Medicare just saved our budget.

[dixiegrrrrl]

Medicare A&B is the closest thing we have to single payer.

Mr. Dixie and I are on Soc. Sec., and we have Medicare.

Mr. Dixie had a slight stroke, it appears, last week, and his doc has been looking for the cause.
So far the heart ultra sound and the carotid artery scan showed nothing, so a brain MRI is scheduled for Friday.

As I do with all tests, I called the clinic to get the price for the MRI.
I also did an internet search for test prices for brain MRI.
Fun fact:
In looking at national pricing, I found that Vancouver Wa. charges, as of 2014, ....$209.00
whereas the most expensive price was $5, 215 in UCSF Med. Center SF.

So, the Medicare Billing office at our local hospital that does the test tells me it will cost ....1500.00.
This is a bit higher than national average, but Medicare will pay it, they assure me.

Our out of pocket cost is....90.00 for co-pay.

We HAVE to start working on affordable single payer, we just have to. So many people are crushed by too expensive medical bills.

another thought.....medical providers are a bit taken aback by requests for billing charges prior to service.
That is a process that needs to change.

Edited to add:
If you want to negotiate prices with your medical providers, this is a very helpful web page:
https://healthcarebluebook.com/page_ContactDoctor.aspx

[SheilaT]

1. Thanks for posting.

I'm likewise on Medicare, and even though I haven't had anything expensive happen to me, I'm paying even less for my prescriptions than before. As in, no copay whatsoever. It helps that I can take the generic form, and I only have three prescriptions, but still, it's quite nice.

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. We still pay out of pocket for our scripts.

Luckily, like you, we can take the generic versions and they are very very affordable ( 10.00 for 90 day supply).
Hopefully, we won't have any truly expensive drugs in the future.

[question everything]

3. Hope Mr. Dixie is doing well.

And now that you both are on Medicare, make sure you get the Shingles vaccine. That is, if either of you had chicken pox.

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. He lucked out, a very mild stoke, left no permanent damage.

And boy howdy do I hear you about shingles.
I got attacked a couple of years ago, badly. Would not wish it on my worst enemy.