Glad you're on the mend, Joe. Coincidentally, I went for my first "annual" checkup ever last month here in the US since I wasn't feeling well (I just turned 55). I figured I should get my blood work done for a baseline and get in the system, at the least. They did a few tests, ran blood work, found nothing of note, and billed me a thousand dollars. No specifics, no transparency in the billing. I have insurance - I've always had insurance. This encourages me to not go back - making this an anti-health care system. Everyone treated me well at least. Meanwhile, the plutocratic attacks against the health care systems on the continent and abroad are unconscionable, as you note.
I am in NZ. I have lab tests every 6 months or so at no cost and the results are available on-line to me as well as to my doctor. We are not even a socialist country but no doubt the right in the US would call this Communism.
Best wishes for a problem-free recovery to you Joe. I am grateful that you shared your story. It's stunning isn't it realizing how much care, compassion, intelligence and technology it takes to heal one life, even if a relatively small medical issue (not at all meaning yours was small!), and that is all intentionallly ripped away from Palestinians. Thank you.
I send you buckets of love and good medicine, Joe! And I wish you a full and speedy recovery. Moreover, thank you for the descriptive narrative of your ordeal. It puts the scary stamp of "REALITY" on the ordeal.
Joe, thanks so much for this informative post. I’m personally really grateful for the info as a possible at-risk health care recipient—not in the US thankfully.
But thanks also for your context of health-care systems in Canada and the US.
Feliz Año Nuevo y abrazos grandes from Ecuador to you and your family. We will continue to send positive vibes for your speedy recovery.
But, selfishly speaking, we hope you can continue your excellent journalism, especially on SA politics, very soon. Everything down here seems in quite a state of flux and we value your analysis.
Get well soon Joe! From someone who is sick with bronchitis at the moment, i’m glad you’ve been taken care of well, and hope you go on to be on a road to smooth recovery. And thanks for highlighting what we take for granted and that we need to fight for single payer in the us and the eradication of medical racism/apartheid and the overthrow of the jewish supremacist state of Israel.
It is absolutely terrifying to imagine your health story here in the US. You'd at least be out $40k with the best insurance.
Truly, truly, truly I just cannot see how this society will hold when I'm of retirement age. I'm 46. I just read 75% of my age cohort (gen x) has no retirement savings. That means no savings to cover 40k hospital bills. Medicare (gov sponsored insurance for old people) is no longer free! They make them pay for additional coverage because the basic coverage pays nothing.
I try to eat real foods, vegetables and fruits to avoid the health scenario you just experienced. Because it would be hell on earth...
Hi Rachel. I understand your fear, so of course do all you can, but so much depends on family history. We can’t control our own generic inheritance, and I think that tends to get over looked.
I'm glad you're still with us, Joe! Thanks for sharing your story. I'm in the U.S. and here the thought of a medical ordeal like yours is scary. People go through these things all the time, of course, but for those who aren't wealthy, they can dramatically impact our life choices beyond getting the basic medical care needed. There are many ways. For example, even without a medical emergency or disease, health insurance is a huge consideration in making job decisions whether to change a job or career, or whether to make other big life changes that could impact one's job status - the health insurance is one of top considerations in a job. Of course, even with the health insurance medical costs can be high (without it, we'd be talking much more than a few thousand dollars for what you went through). Hell, one trip to the ER can cost thousands even with insurance if you have a high deductible plan. My husband is from outside the US and the first time he needed an ER trip, I was tempted to ask if he REALLY needed it, but respectfully did not...it doesn't feel right to ask someone if their injury is really worth the thousands it will cost...
Glad you're on the mend, Joe. Coincidentally, I went for my first "annual" checkup ever last month here in the US since I wasn't feeling well (I just turned 55). I figured I should get my blood work done for a baseline and get in the system, at the least. They did a few tests, ran blood work, found nothing of note, and billed me a thousand dollars. No specifics, no transparency in the billing. I have insurance - I've always had insurance. This encourages me to not go back - making this an anti-health care system. Everyone treated me well at least. Meanwhile, the plutocratic attacks against the health care systems on the continent and abroad are unconscionable, as you note.
I am in NZ. I have lab tests every 6 months or so at no cost and the results are available on-line to me as well as to my doctor. We are not even a socialist country but no doubt the right in the US would call this Communism.
Yes, it's predators versus prey is what it is. It's epic savagery as we see most clearly now in the genocide of the Palestinians.
Best wishes for a problem-free recovery to you Joe. I am grateful that you shared your story. It's stunning isn't it realizing how much care, compassion, intelligence and technology it takes to heal one life, even if a relatively small medical issue (not at all meaning yours was small!), and that is all intentionallly ripped away from Palestinians. Thank you.
Good to hear you survived! Hope you thrive in the new year!
I send you buckets of love and good medicine, Joe! And I wish you a full and speedy recovery. Moreover, thank you for the descriptive narrative of your ordeal. It puts the scary stamp of "REALITY" on the ordeal.
Blessings to you and your loved ones.🙏
Joe, thanks so much for this informative post. I’m personally really grateful for the info as a possible at-risk health care recipient—not in the US thankfully.
But thanks also for your context of health-care systems in Canada and the US.
Feliz Año Nuevo y abrazos grandes from Ecuador to you and your family. We will continue to send positive vibes for your speedy recovery.
But, selfishly speaking, we hope you can continue your excellent journalism, especially on SA politics, very soon. Everything down here seems in quite a state of flux and we value your analysis.
Get well soon Joe! From someone who is sick with bronchitis at the moment, i’m glad you’ve been taken care of well, and hope you go on to be on a road to smooth recovery. And thanks for highlighting what we take for granted and that we need to fight for single payer in the us and the eradication of medical racism/apartheid and the overthrow of the jewish supremacist state of Israel.
All the very best for your continued recovery.
Damn! Glad you’re ok!
It is absolutely terrifying to imagine your health story here in the US. You'd at least be out $40k with the best insurance.
Truly, truly, truly I just cannot see how this society will hold when I'm of retirement age. I'm 46. I just read 75% of my age cohort (gen x) has no retirement savings. That means no savings to cover 40k hospital bills. Medicare (gov sponsored insurance for old people) is no longer free! They make them pay for additional coverage because the basic coverage pays nothing.
I try to eat real foods, vegetables and fruits to avoid the health scenario you just experienced. Because it would be hell on earth...
Hi Rachel. I understand your fear, so of course do all you can, but so much depends on family history. We can’t control our own generic inheritance, and I think that tends to get over looked.
Wishing you a speedy and full recovery Joe!
I'm glad you're still with us, Joe! Thanks for sharing your story. I'm in the U.S. and here the thought of a medical ordeal like yours is scary. People go through these things all the time, of course, but for those who aren't wealthy, they can dramatically impact our life choices beyond getting the basic medical care needed. There are many ways. For example, even without a medical emergency or disease, health insurance is a huge consideration in making job decisions whether to change a job or career, or whether to make other big life changes that could impact one's job status - the health insurance is one of top considerations in a job. Of course, even with the health insurance medical costs can be high (without it, we'd be talking much more than a few thousand dollars for what you went through). Hell, one trip to the ER can cost thousands even with insurance if you have a high deductible plan. My husband is from outside the US and the first time he needed an ER trip, I was tempted to ask if he REALLY needed it, but respectfully did not...it doesn't feel right to ask someone if their injury is really worth the thousands it will cost...
I'm glad you are recovering, Joe.
New follower here from the terrible empire.