Upon reading your post, I realised just how lucky I am. My crohnes has over recent years drained me financially. I live in Australia and while our health system isn’t perfect it is among the best in the world. From the richest to the poorest person full health care is available. My recent stay in hospital of 66 days, with two operations and all the meds and care I received would have been extremely expensive. The full cost to me was $0!
Being a Disability Support Pensioner means that a visit to my doctor costs me nothing. If I am referred to a specialist by him the cost to me for a specialist visit is very small as the Government covers the majority of the cost. My meds are on our PBS Scheme (much hated by the big drug companies I believe) so that no matter what they cost, (like one script is $85.00 for 20 tablets.) the total cost to me for each script is $5.40.
During my stay in the Gastro ward I met people who were both wealthy and some who were homeless. One guy my age (57), his home was his hospital bed, he was awaiting chemo for his cancer in liver, kidneys and elsewhere. I comforted him one morning as he was tearfully awaiting the arrival of his son, who he had to tell that he had cancer and the prognosis was that the chemo might give him a couple of years living, he told me that morning that the Crohnes people he met in the Gastro ward, gave him inspiration to fight on because of all the pain we go through and determination we show. There were others, some with drinking or drug problems, necessitating the removal of parts of their digestive system. we were all given the very best of treatment, no questions asked. It made me proud and glad, to be an Australian.
Philip
(A Fellow Crohnie)
