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Katharine Hill's avatar

I’m very sympathetic to this story although as Paul posted it’s hard to hit the like button. I will do so to let you know that I appreciate your sharing. As a 78 year old on Medicare myself, I learned early on to rely on the original when I had breast cancer and Sloan Kettering didn’t allow any of the so-called advantage plans (I believe they now have changed the policy somewhat). But I continue to muddle through with just the original. No horror stories yet . . .

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Gary Spangler's avatar

I’d like to add that this indifference and bean counting is not restricted to Medicare coverage. It’s insurance companies across the board, along with Giant hospital conglomerates. An associate of my wife was admitted to an HCA facility in our area due to passing blood. Began on a Thursday.

On Friday, when she requested to be transferred to a larger hospital in our area, she was told that a particular specialist would have to determine the necessity for that. She never saw one. Her blood loss continued so she was put on an IV of isotonic saline. Slow drip. This was to be monitored and replaced when needed. No monitoring occurred. When empty, mid Friday afternoon, she called the nurses station. One nurse responded but said she had no standing orders for additional containers. Worse yet, the only doc who could have done so had left for the day! So she stayed and bled all week end.

Additional details aren’t the point. Her lack of adequate care and the lack of proper staff to provide care 24/7 shows our cash cow status upon entering a hospital like you have spoken of. And we have the highest cost for medical care in the world.

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