re: #356 lawhawk

The concern is that if you have health care, you’re going to overuse it?

Well, that’s not unfounded. People who finally have stable health coverage are likely to go to the doctor more frequently at the outset, because they’ve delayed/deferred treatment for ailments. But as they get healthier, their use will go down.

Given the specialization stuff if you have an ailment you will get a lot of doctor visits.

My recent anecdote in this regard:
Right knee swells unexpected and painfully. (Could be gout, could be something else.)

I ride it out for a day or so, but then opt to visit an emergency room given that it could be something serious. That results in an X-ray an ultrasound while there plus a recommendation to see an orthopedist. No blood clot, but potentially a ligament issue of some sort. (This info is also communicated to my GP, just in case.)

Visit to orthopedist results in a “it is probably X, maybe Y. You should get an MRI done and then set up another appointment.” Once the insurance approved it I then go to another location and get the MRI done. Then make another appointment with the orthopedist.

(To make things fun at this point - my right knee swelling is down almost to normal. But my left knee now decides it wants to play the same game and swells up. So I’m limping about using a cane or crutches and a heavy knee brace. And… this is going on while I am doing prep for a colonoscopy.)

MRI result is a mild meniscus tear plus some accumulated wear and tear in other places; e.g. age. (Remember folks, the warranty on the human body expires at age 40.) Orthopedist mentions arthroscopic surgery as an option, but I pretty much nix that right there. So we settle for a cortisone shot and a follow-up visit a month later.

Right knee has been fine since. Left one got better and then did a repeat about a week ago.

So, one knee issue resulted in five medical visits (emergency room, MRI, and 3 visits to an orthopedist). And arguably that was for something fairly minor in scope.