The tale of two health systems operating in the same area.

[debm55]

Talk about a cluster f-ck. In the Pittsburgh area we have two hospital systems with their own insurance. Allegheny Health System only takes BCBS insured patients. UPMC only takes only UPMC insured parients. Same with the Primary care doctors --Doctors are either UPMC providers or BCBS providers. It used to be that you could use any hospital. However, UPMC bought up almost all the regional hospital. There was a well publized feud between the two trying to get people to switch over to UPMC. It also heavily relied on the place you worked--were you getting BCBS or UPMC? I' m the meantime, UPMC contined to buy up regional hosptals. AHN doctors were not permitted to work out of UPMC. qnd so on. My fertility work wqs done at Magee Women's Hospital. All in all UPMC came out the bad guy for the way they monopolized Health care in the area. you may go there in an emergency but that's it and yopu will pay out our ass.

[CurtEastPoint]

1. It's this kinda of crap that makes the US a total suckhole when it ocmes to health 'care.'

It's ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL about the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

[drmeow]

2. my SIL was a fertility MD

at UPMC!

[debm55]

3. And at one time, Magee Women's Hospital would accept anyone.

Until UPMC grapped them.

[Diamond_Dog]

4. Yep

There should be no such thing as “in network” and “out of network”. Like you’re in a car crash and unconscious and they take you to the wrong ER for your insurance coverage because it’s closest?? It’s absurd.

Practically every other country in the world has this figured out, why can’t we?

[debm55]

5. In network--that's the word I was looking for.

You ahould have seen the commercials put out by UPMC calling for this. It left a very bad taste in the mouths of many who were stuck because of their jobs to be in one System or another. And yes, it was always take to the nearest hospital.

[Irish_Dem]

6. Ruthless oligarchs took over the US health system decades ago.

Unbelievable amounts of money to be made sucking the health system dry.

[Wicked Blue]

8. This is ridiculous and should be outlawed

My daughter and her family live in that area and have complained about the hospital situation.

[debm55]

9. Where does she live. I live in Jefferson Boro.

Very near to AHN-Jefferson.

[Wicked Blue]

16. Natrona Heights nt

[Bernardo de La Paz]

10. Health care for profit makes avg Americans pay twice per capita what Canadians pay

I can walk into any hospital in my province and get care. If I got ill or injured in another province I could do the same (as far as I know there are inter-provincial agreements -- nobody sells travel medical insurance for travel within Canada).

I have never seen a doctor or hospital bill in Canada despite using both. Of course we pay by sales taxes, which is why I wrote per capita.

[debm55]

11. In addition, the wokers there, receive no pension.

My cousins told me that, but I take it with a grain of salt as well, you have to know my cousins.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

12. Presumably you mean the workers in your area. . . . nt

[debm55]

14. at UPMC

I remember the time of the switch from BCBC at UPMC to when UPMC wanted their own insurance. There were fights,hearings, a barrage of commercials, and UPMC pickets to switch over to UPMC's own . Most unual as they only have "open season" in December. Yes, I would say UPMC is most likely the better hopital, but that whole crap with AHC left many left out.

[debm55]

13. You have a very very good system. How long have the Canadians had this?

You get this stuff here by GQP that Canadians are coming across the border because of the long wait times. I think it is BS.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

15. It first started coming in 1950s. But it's not perfect. HC worker shortages are widespread. . . .nt