Yesterday I saw a young woman in her twenties with toothache. Indeed, her tooth was decayed and probably quite painful; I was happy to treat her discomfort. She had attempted to go to an urgent care, but could not be seen without a co-pay. Her father, in attendance, was angry that Medicaid patients could be seen at the urgent care without any co-pay. So far, so good. I understood his frustration. It seems the reward for obtaining insurance is more delays and a kind of subtle prosperity punishment.
However, what caught my attention was her father’s subsequent remark: ‘I mean, especially now, after Christmas, it’s hard to pay a co-pay!’
Let that sink in for a moment. Granted, I love to spend money on gifts. At Christmas, I probably spend too much, as many Americans do. But the implication of my patient’s father was that when one desires to spend discretionary income, it shouldn’t be impeded at all by the necessity of spending money on mundane issues like co-pays. And providers should understand that!
Where did we get that idea? I don’t know, but the philosophy seems to lie beneath so much of our discussion of reform. No one should have to spend ‘their own money,’ on healthcare. That’s the general belief. Patients have said as much to me. ‘I had to spend my own money on my prescription, can you believe it?’
It’s always better, I suppose, to spend someone else’s money on healthcare. Or to receive healthcare from doctors who are understanding enough not to expect you to spend your own money on healthcare. Especially doctors nice enough, in their obviously vast wealth, to give healthcare for free.
I’m happy with the living I make. I’m enormously blessed on many levels, including the material. But I am troubled by the direction we are taking as a nation when we consider discretionary income, income spent on entertainment or pleasure, to take priority over money spent for necessities.
Toothache versus Christmas presents? Tough call. But let’s be reasonable.
Several years ago, I remember reading an interview of a Catholic physician-priest who cared for the poor. His clinic required a co-pay. When the interviewer questioned this policy, the priest said that it was important to attach some value to the visit.
Recently, I spent time caring for the Mayan Indians in Guatemala, and our medical mission followed a similar policy.
I agree with you, Edwin.
Liz RN
14 years ago
I have long felt that people have become totally detached from the money that is spend on health care, like it is invisible. In fact, to go further, I think it is invisible when people are thinking of their spending plans and budget. It’s not that they made bad priorities beforehand. It’s that they did even think to set money aside for this use. I pay for all my own medications and I planned accordingly. One thing I did was chance to generics so I can get them at the $4 discount many retailers are doing. I did this in… Read more »
Goldman Sachs sold 44% of its BP holdings on March 31st, 20 days before the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico. Lucky move. Click on my name to see the financial report from MSN.
Hello there, You’ve done a great job. I will definitely digg it and personally suggest to my friends. I’m confident they will be benefited from this web site.
Dude.. I am not substantially into studying, but somehow I obtained to undergo lots of article material along with your web site. Its wonderful how attention-grabbing it really is for me to go to you pretty frequently.
Hi there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it’s truly informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels. I will appreciate if you continue this in future. A lot of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
Your style is very unique compared to other folks I’ve read stuff from. Thank you for posting when you have the opportunity, Guess I’ll just book mark this blog.
Spot on with this write-up, I really suppose this website needs rather more consideration. I�ll most likely be again to read rather more, thanks for that info.
Hey there would you mind sharing which blog platform you’re using? I’m planning to start my own blog in the near future but I’m having a tough time choosing between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your design seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something completely unique. P.S Apologies for getting off-topic but I had to ask!
{"id":null,"mode":"form","open_style":"in_place","currency_code":"USD","currency_symbol":"$","currency_type":"decimal","blank_flag_url":"https:\/\/edwinleap.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/blank.gif","flag_sprite_url":"https:\/\/edwinleap.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/flags.png","default_amount":100,"top_media_type":"none","featured_image_url":false,"featured_embed":"","header_media":null,"file_download_attachment_data":null,"recurring_options_enabled":true,"recurring_options":{"never":{"selected":true,"after_output":"One time only"},"weekly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every week"},"monthly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every month"},"yearly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every year"}},"strings":{"current_user_email":"","current_user_name":"","link_text":"Leave a tip","complete_payment_button_error_text":"Check info and try again","payment_verb":"Pay","payment_request_label":"EdwinLeap.com","form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","general_server_error":"Something isn't working right at the moment. Please try again.","form_title":"EdwinLeap.com","form_subtitle":"If you enjoy the content you read here, please consider dropping something in the tip jar!","currency_search_text":"Country or Currency here","other_payment_option":"Other payment option","manage_payments_button_text":"Manage your payments","thank_you_message":"Thank you so much! I appreciate the tip!","payment_confirmation_title":"EdwinLeap.com","receipt_title":"Your Receipt","print_receipt":"Print Receipt","email_receipt":"Email Receipt","email_receipt_sending":"Sending receipt...","email_receipt_success":"Email receipt successfully sent","email_receipt_failed":"Email receipt failed to send. Please try again.","receipt_payee":"Paid to","receipt_statement_descriptor":"This will show up on your statement as","receipt_date":"Date","receipt_transaction_id":"Transaction ID","receipt_transaction_amount":"Amount","refund_payer":"Refund from","login":"Log in to manage your payments","manage_payments":"Manage Payments","transactions_title":"Your Transactions","transaction_title":"Transaction Receipt","transaction_period":"Plan Period","arrangements_title":"Your Plans","arrangement_title":"Manage Plan","arrangement_details":"Plan Details","arrangement_id_title":"Plan ID","arrangement_payment_method_title":"Payment Method","arrangement_amount_title":"Plan Amount","arrangement_renewal_title":"Next renewal date","arrangement_action_cancel":"Cancel Plan","arrangement_action_cant_cancel":"Cancelling is currently not available.","arrangement_action_cancel_double":"Are you sure you'd like to cancel?","arrangement_cancelling":"Cancelling Plan...","arrangement_cancelled":"Plan Cancelled","arrangement_failed_to_cancel":"Failed to cancel plan","back_to_plans":"\u2190 Back to Plans","update_payment_method_verb":"Update","sca_auth_description":"Your have a pending renewal payment which requires authorization.","sca_auth_verb":"Authorize renewal payment","sca_authing_verb":"Authorizing payment","sca_authed_verb":"Payment successfully authorized!","sca_auth_failed":"Unable to authorize! Please try again.","login_button_text":"Log in","login_form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","uppercase_search":"Search","lowercase_search":"search","uppercase_page":"Page","lowercase_page":"page","uppercase_items":"Items","lowercase_items":"items","uppercase_per":"Per","lowercase_per":"per","uppercase_of":"Of","lowercase_of":"of","back":"Back to plans","zip_code_placeholder":"Zip\/Postal Code","download_file_button_text":"Download File","input_field_instructions":{"tip_amount":{"placeholder_text":"How much would you like to tip?","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"invalid_curency":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please choose a valid currency."}},"recurring":{"placeholder_text":"Recurring","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"}},"name":{"placeholder_text":"Name on Credit Card","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please enter the name on your card."}},"privacy_policy":{"terms_title":"Terms and conditions","terms_body":null,"terms_show_text":"View Terms","terms_hide_text":"Hide Terms","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."},"unchecked":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please agree to the terms."},"checked":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."}},"email":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"not_an_email_address":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Make sure you have entered a valid email address"}},"note_with_tip":{"placeholder_text":"Your note here...","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"not_empty_initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"saving":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Saving note..."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Note successfully saved!"},"error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to save note note at this time. Please try again."}},"email_for_login_code":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."}},"login_code":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."}},"stripe_all_in_one":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"success":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"invalid_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is not a valid credit card number."},"invalid_expiry_month":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration month is invalid."},"invalid_expiry_year":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is invalid."},"invalid_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is invalid."},"incorrect_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incorrect."},"incomplete_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incomplete."},"incomplete_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incomplete."},"incomplete_expiry":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration date is incomplete."},"incomplete_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code is incomplete."},"expired_card":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card has expired."},"incorrect_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incorrect."},"incorrect_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code failed validation."},"invalid_expiry_year_past":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is in the past"},"card_declined":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card was declined."},"missing":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"There is no card on a customer that is being charged."},"processing_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"An error occurred while processing the card."},"invalid_request_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to process this payment, please try again or use alternative method."},"invalid_sofort_country":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The billing country is not accepted by SOFORT. Please try another country."}}}},"fetched_oembed_html":false}
Wish I had written this – my sentiments exactly!
Kim,
Thanks!
Happy New Year!
Ed
Ditto what Kim said.
be careful of judgement
Several years ago, I remember reading an interview of a Catholic physician-priest who cared for the poor. His clinic required a co-pay. When the interviewer questioned this policy, the priest said that it was important to attach some value to the visit.
Recently, I spent time caring for the Mayan Indians in Guatemala, and our medical mission followed a similar policy.
I agree with you, Edwin.
I have long felt that people have become totally detached from the money that is spend on health care, like it is invisible. In fact, to go further, I think it is invisible when people are thinking of their spending plans and budget. It’s not that they made bad priorities beforehand. It’s that they did even think to set money aside for this use. I pay for all my own medications and I planned accordingly. One thing I did was chance to generics so I can get them at the $4 discount many retailers are doing. I did this in… Read more »
RKM is hilarious! Love it!
Goldman Sachs sold 44% of its BP holdings on March 31st, 20 days before the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico. Lucky move. Click on my name to see the financial report from MSN.
Hello there, You’ve done a great job. I will definitely digg it and personally suggest to my friends. I’m confident they will be benefited from this web site.
Dude.. I am not substantially into studying, but somehow I obtained to undergo lots of article material along with your web site. Its wonderful how attention-grabbing it really is for me to go to you pretty frequently.
Congrats Chelsea. I used to be so hoping we were planning to pull it off, but unfortunately it wasn’t to be.
Hi there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it’s truly informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels. I will appreciate if you continue this in future. A lot of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
Your style is very unique compared to other folks I’ve read stuff from. Thank you for posting when you have the opportunity, Guess I’ll just book mark this blog.
Spot on with this write-up, I really suppose this website needs rather more consideration. I�ll most likely be again to read rather more, thanks for that info.
Hey there would you mind sharing which blog platform you’re using? I’m planning to start my own blog in the near future but I’m having a tough time choosing between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your design seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something completely unique. P.S Apologies for getting off-topic but I had to ask!