer, btw? I don't think it would be rude to say "wow that costs a lot" to a photographer or a doctor. I may have been sensitive because I have been exposed to so much Dr bashing lately. I don't think it would be rude to tell a photographer "ouch that exceeds my budget I'm afraid I can't go with your services."

I agree. Difference being that we know the photographers pricing prior to hiring them, though, and have that option of moving on to another before hiring someone. That isn't always the case with repair peeps or docs.

[SoonerTexan]

Answer, btw? I don't think it would be rude to say "wow that costs a lot" to a photographer or a doctor.

Okay, so devil's advocate again. Why is his response totally inappropriate then? Or was it the way he said it?