My healthy 18 y/o had an cyst on her fallopian tube. Emergency surgery: $35,000

[K8-EEE]

Our cost: zero.

This is because she is on her dad's UNION insurance.

His dues are $400 a year and this provides excellent health insurance for the whole family. And yes he works for an industry that uses Union labor (motion picture/television) and makes a profit.

So next time you see one of those GOP ads about what a big rip-off union dues are, ask yourself: If you didn't have that bargaining power, who is going to secure these necessary benefits for you? The employer out of the goodness of their heart? It's never been that way and never will be.

There should be universal healthcare for everyone. Until that day--be happy if you have a union fighting for your benefits!

[XemaSab]

1. .

:toast:

(And here's to hoping your daughter is okay. :pals:)

[northofdenali]

2. You got lucky in one way -

She didn't have to be flown to her destination because of no competent physicians available locally.

My husband's flight to Anchorage from Fairbanks - on a standard airline, about $100 - was $17,459. The flight took 35 minutes.

[DeepBlueC]

3. wow

[roguevalley]

8. northofdenali, that sucks. doesn't surprise me though. Been to Providence many

times, my mom passed there. good hospital. I am delighted that the op got good results and that their daughter is good to go. That is good news. UNION NOW! UNION FOREVER!

[northofdenali]

42. Got that right about Providence, rogue -

fanTASTic hospital, but even though Guardian Flight are true angels, their charges are not. Our insurance company paid less than 10% of the full fee.

[K8-EEE]

19. Ouch! But believe it or not her 3 mile ambulance ride cost

$2,000!

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

22. A 0.5 mile ambulance ride sitting in the jumpseat cost my city $1,500 when I was injured on a fire.

[DeepBlueC]

4. what union?

I'm a Steelworker myself.

[Fridays Child]

12. I'd like to know, too...

...if only to hold it up as a model of what collective bargaining can, and should, accomplish. Health insurance through the teachers' union, in my district, is ridiculously expensive, and the coverage is unimpressive in the extreme.

[K8-EEE]

17. Animation Guild

They get basically SAG/AFTRA benefits -- Motion Picture Health.

[dysfunctional press]

5. is she still in school?

otherwise- at what age does the union no longer consider her to be part of the 'whole family'?

i was covered on my father's union(operating engineers, local 150) insurance after i turned 18- as long as i was enrolled in school.
and even then, i think that it limited the age to 24 or 25.

[K8-EEE]

15. Yes she is in college n/t

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

6. .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cehLiGxguQI&feature=related

I think I like the original Billy Bragg version a bit better, but I couldn't find the studio version on Youtube.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

7. Emergency surgery for a cyst, I've heard of them for tubal pregnancies.

Learn something new everyday.

David

[EmilyAnne]

10. Yep. Happened to my cousin. I had never heard of it before. nt

[K8-EEE]

21. They said it was quite rare & only happens one out of every million cysts!

Mosts ovarian cysts just fix themselves apparently -- which is why the campus health center kept sending her back to her dorm with more painkillers be she was experiencing pain & internal bleeding like an epoctic (SP?) pregnancy.

[Marrah_G]

32. Has to be really large.

I also think it can be genetic. My daughter and I both had this as young teens.

[glinda]

40. I had one one the size of a small grapefruit in my late 20's. Went to a regular & holistic

Doctor who instructed me that if it broke and there was a lot of blood or I started bleeding, I would need emergency surgery. He gave me a couple of weeks on this. It broke while I was hauling wood. I was lucky but it was on a fallopian tube. I can attest to that they cause pain that is unbearable. They are often misdiagnosed also.

[FloridaJudy]

14. If a cyst gets twisted

It cuts off blood flow to the ovary, and that's a surgical emergency. Ovarian cysts are surprising common in young women, and occasionally one goes bad.

BTW, every once in a while the same thing happens to a testicle. You can start cringing now, guys.

[K8-EEE]

16. Yeah that's what happened and it was awfully painful

poor thing!

[cherokeeprogressive]

27. Twisted Cyst Ah! n/t

[Maru Kitteh]

25. I had the same thing happen when I was 17. Dropped me to the floor while I was standing in line for

lunch. One of the most painful experiences of my life. Thought I was dying.

[madokie]

26. Just happened to one of our friends too

Emergency surgery and all.

[Marrah_G]

31. I had this surgery when I was 13

They thought it was my appendix and were surprised after they opened me up.

My daughter had it when she was 12, by then there were tests to determine exactly what is was.

We both lost fallopian tubes because of the cysts, but our Ovaries were saved.

The cysts get twisted and cut off blood supplies leading to the death of the organ.

If a cysts is over 8 or 10 centimeters they will operate.

The pain from these cysts is worse then childbirth.

[FloridaJudy]

38. A good argument for birth control pills!

Oral contraceptives dramatically reduce the incidence of benign ovarian cysts. As you found out, even 'benign' ones can turn nasty every once in a while. When it happens, the results can be excruciatingly painful as well as dangerous.

Been there, done that, and yes - even childbirth pales in comparison.

[Marrah_G]

39. Yes- they put my daughter on them after the surgery.

[Orrex]

9. Unions are responsible for EVERY benefit that workers enjoy

Union members have fought and died to secure workers' rights. It is an insult and a dishonoring of their sacrifice to diminish the struggles they endured.

We have Unions to thank for health insurance and such luxuries as the 40-hour work week.


The GOP and anyone who says otherwise can go fuck themselves.

[Lugnut]

13. +1

Employers who offer benefits comparable to union benefits do so only to keep the union organizers away.

[K8-EEE]

20. That's correct, even people not in a Union enjoy the benefits they fought for!

I am so grateful for those who came before us.

[kath]

23. AB-SO-LUTE-LY! It can't be said enough -

"Unions are responsible for EVERY benefit that workers enjoy."

[sarcasmo]

30. Say it proud and loud.

[driver8]

36. Right on, Orrex...right on. n/t

[redqueen]

37. Damn straight.

It's a shame that fighting and dying is necessary simply to get decent and humane treatment, but greed truly knows no bounds.

[NNN0LHI]

46. +100

[EmilyAnne]

11. So glad she got such great care and hope she is recovering well! nt

[K8-EEE]

18. Thank you yes she got excellent care and is coming home for Easter! Yay! n/t

[ellie]

24. My dad was a union

glassworker. He died in 1998. My mom still gets health insurance from the company he worked for, thanks to the union. I am sure the repukes would be happy if she died in the street, being pro-life and all.

[Fire1]

28. SOLIDARITY!! You can't beat it!!!

[Marrah_G]

My children are covered by the Teamsters

We need more Unions, not less.

[sarcasmo]

29. Third party that represents Labor. Proud Union supporter.

[D-Lee]

33. Union plans really important -- look at the poor auto retirees with employer plans

The auto retirees are in a really rought spot!

[Pithy]

34. So glad that she is okay

and that you were able to get treatment.

[driver8]

35. I am in the same union -- amazing health coverage for my family and me.

Whenever we go to a doctor and present our card, the person usually says "Oh, Motion Picture...they're the best!"

I thank my lucky stars every day for my union and the health care that it provides for my family.

The GOP can kiss my ass!!

[nichomachus]

41. I had to have a biopsy on my vocal cords

In and out procedure. I was in the hospital outpatient center for three hours. I got an IV, a snip of the vocal cords, a cup of ice, a tissue, and a hearty goodbye at the door three hours later -- $24,000.

[northofdenali]

43. K8-EEE, after the pipeline fiasco

Alaska went strictly right-to-work. Our unions are small and hold very little sway, and most union members must work non-union jobs to get by. The big unions who held all the power during the pipeline buildup ensured that the rest of us would be fucked for evermore.

[fujiyama]

44. Hope she fully recovers from surgery

and good to hear she was able to get the care she needed.

There is something wrong with a country, when a surgery costs $35,000. That's absolutely insane. I mean, unless her hospital room is the freaking Plaza, it's so evident there are so many greedy, undeserving, unnecessary middle managerial bean counting fucks profiting in this system.

People in this country are pretty stupid in fearing "socialized medicine". It's very irritating discussing things with conservatives ( but this issue in particular). They don't really have any good arguments in keeping this health "care" system we have.

Unfortunately, it looks like Senate Dems are worthless ass holes and won't really move on this issue. Instead we'll stick with this bizarre concept of health insurance tied with employment.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

45. Rethugs don't think you deserve such coverage

Only billionaires and CEO's and trust fund babies should be able to have such health coverage, not working grunts.