Health Care: Kaiser v. Japan v. Medicaid.

[Muad'dib]

You know, I just wanted to post this as a comparative analysis.

For the last 3 years I've been on Medicaid, and for 3 years prior to that I was under the tender mercies of the Japanese National Insurance system. Prior to that I was covered by my company's insurance policy which was one of the Kaiser variants:

So, looking back, lets see how they all compared, by looking at how each one would treat the major medical events in the past 6 years or so. If I can estimate how it would be treated in another situation, I will note that. If I cannot, I will say unknown.

My Wife's pregnancies:
Japanese National: Had to pay $3000 total. Was then reimbursed $3500 after giving birth, for congratulations money, and receive $100 a month as free children support.
Medicaid: Unknown.
Kaiser: Because my company had gone bankrupt, Kaiser decided to fuck us, and we had to pay $800 for the first series of bloodtests. We decided to wait a week and just run them in Japan...

My hospital stay for unexplained intestinal bleeding:
Japanese National: Covered completely for a 1.5 week stay in the hospital.
Medicaid: Covered for the 1st week.
Kaiser: Had to pay $800 deductible, treatment extra.


My need for a cardio ultrasound:
Japanese National: $50, no questions asked.
Medicaid: Denied, because it was not considered serious issue.
Kaiser: Denied, because it was not considered serious issue. Was told I could get one if I paid $15000. Seriously.

Abdominal pain
Japanese National: Abdominal MRI $20.
Medicaid: Unknown
Kaiser: Unknown.

My son's "Snipping"
Japanese National: They don't even know how to do it there.
Medicaid: Free.
Kaiser: $4,000. They don't cover it.

My son's various childhood ailments:
Japanese National: Free.
Medicaid: Free, but my wife had to leave our "nice" suburban neighborhood because none of the doctors in the "nice" area took medicaid, so it cost us $40 in cab rides each time, before I got a car.
Kaiser: $20 copay each visit.

My son's being hit by a sign at the gap, in the head:
a) Ambulance ride:
Japanese National: free. But the people in the ambulance have no medical training, and they might take you to an emergency room where the doctors are incapable of treating you for lack of proper facilities.
Medicaid: Free.
Kaiser: $1500 per ride.

Brain Scan:
Japanese National: Free.
Medicaid: Free.
Kaiser: Pay $1000 deductible first.

My son's being hit by a car:
a) Ambulance ride:
Japanese National: free. But the people in the ambulance have no medical training, and they might take you to an emergency room where the doctors are incapable of treating you for lack of proper facilities.
Medicaid: Free.
Kaiser: $1500 per ride.

Brain Scan:
Japanese National: Free.
Medicaid: Free.
Kaiser: Pay $1000 deductible first.

My wife's being hit by a car:
Roughly same as above.

Random shooting pains in face:
Japanese National: Could not even begin to treat it, after visiting 8 different J-doctors. Had to go to US doctor. (Was vitamin b deficiency)
Medicaid: Unknown.
Kaiser: Unknown.

General analysis:
US doctors are far more capable than Japanese doctors. While I did get several very expensive tests in Japan, I also got some that were completely unnecessary, and just a way for the doctors there to pad their wallets (not saying it does not happen in States, but its way more obvious there.) US insurance repeatedly DID deny me needed medical tests, and charged me out the ass for those tests that I was able to get, even though I was "covered."

The Winner:
Medicaid. I hated being on it, and going to the doctors that did take medicaid was like going to on some kind of bizarre white trash/ghetto safari. The doctors were competent, but expected you to be retarded because you were on medicaid. One doctor actually asked me if I could read... (Actually, having been a waiter in DC, I know that the education system can easily fail people, but still it was a bit shocking.) Level of care was slightly below what you might expect in the "nice" burbs I lived in, but it was above and beyond what we got in Japan. Oh, and to top it off, I also got food stamps to help support my family.

You know I was raised to believe that you should never ever go on any form of public assistance, and only the lowest of the low would do so. I am still rather ashamed that I did it, but unlike many people here who talk shit about this system or that system, I've been through quite a few. The US system might now be "universal", but it took care of me, and I had a chance to meet (and smell) many of the other people it took care of as well. I think it does a pretty damn good job. Better in fact than the primary government system of subsidized healthcare via tax free insurance coverage.

[edededed]

You sound basically right.

US doctors know what they are doing, and Japanese patients jam up the clinics for stupid things like colds (don't go to the hospital for a stupid cold!!!). Japanese doctors have a tendency on relying on their (well-made) machines and following rote procedures. Japanese medical insurance is pretty good (it covers most things), but it doesn't cover pregnancy/birth and other non-diseases. (However, the government has various programs (depends where you live) to give money for births to encourage people to raise their population.)

Would be nicer if they stopped paying for stupid cold medicine and started to cover alternative care.

[ashe]

so were you using medicaid to help get through college? how did you get enrolled? i would have thought that not being disabled they would have told you to f off.

anyway, i don't see anything wrong with it at all. that's how the system is used best, because on the the other end you came out a highly educated, productive member of society.

i grew up quite poor and basically homeless at times and my mother was on assistance until she got remarried about the time i was 13.

[Mike Strong]

I have Cigna and MetLife through work.

I had to have the wax sucked out of my ears by an Ear ,Nose & Throat Specialist = $20 bucks.

I have a bunch of root canals and gold crowns that have to be done, they pay 50- 75 % .

I also get $2000 worth of preventative medicine that I have to use before the end of the year, ...

... I reckon I'lll get a full on physical with the works.

They also pay for accupuncture and massage.

And we have a free Health Club, ...

... I hear it's pretty nice.

I pay $6 dollars out of every paycheck for the Cigna, and $4 dollars for the MetLife.

That's $22 a month.

[Muad'dib]

Ashe, because I was able to qualify because I was a student with a family. I was actually rather surprised myself, but the loans I got to pay for school and for support did not count as income or savings, and I was well below the line otherwise.

Anyways, as a child from an Immigrant family, I was taught not to leech (I know, MikeC can't believe it), but this was a bit different. I really could not have made it through school without this, particularly with the accidents that kept happening to my family. Really though I think it works best as it was intended to, to help people like myself, or your mother, keep afloat until we can get it together. I will say, having spent a lot of time in the welfare waiting rooms, it does seem that not everyone can do that.

Oh, and a few additional points about Japanese health care. The emergency rooms are frequently closed. that is correct, closed, or staffed only by nurses who basically take your temperature and tell you to wait for the doctor to come in at 10 AM. Even if you've severed a limb.

[Mut]

I really could not have made it through school without this, particularly with the accidents that kept happening to my family.

after reading about the accidents i was going to ask who did you piss off that put the curse on you and yours?!?!