Healthcare without “care”.

Here we are about to enter another presidential election year with the Republican primaries just a few months away. Yet, the discourse and discussion among the wannabe politicians resemble more of a sophomoric rhetoric of children in the play yard rather than our soon-to-be political leaders, and important issues such as debt reduction, unemployment, and healthcare has taken a backseat to the usual superfluous statements and name calling.

Meanwhile, unemployment rate remains at 9.1%; to put it in perspective, that is approximately 1 in 10 Americans without a job, and more and more Americans are having trouble either finding a job or facing the loss of the one they have. Detrimentally, job loss means not only loosing income and livelihood but also the loss of healthcare benefits and insurance. And one thing that is certain in America, without insurance, it is almost impossible to get healthcare!

With each doctor visits ranging from $100-$250 and the preliminary tests, everything from routine blood tests, MRI’s to CT scans ranging from $1500-2500, paying off just an annual checkup can be a monumental task.

Even with health insurance, there’s no guarantee that all the necessary procedures will be covered, as we face a constant barrage of bureaucratic hoops to jump through in order to get coverage or reimbursements.

I can’t tell you the number of bills I've received from a doctor’s office or a lab for a procedure that was supposed to be covered under our insurance policy, and when I contacted the insurance company to verify coverage, I was told that although the procedure was deemed necessary by our doctors, there is a maximum amount that is usual and customary for a medical procedure; hence, anything beyond that amount is the responsibility of the patient.

What I find even more outrageous is that determining the “usual and customary” fee for a procedure is left entirely up to the doctors and the insurance company, which means, the doctor may decide that he would and could charge $2000 for a routine procedure, and if for the same procedure, the insurance company decides to pay only $1500, then, the remaining balance of $500 becomes a sole responsibility of the patient.

As a patient and as a citizen of this country, we have very little rights when it comes to healthcare, and we are the ONLY developed country in the world without universal healthcare for all citizen. Yet, the discussion continues in Washington as well as in our society as to whether a universal healthcare is a necessity, while the most helpless citizens of our country go without care that they so desperately need.