Medical Cost

[QRTRHRS]

We are almost to the end of a dead end road with maybe a dozen homes. Mostly retired folks. Most if not all homeowners are armed. Retired sheriff lives here as does my counties former jailer. A few families with children too young to be out alone. Mostly, the thefts have been gifts sent from our son in far northern NY state. Our mail gets routed through Knoxville, TN even locally mailed items. We have discussed the issue with the postmaster's on both ends. Not much that they can do. Our carriers go out of their way if needed. I don't think it's them.

We have a good relationship with our pharmacy's team. We get our vaccinations there. Our doctor's are in the same city. If we need say a dose of antibiotics, we can leave the doctor's office and go pick it up. No delay's.

 

[ultrarunner]

Several times I have found Area mail strewn around walking… someone follows the letter carrier and scoops up the days mail.

Locking boxes pried open with video of the car and plate…

When I have a parcel it is sent to work… or I use my folks address because back in the 1950’s their area was laid out with the mail drop in garage door slots…

The roadside boxes are the most vulnerable…

Had late fee for HOA dues because the full size postal box about a mile away was sawn clean off and carted away… I saw it missing but never thought my letter was stolen until I got dinged 10 days later with a $50 late fee for missed payment…

I can see prescriptions by mail being hit or miss… especially in urban areas…

 

[thclimer]

What do you do with a script that needs to be refrigerated or should not be frozen? Here in NY a road side mail box in the summer sun can easily melt a chocolate bar and freeze a water bottle solid on -10 deg F winter day?

 

[LouNY]

My wife has had a couple of mailed prescriptions, they used very good packing with lots of insulation and in the summer gel packs to keep them cool.

 

[techman]

Last week I caught Covid (my first time) Got to the doctor the same day to get Paxlovid. My wife whet to the pharmacy to pick it up. "List price" was $ 1777, and my cost with a part D drug plan was $ 695 ! The idiot running the FDA apparently decided that the subsidies were no longer needed. Given that most people needing Paxlovid are retired (highest risk group) and they should bear the burden of the high cost for a potentially devastating illness.

Paul

 

[MarkF48]

My wife and I got COVID in Dec '24 (I'm 76, wife 71). Our PCP recommended not getting Paxlovid as the strain that was circulating was usually mild and she suggested just riding it out unless the symptoms got worse. I just checked my insurance coverage cost (CVS/Silverscript part D drug plan) for Paxlovid out of curiosity. If the symptoms got worse not sure I'd want to wait for mail order to arrive.

 

[gsganzer]

I've never been a single-issue voter, but the medical costs in this country are becoming something I can no longer ignore and are beginning to move to the forefront of my voting considerations.

I'm a logical person, so when I see inflation running at a average of 3%, but medical costs keep increasing at a rate double that, there has to be a solution.

 

[ultrarunner]

The solution would require a broad approach because many factors figure.

Dominant Market Share when few providers control a market

The very high cost of US Malpractice Insurance

Training more Doctors, Nurses and related health care professionals.

The incredibly high cost to attempt to bring a drug to market.

Ever increasing regulatory requirements making the days of a sole practitioner nearly impossible.

The high cost of medical school.

The ever increasing regulatory fee burdens.

The mandate emergency care be provided without regard to reimbursement.

The high cost and delays in processing insurance payments.

Other professions pay better with much lower cost of entry siphon off brightest and best.

The tremendous cost of implementing technology…

 

[ponytug]

Nailed it.

 

[ruffdog]

.........and the medical industry has changed from a "service" to a "for profit".