Bitter Pill

Parent Cafe
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<p>Sounds good to me…</p>

<p>Besides healthcare, what about the rest of the cost of living in Spain compared to the US?</p>

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<p>Won’t need cars like we do here because of where we live (no public transport), most things a lot less. Our retirement $$ should go far. We plan to rent first until we find a neighborhood convenient to what we want. Public transport is excellent and cheap. If we want to visit the family still in Madrid, the high speed train will get us there in 1h45min. Mostly I plan to be a beach bum/grandma for year, to start.</p>

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<p>Very nice. Enjoy…</p>

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<p>Thanks. Since I’m not retired yet, I need to get off CC. Work comes early in the morning.</p>

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<p>Middle daughter had a summer long paid internship on the southern coast of Spain. Loved it! How exciting for you!</p>

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<p>Sounds like a dream, glo. My mom is originally from Spain and retains Spanish citizenship. She has very seriously considered retiring there. </p>

<p>I know spouses have perks but what about kids? :smiley: lol</p>

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<p>gloworm, it sounds wonderful. We’re very fond of Spain, have been there several times and two of our Ds did study abroad there.</p>

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<p>Glad to see this getting attention. Charlie Rose interviewed Steven Brill (author af the “Bitter Pill” article) the other day…</p>

<p>[Charlie</a> Rose - Steven Brill](<a href=“http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/12792]Charlie”>http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/12792)</p>

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<p>Wow, sounds like a great plan to me! Being near your loved ones and having access to great health care is pretty much what it’s all about. Glad your $$ will stretch with your relocation as well.</p>

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<p>Shoboemom, thanks for the link. I am going to watch it later.</p>

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<p>[Thousands</a> of Spanish medical workers protest healthcare cuts, privatization (VIDEO, PHOTOS) ? RT News](<a href=“http://rt.com/news/spain-health-care-protests-424/]Thousands”>http://rt.com/news/spain-health-care-protests-424/)</p>

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<p><a href=“http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/aug/31/nhs-rationing-risking-lives-doctors-leader[/url]”>http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/aug/31/nhs-rationing-risking-lives-doctors-leader&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p><a href=“Businessweek - Bloomberg”>Businessweek - Bloomberg;

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<p>If medically unnecessary testing detects something that results in invasive treatment for something that is ultimately found not to be a problem, then wouldn’t that also be a legal risk? Especially if the medically unnecessary testing could be the cause of some other problem (e.g. cancer after numerous unnecessary X-rays).</p>

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<p>Thanks, everyone. Looking forward to it.</p>

<p>poetgrl, I follow the situation daily.</p>

<p>H will pass Time to me when he finishes the article.</p>

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<p>Another article on the subject:
[American</a> doctors are overpaid: Medicare is cheaper than private insurance because it pays doctors less and that?s great. - Slate Magazine](<a href=“http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2013/02/american_doctors_are_overpaid_medicare_is_cheaper_than_private_insurance.html]American”>American doctors are overpaid: Medicare is cheaper than private insurance because it pays doctors less and that’s great.)</p>

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<p>Zoosermom, I think that is a great article…</p>

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<p>I thought of you when I read it and considered that it might be worth your time.</p>

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<p>Thanks. I am glad you posted the article…</p>

<p>“When it comes to the federal budget, Medicare is a problem. An uncapped commitment to finance the health care needs of elderly Americans is a big challenge for an aging country. But when it comes to the question of health care costs overall, Medicare is the solution. Its vast bargaining clout lets it get much better prices than any private insurer, and we should be relying on it more to pay our bills, not less.”</p>

<p>I like the whole article…</p>

<p>I know people disagree…</p>

<p>But
I think we have to look at costs to the American public and not just givt costs.</p>

<p>The doctor issue is interesting…
My kids’ doctor probably doesn’t make much more than 100,000 a year.
My former cardiologist…was getting about 40 bucks a visit from me…except…along with partners, he owned all this diagnostic equipment that he fed his patients through. I am sure many tests were warranted, but the equipment is sitting there…and 40 bucks isn’t a lot.</p>

<p>I don’t know what my cardiologist makes but it is more than 100,000 a year. I think he
should make more than 100,000 a year. A lot more than 100,000 a year…</p>

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<p>I don’t think the American people have absorbed this message. Not when they go into the ER with a severe headache or find a tiny “ditzle” on a scan. Most Americans want and insist on more scans/treatments/tests and consider that to be good health care. When the radiation accumulates from all those CT scans, that becomes just another health care problem to solve. </p>

<p>And we are escalating. Better and newer scanning equipment, tests, drugs, etc. Is it any wonder that prices are going up and up? Funny how it’s a lot like college tuition.</p>

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<p><a href=“https://www.aamc.org/initiatives/fixdocshortage/[/url]”>https://www.aamc.org/initiatives/fixdocshortage/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>[Plumber</a> or doctor, which pays more? - Frisco Financial Planning LLC](<a href=“http://christianmoneytalk.com/plumber-or-doctor-which-pays-more]Plumber”>http://christianmoneytalk.com/plumber-or-doctor-which-pays-more)</p>

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Well that’s good as long as you don’t feel stalked and harassed now that you know that I know that you work naked.</p>

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I think this is a very important point that gets often overlooked.</p>

<p>You know, on each particular topic, I think a healthy society would consider every aspect and every possible solution. Consideration doesn’t mean acceptance and it can be completely respectful and informative to consider Option A and ultimately decide against it. Healthcare is emotionally fraught, to begin with, but when taking offfense by this one or tha is added into the equation it becomes impossible to have a conversation about important issues.</p>

<p>Maybe doctors make too much, maybe they don’t make enough, maybe a little of both but it’s certainly ok to discuss. I think it is necessary to be discussed.</p>

<p>I think the overuse of services is also an important issue to discuss. I’ve seen a couple of studies (certainly not determinative overall) which say that among some populations, requiring certain exams to be done annually doesn’t actually save money or improve outcomes, so that should be discussed, too.</p>