The American medical establishment is the ONLY one I am aware of that should you want a service, you go into the arrangement rarely, if ever, knowing how much you might pay on the other side.
I refuse to p(l)ay. My wife is medical and we have insurance, but I go to the indigent clinic for any infections I may get and buy a $4 prescription. This same experience with a doctor in a nice area would be lots more, even with insurance. Sure, you can tell these bastards you want no tests, etc., but some won't treat you without them, and most are not needed. Think I have strep? That's one test that's cheap. That and flu a/b. Any others are ridiculously pricey.
I spoke to one of the indigent doctors and asked him how he stays in business making $25, $25 there. He says he's not in it for the money. I believe him. He told me that in everyday doctors' offices, the doctors are convinced by the pharmaceutical sales reps to push product. They can win cruises, cars, etc., based on much drugs they push out the door in RX, so the desire to make money trumps being minimalistic in care. Give me only what's needed for the time being. I don't want long-term drugs and refuse to take them. I will only take antibiotics if I need them and only antibiotics. I will never take meds for high blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. Look at the numbers. The threshholds for these numbers have been lowered in the last decade or two to push RXs.
Like I mentioned in another post, the Americans doctors are the Ferengi of medicine. I refuse to pay more than $25 to see the doctor. I've even had stitches for $25. Try getting that price going to a non-indigent clinic. And, the Mexican and Indian doctors at the clinic have been doctors for over 20 years each. I've never been misdiagnosed.
To those who are sick of paying out the nose, look for the cheaper clinics that serve immigrants. They prefer cash, don't need insurance, and actually treat you like a human being.
I grew up in England. Same deal. In and out, no bill.
The Americans who decry "socialist" medicine have never used it. There has to be a way to divorce health care and profit. English, Aussie, and Kiwi doctors all make about the same pay as American doctors, but they work in a non-profit system. Go figure...
Americans are largely opposed to a system where there is no profit. The Americans are the Ferengi of medicine, this much is certain.
Is this the average doctor or some specialist? The fact that some specialists can hugely profit from the system the same way the hospitals, pharma companies and insurance do, is likely port of the point of the previous comment. The important takeway is the average doctor does likely also not see much of that overhead money that goes to the pockets of a couple individuals and already rich companies.
Our situation is almost identical. I refuse to even go to the doctor unless I have something I suspect is going to be life threatening. My wife thinks I'm nuts, but she understands. I grew up in Europe under the "socialist model" and I miss it dearly.
If I need to go because I have an infection, I go to the indigent clinic, and pay the $25 for anything they need to do. I then go around the corner to the indigent pharmacy and get my $4 RX.
Yes, we have insurance. But it's still so freaking expensive to use it I never go. Insurance premiums, co-pays, RX costs. Why even go unless you HAVE to go. My wife takes the children to see the doctor when they need it. I refuse to go. I've not had a physical since the early 90s and I don't plan on going. I refuse to enrich the system. Now that the mandate has been undone, I may drop myself and cover my family alone. I can always go to the indigent clinic. Anything more serious and I just cannot afford to pay. I do not want to leave my family in medical bankruptcy or massive debt. It really sucks that in America, one has to first consider whether one can afford to visit the doctor in the first place. And I cannot convince my wife to consider living in Europe or Australia, both places we could easily move to and adapt with our relative skill sets.
While I admire your principles, it seems that by not getting physicals, you appear to be trading off your health for your principles. It is a choice for you to make but might I suggest that if the insurance/healthcare that you get is too expensive, it might be worth making an annual trip to a suitable country to get the physical done. Alternatively, consider paying a doctor with cash for a pre-negotiated price.
These are unsolicited suggestions on my part but my concern is that by not getting these physicals, which arguably have a significant impact in early detection of preventable diseases such as high cholesterol, you are endangering your life. Just my opinion.
I refuse to p(l)ay. My wife is medical and we have insurance, but I go to the indigent clinic for any infections I may get and buy a $4 prescription. This same experience with a doctor in a nice area would be lots more, even with insurance. Sure, you can tell these bastards you want no tests, etc., but some won't treat you without them, and most are not needed. Think I have strep? That's one test that's cheap. That and flu a/b. Any others are ridiculously pricey.
I spoke to one of the indigent doctors and asked him how he stays in business making $25, $25 there. He says he's not in it for the money. I believe him. He told me that in everyday doctors' offices, the doctors are convinced by the pharmaceutical sales reps to push product. They can win cruises, cars, etc., based on much drugs they push out the door in RX, so the desire to make money trumps being minimalistic in care. Give me only what's needed for the time being. I don't want long-term drugs and refuse to take them. I will only take antibiotics if I need them and only antibiotics. I will never take meds for high blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. Look at the numbers. The threshholds for these numbers have been lowered in the last decade or two to push RXs.
Like I mentioned in another post, the Americans doctors are the Ferengi of medicine. I refuse to pay more than $25 to see the doctor. I've even had stitches for $25. Try getting that price going to a non-indigent clinic. And, the Mexican and Indian doctors at the clinic have been doctors for over 20 years each. I've never been misdiagnosed.
To those who are sick of paying out the nose, look for the cheaper clinics that serve immigrants. They prefer cash, don't need insurance, and actually treat you like a human being.