Comments on: Health Insurance, Medical Expenses, and Unscrupulous Doctors

By: Miranda

Miranda — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:32:35 +0000

I’ve been lucky in that my doctors have all be very trustworthy — sharing lab results over the phone and consulting me on them for about five minutes to answer my questions.

Twice a year? I only go in once a year (my female gyno’s suggestion), and my healthy almost 30-year old husband’s doctor told him that every two years is fine for now.

By: Make Friends, Earn Money

Make Friends, Earn Money — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 15:21:53 +0000

It’s a shame when doctors move from being a trusted professional to a white collar villan, by abusing thier position of trust for financial gain. I think that doctors and other health care professionals are already well paid and it is shameful when greed comes into the equation.

By: Pinyo

Pinyo — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 17:10:45 +0000

@Cindy – Exactly. People just don’t realize that we ended up paying for it anyway. That’s why premiums are increasing so rapidly.

@Helene – Thank goodness you are okay. I notice that with one of my doctor as well. There’s always a pharma rep there. For instance he always prescribe the latest allergies med when Claritin works great for me.

By: Helene Zemel

Helene Zemel — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:06:11 +0000

You do have to check on what your doctor recommends. My pharmacist caught my doctor on a prescribing error due to her being rushed. Also, I notice that she always recommends the latest medication that the pharmaceutical companies recommend. Any time that I have gone to that office, I see a rep come to business. I always make sure to ask for a generic. You are much safer with older, time tested drugs.

By: Cindy S

Cindy S — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 00:05:10 +0000

It is a good thing to question your doctor. Too many people don’t and find out the hard way that doctors don’t always have the right answer. Too many times they just throw out stuff until something works and our insurance companies pick up the tab… and charge us more.

By: Pinyo

Pinyo — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 04:10:03 +0000

@AIB – I have some suspicion, but wow. This is bad. I always wonder why doctor prescribe the newest, most expensive prescription — when older, cheaper drugs work just fine.

@Rocket – It’s easier for some women. My mother in law is the same way.

@Adfecto – Seriously, I tried 6 dentists before I found the one I like. Luckily, I am in NYC so it’s not hard to find new dentist/doctor.

@Mike – Isn’t medical care part of the universal health care system in Canada?

@David – No problem. I can feel your paid. I hope you feel better soon.

@Jeff – “a doctor is paid to keep me healthy and stops getting money when I get sick” …that will never happen

@guinness – I know I have to fix this green on green thing

By: guinness416

guinness416 — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 18:59:26 +0000

Hmm, there is a link hidden in that last comment, believe it or not.

By: guinness416

guinness416 — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 18:58:46 +0000

You should read Atul Gawande's long but excellent piece on how doctors get paid, different payment models, insurance, etc at the New Yorker.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:47:31 +0000

Pinyo.. I share your frustrations with the American medical system, however until a doctor is paid to keep me healthy and stops getting money when I get sick the system isn’t going to change. And when you think of it why should it? Add to the messed up incentive system all the loop holes behind the scenes and we have one very abused system.

FourPillars.. actually you did pay for the hospital, etc it was just in the form of smaller monthly payments rather then a large lump sum. Think about it from a business point of view, if the insurance company wasn’t make more then they were paying out they would be bankrupt.

By: David

David — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:10:26 +0000

It’s a sad state of affairs here in America. We all need to be more careful, thanks for the mention Pinyo.