Black Friday, Cyber everyday now. You are surely spending some time and money shopping this weekend. I am compelled to weigh in on the most important purchase you will make now for next year (my perspective) and its not a 72″ TV. You are being bombarded by advertising in mail and TV regarding open enrollment choices (yawn). We all need healthcare so this matters, please don’t ignore your most precious property.
I refuse to subscribe to the Zeke-kill everyone over 75-Emmanuel concept that no one deserves healthcare over 75 (See The Atlantic, 2014). The “good doctor” is now on the Biden team and still subscribes to the concept and has written just recently, “Why I hope to die at 75”. Wonder what Nancy and Joe think- oh that’s right, they have fabulous coverage not available to us masses, so no need for them to regulate.
While the advertisments claim “you should get all you deserve”, trust me free rides is the least – you need mri’s, the most up to date chemo and radiation and surgical procedures and more! When I have to argue with an industry paid doc to allow for my state of the art radiation instead of using treatment machines that I literally threw away 12 years ago, I just want to say, “YOU SELL OUT!!” While working, you contributed to medicare probably since you started at 16 and deserve care, not to have the drug and insurance stocks skyrocket by refusing that care. We are probably headed toward a British model: they have a two tier system: NHS delivers a basic level that the government can afford to the masses, everything else is self pay. With the cost of chemo, radiation and hospitalization, all that you saved in a few years by getting a bargain plan, is wiped out in one event- so shop wisely. Younger people with good genes may be served by the cheaper options. When you turn 65, your risk of major disease increases dramatically so then is not the time to opt for less.
Here is the inside scoop: primary care “gatekeepers” for these plans are penalized by approving high cost treatments and insurers and medicare have hired third party companies to “triage” treatments- making docs like me defend our choices when we all know its about the money.
Try for a full service plan, or a PPO, and shop around. Check that your current medications are covered, but also look for plans that do not require a lot of “preauthorization”. Yes they cost more. Don’t let them fool you- you didn’t buy health insurance for an uber ride or exercise classes. You bought it to save your life. You can live a long, productive and amazing life with access to the best healthcare in the world. Don’t cheat yourself. The cost of a good plan is never a luxury.
Many of you reading this perhaps do not realize the person next to you may get care that your plan doesn’t approve. Every week the medical oncologist will inform me that they can’t get a new drug approved so they will use something else instead. Medicare supplements are not uniform either. The “advantage” is to the government, not you. Government needs to provide some basic level of service to people- not the Cadillac version which can make a difference in your life and wellbeing.
We all know that without health, life is hard, so be good to yourself. You and your family deserve it more than any other luxury- it is a necessity. I will always fight for you but I need you to have awareness and choose wisely too. Please take the time this week to do your homework with renewed insight so that you and your family can a happy and healthy new year. Thank you.