Government medicine


Personal experiences
I think I about have the family medical situation under control, but there is still much up in the air.

Long story short, my stepfather has several conditions which all got worse. It's not important to know what he has, but with his particular symptoms there aren't that many rehab places that will agree to take him. Because of the Medicare changes that took place in January, there are questions about who pays for what and for how long. My mother, stepsibs, and I are avoiding talking about long term care in hopes that the rehab will take. At least for a while.

If long term care is the only option, it's going to take a healthy hunk of change. Mom and Dad make too much in retirement for the State to help them out.

I think what drives me bonkers is the "hurry up and wait" routine that the families are expected to go through. They told us last Thursday that they would be transferring him, and it didn't happen until today. They give you the illusion of contributing to the solution, but in fact all the choice has been taken out of your hands.

There is no other industry in America today that could get by with this nonsense. Government attempts to make medicine more "accessible" to the poor has come at the expense to everyone else. Meanwhile, whole aspects of medicine are insulated from the market forces that would drive prices down and market penetration up. As long as government pays the bills (even if it is only for 60 days), there is no need to make it work for those who want to operate outside the government system.

Marginal choices are suppressed, and there is less choice and less freedom.

I think I am going to go find a funny movie and forget about the mess for a while.

Back on the main track tomorrow morning.

— NeoWayland

Posted: Mon - April 10, 2006 at 10:45 PM  Tag


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