How many of you have visited the doctor in the past year?

[Beaverhausen]

Any visit, including anything from annual tests to getting an appointment to get antibiotics to treat a cold.

[Beaverhausen]

1. Kick

I'm just curious how many people don't go to the doctor each year...not even for annual tests.

I probably should have broken down the poll by age, too but didn't have enough spaces.

[mrcheerful]

6. I had to go as walking more then 100 feet was leaving me breathless

and no matter the temp was out side, I would break out sweating, believe me, its no fun sweating on a -5 degree day. I have medicaid and medicare, which limits what types of care I receive, I now owe a hospital for a test they did to check out if I had a bleeding ulcer or what. The good news is, no bleeding ulcer, the bad news is my lungs might be bleeding and neither medicare or medicaid will foot the bill unless it becomes life threatening.

[lynnertic]

9. when that happend to my mom it was her thyroid

I hope you get well soon.

[Quantess]

19. The poll is set up a little weird.

I was expecting there to be a choice for female with no health insurance, and male with no health insurance.
Oh well, there probably weren't enough poll options allowed.

[Blue_In_AK]

2. We get a physical every year.

My husband's union (MEBA) pension plan pays for us to go to their clinic in the Bay Area (or New Orleans last year since they were moving the clinic from San Francisco to Oakland) once a year for a complete physical. They pay the plane fare and for the clinic visit, we pay everything else. I feel very fortunate that we have this because not only can we keep up with our health status, but we get a nice vacation, too.

Other than that, I see my endocrinologist here in Anchorage for my thyroid a couple times a year. Usually, I haven't met the deductible and pay for it out of pocket.

[muriel_volestrangler]

30. Why on earth do they transport you so far for a physical?

That's one of the most bizarre health-related things I've ever heard of. Anchorage has endocrinologists, but no doctors who can conduct an acceptable physical?

[Blue_In_AK]

37. It's "their" clinic

(run by the Union) and that's the way they want to do it. I'm not going to argue with them. It's nice to take a trip "out" once in a while. :)

It's not just for Alaskans -- all the marine engineers get their physicals at these two clinics.

[MissMillie]

3. I see a doctor every year... at LEAST once a year

:hi: Hi hon!


annual physical, mammogram, etc.

And then, as needed for whatever... sinus infections, bursitis, strep throat....

[Bonhomme Richard]

4. LOL, my doctor visits me every Tuesday night.

He's in my band.

[H2O Man]

5. I have insurance,

have been to see six doctors in the past eight weeks for two serious medical conditions, and am paying hundreds of dollars in bills.

[Lars39]

7. My deductible is $1500, and insurance does not pay 100% on most things.

[dipsydoodle]

8. I voted accurately but fail to understand the significance

of the options.

I'm english and insured privately. Im the UK private health insurance has got nothing whatsoever to do with doctors visits which are covered by the National Health system as are, in general, prescriptions.

Private medical insurance here is broadly to cover more rapid treatment rather than better treatment and a nice room to stay in room in the event of hospitalisation.

[Beaverhausen]

10. The reason I post the poll is that many here are aghast at Edwards...

...proposal - which in fact isn't even what Edwards proposed but it's today's meme - that if people are covered by national health care they get "mandatory check-ups."

I happen to see nothing wrong with mandatory check-ups and just wanted to prove that most people do see a doctor at least once a year anyway, so I fail to see the big deal.

[Mojorabbit]

12. It has nothing to do with seeing a doctor

once a year. It has to do with making it mandatory. I thought progressives were pro choice when it has to do with making the decision on what to do with ones own body without coercion.

[Beaverhausen]

13. Why would anyone not want to get an annual checkup?

I just fail to understand the big deal. I'm trying to understand why anyone would not want to be checked out by a doctor once a year. Especially women - then again I know many women who have died from breast cancer so maybe I'm more sensitive to how important check-ups are.

[Mojorabbit]

14. It is the principle

of making it mandatory. It is not medically ethical either. It is one of the first things I learned in nursing school. You do not force treatment on anybody. If someone is not cooperative in partnering with their care you are wasting your time anyway. Most people will take advantage of the testing but they should not be blackmailed into it with a threat of financial ruin if they come down with something later.
You might not want testing when you are eighteen but totally be into it at twenty five. And as I said before nothing is more personal than deciding what to do with one's own body. A good educational campaign to entice people to get care would be a good start but making it mandatory goes against every progressive ideal I have and against every ethics class I took in nursing school. I spoke with my hubby who is a family care doctor and he is against the idea also.

[Beaverhausen]

17. but he didn't say he wants it to be "mandatory"

see this thread.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1730928

[Mojorabbit]

20. In the other thread

it was said he has said twice in speeches that it would be mandatory. I'd like a clear yes or no on it as we seem to have two conflicting statements.

[bemildred]

16. The point is that it is no one else's business why one chooses to get a checkup.

Or when. Adult citizens are not to be ordered around by the government in their personal affairs. When you are at the point where you have to justify how you conduct your personal life to authority figures, you have already lost your freedom. It is one thing to make checkups convenient and free, another thing entirely to make it a matter where you can be subject to sanctions if you fail to do as you are told.

[Crunchy Frog]

22. If everyone wants one, then what's the point in making it mandatory?

I'm just not getting the point of the mandatory aspect.

[frazzled]

23. Mandatory checkups lead to mandatory treatment

That's the reason to oppose the idea. If the idea is prevention, then if a mandatory checkup reveals, say, slightly elevated cholesterol levels or blood pressure and the doctor recommends drug treatment .... it is very likely that refusal to go along with that recommendation could lead to loss of coverage later. After all, what preventive benefit would the insurer see in an annual exam unless the recommendations that resulted from that exam were also mandatory?

We should all get to decide what to do with our bodies. Annual checkups are wise, but should not be mandatory.

Not to mention the fact that there are not enough physicians to perform 200 milllion exams each year. Right now, if you want a physical, you usually have to schedule it months and months in advance. A good physical takes several hours (and costs a lot). Universal mandatory physicals would only, I imagine, lead to fly-by-night quickies with little benefit.

With respect to health, it seems to me the only things that should be mandatory are those that involve public health and communicable diseases (e.g., requiring vaccines for communicable diseases).

I am not a libertarian sort of person: I am totally in favor of helmet laws and seatbelt laws, because we all share the roads together, and if I should get in an accident with you, I don't want your death on my mind for the rest of my life. If you die because you didn't want to go to the doctor, I honestly don't care. It's your business.

[dipsydoodle]

25. I understand now

so thanks. However "mandatory check-ups" sound a bit ominous to me - even we don't have those. What happens if you fail ? Euthenasia ?

[RB TexLa]

11. Had dinner with one the other night. they know I am not giving my money to them

I keep that for myself.

[Subdivisions]

15. No insurance. No doctor for several years. I'm

43 years old and susceptible to several maladies including possibly heart disease and diabetes, among other things. I'm at a point where I really need some serious preventative maintenance done and I can't afford it. Yes, I'm for universal healthcare. And right now where my health is concerned, I'm scared as hell. Every pain and ache has the potential to terrify me and several times I have gotten so anxious that I was having a heart attack. during what turned out to be a benign pain, that I was literally in a panic. An over-reaction to the daily fear of getting struck by the big one.

[MissB]

18. Annual exam, every year.

My insurance only pays for preventative care now so I'll try to make the most of my appointment. I haven't had anything come up since the insurance switch in January.

[Mugu]

21. Hadn't been to see a doctor or dentist in several years until last year.

The insurance company must love me paying for insurance year after year and never using it. However, in the last year I have seen several doctors, an orthodontist, an oral surgeon, and a dentist. It sucks to get old.

Regards, Mugu

[izzie]

24. Yes because I had a problem First trip in 6 years.

I hate to see a doctor. I have a med-gap ins. and medicare and pay a deductible which Maine paid for me. The bad part is they made me feel shame so I have to have a yearly check up now. I swear if you go to the doctors it means you never stop seeing them. This already means three trips to the hospital for the lab, test, and doctors. What a way to live.

[movie_girl99]

26. cancer runs in the women of my family

so I go regularly because of this. My mom's ovarian cancer was caught early and now she has been cancer free for 20 years.

[Ariana Celeste]

27. haven't seen one since I was 17 and on mom's insurance

I'm 22 now.

[Beaverhausen]

28. I just have to note that I'm shocked at how many women with insurance don't see a doctor

come on...your annual pap smear? Unless all women voting no are under 18 I'm really sad to think so many don't think this test is important.

and I'm sorry for those of you without insurance. I had to go to Planned Parenthood for a few years when I was without insurance and it was there that I found out I had borderline high blood pressure and had to get it under control. I was lucky they found that.

[muriel_volestrangler]

29. Wow - of those with health insurance, about 75% have seen a doctor within the last year?

And that goes for men as well as women. I'm astounded. I would have thought it would something like 30% - I would expect men under the age of about 50 to be averaging perhaps a visit once every 5 years or something. With women having regular tests, I could understand their figure being higher - but in fact in percentage terms it's almost identical.

[seemunkee]

31. I had my 50 year check up and found out I had renal cancer

I am so thankful that I have good insurance through my wifes work and that we had options of three excellent hospitals and surgeons to choose from. I can't imagine how much harder this all would have been if we were having to take into consideration how much my surgery and recovery were going to cost us.

[ThomWV]

32. I have had health insurance continuously for 30 years and haven't see a doctor 5 times in those year...

[rucky]

33. Why the gender differences?

does one tend to see the doctor more than the other?

not fishing for outrage. just curious. (and it sucks i feel the need to explain that)

[Karenina]

35. Married men live longer. WHY?

Their wives drag them kicking and screaming to the doctor. :evilgrin:

[muriel_volestrangler]

36. Women would be expected to have more regular tests

like cervical smears and mammograms. Plus there's pregnancy, and contraception. Though the actual figures seem to have come out pretty even.

[Cleita]

34. Actually, I have Medicare that most of the doctors in my area

take with no question. I get the health care I need. I hope those vampire neo-cons don't take it away from me or try to privatize it further than it has already been privatized.