What’s worse is how they can even dictate your treatment.
Oh your doctor who went to 4 years of medical school plus 3-4 years of residency plus fellowship thinks you need this treatment? Unfortunately I (with my zero medical experience) do not agree so you won’t be able to get that.
Yuuup. I wanted a hysterectomy. Was told no because my insurance doesn’t cover “elective” hysterectomies. Ok, but it’s not really elective, my periods have become increasingly debilitating and birth control isn’t managing it. Nope, sorry, missing work regularly because of symptoms is totally normal and women just have to deal with it. I ended up getting a bilateral salpingectomy (which is covered electively) because I wanted to make sure pregnancy was really off the table, and they found fibroids. A year and a half later, it’s gotten bad enough that now the stupid hysterectomy is no longer considered elective.
So now my insurance is going to pay for TWO surgeries instead of just the one I originally wanted because some dumbass bean counter decided that’s how it should work. Super cost effective. And I really love having to recover from multiple surgeries, it was really fun the first time, so I can’t wait for a second, worse time. But hey, we can’t possibly trust doctors and patients to know what’s going on more that someone who has never and will never meet either of them!
The fun part is that they probably didn’t! My insurance is actually pretty good, so all I pay is a $250 copay for each surgery. My insurer now gets to pay for the time of two surgeons, two anesthesiologists, and the multiple nurses involved (at least 8, between pre-op, procedure, and recovery). Plus all of the other costs. So at least I get the knowledge that it probably cost them an extra $15k.
What’s worse is how they can even dictate your treatment.
Oh your doctor who went to 4 years of medical school plus 3-4 years of residency plus fellowship thinks you need this treatment? Unfortunately I (with my zero medical experience) do not agree so you won’t be able to get that.
Yuuup. I wanted a hysterectomy. Was told no because my insurance doesn’t cover “elective” hysterectomies. Ok, but it’s not really elective, my periods have become increasingly debilitating and birth control isn’t managing it. Nope, sorry, missing work regularly because of symptoms is totally normal and women just have to deal with it. I ended up getting a bilateral salpingectomy (which is covered electively) because I wanted to make sure pregnancy was really off the table, and they found fibroids. A year and a half later, it’s gotten bad enough that now the stupid hysterectomy is no longer considered elective.
So now my insurance is going to pay for TWO surgeries instead of just the one I originally wanted because some dumbass bean counter decided that’s how it should work. Super cost effective. And I really love having to recover from multiple surgeries, it was really fun the first time, so I can’t wait for a second, worse time. But hey, we can’t possibly trust doctors and patients to know what’s going on more that someone who has never and will never meet either of them!
But don’t you feel proud to know that some billionaires made more money through your suffering? I know I would. God I fucking love this country! 🇺🇸🦅
The fun part is that they probably didn’t! My insurance is actually pretty good, so all I pay is a $250 copay for each surgery. My insurer now gets to pay for the time of two surgeons, two anesthesiologists, and the multiple nurses involved (at least 8, between pre-op, procedure, and recovery). Plus all of the other costs. So at least I get the knowledge that it probably cost them an extra $15k.