Healthcare in 2019 America

The state of the healthcare in the USA in 2019 is in complete disarray.  The Democrats tried to open up healthcare coverage to many previously uninsurable individuals but since then, the Republicans have been bent out of shape on destroying what was created.  They have not been able to drive the last nail in the ObamaCare coffin but the hammer is already in the elevated position ready to pounce.

Those of us self-employed and worse, old but not old enough to qualify for Medicare, are finding ourselves in a healthcare desert.  This is especially true if you are not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid or make at least a little money to disqualify from what remains of ObamaCare.  The healthcare desert created by the Republicans, is a frightening place full of alligators and snakes and wolves with and without sheepskins.

I meet all the qualifications to be in the healthcare desert so I’ve been paying for private healthcare insurance since I retired from my medical writer job.  Private insurance is not bound by any of the rules that bounded insurances under the AHA (Affordable Healthcare Act, AKA Obamacare).  They can select anyone they want to be under their insurance and deny anyone that does not meet their profile without accountability to anyone.

I consider myself relatively healthy for my age.  I don’t take any prescription drugs, exercise daily, have normal weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, etc.  I thought I would be an easy hit behind second base.  Oh, but I forgot to mention the blood clot that I developed 4 years ago when I broke a toe days before getting on a series of airplane flights of about 26 hours from Ho Chi Ming City, Vietnam to Miami.  At the end of those flights I ended up in the hospital.  When I was released from the hospital, I was prescribed an anticoagulant for the next few months to prevent new clots: PRE-EXISTING CONDITION!!!  PRE-EXISTING CONDITION!!!!  The easy hit behind second base turned out to be an impossibility as I am now an undesirable for most private insurances.

Since I know that most bankruptcies in the USA are healthcare related, I feel that I cannot be without healthcare insurance so I pay whatever I need to pay for the least coverage the insurance companies can get away with.  $10,000 out of pocket minimum?  Sure.  No coverage for any pre-existing condition? Bring it on.  Pay whatever they want and don’t expect anything in return?  Sign me up!

My thought was, let me at least be covered for any catastrophic situation, to prevent the bankruptcy, and I’ll pay for the preventive procedures out of pocket.  It could work, but be prepared to cover the first $10,000 until insurance kicks in, if they want. 

Last month, I went to test drive the latest private insurance that I bought after the salesperson sold me on the notion that this one would cover me for preventive healthcare procedures.  Because I purchased a new plan without leaving room for any “medical insurance gap”, I went to my primary physician with two insurance cards in hand.  Most of the visit was covered so I felt confident and went to schedule a suggested preventive treatment: A colonoscopy.

Overall health? OK. Weight? Blood pressure? Everything OK.  Let’s schedule your colonoscopy.  Oh, sorry did I mention that your last colonoscopy was 6 years ago and that they found one 2-mm polip? PRE-EXISTING CONDITION!!!!  My two insurance cards back to my pocket and a note written in my record that patient refused to schedule colonoscopy.  In a follow up phone call I found out that the physician fee would have been $550; anesthesiologist $450; clinic $695; and biopsy services if needed $450 for a potential total close to $2,000.00.   My insurance company is really concerned about my overall and long-term well-being, wouldn't you agree?