Even After Spending $35K a Year, We Don’t Really Have Healthcare
I took a note from Stephanie Sammon’s playbook on getting your health in order. I took her suggestion and listed the appointments I needed to make (and actually complete) and started making the phone calls . Yep, you read that right. Only one of the appointments could be scheduled on line.
Keep in mind that this year alone (2019) we (Mead party of 4) are on track to spend nearly $35K on health insurance, dental insurance, VSP, deductibles, co-pays, and MDVIP. The kids and I have a PPO. Zeke has an HMO through SSFPD so we don’t even pay for his insurance, just his copays.
We are healthy. None of us take prescription meds. None of us have chronic illnesses (well, except for Zeke’s back issues from being a police officer). None of us have had surgery or any serious injuries this year (knock on wood!).
And you know what? We still have shitty healthcare. I don’t even know if I can call it healthcare. It’s really sick care and I am using the term ‘care’ loosely. I avoid going to see a doctor unless it’s really bad because even the smallest issue can take several hours to get addressed if you count wait times, even with scheduled appointments.
Yes, I’ve tried telehealth. One time, the doctor didn’t even show up for the virtual appointment. The other time I was told to wait a few days and then schedule an appointment with my doctor. I want this to work.
As a woman in perimenopause (self diagnosed since there’s no actual test to diagnose), my healthcare providers haven’t been very helpful to date. It’s not really their fault…our medical system barely cares about women, let alone women of a certain age. So I am pretty much left to fend for myself and do what I can to advocate for my children. And pay a lot out-of-pocket to get some semblance of care.
I believe in preventive care and I believe that we can leverage data and technology to flip healthcare on its head. We have to. The current system isn’t working. My healthcare providers don’t have the time (due to the financial structure and incentives of the current system) to really assess my health and make personalized recommendations.
I am not a man and the healthcare system was not designed by or for women. Women weren’t included in most of medical research or in clinical trials for drugs prescribed for both men and women. Want a terrifying read? Read Maya Dusenbery’s book, Doing Harm, and you’ll know what I am talking about.
As I mention in the health chapter of Piloting Your Life (the book), as I was entering and in perimenopause (not diagnosed, remember!) I was told to lose weight and that was pretty much it. I wasn’t told that it was going to be nearly impossible to lose weight while in perimenopause. I learned that last year as I was doing research for the book.
I wasn’t told what to expect in terms of symptoms and what to be on the lookout for. I learned some of this from Ann Garnier of Lisa Health when I was investing in digital health and through my research for the book.
Want to know why I am so fired up right now?
Here’s what I’ve done over the last 2.5 days to get my healthcare in order. It’s not pretty.
— It took a phone call to my gyno and 4 phone calls to the mammography center (including a recording with a different number during normal business hours) to get my mammogram scheduled for 12/19 (the earliest available date)
— It took 3 phone calls and a text to get an appointment with my dentist. The first available was 1/14 and the second available was in February. After I texted her (yes, I took advantage of the fact she’s a really good friend of mine), she moved some things around and I am seeing her today. Thank you Carliza! Glad business is good but sheesh!
— I was able to schedule my dermatology exam online (PAMF) but the earliest available was 1/7 nearly 2 months away.
— I called and scheduled my gyno exam and the first available appointment was 12/18. No guarantees that I will shave or get a wax before my appointment (sorry Bev!)although I might add glitter. Bev, remind me to tell you that joke.
— After consulting my FB friends, I vetted a few new optometrists and scheduled an appointment for Tuesday afternoon. That I was able to get an appointment so quickly truly surprised me. But this was after 4 phone calls to various optometry practices.
My annual check up with my retinal specialist doesn’t come due until March but I do need to schedule an appointment with a cataract specialist. I am 100% guaranteed to get a cataract after the vitrectomy I had in 2016. I’ll discuss this with the optometrist on Tuesday. The assessment is 2–3 hour appointment with eye dilation which means I lose an entire day. I’ve twice canceled scheduled appointments.
And oh shit I forgot about the colonoscopy. Well, I’ve already endured enough pains in my ass with all of this that I can’t even go there right now. Adding it to the note card. Along with my flu shot.
Is it too early to drink? Oh wait, I need to get to the dentist.
P.S. I apologize for the lack of diversity in the photos. Generally I try to make them more inclusive and not just white people. TM
