Of course, we went out to Amazon. We bought this for $53.63. It's the exact same model as the one that was dispensed at TOI. The paper work called out this exact model.
Yesterday we got the charges from Medicare. They charged $499 for the same boot. It does have a TOI label sewn on it, but it's the same boot. $499 for a $53 dollar boot. Maybe this is why health care costs so much in this country.
I bring this to your attention so that if you are under-insured and need some sort of medical device and it's not an immediate need, perhaps you'd like to check Amazon first before getting ripped off.
One of the worst things about wearing a boot is the leg length imbalance. After a month, it's really a pain. We didn't know about this until yesterday. If you find yourself in a boot, order this.
The entire medical/pharmaceutical complex is a giant soul-less taker of money. One of the news programs had a segment on young Type 1 diabetics going to Mexico for insulin, they can't afford it in the US. Insulin hasn't changed in decades, yet every year the price goes up. It's pure price gouging, same for the Epi Pens.
Jim's Achilles is good. We're back on the bike/hike program.
I wonder if "Medicare for all" or "universal healthcare" would make any difference in this kind of price gouging???
ReplyDeleteWhy am I not surprised?
ReplyDeleteWill it resolve in my lifetime? No. Good luck to all you youngsters out there.
ReplyDeleteMedical / Big Pharma grip on Congress.
ReplyDeleteI think we're doomed.
ReplyDeleteBut it's good that Jim's leg is feeling better.
I've come across similar crazy prices for items where they are procured by a third party for a company. Its a crazy system because everyone involved in the process takes their cut and we all know its cheaper for the company to order directly. I can never work out where the benefit is in this system.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand how they get away with this. It's like paying $25 for a $2 box of kleenex in the hospital when I only used TWO. There should be some kind of law against it. It's price gouging at it's best. Really?? The supplier charged $499? I wonder if that's true, or are they inflating the prices so they can get more reimbursement from Medicare?
ReplyDeleteThat's insane. I guess it's a little like getting a generic drug vs. a brand name -- same thing, basically, but at a vast cost difference.
ReplyDeleteOur medical system is just ridiculous. If the government (meaning you and me) is paying, let's just jack it up and see how hi it can go.
ReplyDeleteWow, that is simply insane. I wish more people knew about this price gouging. On a positive note, glad Jim's Achilles is better, and thanks for the tip on the foot balancer device. THAT is a smart invention!
ReplyDelete