I was not sure where to post this, because it is not specifically about multiple myeloma, but it is an article on our health care system and its costs. This of course impacts all of us, especially cancer patients who are trapped in the system.
This is a good article from the Dallas Morning News, printed this morning, that gives background on how we got where we are today. The US healthcare system costs every man, woman, and child over $9,000 per year and is growing.
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/metro/20150131-cost-of-care-the-u.s.-health-care-system-is-bleeding-green.ece
Ron
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Ron Harvot - Name: Ron Harvot
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 56
Re: News article on cost of health care
Thanks for posting the interesting article, Ron. It is confusing for me in Canada to comprehend how the medical system(s) work in the US, since we are a 'single payer system'. (I think that is the jargon for universal health care).
I have seen those costs previously, as to how much is spent between countries on health care. That is what you learn in workshops about advocacy.
Apart from what seems to be a lot of costs to patients and insurance companies, I would just caution that of course health care costs for highly specialized technical care may continue to rise in countries where it is available.
When I consider what my health care system has already done for me, eg. expensive chemotherapies, and a stem cell transplant, I don't mind if our taxes go up a bit to cover it all! As a myeloma patient, I am still 'asking' for more help from the health care system, and since the drugs used to treat myeloma are expensive, that will be part of what my province will try to pay too. As citizens, I hope we are realistic enough to realize that taxes in some form or the other will be needed to fund excellent health care. Cancer patients are surviving longer, but it comes at a cost too. I am so grateful to be living in an era where this is possible!
I realize that my comment isn't totally relevant to the article on the US situation, but it is human nature to compare and contrast between systems.
I have seen those costs previously, as to how much is spent between countries on health care. That is what you learn in workshops about advocacy.
Apart from what seems to be a lot of costs to patients and insurance companies, I would just caution that of course health care costs for highly specialized technical care may continue to rise in countries where it is available.
When I consider what my health care system has already done for me, eg. expensive chemotherapies, and a stem cell transplant, I don't mind if our taxes go up a bit to cover it all! As a myeloma patient, I am still 'asking' for more help from the health care system, and since the drugs used to treat myeloma are expensive, that will be part of what my province will try to pay too. As citizens, I hope we are realistic enough to realize that taxes in some form or the other will be needed to fund excellent health care. Cancer patients are surviving longer, but it comes at a cost too. I am so grateful to be living in an era where this is possible!
I realize that my comment isn't totally relevant to the article on the US situation, but it is human nature to compare and contrast between systems.
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: News article on cost of health care
We are SO grateful to be Canadian. My husband''s treatment was hugely expensive and, when I did our out-of-pocket expense calculations for taxes, we paid $1300 for medical stuff, most of which was hospital parking. The treatment, home nursing, PT, drugs, stem cell collection were all simply paid. Because my husband's lungs were damaged from the Cytoxan, he didn't go to transplant, but they did collection anyway just in case. He also got a 5 week intensive program for respiratory rehab. No charge.
I cannot imagine going through this and having to fight for treatment or payment. We're financially comfortable, and, believe me, we'll pay more in taxes so we, and everyone else, gets access to this kind of care. And we'll wait a little longer for those things that CAN wait, because, when we needed it, the care was immediate.
I cannot imagine going through this and having to fight for treatment or payment. We're financially comfortable, and, believe me, we'll pay more in taxes so we, and everyone else, gets access to this kind of care. And we'll wait a little longer for those things that CAN wait, because, when we needed it, the care was immediate.
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LisaE - Name: Lisa
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: April 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 67
Re: News article on cost of health care
My therapy here in the U.S. has also been completely covered. For a long time, I didn't even kick in the $20 co-pays for office visits and such. I paid nothing for the stem cell transplant and have paid $20 per Revlimid prescription.
Of course, I am one of the luckier ones here. I have an excellent insurance plan through my employer and I was also covered under my wife's up until last year. If I worked for a small company that couldn't afford to provide top-notch care, then the situation would have been very different for me. We certainly would have muddled through, but I suspect it would have done a number on our financial situation.
Of course, I am one of the luckier ones here. I have an excellent insurance plan through my employer and I was also covered under my wife's up until last year. If I worked for a small company that couldn't afford to provide top-notch care, then the situation would have been very different for me. We certainly would have muddled through, but I suspect it would have done a number on our financial situation.
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Mike F - Name: Mike F
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 18, 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 53
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