The High Costs of Medical Tests

I spent most of the day yesterday making appointments and such for everyone for the new year. I also spent way more time than I wanted to going over everyone’s different medical insurance updates for 2019. I swear there are times when I am reading all of it that I feel like I need some sort of advanced degree to understand it. One thing that I do understand is the costs of various medical tests has gone up.

I don’t understand that at all. For example my mother can go see her primary care doctor next years for $5 but she has to like 20% of the costs of x-rays. I know that x-rays cost more but it seems like there is a way to bring the costs down. I had to have an MRI and called around until I found a center that did it for $600. While, $600 is still more than I would have liked to spend it was still less than the $1200 other places were asking.

I read recently that Alex Shivraj is working with others to diagnose diseases quicker but at a more affordable cost. That is something that makes me so happy. While I realize that most the tests for various diseases are some that we may never need (fingers crossed) I know how important those tests are. The fact that some people need them but can’t afford them is unreal.

I am worried about next year some. My mother has cataracts that need to be repaired. We found them over the summer and the doctor wanted her to wait until her Medicare kicked in (which happened at the beginning of this month) because the cost would be less. While I appreciate that consideration her eyes have gotten worse. In fact, I recently caught in the bathroom putting some eye drops in and she almost poked her eye out. She couldn’t see the end of the dropper was almost on her eye.

So I got an appointment at the eye doctor because she needs a referral and the Lord only know what other tests we are going to have to have done. I have been attempting to plan on them and figure them into my budget. However since most of the tests she pay a percentage of I can’t figure it out. Mostly because they don’t know what all may need to be done now until they see her.

That leaves me at a disadvantage. Not to mention we have to pay $45 per specialist she sees. So that is $90 right off the bat since she is seeing her regular eye doctor who is not a surgeon and then has to the see the surgeon. We then have to pay for the tests because her regular doctor caring extra for one of the tests. I can’t remember which one but I know I had to pay more when she had it done before. Then, is the surgeon going to do more tests and charge more? You can see why I have been ready to pull my hair out.

I know that this isn’t my typical sort of post or even rant. I try to remain neutral on all topics if possible but this is something just irked me yesterday and I felt I needed to share. While I am more than thrilled that people like Alex Shivraj are working towards a better solution I am still frustrated. The good news is I have gotten it out of my system and can leave it all in 2018. I will be ready when the new year comes, armed with knowledge. Not to mention a much smaller wallet.