Since I saw something go by on the news today that the house will likely pass health care, I looked through my files for a letter I remember sending to my health insurer.
At the time I had some unknown or undiagnosable malady, so my regular physicians referred me to a specialist whom they believed could likely identify my ailment and then come up with a cure.
What happened next is covered in the following letter;
Dear Insurer,
There's a payment listed on the attached sheet, evidently already paid to a Dr. XXXX (Item 2). But, in my opinion this guy didn't earn a dime from my case. In fact, I never even met him.
I had no way of knowing he'd be paid for doing nothing, or even that he sent a bill, until I received the attached sheet. However, this guy didn't perform any services on ,or for me, at all. In my case, he did zilch, nada, nothing. He didn't even show up in his own office.
I was referred to the guy by another doctor. When my wife called for an appointment, after Dr. XXXX's appointment person, or whoever she is, made a huge deal out of how he was adjusting his schedule to see me, and was going out of his way for us, yada, yada, yada, we went to his office on the appointed day. The appointment person had sternly informed us that this guy was so busy and important, we had better be on time...by accepting my visitation, she said, the doctor had bestowed a favor of immense magnitude upon us.
Well, to be sure we were doing the right thing on the appointed day, we got to the guy's office a few minutes early. Then, after I filled in the required forms, and the doctor's people had assured themselves he'd be paid by my insurers, we were told the doctor was unavoidably delayed somewhere. In fact, he wasn't even in the office. But, she said, ...he would show up in about a half-hour or so. So, we waited. And, then waited a little longer.
I had no way of knowing he'd be paid for doing nothing, or even that he sent a bill, until I received the attached sheet. However, this guy didn't perform any services on ,or for me, at all. In my case, he did zilch, nada, nothing. He didn't even show up in his own office.
I was referred to the guy by another doctor. When my wife called for an appointment, after Dr. XXXX's appointment person, or whoever she is, made a huge deal out of how he was adjusting his schedule to see me, and was going out of his way for us, yada, yada, yada, we went to his office on the appointed day. The appointment person had sternly informed us that this guy was so busy and important, we had better be on time...by accepting my visitation, she said, the doctor had bestowed a favor of immense magnitude upon us.
Well, to be sure we were doing the right thing on the appointed day, we got to the guy's office a few minutes early. Then, after I filled in the required forms, and the doctor's people had assured themselves he'd be paid by my insurers, we were told the doctor was unavoidably delayed somewhere. In fact, he wasn't even in the office. But, she said, ...he would show up in about a half-hour or so. So, we waited. And, then waited a little longer.
After about thirty-five or forty minutes more, or so, went by, the appointment person spoke to us again. She said the guy had still not arrived, but was on his way, and I should be a patient, patient. He'd get there as soon as he could. Maybe only another "twenty minutes to half-hour," she said. At that point, I said "Goodbye."
So, I went home. And, to tell you the truth, I don't know, or care, if the doctor guy ever showed up that day (or any other day since). What I do know is -he never performed any services on me, near me, or anywhere I've ever been. As far as I know, there may not even be a Dr. XXXX. I've never seen him, spoken to him, or even heard of him anywhere else.
Thusly, I think you folks are entitled to your money back. And, after all, since it's my policy you paid out on -it's my money too. If all these doctor types just sit there and send out bills, having done nothing to earn it, it's no wonder the costs of health care are through the roof. I'd guess there must be a huge margin of non-existent charges that slip through the cracks every day, get paid, and escalate costs. And, my particular case is no big deal. Thirty bucks. But, multiply that by however many of these types of situations happen every day and you're talking major league unearned payouts. And, that's why I'm writing. Something needs to be done to confirm that these doctor guys actually do whatever it is they bill for. If the bills right, so be it. But, if not -don't pay them. I can't think of any other business in the world that could get away with the kinds of preferential deference medicos expect. That needs to be fixed. They're businesspeople like everyone else. Period. Case closed.
If you need anything further, to get your (our) funds back, please let me know.
Sincerely,"
Thusly, I think you folks are entitled to your money back. And, after all, since it's my policy you paid out on -it's my money too. If all these doctor types just sit there and send out bills, having done nothing to earn it, it's no wonder the costs of health care are through the roof. I'd guess there must be a huge margin of non-existent charges that slip through the cracks every day, get paid, and escalate costs. And, my particular case is no big deal. Thirty bucks. But, multiply that by however many of these types of situations happen every day and you're talking major league unearned payouts. And, that's why I'm writing. Something needs to be done to confirm that these doctor guys actually do whatever it is they bill for. If the bills right, so be it. But, if not -don't pay them. I can't think of any other business in the world that could get away with the kinds of preferential deference medicos expect. That needs to be fixed. They're businesspeople like everyone else. Period. Case closed.
If you need anything further, to get your (our) funds back, please let me know.
Sincerely,"
While mine is a relatively trivial situation, I think it really does represent a sampling of what goes on in medico land. I can't think of any other businesspeople, except maybe auto mechanics and computer techs who could get away with what these white coated guys can, because the general public hasn't a clue regarding med-speak.
So, instead of Congress trying to fix a whole system that really isn't broken, but in fact is the best in the world, they should just work up from the bottom, a little at a time. Chase down over-billing practices, and lapses in the insurance system, and dramatically reduce malpractice suits. That's where the drains are. But I think trying to overhaul what's been built as far as really treating the infirmed goes is a horrible mistake.
That's all for today folks.
Adios
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