Quote:
Originally Posted by pshrynk
The difference between an office visit (about $100-200) and an Urget Care / ER visit (about $1000 - 1500) is that the UC/ER is alwyas open, doesn't take appointments, and is there for the walk-in trade. Also, UC/ER deals with more "urgent" types of things, such as Ricky's arm falling off from gangrene caused by a scorpion sting and exacerbated by self-surgery. (Add to you list of things to read "Bag Balm and Duct Tape.")
Some day, when I'm bored, I'll start a thread on health care in America so you can see the depths of feeling about this. If you thought the Blatantly Political Rant was entertaining...
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Now of course, the problem with appointments is getting them. I had my stroke on a Tuesday. I called my doctor, I told his desk staff that I had a stroke. They told me the first available appointment was on Friday.
So ... I went in on Friday, and they realized I had had a stroke (oh my ... you think???) Suddenly I'm an "ermergency." I asked them why, if I wasn't an emergency on Tuesday, they were going to treat me as such on Friday.
That was back when I still had insurance. Gate keepers is what they call those doctors. Gate keepers. Like letting you get medical care is some exclusive club.
Huh ... trash truck is really early today.
Quote:
Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel
looking forward to that one.
100$-200$ is certainly better than 1000$ but still makes my eyeballs pop out of my head (now would that be a case for Urgent Care / ER ?).
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As mentioned, the minor emergency visits are not that expensive out here. It's the surgery and antibiotics that will kill you (unless they are generic and on Walmart's list). There aren't that many doctors out this way ... and few, if any, actual hospitals. Most of the doctors come up one day (sometimes two days) a week to see patients. Otherwise, you go to Fredericksburg or Austin for medical care. (Although, I did notice a very small hospital in Burnett ... but that's almost the same drive time as Austin.)
The antibiotics appear to be working. The redness has stopped spreading and is actually diminishing. Also, the itching is getting manageable with calamine. It looks like I'm going to survive. Hooray. (As the little rabbit says "clapity clapity".) This is a very good thing because I don't want to miss the party tonight. Never a good thing to miss a free meal.
