Today’s blog won’t reflect statistics, politics, or polls. What it will reflect is a personal experience shared through an aging senior couple who can attest first hand to the effects of Obama-Care’s October 1, 2012, policy changes and how they are now being affected by them through the Medicare program. To protect their identity, I’ll call them Bob and Sue. However, rest assured they are not fictitious characters, and their story will likely be, unfortunately, repeated silently for years to come should Obama-Care continue.
Bob is 78 years old and suffers from heart disease, type II diabetes, high blood pressure and severe obesity. Sue is significantly healthier than Bob but suffers from minimal age related symptoms. Due to Bob’s obesity a recent fall required ambulatory assistance and immediate hospital care. Within a few short hours, Bob was sent home but only to fall, again, at least three more times which left him rendered on the floor until the emergency team could rescue him. After the initial fall, the EMT’s only offered to return Bob to his bed or chair but not to the hospital. In speaking with Sue, she believes the reasons Bob is not receiving any further care, treatment or consideration for admission into a nursing home are highly due to the recent changes in Medicare.
Currently, Bob visits his doctor almost every month, but those visits are slowly being narrowed down to less frequent returns, and Sue seems to know why. “They’ll be sued if he keeps going back to the hospital,” Sue said. I quickly corrected her and explained that hospitals are "not being sued” but are facing stiff penalties lest they not provide quality care during hospital visits, which later require the patient to return within 30 days. But here’s the kicker: Sue say’s his personal physician and emergency room doctors aren’t even recommending entry into either a hospital or nursing home, even though Bob’s condition is significantly worsening daily.
Another keen observation Sue shared with me was from their recent emergency room visit. “There was this room surrounded by glass, filled with doctors sitting at computers. When I asked the nurse what they were doing, she explained they were analyzing and reviewing the incoming patient’s condition before they went to see them to diagnose, treat and evaluate them in person.” I informed Sue that the process wasn’t so unusual, especially given the amount of patients who come through an emergency room and how their symptoms and conditions are collected/reported back to a doctor before the patient is seen. However, Sue wasn’t buying my explanation. “The doctor barely spent any time with us when he came in the room and seem to hurry back to the glass room.” You can't fool a senior citizen, I thought to myself as I silenced my response.
Upon leaving the hospital, Sue and Bob returned home, but only to have Bob fall again and again. With Bob’s condition worsening, I asked Sue what she was going to do now that Bob can’t walk, falls down constantly and appears to be experiencing mounting symptoms (i.e. Hallucinations). “I don’t know, since Medicare isn’t allowing Bob to re-enter the hospital or a nursing home.” I asked if her doctor had any prognosis or recommendations for Bob. Sue simply replied, “No.” I urged her to make a list of Bob’s current condition, to keep a diary of his falls and response to medicine, so that his doctor could have enough evidence to admit Bob for more intensive care. Overwhelmed, Sue simply looked lost after listening to my advice. I can’t say I blame her.
The following is where I’m genuinely struggling with Sue and Bob’s experience with the recent changes in the Medicare policy. In the past and for much less severe situations than the one they’re current experiencing, Bob would have entered the hospital. However, now Bob is simply sent home and Sue is left with no further explanation or help. Sue has now been left with the full responsibility of being Bob’s caretaker, however, Sue’s no match for Bob’s condition or equipped to provide the medical treatment he needs. To matters worse, Bob’s current list of prescribed medicine revealed major to minor drug interactions after a quick online review, most of which he was already experiencing including hallucinations and extreme dizziness.
Outwardly, the first two are obviously affecting Bob. Inwardly, who knows what’s going on inside. The initial fall rendered Bob a concusion, severely sprained ankle and the onset of extreme halucinations, none of which were considered worthy of Bob receiving any more care than an emergency room visit.
What does appear to be apparent is this: Bob is being sent home to either die or be cared for by Sue until he does, and doctors are not admitting him into the hospital even though they would have done so in the past. Not once did the suggestion to treat Bob in the hospital or through a care facility become subject matter for discussion between the doctors, patient or family members. Bob’s immobility has now become Sue’s problem, even though Bob outweighs Sue 3 to 1. What happens the next time Bob falls? What happens when Sue calls an ambulance for the umpteenth time to pick Bob back up again? So far, Sue’s been informed that as long as Bob doesn’t go into the ambulance Medicare doesn’t pay the bill. So guess what’s been happening thus far? Bob hasn't seen the inside of an ambulance except once and he was quickly sent back home after a short visit to the emergency room.
Thus, the local volunteer fire department has been Bob’s saving grace, graciously lifting him back up and propping him into bed while Sue offers a small “donation” from her already pinched finances as a gesture of goodwill. Sue’s greatest fear is that the donations will run out and the EMT’s might not be able to “afford” helping her the next time.
So here’s my response to the whole matter: How terribly sad, disgusting and pathetic. Bob and Sue represent a prime reason why Obama-Care does not live up to its name – especially for senior citizens. Prior to the October 1, 2012, changes in Medicare, Bob and Sue felt they had a fairly reasonable assurance Medicare would kick-in when they needed it the most. Now they do not. Simply put: Medicare should now be called “We don't care” because that’s what it’s become.
With all politics set aside, ask yourself this question: Can I live with the current care under the Obama-care policies? If your answer is “yes”, go back to the beginning of this blog and reread it. You may need to, over and over again, as you let it sink in what you might be facing should Obama-Care remain in place in the near future.
Quick Tips for Wellness: Can you or a loved one afford to live like Bob and Sue for another four years?
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