Got my blood pressure checked - cost me $135 - That is ridiculous!!

[leftyladyfrommo]

This is the first time I have only had high deductible insurance and I have to pay for all of my own office visits up to $1500.

I go to a clinic.

$135 just to get my blood pressure checked and get a prescription renewal. I would hate to see the bill if I broke something. I figure I would probably just have to figure out how to put on my own cast.

[MissMillie]

1. you could buy your own monitor for less than that

of course, you'd still need someone to write the prescription.

[leftyladyfrommo]

5. I have my own monitor. But I need the pills.

But according to our stupid, fucking president, we all have health care - just go to the emergency room.

Like they don't bill you $1,000 for that visit.

One thing - because my insurance doesn't pay anything the clinic gave me a 20% discount - so I only owe $95.

[Lyric]

2. Good grief

I'd just go sit in the free blood pressure chair thingy at the local K-Mart :hi:

[KitchenWitch]

3. But who would you get to renew your prescription?

[Gidney N Cloyd]

4. If your prescription's been working to keep your BP down, how would...

...they tell from a BP check that you needed the prescription?

[leftyladyfrommo]

6. If my blood pressure is in the normal range and I have been

taking the medication then they know the medication is working.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

10. But how do they know you've been taking the medication?

[leftyladyfrommo]

11. You just tell them you have. n/t

[DS1]

7. they have them free in some department stores

even Beavis can do it

[skygazer]

8. Amazing, isn't it?

For what?

I had neck surgery a few years ago and I got an itemized bill (I always ask for an itemized bill - I don't know why. Masochist, I guess).

I can't remember the exact numbers now but something like $25 for a Tylenol. One Tylenol and not the kind with codeine. :eyes:

Sure, there's nothing wrong with our healthcare system. :banghead:

[leftyladyfrommo]

9. This is has really been an eye opener for me.

I think it is $100 to just walk in the door at the emergency room.

Why bother to get any tests done - can't afford any kind of treatment.

[grasswire]

12. the government is in league with the profession.

It's a racket. The government mandates that you must see the middleman to approve your prescriptions. The middleman donates money to politicians. It's a racket. I believe in a no-nanny-state approach to meds. No prescription required. Let people educate themselves if they don't know what to take. Let them CHOOSE to pay a doctor to make recommendations, or not. Let those who educate themselves decide what to take. That's the way it is in many countries of the world. I would be perfectly happy supervising my own regimen. I have to pay the doctor to renew my scripts, as it is.

[BrotherBuzz]

13. Prescription renewals can be done over the phone. Heck, I was instructed by my Oncologist's RN....

to let the Pharmacist and her communicate directly to ease the whole bureaucracy. It has been working well for me for all drugs except the 'Triple copy' restricted drugs (the fun stuff) that the doctor, himself, has to fill out in triplicate, by hand.

[Roon]

14. The meds my Grandmother is on requires her to get her blood pressure checked

once a week. She told her doctor, the HELL with that!!! I will check it at home. She bought her own blood pressure checker and she is doing fine with it.