oh, Bob, I do thank God for insurance…pay alot for it, but worth it!
that bill is amazing!
the figure I quoted was hospital only…have yet to add the surgeon’s fee, the anesthesiologist, the radiologist
(took two times to get the alignment of the prosthesis correct), PT and medicine copays…then all the follow up from the infection.
It makes you stop and think, doesn’t it!??
Our current premiums are about $250 a month…
cojo
is insurance participation close to 100% over there?
here its only around 40-50% and the average cost is similar around 3 grand per yr for individuals but then thats $aust which is around 70per cent $us
CoJo
WE are actually pretty lucky. At the time I was forced to retire, The bank payed for all of the premiums. They still do but the co-pay and deductible have changed substantually in the past 20 yrs.
no, galooma, it’s probably around 80%–and I am being optmistic with that figure! it’s a major issue in the presidential race. so many people are without insurance of any kind that it’s a disgrace…and many retired folks have found themselves without benefits because of the companies failing to protect them 
cojo
Atleast there is now some drug benefit to Medicare. It may not be much but it’s better than nothing and up till now, that’s all we ever had.
Bob, I’m really glad for you about the premiums…
and our copays have also changed…doc visits have gone up but especially our drug copays and many drugs require pre-authorization–approval is for a limited time and you have to go through the pre-auth again to make sure “the condition still requires this drug.” A stupid waste of time when most of them are maintenance drugs–like my arthritis is going away? you would think after 14 surgeries for my arthritis that they would know that it’s here to stay!
sigh, makes me realize that many people, even insurance companies, do not understand the severity of most forms of arthritis
cojo
The doctor who did the surgory on my arm (elbow) has been extremely generous with the Celebrex samples. I havent had to buy any for over 6 month and keep getting more each time I go to see him.
Maintenance drug coverage is what’s hurt us the most. Between last year and this year, our cost has drastically increased. We now get 1/2 the amout for 2X the co-pay as we did up till Dec.31 last year.
Lee, Quote: correct me if im wrong but they march you off to a public hospital dont they? where you wait hours to get attended . thats what happens in aust.That’s not what happens here. In most instances you have an appointment as to when you go in to the hospital to private or semi private room to have done what ever has to be done at a specific time… The only time you have to wait if you go to the emergency room of a hospital then it’s first come first serve unless it’s a life threatening situation.
Here we’re treated like people not animals
Bob that quote you used was not said from me, it was galooma.
Here we're treated like people not animalsI do not claim to have the best of countrys but i wouldn't say they treat us like animals, they do however treat the non british better then the British,which can get on your nearves, you can get seen strait away, but no country can stand up to the health servise in Germany, that clearly has the best.
–lee
Hi Lee
Bob that quote you used was not said from me, it was galooma.You're right. My fault, I tried to put words in your mouth. Sorry for the blunder. :)