July 18, 2009 in Letters

Even insured face hurdles

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A recent incident left me in excruciating pain from a bad knee and a torn rotator cuff with a bone spur. My orthopedic specialist recommended an injection for my knee rather than surgery, but informed me that insurance companies will not pay for it. I decided to spend my own money and try the shot.

I am waiting for relief until my doctor receives free samples of the medication in an effort to reduce my out-of-pocket costs.

I had scheduled surgery for the rotator cuff at my doctor’s office in late July. However, today I was informed that surgery needs to be delayed until October because Assuris will pay for the surgery but not for the sutures unless the surgery is scheduled at Deaconess. My choice was to pay some $2,000 out of pocket for the sutures or endure two more months of pain until surgery can be scheduled at Deaconess.

Our dysfunctional medical care system provides some of the worst results at, by far, the highest cost in the industrialized world. Contrary to claims of its apologists, it does not offer “choice” even to those like me lucky enough to be able to pay for insurance.

Charlotte Lamp

Spokane

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