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Welcome to the health care system of a third world country. Same third world country ( I mean state) that forgot to acknowledge the US Constitution after admission to the Union. HMSA and Kaiser reign supreme as they have a competitive advantage and no other major carriers can come in with a 4% hit to their bottom line. Why should they? Keeps the "good old boys" happy in Honolulu and the citizens screwed. I did the COBRA angle mentioned above and I'm thankful to have that. Take a look at HMSA's 50 Plus, even though it has no vision, dental or prescription. Then make certain that your meds are on the Walmart $10 for three months supply list. Welcome to the USA’s worst health care and educational systems.
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DSTime, the costs were estimated by tests we had recently on the mainland. That was the general cost of the actual test, so depending on which plan you would choose, your portion would be part of it. And you are right, $250 a day for a hospital room is not at all generous. Say for instance you had to be in ICU, you could rack up a bill into the hundreds of thousands just for your room. I think that the "asprin" and other things are not included in your room charge, so medications would be an extra charge. Not sure where things like wound dressings, IV's etc would fall in either.
The one thing we can be hopeful for is new legislation that will provide us more choices coming soon.
Aloha au i Hawai`i,
devany
www.myhawaiianhome.blogspot.com
www.eastbaypotters.blogspot.com
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Kaiser paid for my Colonoscopy it counted as one of 5 Dr. visit allowed per year. They flew me and a driver to Oahu. I was told 1 Colonoscpy per year is covered.
"Yearn to understand first and to be understood second."
-- Beca Lewis Allen
"Yearn to understand first and to be understood second."
-- Beca Lewis Allen
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There is a larger issue here. The amount of time, money and energy spent maneouvering around the health care "systems" of the 50 states is disturbing. There is no reason for Hawaii Island to have any worse health care than Vancouver Island. None at all.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32898477/ns/...alth_care/
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That is great Wyatt. When I had mine on the mainland last year, I had to go to the Gastroenterologist for a pre-procedure appointment and exam, did you do that too and they counted it all as one Doctor visit? Did you have to pay for the anesthesiologist and the pathology reports? Are you on the HIPAA conversion plan?
quote:
Originally posted by wyatt
Kaiser paid for my Colonoscopy it counted as one of 5 Dr. visit allowed per year. They flew me and a driver to Oahu. I was told 1 Colonoscpy per year is covered.
"Yearn to understand first and to be understood second."
-- Beca Lewis Allen
Aloha au i Hawai`i,
devany
www.myhawaiianhome.blogspot.com
www.eastbaypotters.blogspot.com
Posts: 1,243
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Joined: Feb 2008
I have a friend who has regular Kaiser (full unlimited coverage) and they had to fly over for his colonoscopy, but they made them fly over that morning, not paying for a hotel the night before, can you imagine flying after taking all of that purging liquid? Not me! At least they paid for a driver to go along. I also have a friend here who has HSMA and she was able to get her colonoscopy here in Hilo.
Aloha au i Hawai`i,
devany
www.myhawaiianhome.blogspot.com
www.eastbaypotters.blogspot.com
Posts: 551
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I had to visit a Dr first to get referal to get Colonoscopy. 2 visit down.
I traveled the next morning after drinking that nasty drink. My procedure was at 1:30 pm.
Long time with no food.
I just received bill for $84 from the Dr that did my colonosopy
Kaiser will allow you to stay one day after your procedure but you have to pay your own car and hotel. I would bet they would let you arrive one day early.
"Yearn to understand first and to be understood second."
-- Beca Lewis Allen
"Yearn to understand first and to be understood second."
-- Beca Lewis Allen
Posts: 1,243
Threads: 55
Joined: Feb 2008
Thanks Wyatt, that is good information to know for those of us who are trying to decide which HIPPA plan to choose.
Aloha au i Hawai`i,
devany
www.myhawaiianhome.blogspot.com
www.eastbaypotters.blogspot.com
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Okay here I go again (repeat)on Kaiser (they will probably read this and dump me). You CAN go to someone outside of Kaiser locally if you push it. Ironically, I just spoke with my neighbor who demanded to see a particular specialist here in Hilo and Kaiser contracted it out. I have also done this in the past myself. Again, know how to speak up and they will work with you, they are way more accomodating than most people know. Try their way and if not happy, insist on what you want, you will get it if it's within reason. I love that I can email my doc directly and get direct email response with meds ordered, eliminating the cumbersome repeat office visit & co-pay. You can go online and read bios on all the docs, change your primary physician whenever you like. I rest my case [^]
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HMSA tells us that since we haven't been in Hawaii for more than 6 months, we can only have the HIPAA plans as described by Wyatt. Thanks for the insight into working with Kaiser, Sandra!
