Reply #31: i LOVE my insurance. let me give you an example [View All]

disclosure: i support the public option and healthcare reform.

but my insurance is WONDERFUL. i *used* to have pacificare. they were OK. not great. not terrible. i currently have aetna. they are great.

first, the benefits: i get 60 massages a year (with prescription, which i have) and 30 chiropractic sessions. i also get 60 physical therapy appointments (with referrals).

all of the above are FREE. technically, my insurance has a 90% coverage on the above, but once i paid out $400 in a year on copays, after that, ALL coverage goes to 100%. so, my max outlay per year is $400.

the aetna website is awesome. i can quickly look up ALL my medical history/claims.

i have called them for questions about coverage etc. and have minimal waits on the phone, and get fast, responsive customer service. a THOUSAND times better than any software technical support, ill tell you

here's my recent story:
i am a competitive athlete. on july 18, i seriously hurt my shoulder.

that was a saturday.

sunday my primary care office is closed, so I went to urgent care. sat down and within 20 minutes i was already seeing a doctor. they ordered an X-ray (came back negative), gave me a prescription, and urged me to see my primary care on monday (next day) to get an MRI referral.

on Monday i called the dr's office at 10 am and was able to get a 2pm appointment. by 2:45 i was done and had an MRI referral. I called the MRI facility and got an appointment to get my MRI at 3:15. how good is that???

i was out of the MRI by a little after 4 pm.

by 6 pm that evening, i got a call from my primary care doctor with the results of the MRI analysis1!! major muscle tear. surgery going to be required.

the next day i called the orthopedic surgeon (this was now tuesday), and got an appointment for THURSDAY. this is one of the most respected surgeons around, and i know he does excellent work because he worked on my sister in law. also, *i* was able to choose him because he's an aetna provider. i was able to go to the AETNA website and do this search and could have chosen ANY surgeon that was aetna certified (as most are).

within 10 days of seeing the surgeon, i was on the operating table. that was August 3.
my TOTAL cost for all this medical care? ZERO dollars. 100% coverage.

my only expenses are the prescriptions (5-7 dollars per refill).

i have seen him since the surgery and will continue to follow up again in about a month. i am getting physical therapy twice a week (free), as well as continuing my 2X a week massages ( which greatly speeds recovery imo. it was also a huge part of my sports training regimen).

due to the fact my injury will keep me out of work for several months, I am starting disability next week. this is a different insurance company (disability), and my premium has been paid as part of my union dues.

my employer pays 100% of my medical insurance premium, btw. it;'s a phenomenal benefit.

so, all the wanking aside, i *know* that insurance coverage can be awesome. mine is. these are expensive things (MRI's, surgery, etc.)_ and they have all been covered 100% no muss no fuss.

i support the public option and reform but i do not think for a second that any public option will provide benefits and speed of care NEARLY as good as my private insurance provides. i have yet to hear from any canadian or brit, but i suspect such quick response, minimal wait times, etc. that i have gotten here w.my insurance are as good (or more likely better) than most jurisdictions.