Just found out that a new knee costs $61000

[randr]

In another week get to do it all over again and get a second new one.
Thank God we are only bipeds.
And thank God for Medicare with United Health Care Supplemental.

[abqtommy]

1. Dang, I didn't want to hear that today. I've been wondering about my left knee for awhile now

but I'll have to check out the cost of a used one.

[Blue_true]

25. Go to Tommy's discount knees. Will last you a lifetime, or one month, whichever

comes first.

[Skittles]

2. why are you thanking God

God did not give you Medicare

[abqtommy]

3. I think that's a learned cultural, not literal, response...

[Skittles]

4. a sad one

[randr]

6. For lack of any other expression of relief

Try not to take it literally.

[BigmanPigman]

5. You're lucky you qualify for Medicare. Wish I did.

It would change my like greatly and in various ways. I bet my stress level would drop by half.

[WyattKansas]

7. My surgeon wants to keep injecting my knee to buy time.

I just had a full hip replacement last July. I only regret not wearing an athletic cup going into the OR, since bruising was horrible afterwards.

Amazing how much easier it is to get medical problems taken care of with Medicare, even when compared to blue chip insurance previously.

[jberryhill]

8. Mine were free

[jberryhill]

12. I didn't have any money at the time I got them

[jberryhill]

16. Being born with knees?

It's done for most people.

[SammyWinstonJack]

23. Ha.

[randr]

11. I consider these free as well

since the drugs were the only things that cost anything and even they were dirt cheap

[TwilightZone]

14. Free to you, perhaps.

Not free from a big-picture standpoint. It's being paid for by someone. Depending on the jurisdiction, it's being paid by insurance premiums, taxes, and so on.

[jberryhill]

15. Nope

Nobody paid for my knees.

Even if someone had paid for my knees, the notion that they are still being paid for after all these decades is ludicrous.

[TwilightZone]

18. Was that supposed to be witty?

[jberryhill]

29. Having a rough day?

Is there something I can do to cheer you up?

[randr]

22. If I had a point it would be that if

we all participate, privately or thru Governmental care, we all can know our health care will come easy.
I also recognize that Governmental care is paid for with our taxes. We are all in this together.

[Mariana]

20. Clearly, the word "free" in this context really triggers some folks.

free, adjective, definition 11: provided without, or not subject to, a charge or payment

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/free

FTR, I got that you were talking about your original, standard-issue knees.

[juxtaposed]

9. check prices out of country

[Goodheart]

17. It's a lot less in India and Mexico

[DURHAM D]

19. I assume that is what they billed Medicare.

However, Medicare will only acknowledge/pay a portion of that.

How much? $17,000? $20,000? for the total. Medicare will pay 80% of that.

Do you have a supplemental to pay the 20% remaining?

[randr]

21. Yes, between Medicare and supplimental

all is paid

[DURHAM D]

24. Just curious...

do you have the Medicare Summary Notice that shows what the hospital/surgeon/ etc. charged and what Medicare actually paid?

I always find the inflated billing from the hospitals/doctors/ etc. interesting. I don't know why they do that.

[elleng]

26. About $22,000 in India (about 2 years ago,)

according to my friend (who still won't get one.)

[bern2020]

27. a complete ripoff

by the for-profit healthscam system

[yortsed snacilbuper]

28. It's odd,