They’re competing unfairly with Medicare, and you and I are paying for it. It’s obscene.When George W. Bush and congressional Republicans (and a handful of bought-off Democrats) created Medicare Advantage in 2003, it was the fulfillment of half of Bush’s goal of privatizing Social Security and Medi...
We very specifically need single-payer universal healthcare. One of the biggies issues with healthcare is the sheer number of different insurers. Knock it down to just Medicare and give it to literally everyone. Period.
Yes, and fully funded is also key, because Medicare rates are ridiculously low.
It’s appalling how much we have to alter treatment plans based on Medicare rates. If someone doesn’t have a supplement plan, they probably won’t be able to afford the new medications that are MASSIVE improvements on the old ones. It’s so frustrating to have to try to cobble together a treatment regimen for congestive heart failure or type 2 diabetes without being able to use the new medications because Medicare doesn’t cover enough of the cost for the patient to be able to afford it. It also affects how long a patient can be hospitalized and figuring out the requirements to make sure they qualify for rehab after hospitalization is aneurysm-inducing.
Yes. It’s frustrating for everyone involved except those who profit from such s a convoluted system. I’m sure handing a terminally ill patient a Medicare waiver is absolutely heart-wrenching. When I worked ICU hall in the nursing home, back when two CNAs were actually required per fifty patients, and worked in teams, I can’t tell you how many were quickly burned out from being disheartened by having five minutes or less to dress immobile patients, or from having to restrain patients to keep them from scratching shingles outbreaks, or being unable to find a nurse available to suction patients with death-rattle.
I just finished my second family medicine rotation and it’s just so ass-backwards because if we could give them the medication they need, they won’t end up in hospitals/ICUs/long term care facilities/etc. The new medications are incredible drugs and can vastly improve the quality and quantity of life for patients with diseases like diabetes, heart failure, renal failure, and more…if the patients can afford them, which they frequently cannot.
How are we supposed to extract what’s left of their value unless they’re in said facilities?
Typing that out made me throw up in my mouth a bit.
Oh so you’ve got a double dose of burnout, from overwork and trying to navigate the system. I’m sorry. What general region are you in? Wondering if we can somehow work together on getting universal passed?
I’m a third year medical student in the Midwest. I’m aiming to do my residency in Minnesota, either Emergency Med or Family Med because apparently I like doing social work and hate my sanity or something.
We’re not near, and you’re going to be quite overworked and under-rested, for quite some while. Trial by fire. Also plenty of data that can be used for arguing for a better system, should you decide to engage in moving that mountain, at some point. Wishing you all the best, and thanking you for taking valuable time to converse with me.
It’s still good to know there’s other folks out there with a good head on their shoulders that are working towards a common goal. :)