I'm so old I Remember when:

[2 Acres]

Like who's counting

The one who is counting all the rare pennys

 

[Sally PB]

fridgenator

I love this word. Flat out LOVE it!

 

[LaurenRitz]

You are correct... but that doesn't make me old... just "dated".

Growing up is mandatory. Growing old is optional.

 

[jxp]

Growing up is mandatory. Growing old is optional.

Not for everyone - either one.

Some never make it to the first part and some are forced by life into the second. It ain't cutesy but there it is.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

It's medicine as it used to be: a one-on-one relationship with a doctor who isn't muzzled by an insurance company, doesn't have administrators looking over their shoulder, and is only accountable to YOU - not pharmaceutical companies

And, since no insurance companies are involved, one assumes one pays for these services out of one's own pocket?

 

[Bsmac]

AI is just bad in general.

I agree because from here on out the line between what is real and what is not is blurred and will only get worse as AI evolves.

 

[LaurenRitz]

And, since no insurance companies are involved, one assumes one pays for these services out of one's own pocket?

Yes. In many cases you can present a bill to your insurance and see if they will pay, but concierge care is generally out of pocket.

Consider this. You have an insurance policy with a $500 monthly premium (just picking a number, I know it's low) and a $5000 deductible. You need an annual physical and they bill the insurance. If the price is $300, you pay $300. If you've had other claims more than the $5000, the insurance picks up the difference.

Very few people ever get past their deductible, but you still pay $500 per month, or $6000 per year. Essentially, your plan costs you 11k per year before the insurance pays anything.

Or you buy a catastrophic plan which will pay 100% for emergencies, and pay the doctor out of pocket when you need one. Your oop cost is often lower for better care.

 

[Love Donkeys]

The Sear's catalog.

My washer dryer was ordered through the Sears Catalog. They were on sale for Christmas. We bought them the day after Thanksgiving 1988 for less than $500 for the pair and they are still chugging away

 

[EmmaDonovan]

And, since no insurance companies are involved, one assumes one pays for these services out of one's own pocket?

It's a mix. Insurance is involved if you want to use it. I pay out of pocket for regular appointments and get reimbursed through my insurance although it's a process.

For services such as labs/referrals/etc., I pay out of pocket when that's cheaper than using insurance.

For example, when I need blood work done, a phlebotomist comes to my doctor's office. I pay the phlebotomist at time of service. Then my doctor sends the blood to the lab directly from her office.

The lab charges a doctor's office much less than than what insurance would charge me for going to the lab and getting the blood drawn there because insurance massively inflates prices.

I end up paying 1/4 of what I would pay if I had gone through insurance. I love the transparency in that the costs are all up front and I can pay at time of service - no mystery bills pop up at a later date.

 

[Love Donkeys]

Vinyl. At 45 RPM

I love my 45 record player. It would play the same 45 record over & over, or play a stack of them without touching it.
When my Hubby, at that time my boyfriend, had to go to Vietnam I played "Unchanged Melody" over and over and over. I drove my Dad crazy, he would yell "Give it a drink", in other words knock it off!