Fibromyalgia pain in thigh holding hands with hip pain?

Made me double check my post @anny-I have been known to make all sorts of typos! I also recommend the pre-op tasting of you favorite whatever! Not too worried about testing. I am in fairly good shape for age, good BMI and no meds for blood pressure, etc. just have to keep ducking the colds going around.
 
Hi @AgilityDog .....I don't understand a lot about other countries' healthcare systems either. I don't think NZ is similar to Australia, or like the US, but I think it morphed from the UK NHS (which I know much more about, as I've only been here 12 years). Over here we 'pay as you go' for the GP (primary doctor in your neck of the woods?)....if he wants you to see a specialist he will refer you on the 'public' system (free, but you have to wait a while) or, if like many people, you have private insurance, you usually get appointments much quicker. The third option is just to pay everything yourself, but of course that is pretty expensive.....my 10min consult with my surgeon is $200, Xrays $150 so quite pleased to be able to whizz those off to the insurance company (I believe the THR is approx $30k NZ). This is for elective and non-urgent stuff.....if you had a sudden massive illness that required you to be hospitalised it would be on the public system. To complicate it further, there is an organisation called Accident Compensation Corporation that is funded by compulsory contributions from our wages.....if you have an accident, from spraining your ankle to a traumatic car crash, ACC will pay for (sometimes with a co-pay) treatment, and if you are off work, they will pay a percentage of your wage. This makes it a bit like an accident insurance, and covers visitors too.....I believe it was set up to stop people suing for accidents with the accompanying massive legal costs (if you have an accident you can't sue the person responsible for it.....I think the downside of that is that some companies then neglect their safety responsibilities cos they can't be sued). Like most insurance companies, it can be a big battle to persuade ACC to pay up, and it seems unfair that you can have 2 people with the same injury.....one has clearly had an accident and is covered, sometimes quite generously, by ACC, and the other is not an accident but maybe due to genetics/disease/age etc, and gets minimal help on the public system. There probably isn't something that works for everybody unfortunately.....always a money problem, but I still struggle with the concept that primary care has to be paid for (never paid for the GP in England).......I volunteer at the Citizen's Advice Bureau and deal with a lot of people who just can't afford to go to the doctor in the first place.....makes me very grateful to be able to afford to do so.

Sorry for the long screed....difficult to explain it in 2 sentences! We could do with a 'sticky' explaining the health systems of various countries, would make some of the posts easier to follow. If I've not been accurate in what I've said, hopefully one of our other NZ members will chime in and correct me :yes:
 
WOW. So many things people post make more sense when you have a little knowledge! I understand the difference between elective and necessary. But, if I understand you correctly unless it's an accident you pretty much have to pay for it. So if it's genetics or a birth defect, then you're stuck with it.?
 
well you don't HAVE to pay for it........if you don't have the money you're in the public system and therefore competing for appointments with many others. You get there in the end but not as fast as if you're insured, and often early diagnosis/treatment is key. I'd love to read an explanation of other countries' systems.....I hear bits about the US on CNN with the fight over changing it, and of course, from US posts here, but it's hard to put the bits together, and although Australia is just across the Tasman, I know very little about theirs either.
 
Thanks for the help understanding your healthcare system. Insurance is not the same from State to State here in the US. One of the reasons is that different States have different laws and that affects the Insurance available. I can give you an example or two if you want.
 
Getting very close to bye bye hip pain.
I know you are anxious/excited.
Make sure to eat well, and stay well!
 
@MammaT and @AgilityDog .....it's hard enough to get your head around one system, but to have to re-learn it every time you move area or company, well.....:yikes: So does it mean if one company turns you down you can (if you have the mental energy!) change to a different company who would do what you want? And if you can do that, do you have an issue with pre-existing conditions not being covered? With ours, they often won't cover pre-existing (and woe betide you if you omit to tell them about it cos they'll discover them when they trawl thro your medical records:whistle:) and you usually have to declare if you have been turned down in the past by anyone else.....any excuse to get out of paying :headbang:).....guess we're all as cynical as each other round the world when it comes to insurance!
 
Sorta @anny . I believe that pre-existing conditions are no longer an issue. I haven't exactly kept up with all the fairly recent changes. One Insurance company does not offer only one plan to everyone. If your employer provides assistance, if you will, with your insurance, then it used to be that the plan you got was chosen by your employer. So, if 'A' doesn't pay for something, that doesn't necessarily mean you need 'B'. Perhaps a different plan with 'A'. However, if your employer has chosen your plan and is paying part of your premium, you may not want to 'go it alone'. You are welcome to send a private message, if you wish. I'm afraid everyone else is probably asleep. @Poodles needs to read this & she can fall asleep & my feelings won't be hurt.

And rules and plans and laws change all the time. I can only share my personal experiences. No suggestions, advice, or guidance from me.
 
Brownies snd chocolate chip cookies count as eating well, ad long as I have a glass of milk with them, correct? @Mojo333

My OS wants all extra vitamin suppliments and mineral suppliments and herbal suppliments discontinued 7 days before surgery. I started my stopping early. :egypdance:
 
Brownies snd chocolate chip cookies count as eating well, ad long as I have a glass of milk with them, correct? @Mojo333
Most certainly! Chocolate is a miracle food.
Milk for calcium
 
Insurance in the states is all about what the plan you have covers. Most companies have different plans that are offered that have different premiums you can pay for slightly different coverages. Basic differences are how much you have for co-pays, out of pocket expenses, major medical and in hospital coverage and if you need referrals to specialists. With mine, for instance, I pay $20 for a doctor visit, $35 if I go to an urgent care. My maximum out of pocket per year is $2500; which basically means I will pay that amount for my surgery.

I am on my employer plan and they pay the bulk of the premium, thankfully.

And yes, chocolate is medicinal @AgilityDog.
 
@AgilityDog nope, the post didn't put me to sleep...darn it!

This is a fascinating conversation and I have learned a lot! Our medical at work, because of Federal law, changed in November. All that sticks in my head is it more expensive and even the "Gold" plan I chose, pays less and has higher deductibles than my prior policy. Sigh. It wasn't the company's fault. But they fell below an arbitrary number of employees on the date they had to report to the insurance company. But, I am happy to have the insurance.
 
No chocolate could be medicinal...only caramel. Fresh, soft, gooey caramel. I have never developed a taste for chocolate and I think I might be lucky. :egypdance:
 
I like Carmel @Poodles but covered in chocolate, I love it. At least I don't die for chips and fries. That would be too many vices! Do the Poodles like Carmel? My buddy drank my glass of milk and small bag of peanut m&ms.
 
@AgilityDog The boys are pretty respectful of our stuff...sorta. Except for Henry who is 14 and has no respect for anything any longer. He used to, but his inhibitions are GONE! Plus he has gone deaf. We love him to pieces.
 
I had just adopted my guy when I left the food and drink within his reach and left the room for a second. A learning experience!
 
Don't forget, chocolate comes from a bean - I count it as a vegetable!
 

BoneSmart #1 Best Blog

Staff online

  • Jaycey
    ADMINISTRATOR Staff member since February 2011

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
65,180
Messages
1,597,061
BoneSmarties
39,364
Latest member
All2Gd88
Recent bookmarks
0

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom