Medicare wastes time and money

Open letter to Congressman Dennis Moore:

A recent speech by President Obama stated something to the effect that insurance companies have to be more accountable. Recently I had to drive 30 miles to have my two knee injections because Medicare will not allow both knees to be injected on the same office call. Here is what happens:

Medicare pays for six office calls rather than three.

I make six trips instead of three — 90 extra miles at 55 cents a mile totaling $49.50.

I contribute to “global warming.”

My lost time is three hours.

Doctors and staff lose time they could have been serving other patients.

And your party is going to make the insurance industry accountable? With the exception of the armed forces, every government program is failing. And your party is going to solve the health problem?

Ron Dillon 
Lenexa

Comments

[JoCo]

I should and MUST clarify that my BC/BS Traditional, THRU GM,forces Medicare on me and makes it primary. How's THAT for public underwriting of private insurers that has long existed. Hardly new, it's really quite quaint.

[JoCo]

Agreed!! I SHOULD recognize that by now.LOL

But I really was curious, just because I self-file and try to keep up. Thanks

[Kate]

JoCo, I was just being kind of snarky with my post, but I suspect that somehow, some way, Dillon’s getting his $.55 a mile out of us.

[JoCo]

Kate,

I haven't looked. Are those mileage rates for business or work-related expenses? If so, then they likely only apply after a threshold, maybe 2.25%. If not, I'm fairly sure they're not allowable rates for claiming mileage to and from the doctor until you surpass the medical expense threshold, around 7%, I think.

It's been my experience that the given rate x your tax bracket rate = about what you will spend in cash.

[EL]

The only purpose of government is to waste money and time
Yes we can.

[Kate]

“Is the government responsible for the letter writers outrageous transportation costs?”
Yep. IRS guidelines set the standard mileage rate for operating a car, van, pickup or panel truck at $.55 effective 1-1-09.

[JoCo]

It's possible that paid insurance may have similar limits as Medicare, e.g. yearly caps on injections, which would, of course, give you choice; whether to have both done fewer times. you should see how Medicare covers when you have paid secondary-- my BC/BS traditional forces Medicare to be primary.
If, in fact, EVERY gov't program is failing except the military, those roots are in the dedication of revenue to the post-911 actions, not any misguided priorities proven of this administration..yet.

[hajkar]

Is the government responsible for the letter writers outrageous transportation costs? What is his party doing to address the problems with health care or "global warming"?

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

If it makes sense, you can rest assured government has nothing to do with it.

[hajkar]

55 cents a mile?