Post here if you have health insurance and have received substandard treatment

[jilln]

The purpose is NOT to suggest in any way that having health insurance is as bad as NOT having it. Rather, I am curious about this other aspect of our failed health system. The people who don't have health insurance may not be able to get healthcare, but those of us with it are still victims of the system when we get substandard care. And there's not much that can be done about it, since suing for malpractice is way out of most people's reach and the HMOs just file a report (if that) and continue to pay the doctor.

I'm not really talking about HMOs refusing care, but situations in which you received care that made you sicker or worse. For example:

A coworker's husband nearly lost his foot because of bad medical care
Another coworker's daughter nearly died from brain swelling due to misdiagnosis
I had to have surgery because of a doctor's incompetence
An elderly neighbor was told for years she had lupus and was being treated for it. Turns out she didn't.

[boobooday]

1. I had a nurse replace my saline IV with glucose

And I'm a diabetic. Luckily I had regained consciousness and caught it before I was in a coma.

I was insured. I am insured. I still can't afford my percentage of my numerous medical bills.

[jilln]

2. I don't know anything about that...

but you'd think they'd put each type of IV bag (or whatever they're called) in WILDLY different colors so that kind of mistake wouldn't happen. Do they look the same??

[boobooday]

3. It's all clear fluid in transparent bags -- one has salt -- one has sugar

For me at that moment one meant life, one meant death. I was hospitalized for severe dehydration.

You can only tell if you actually read the writing on the bag. And the only reason I noticed is that I woke up in my hospital room to find that my bag had gone completely dry, and had to call the nurse to refill it.

Otherwise she might have killed me in my sleep.

[tyedyeto]

4. Often having insurance is as bad or worse than having none

I have a $1000 deductible. I can't afford to seek medical care when I need it with that kind of deductible.

I was off work for a week a couple of months ago. It would have cost me 1/2 of a weeks wages just to see my primary care physician. Why go when I lost that entire week's wages?

[jilln]

7. Are you saying with your plan...

you have to pay for EVERYTHING up to $1,000? Or can you go for checkups, etc. with a copayment?

[tyedyeto]

11. The first $1000 is out of pocket... no co-pays until that is met.

I continue to keep it as I am in my mid-50's and I may need some major medical in the future. I've had this coverage for 4 years and have never used it as I can't afford even Doctor's visits but figure it will pay off if something drastic happens.

[RB TexLa]

5. I have a HSA and I wish they would let me purchase substandard care

If they would let you buy health care services that are not as good but cost less money, I'd be all over it. Obviously there would be things one wouldn't want to take the risk with but for most stuff a substandard choice would be well worth considering.

[jilln]

15. I hear you.

Like with my dog and the vet - he gets frequent ear infections and I have to pay for the exam every time. I wish I could just diagnose that myself.

[uppityperson]

6. Of course many have.

relative killed by incompetance of doctor (diagnosed thrombophlebitis yet missed ongoing pulmonary problems due to it)
doctor told me to put warm oil in my ear because couldn't see a rupture in eardrum and the green pus I had must've been earwax
Edited to add, told by specialist that there was no way I could be reacting to medicine or fillers in different meds. Denial I had a problem

However, there are many many more times that I have gotten decent treatment and it has saved my life. The healthcare system is broken. The medical system sucks. Providers are pushed to see more and more, actually do less and less and let more and more go by. Patients wait longer and longer, hard to find providers who will take your insurance or be anything affordable if no insurance. Insurance costs going up up up and ins companies dictating what care can be done. Big Pharm pushing drugs more and more and overworked providers falling back on basic bandaid treatments.

It is all bad.

So, why ask for substandard treatment stories? As a provider, as a patient, they are out there. But please, realize that the answers are not simply, not easy, very frustrating on all sides. Except insurance companies I think.

[smokey nj]

8. My father-in-law had a chest x-ray that showed a spot on his lung.

His doctor ordered a CAT scan. This was in Feb. 2002. His insurance company was HIP and he jumped through hoops for four months trying to get the CAT scan scheduled. When he turned 65 in July and qualified for Medicare, he switched doctors and within 2 weeks he was diagnosed with lung cancer. Unfortunately, the tumor couldn't be removed because of where it was positioned and he died 16 months later.

[leftofthedial]

9. perpetually

A few years ago, I nearly bled to death from a tear in my esophagus. The ER would not transfuse me because then I would have to be admitted (more cost). I missed three weeks of work due to the complications of blood loss.

Now if I go to the doctor, it costs me $75. That's the amount my insurance company refuses for a routine office visit. So, I have insurance, but never use it.

[Ino]

10. My HMO GP tried treating my ear infection for a YEAR...

before he finally gave me a referral to a specialist. The ear doctor found SIX kinds of bacteria in my ear + mastoiditis. Luckily he got it cleared up so I didn't need an operation to drain it.

[Flatulo]

12. I nearly died from a ruptured appendix...

The doctor mis-diagnosed me. I wasn't in severe pain, so he did not draw blood. If he had, the elevated white count would have shown up. He insisted I had gallstones, although no ultrasound was performed.

Instead he kept sending me home for 12 days until I drove myself to the ER where I was correctly diagnosed in 5 minutes.

I was in the hospital for 10 days and almost died from sepsis.

[jilln]

16. That's emerging as a common theme here

Being diagnosed without all the info, to save money. Happened to me too. In my case the doctor didn't even bother to look at my broken bone, just the X-ray. 2 weeks later I'm getting the bone rebroken and a pin inserted because the bone was twisted, which the first "doctor" would have seen had he looked.

Sorry to hear your case got so bad, glad you are OK now.

[Flatulo]

18. Thanks kindly - I have a lovely scar from my schweenie to my navel.

Plus numerous scars from all the holes that had to be drilled in my abdomen to drain the sewage.

That was the worst summer of my life.

[jilln]

19. What a lovely description ;-)

[Roon]

13. My ex had a lump in his armpit..this thing was HUGE!

He went to the DR. and the DR. said it was cat scratch fever. He went to his NP and he immediately ordered a biopsy...turns out it was non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

[jilln]

14. That reminds me of another case

A guy I know went to the ER because he hadn't pooped in a week. They gave him laxatives. It was colon cancer so big it was blocking the intestines. Fortunately he went back the next day in even more severe pain and this time they DID something.

Hope your ex is ok now.

[Roon]

17. My ex has been in remission for about 7 years now

he seems to be doing well.