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| to: | |||
| date: | Fri, Apr 29, 2016 at 10:34 AM | ||
| subject: | FW: IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW OLD YOU ARE.THIS IS TERRORIZING!! |
IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW OLD YOU ARE…THIS IS TERRORIZING!!
Letter from a senior gentleman in Mesa, Arizona:
Dear Family, Friends, Neighbors and former Classmates,
I just found myself in the middle of a medical situation that made it very clear that “the affordable care act” is neither affordable, nor do they care.
I’ll go back about seven years ago to a fairly radical prostate surgery that I underwent. The Urologist (a personal friend) who performed the surgery was very concerned that it was cancer, though I wasn’t told this until the lab report revealed it was benign. Since that procedure, I have experienced numerous urinary tract infections, UTI’s. Since I had never had a “UTI” prior to the prostate surgery, I assume that it is one of the side effects from surgery, an assumption since confirmed by my Family Doctor.
The weekend of March 8-9, I was experiencing all the symptoms of another bout of UTI. By Monday afternoon the infection had hit with full force. Knowing that all I needed was an antibiotic, I went to an Urgent Care Center in Mesa, AZ., to provide a specimen, a requirement for getting the prescription. After waiting 45 min. to see the Doctor, I started getting very nauseous and light headed.
I went to the Receptionist to ask where the bathroom was as I felt that I was going to throw up. I was told that I would have to wait for the Doctor because I would need to leave a specimen and they didn’t want me in the bathroom without first seeing him.
That was when the lights went out, my next awareness was that of finding myself on the floor (in the waiting room) having violent dry heaves, and very confused. At this point, I tried to stand up but couldn’t make it, and they made it very clear they weren’t going to let me get up until the ambulance got there. By the way, when you’re waiting to see the Doctor and you pass out, you get very prompt attention.
Now, “the rest of the story”, and the reason for sending this to so many of you.
I was taken to the nearest hospital, to emergency. Once there, I was transported to an emergency examination room. Once I had removed my clothes and donned one of those lovely hospital gowns, I finally got to see a Doctor. I asked “what is going on” I’m just having a UTI, just get me the proper medication and let me go home. He told me that my symptoms presented the possibility of sepsis, a potentially deadly migration of toxins, and that they needed to run several tests to determine how far the infection had migrated.
For the next 3 hours I was subjected to several tests, blood draws, EKG’s, and demands for specimens. At about 7:30 the nurse came back to my room to inform me that one of the tests takes 1- 2 days to complete, I asked if they (the results)could be emailed, at which point she informed me that I wouldn’t need them emailed because I wasn’t going anywhere. I started arguing with her but was told, “if you don’t start behaving, I’ll start taking your temperature rectally, at which point I became a perfect gentleman. I did tell her I wanted to see the doctor because I had no intention of staying overnight.
Now, this is what I want each of you to understand, please read these next sentences carefully.The doctor finally came in to inform me that he was going to admit me. I said, “are you admitting me for treatment or for observation?” He told me that I would be admitted for observation. I said Doctor, correct me if I’m wrong, but if you admit me for observation my Medicare will not pay anything, this due to the affordable care act , he said that’s right, it won’t. I then grabbed for my bag of clothing and said, then I’m going home. He said you’re really too sick to be going home, but I understand your position, this health program is going to hit seniors especially hard.
The doctor then left the room and I started getting dressed, I was just getting ready to put my shoes on when another doctor (the closer) came into the room, he saw me dressed and said, “where do you think you are going?” I simply said “I’m going home, to which he replied, quite vociferously, no you aren’t. I said, “Doc, you and I both know that under the “affordable care act” anyone on Medicare who is admitted to a hospital for observation will be responsible for the bill, Medicare won’t pay a cent”. At which point he nodded in affirmation. I said, “You will either admit me for a specific treatment or you won’t admit me.” Realizing he wasn’t going to win this one, he said he would prepare my release papers.
A few minutes later the discharge nurse came to my room to have me sign the necessary papers, relieving them from any responsibility. I told her I wasn’t trying to be obstinate, but I wasn’t going to be burdened with the full (financial) responsibility for my hospital stay.
After making sure the door was closed, she said, “I don’t blame you at all, I would do the same thing.” She went on to say, “You wouldn’t believe the people who elect to leave for the same reasons, people who are deathly sick, people who have to be wheeled out on a gurney.” She further said, “The ‘Affordable Care Act’ is going to be a disaster for seniors. Yet, if you are in this country illegally, and have no coverage, you will be covered in full.”
This is not internet hype folks, this is real, I just experienced it personally. Moving right along, this gets worse.
Today I went to a (required) follow up appointment with my Arizona Family Practitioner. Since my white count was pretty high, the follow up was important. During the visit I shared the experience at emergency, and that I had refused to be admitted. His response was “I don’t blame you at all, I would have done the same thing.” He went on to say that the colonoscopy and other procedures are probably going to be dropped from coverage for those over 70.
I told him that I had heard that the Affordable Care Act would no longer pay for cancer treatment for those 76 and older, is that true? His understanding is that it is true.
The more I hear, and experience the Affordable Care Act, the more I’m beginning to see that we seniors are nothing more than an inconvenience, and the sooner they can get rid of us the better off they’ll be.
November is coming folks, we can have an impact on this debacle by letting everyone in Congress know that their responsibility is to the constituents, not the president and not the lobbyists. We need to let them ALL know that they are in office to serve and to look after the BEST INTERESTS of “we the people”, their employers, and not to become self serving bureaucrats who serve only out of greed. And if they don’t seem to understand this simple logic, we’ll fire them.
On the mend,
Roger
Letter from a senior gentleman in Mesa, Arizona:
Dear Family, Friends, Neighbors and former Classmates,
I just found myself in the middle of a medical situation that made it very clear that “the affordable care act” is neither affordable, nor do they care.
I’ll go back about seven years ago to a fairly radical prostate surgery that I underwent. The Urologist (a personal friend) who performed the surgery was very concerned that it was cancer, though I wasn’t told this until the lab report revealed it was benign. Since that procedure, I have experienced numerous urinary tract infections, UTI’s. Since I had never had a “UTI” prior to the prostate surgery, I assume that it is one of the side effects from surgery, an assumption since confirmed by my Family Doctor.
The weekend of March 8-9, I was experiencing all the symptoms of another bout of UTI. By Monday afternoon the infection had hit with full force. Knowing that all I needed was an antibiotic, I went to an Urgent Care Center in Mesa, AZ., to provide a specimen, a requirement for getting the prescription. After waiting 45 min. to see the Doctor, I started getting very nauseous and light headed.
I went to the Receptionist to ask where the bathroom was as I felt that I was going to throw up. I was told that I would have to wait for the Doctor because I would need to leave a specimen and they didn’t want me in the bathroom without first seeing him.
That was when the lights went out, my next awareness was that of finding myself on the floor (in the waiting room) having violent dry heaves, and very confused. At this point, I tried to stand up but couldn’t make it, and they made it very clear they weren’t going to let me get up until the ambulance got there. By the way, when you’re waiting to see the Doctor and you pass out, you get very prompt attention.
Now, “the rest of the story”, and the reason for sending this to so many of you.
I was taken to the nearest hospital, to emergency. Once there, I was transported to an emergency examination room. Once I had removed my clothes and donned one of those lovely hospital gowns, I finally got to see a Doctor. I asked “what is going on” I’m just having a UTI, just get me the proper medication and let me go home. He told me that my symptoms presented the possibility of sepsis, a potentially deadly migration of toxins, and that they needed to run several tests to determine how far the infection had migrated.
For the next 3 hours I was subjected to several tests, blood draws, EKG’s, and demands for specimens. At about 7:30 the nurse came back to my room to inform me that one of the tests takes 1- 2 days to complete, I asked if they (the results)could be emailed, at which point she informed me that I wouldn’t need them emailed because I wasn’t going anywhere. I started arguing with her but was told, “if you don’t start behaving, I’ll start taking your temperature rectally, at which point I became a perfect gentleman. I did tell her I wanted to see the doctor because I had no intention of staying overnight.
Now, this is what I want each of you to understand, please read these next sentences carefully.The doctor finally came in to inform me that he was going to admit me. I said, “are you admitting me for treatment or for observation?” He told me that I would be admitted for observation. I said Doctor, correct me if I’m wrong, but if you admit me for observation my Medicare will not pay anything, this due to the affordable care act , he said that’s right, it won’t. I then grabbed for my bag of clothing and said, then I’m going home. He said you’re really too sick to be going home, but I understand your position, this health program is going to hit seniors especially hard.
The doctor then left the room and I started getting dressed, I was just getting ready to put my shoes on when another doctor (the closer) came into the room, he saw me dressed and said, “where do you think you are going?” I simply said “I’m going home, to which he replied, quite vociferously, no you aren’t. I said, “Doc, you and I both know that under the “affordable care act” anyone on Medicare who is admitted to a hospital for observation will be responsible for the bill, Medicare won’t pay a cent”. At which point he nodded in affirmation. I said, “You will either admit me for a specific treatment or you won’t admit me.” Realizing he wasn’t going to win this one, he said he would prepare my release papers.
A few minutes later the discharge nurse came to my room to have me sign the necessary papers, relieving them from any responsibility. I told her I wasn’t trying to be obstinate, but I wasn’t going to be burdened with the full (financial) responsibility for my hospital stay.
After making sure the door was closed, she said, “I don’t blame you at all, I would do the same thing.” She went on to say, “You wouldn’t believe the people who elect to leave for the same reasons, people who are deathly sick, people who have to be wheeled out on a gurney.” She further said, “The ‘Affordable Care Act’ is going to be a disaster for seniors. Yet, if you are in this country illegally, and have no coverage, you will be covered in full.”
This is not internet hype folks, this is real, I just experienced it personally. Moving right along, this gets worse.
Today I went to a (required) follow up appointment with my Arizona Family Practitioner. Since my white count was pretty high, the follow up was important. During the visit I shared the experience at emergency, and that I had refused to be admitted. His response was “I don’t blame you at all, I would have done the same thing.” He went on to say that the colonoscopy and other procedures are probably going to be dropped from coverage for those over 70.
I told him that I had heard that the Affordable Care Act would no longer pay for cancer treatment for those 76 and older, is that true? His understanding is that it is true.
The more I hear, and experience the Affordable Care Act, the more I’m beginning to see that we seniors are nothing more than an inconvenience, and the sooner they can get rid of us the better off they’ll be.
November is coming folks, we can have an impact on this debacle by letting everyone in Congress know that their responsibility is to the constituents, not the president and not the lobbyists. We need to let them ALL know that they are in office to serve and to look after the BEST INTERESTS of “we the people”, their employers, and not to become self serving bureaucrats who serve only out of greed. And if they don’t seem to understand this simple logic, we’ll fire them.
On the mend,
Roger
REMEMBER: Demand your hospital admission is for TREATMENT and NOT for OBSERVATION!
Posts
9 comments:
'Remember: if you aren't afraid, we're doing it wrong.'
"Since my white count was pretty high".... RWD is talking about his mailing list, right?
Why didn't the doctor give him the option of sitting down with the death panel?
I'm sure many people like this RWD, who are critically ill, choose to check themselves out against medical advice because they are afraid that Medicare won't cover them {facepalm}. On that note, why the heck are these old moochers living off the tit of the big ol' gubmint anyway? Why are these takers only willing to get medical care if WE pay for it?!? Shouldn't they be paying their own way?
I could be wrong, but I don't believe the Affordable Care Act has anything to do with Medicare.
Even so, I'll remind RWD that the Affordable Care Act was based upon a plan written by a Republican think tank. The only reason we have that law is because it's the only plan the Republicans agreed to support...
...which, of course, they refused to do when it came up for a vote.
The Democrats wanted a single payer plan.
Don't like Republican-written bills? Don't vote for Repbulicans.
ACA Medicare reform expanded Medicare for millions of seniors. The ACA Medicare cuts are estimated at $716 billion. Those cuts are reinvested into Medicare and ACA to improve care for seniors and close out the Medicare Part D “donut hole” created by Bush the Lesser.
So thanks for nothing, Obama.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/medical/medicare76.asp
This doesn't cover this specific epic LIE about Medicare and ACA, but it's in the ballpark of why this is a LIE.
Here's one big fat old Tell:
“The ‘Affordable Care Act’ is going to be a disaster for seniors. Yet, if you are in this country illegally, and have no coverage, you will be covered in full.”
Not only does ACA have nothing to do with Medicare and what services you may or may not get when you are covered by it, neither ACA, nor Medicare, has anything to do with alleged medical/health care services that the dastardly "illegals" may or may not get. It just slays me how these mean-spirited, dumb ignoramouses want to whine and vetch about so-called "illegals" getting tons of "free stuff," when they don't. Cry me a river.
I've helped my elders with Medicare, and this is just patent lying bullshit. The line about no cancer treatment for anyone over 76 is a terrible thing to tell elderly people, especially when it's a complete utter LIE. It really disgusts me to no end how the GOP and rightwing think tanks prey on Seniors - many of whom have diminished mental capacities (not being mean; it's an outcome of the aging process) - to make them scared and feed them pernicious lies like this. I would say: "For Shame," but these parasites have no shame and don't give a damn.
Go f*ck yourself, GOP shills.
Sigh. My fundie rightwing mother (may she RIP) used to get these kinds of stinking lies by snail mail on a regular basis from a variety of rightwing "think" tanks. Every single one included a form asking for money so ___________ could "save" her Medicare from the horrible Democrats who were going to "steal" it. These letters included similar lies like this one.
As my mother got older, she really bought into this crap, got truly scared, and sent lots of $10 checks to these shyster bastards. Eventually even my fundie rightwing siblings got pissed off. They sadly took my mom's check book away from her.
I have personal experience with how these shitheads scare vulnerable elderly people into parting with their money under false circumstances. These parasitic vultures are beyond disgusting, but they all tout the same rightwing lies.
I have yet to see anything similar from organizations purporting to be leftwing. What a surprise.
It's unfortunate that many seniors don't have a clue who is really 'terrorizing' them. But, that said, when I've attempted to correct MRW Mom about the lies she buys into I've discovered that she simply doesn't care whether a thing is true or not. She just enjoys having something 'new' to whine about. I try to think of it as a really stupid hobby that she just won't give up.
Hooray said
"I have yet to see anything similar from organizations purporting to be leftwing."
I should point out that the DNC uses scare tactics in their own groveling for money, much to my disgust. Of course, those fatcats aren't leftist at all.
This one again!!!!
This is old. And it was posted elsewhere on RWD in 2014.
Hospitals do do this little slight-of-the-wallet trickery, but it has nothing to do with Obamacare.
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