Socialized medicine

[wifnoe]

LaRae,

  Did you happen to notice if anyone else entered while you were there ?
Perhaps someone with a simple single below knee amputation? Was the same
fuss made?

Mike



----- Original Message -----
From: Michael WILKINS
To: Amputee Information Network
Sent: Tuesday, October 08, 2002 12:48 AM
Subject: Socialized medicine


Hello Wayne and all,


I've noticed a lot of activity on the list of late regarding all the changes
in medicare, funding and insurance reimbursment.  Someone made a fleeting
comment about socialized medicine which I found rather irritating.
Something to the effect that one has a right to care, but it may not be the
right care or the best care.  I am not quoting exactly but the gist of the
comment is there.

My husband and  I moved to the United Kingdom last year for a number of
reasons, one of them being I could no longer continue to do  my well paid
and well insured job physically. No job, no insurance except cobra which
cost over 750 dollars a month.  On top of that Michael needed a new set of
prosthetics. Double above knee bilateral legs cost about 50 grand or so. The
co-payment would have been outrageous. Like most Americans we had heard all
the horror stories about the dreaded socialized medicine, so we were more
than curious to see how "truly awful" it would be.

Michael had his first appointment at the Artificial Limb Center in Swansea
yesterday.  We were astounded by the reception and attention he got.  They
almost never see a bilateral above knee amputee who not only wants to walk
but wants to get back on horseback!  The entire team  of doctors, physical
terrorists, leg makers and tech folks surrounded him and made the immediate
decision to call in the top expert in leg design in the country to give him
the best set of legs they can.  Not bad for a start anyway.

We'll wait and see what the final results are.  We'll keep you posted.

LaRae