To take advantage of that is criminal.

In the mean time, I find that I need chlorestol medicine. My doctor likes a certain type, I did some research on it, and found that while it is the most effective medicine, it also has the highest rate of side effects. Never the less, I follow his advice. Guess what, I can order it from Canada for $1 more than my co pays. It’s worth paying more and getting a 6 months supply for convenience sake.

So, back to my scoping. I am scared of what they will find, I skipped last years check up. I have to arrange a ride, because they put me out for the procedure. AT THE LAST MINUTE, they shuffle a paper under my nose that says I have to agree to pay 100% of the ammount over and above what my insurance company covers. What am I going to do, back out? I questioned the clerk, and she said it’s just a catch all to make sure I pay any applicable deductibles or % that is my responsibility. She assures me that it is rarely a problem. So I sign it.

Well, I just received the Bill today. They charged $750! My insurance company covers $283 dollars. Now keep in mind this insurance I have costs $780/month for family coverage! Plus my employer pays some more!

So I’m stuck! Why? Well, I trusted the medical community. I trusted my insurance! What a rip! It’s just not f-ing worth working for a living and trying to be a responsible citizen! I understand why so many just lay down and give up, becoming basically worthless! When you try and do the right thing, you get roasted!

I urge all of you to be a consumer when it comes to your health care! Don’t be a trusting patient! These people are criminals, both on the care end, as well as the insurance!

I LONG for the day when Wal-Mart gets into the medical care business and sends these idiots to the poor house! And I’m no fan of Wal-Mart in general!

We have got to fight back! We have got to picket these doctors, and insurance companies. Blocade these businesses so no one can come or go, literally attack “legit” medical facilities and insurance companies the way the whacko’s attack abortion clinics (non violently through peaceful protest)!

And you won’t get exposed to those things sitting in an enclosed dr’s office with sick people for two hours waiting for the nurse to call you back?

It kinda works here though.

And FOUND a better one.

“A revolution is coming — a revolution which will be peaceful if we are wise enough; compassionate if we care enough; successful if we are fortunate enough — But a revolution which is coming whether we will it or not. We can affect its character; we cannot alter its inevitability.

Robert Kennedy

And what I was looking for?

“There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why? I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?”

Recapitulated by Robert Kennedy

The endeavor to end the dinosaur fuel age will have similar experiences for us. In just the effort, we will become better as a nation and a people.

I just don’t want it in the hands of such corporate giants.

It could lead to things like shopper cards. Buy a certain amount of their stuff and you get a discount at the clinic. NO thanks. Hell going into a Walmart makes me physically sick as it is.

I’d go shop somewhere else.

Not a good infection control strategy.

The idea that sick people coming to the clinic will make others who shop there sick is silly….do you know what you’re exposed to everyday without your knowledge? If you did, you’d never come out of your house!

What if we have contagious diseases like the long predicted new strain of the bird flu going around?

Let’s keep medical care separate.

You can find the same thing in a Dr’s office and the private hospitals. Substandard medical care is too often the norm today. At least the substandard care provided at walk in clinics would be more affordable!
It’s a great idea. Give the others a run for their money.

I don’t see this as competition in a negative way – why not simply look at it as cooperation? My doctor doesn’t clean my teeth of check my eyes – but he kept aware of them. Why not do the same here?

And that is why its a bad idea- those things can indicate underlying health problems. Baseline vitals are important, as well as a history. Can you tell me if your blood pressure has gone up on average by 10 or 20 points over the last 10 years?

They weigh you not because they want to know if you’re fat or not, but because sudden significant weight gains or loss can mean a lot of things.

Of course, they don’t weigh you when you go to the ER. There is a reason for that….they don’t have the baselines to go on.

There is no substitute for good continuum of care, and we should never have to discount it into a store like walmart. We need national healthcare. Until that happens, I’m sure we’ll see more of this though based on need. Our ER’s can’t continue to handle things that should be covered in a DR’s office.

And I agree about the specialist. God I hate the insurance companies.

I’m healthy and don’t see any doctor more than once or twice a year. In fact, I avoid going (maybe when I should) because I wait to see if I can get well by myself without paying for the specialists and tests. I still don’t know what was wrong but don’t have as much expensive company in that not knowing.

So on the rare occasion I need a prescription I’ll give these clinics a chance. Beats having to wait for the appointment to get nothing more, different or better.

Wal Mart and Walgreens.

At one time, I visited with a Standard Oil station mechanic while doing an oil/grease job on my car. I was waiting for a medical appointment for ear ache across the street at a medical clinic in a hospital. Turned out the mechanic had served as an aide in the U.S. Army medical corps so he was able to advise me how to solve the ear ache.

For sometime after that, I often went to the Standard Oil Station for medical advice rather than to the doctors across the street. Although the gas station didn’t do minor surgery, they did save much time and money over going to the medical clinic.

Unfortunately, the down side of the new walk-in clinics and/or going to a Standard Oil station for medical advice is the income to hospitals will be further eroded. So eventually they will have to ask our City Government for an “infusion of tax money” to keep them in business.

Are you taking the Walgreen’s smart health check coupons today?

Do I have time to look at the makeup while I’m waiting on the doctor?