Do you think your health insurance should pay for anything your doctor orders? Do you think there should be limits on what your insurance pays for? Many people don’t think so. What is your opinion?
The following appeared on a Facebook page. What is your reaction?
Hello, I have had low back pain for over 6 years.
BCBS has approved physical therapy and chiropractor both of which have not helped at all although I’ve tried 2 different physical therapists and 3 different chiropractosr. I have tried massage, which is the only thing that has helped, but I have to pay for it out of my pocket and cannot go frequently enough to stop the pain from recurring. At my annual physical, my general physician wrote me a prescription for weekly massage, but when I called BCBS to find a in-network provider, I found that massage is not a covered treatment and was told I needed to see a specialist. I did, and he sent me back to physical therapy which, still is not helping. My question is, why would BCBS approve something that is not effective at a cost of $275 per visit (3 times per week), when a weekly $35 massage would be more effective?
Based on the facts presented, one may argue that cheaper is better, but is a massage health care? Is it treatment or simply a temporary feel good … and a massage does feel good. And by the way in my experience consumers tend to exaggerate if not outright lie when presenting their case for a claim appeal. There is no way that either a physical therapist or a chiropractor will charge $275 per visit. And if they do in this case, it’s time to find new providers.
And then we have happy people who are oblivious to the real cost of health care.
I enrolled online in December it took me 2 days but I got it and now have great ins with bcbs I needed a hip replacement and got it feb 21 and they paid it all no questions and all my preventative is covered 100 percent my eye drops I need r free now they were 200 dol every 3 mos and my premium is very low for my husband and I, we went without health ins for the past 7 yrs and very thankful we have it now, we have the silver plan, advance epo it’s great thanku bcbs
Paid it all, free, great insurance? Clearly this person benefited from Obamacare, great coverage, low premiums (after being subsidized). The plan she references for two 60 year olds (assume that age based on her need for a hip replacement) has a total premium of $1,672 with a $750 individual and $1500 family deductible plus office visit and prescription co-payments with a $4000 out-of-pocket limit (assuming the household income is only $30,000 a year). At this income level, the couple is receiving a $1,217 monthly tax credit and is also receiving additional help paying for out-of-pocket costs, hence “paid it all.”
Fine, a low-income family receives very substantial benefits, but nothing we have learned here changes the actual cost of health care , someone paid for all her free care and she also has no incentive whatsoever to care what her health care costs in the future because it’s all paid for “no questions.”
This is the true face of Obamacare, a substantial benefit for some Americans and large expenses for all Americans. The benefits received by this woman and perhaps millions like her will be reflected in the premiums required in the future and in the monthly tax credits needed to keep those premiums “affordable.”
Then there is reality setting in for other people:
$725.00 per month, but am not covered until a $3,000.00 deductible is reached. Seriously? So every doc I go to this year, Im paying out of pocket. What kind of robbery is this? Why am I giving you this money per month.
QUINNSCOMMENTARY 