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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,030
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,030 |
Real insane.
Our health insurance has a new program for orthopedic surgery. One of my coworkers in Juneau needed a knee replacement. They flew he and his wife(you can designate whoever you want as your assistant) down to Oklahoma City to a top shelf knee specialist(you get to choose from one of three facilities that participate in the plan), paid for the surgery, follow up, their hotel and food for two weeks, and flew them back. No out of pocket, no deductible. Paid for it all. It was $10,000 cheaper than doing it up here.
Jeff
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 32,026
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 32,026 |
Is there any state in the union whose inhabitants have their teeth sunk into the government tit more firmly than Alaska?
Can't think who that might be. True, but Oregon is Kalifornicated. I'd rather live here. 
The only true cost of having a dog is its death.
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 50,619
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 50,619 |
I can see 20, maybe 30% higher for AK, but double or triple is insane.
Might explain why the only people I've met in Anchorage with a full time servant are neurologists. They gotta lotta nerve!
Mark Begich, Joaquin Jackson, and Heller resistance... Three huge reasons to worry about the NRA.
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 32,026
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 32,026 |
Strange how we wouldn't think of getting something done on our car without a written estimate of parts and labor. But you go in the docs office and have no idea if the bill will be in the 100s, 1000s or more. Agree on estimates. Even when the bills get in one has no idea....it's all number code, which would be fine with additional language If it was at all patient friendly, the statements would come in with every charge listed in plain English, with recipeints noted, and what was referred to secondary, primary, and not covered. On every statement, even subsequent ones as further charges were paid. It is not in the medical industry's best interest to allow the sheep to know they are being fleeced.
The only true cost of having a dog is its death.
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 28,701
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 28,701 |
Great, why not look a bit closer at the real problem... I hate price controls and such, but I know a number of docs bringing in obscene money for an ordinary practice. Literally over 2 million for a couple different specialists that are absolutely not workaholics. That's far from the only cause. My father's doctor retired because it was going to cost him about $150K just to digitize his books and records to meet the Obamacare mandates, and he had a relatively small practice. Malpractice insurance is incredibly expensive and the tort system makes doctors order up tons of tests in order to cover their asses. Medical school is so expensive that doctors in their 50s are still paying back their loans. It ain't all Rolexes and BMers. There's a fair number of docs around here that quit their practice to become hospital employees to avoid all that. Don't know how it works up there, but my doctors agree to accept what the insurance companies pay when they sign on with them (in addition to the copay). If you go outside the network of doctors on your plan, you pay more.
What fresh Hell is this?
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 50,619
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 50,619 |
Great, why not look a bit closer at the real problem... I hate price controls and such, but I know a number of docs bringing in obscene money for an ordinary practice. Literally over 2 million for a couple different specialists that are absolutely not workaholics. That's far from the only cause. My father's doctor retired because it was going to cost him about $150K just to digitize his books and records to meet the Obamacare mandates, and he had a relatively small practice. Malpractice insurance is incredibly expensive and the tort system makes doctors order up tons of tests in order to cover their asses. Medical school is so expensive that doctors in their 50s are still paying back their loans. It ain't all Rolexes and BMers. There's a fair number of docs around here that quit their practice to become hospital employees to avoid all that. Don't know how it works up there, but my doctors agree to accept what the insurance companies pay when they sign on with them (in addition to the copay). If you go outside the network of doctors on your plan, you pay more. I wish it was that simple... I have spent many hours in the books and know what it looks like...
Mark Begich, Joaquin Jackson, and Heller resistance... Three huge reasons to worry about the NRA.
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 315
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 315 |
Great, why not look a bit closer at the real problem... I hate price controls and such, but I know a number of docs bringing in obscene money for an ordinary practice. Literally over 2 million for a couple different specialists that are absolutely not workaholics. Do you know what it takes to become a Dr. that actually makes money.. Its about 12-16 years, once in business massive amounts of insurance ETC.
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 50,619
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 50,619 |
Great, why not look a bit closer at the real problem... I hate price controls and such, but I know a number of docs bringing in obscene money for an ordinary practice. Literally over 2 million for a couple different specialists that are absolutely not workaholics. Do you know what it takes to become a Dr. that actually makes money.. Its about 12-16 years, once in business massive amounts of insurance ETC. I very much understand how much it takes to become an MD... I also know that outside they are willing to work for a lot less...
Mark Begich, Joaquin Jackson, and Heller resistance... Three huge reasons to worry about the NRA.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 21,317
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 21,317 |
Many professions in AK offer "hardship" pay, an extra 20-30% over the lower 48 to attract employees. I have no problem with that for doctors.
But a 20-30% pay bump shouldn't result in a 200-500% bump in the cost of common procedures.
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