Posted by
Hettigreen on Friday, September 01, 2006 7:38:14 AM
It's chilly outside. After weeks of such warm weather night and day. At last cool night air. Last night before going to bed I read a few chapters from a book I discovered at the public library on the subject of "How to Ruin Your Life". Actually it is very clever. Periodically I enjoy reading a few self improvement books full of humor. I've been noticing for several months now a true change in my personality since September 11, 2001.
I definitely am not thrilled with the changes in my attitude. So, recently I have been exploring the last time I experienced this attitutde change back in 1994.
Perhaps it is because I turned 65 let's see, yes, it was 16 months ago. Officially becoming a Senior Citizen delivered a heap of problems to my door. The first of course wasn't receiving Social Security, it was the absolutely foolish Medicare Exam.
All my friends had advised me to be certain to sign up for the "Free Exam" in the first 6 months of signing up for Medicare. The so-called "Free Exam" cost me $2,000.
Only the bill for the exam didn't come until 9 months later during the time I was preparing my taxes in January.
No, I hadn't asked for any fancy tests just one's I thought might be something beneficial. First the conversation with my new assigned medical doctor (who really loved my socks--that was all I was wearing in that cold room) and wondered why my medical records had no records of visits (I go to a chiropractor). Truly I don't think the health history of my relatives has much bearing on my good health. Then I had a mammogram which had to be done 4 times because the techniciain couldn't find anything. The second test was a blood test which had to be done twice. The third exam was a simple eye exam--no change in my vision so my current glasses were OK.
I wanted to have the wax removed from my ears--but the doctors don't do that anymore. But I did have a hearing exam and my loss of hearing is about normal.
I had paid to see each of those providers a mandatory $20 to $30 fee. I was assured Medicare would pay for all of these and any others I might choose from a long list the doctor had on her clipboard.
Fortunately, I had stopped at what I did.
When I exploded, I wrote my insurance provider and sent a copy to the medical center and to the hospital. In return I was sent a copy of my insurance plan outlining what wasn't paid by my insurer. The medical center didn't reply but Medicare sent me the 2006 Medicare Coverage Book--proving they no longer covered the "Free Exam."
And, my friend's M.D. invited me to represent him at a U.S. Senate Town Meeting on the Health Care Woes.
The result within weeks Denver got to see BodyWorlds2 which showcases the health problems currently being treated and covered by insurance plans today. Health woes that cannot be cured. 675,000 people came to see the exhibit in the next 5 months. Another million couldn't get tickets.
Write your U.S. Senator today and tell him what you want the future health care insurance to cover. Currently our system treats the elderly and children under 5 years of age with a few exceptions for accidents.