It costs us a copay of $15 per doctor visit and sometimes I'm quick to complain about it. After all I'm old enough to remember when $15 could get you a complete physical. But I still complain. We've had doctors who understood my rancor about co-pays and made sure I walked out of his office with a prescription, an order for lab work, or a referral to another specialist. I've tried to tell them a "no need to find something that isn't there". I need to figure out a way to get across the message that a "NO" diagnosis is all right.
Today was a good example. I have been experiencing bursts of high blood pressure lately so I did two things: started lowing weight and went to see my doctor. My doctor ordered dozens of lab tests, a couple of x-rays, one new medication, and a consult with a erndochrinoligist. Only one test showed any abnormality and that was within expectations.
So Tuesday Carolyn & I paid our $15 and got a pretty thorough examination at the end of which the doctor said, "You look in good health." Did I pay $15 for nothing?
I've had no car accidents in the last two years. Was the money I paid for car insurance for nothing? In modern society much (almost most) of what we pay is not for the actual goods but for protection against a catastrophic need.
ReplyDeleteMy $15 co-pay for an annual physical is better than the $45 my foreign exchange student had to pay Med 7 a few years ago so she could play sports. 8^)
ReplyDeleteI'm happy you got a clean bill of health!