I'm sick of this myth that people in other countries hate free health care

[csziggy]

35. And here I am in the US with private insurance waiting for knee replacement

I was told by my physical therapist that it was time on Feb 7. It took two weeks to see my old orthopedic surgeon. He referred me to the surgeon in the practice that does knee replacements. It took two weeks for them to call me to make my first appointment, a month after that to actually SEE the doctor.

Now I'm waiting for the lab work so they can call me to start the process to schedule the surgery. I hope I can get the surgery scheduled by June for the first knee. Then I start all over again for the second knee since the doctor is worried about doing both at the same time.

And since my doctors are not 'in network' I get the privilege of paying 30% out of pocket up to $10,500 PLUS whatever my doctor charges above what the insurance company chooses to pay. I might be able to negotiate with the doctor and save some money but it's guaranteed to be a big chunk of change out of my pocket. That's why I will be working really hard to recover from the first surgery fast - that $10,500 is max out of pocket per year, so if both are done the same year I will save money.

I bet in Canada (and most other developed countries with a sane health care system) even if the wait is as long as I will have the patient will not have to struggle to PAY for the care as much as I will have to.