For the first time in my life, I have hit my deductible AND reached my out-of-pocket maximum. I now have three months of actual free healthcare, which is unheard of in the US. What should I get done?
For the first time in my life, I have hit my deductible AND reached my out-of-pocket maximum. I now have three months of actual free healthcare, which is unheard of in the US. What should I get done?
Biologically male procedures only. EDIT: If the two people who downvoted this question could explain their reasoning, I would be super interested. No judgements. This is a safe space!
This is the perfect opportunity to recreationally infect yourself with rare short term diseases. Try breaking your arm or nose so you have a story. Self harm has never been so cheap.
Edit: See evasive_chimpanzee's comment here, as the following seems to be incorrect information
Seriously though get checked for prostate cancer. Especially if you're over 25 it's very possible and catching it early will be a massive difference.
Same for everyone reading this. I doubt it's that expensive so please look into it and get checked if affordable where you are.
Do every test available for prevention and prophylaxis.
Get your general practitioner to do a full health check, ECG, EEG, cardiac ultrasound, a full blood panel, bloodpressure, pulmonary function, skin cancer prevention ect.
Schedule a gastroscopy and colonoscopy.
Check in with an urologist to get your prostate and urinary tract checked.
If you can, get a full body scan. Either PET or MRI.Nearly every serious disease or health issue is easier prevented or treated when caught before it casues real issues.
Every cancer there is, has a better outcome and is easier treated when found early. Most of them are silent until very late in the game.This is something I would recommend to anyone: Take advantage of every preventative messure or examination that is available to you!
There is no illness that you can detect too early.What you mean is, your HMO has had to dust off the "not medically necessary" stamp.
If you're on any expensive meds, now'd be a good time to get them refilled. ...and 'my backpack got stolen!' them and get them refilled again if that's covered.
If you've got anything you think needs to be addressed with any urgency at all, skip the normal process and go to the ER to complain about your symptoms, especially if you've got ANY pain in your abdomen or tenderness in your lower back (which could mean kidney stones).
Infact, even if you don't have pain, go in and tell them you feel nauseous after eating anything greasy or fatty, and you'll get a free ultrasound of your gallbladder to see if there's any stones in there. ...don't actually accept surgery to remove it unless there are stones that look like they're for sure going to be problematic, cuz you WILL have symptoms once it's gone (eating will make you feel like shit... your body should adjust eventually, but that's not a guarantee, and it can take anywhere from a few months to years).
So, if they offer a scan or any diagnostic, do it. If they offer surgery, have a long think about whether it's actually worth doing.
I'd double- and triple-check the small print.
They'll find a way to still charge you.Do you have any persistent pain or discomfort when doing things? Get that checked out.
Another +1 for colonoscopy.
Also if there's a family history of anything nasty, see if there's a test for it my maybe? (E.g. heart attacks, get blood work done for cholesterol).
Get a full physical including blood work.
My health insurance denied covering my vasectomy so i put it off. Later that year i was in an accident and hit my max out of pocket pretty quick. I called up my doctor and had them resubmit the preauthorization. got it covered at 100%
I'm still pretty pissed that sterilization for women is covered at 100% under my plan but not for men. (It should be both 100% imo)
Get all your injuries out of the way. Do a bunch of dumb shit to build character
Any minor physical pains? Could see a physical therapist. If you use a computer a lot, your posture might be bad and it helps a lot!
Talk to your primary doctor if they can get you a referral for an MRI. Insurance loves to try and deny MRIs, so I think a referral is probably required due to how expensive they are. IMO, they should be included in annual physicals since it's one of the only (if not the only) ways to detect brain tumors early, which is critical given how difficult it is to treat brain tumors and the earlier the better.
When this happened for me, I went and refilled my sumatriptan injections as fast as I could and actually used those for two years afterwards, it did save me money. If you need any extra dermatologist stuff, mental health, physical therapy, do it now.
Colonoscopy!
Emigrate.
Colonoscopy
I'd say colonoscopy, esp if you're over 45, but those are required by law to have no out-of-pocket costs, regardless.
oh. go get a therapist--not physical; mental. they're insanely expensive, but you can spend the next three months shopping around and by the new year you'll have found someone you like!
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Is anything cracking or sore more than it should be? Time to go get that treated.
Mole map
Physical therapy if you have any physical issues at all, massage therapy if you have any chronic pain, occupational therapy if you have specific life skills or mobility needs.
Any preventative screening or vaccines. There are various generic cancer screenings, etc. Get a referral to a dermatologist to do a once over your skin and document any spots of concern.
Get a Dietician and physical trainer. Use this opportunity to get yourself into healthy shape and never look back. I did something years ago and had no clue just how bad I was actually feeling before the improvement. Both physically and mentally. We are not designed to sit at desks all day.
Do your feet crack sometimes? Consider testing for athletes foot.
Blood, STD and Cancer screenings, as many as they’ll give you. Hell, depending how old you are, maybe a colonoscopy.
Sleep study. MRI, ECG, EKG. Allergy test. Dermatology/mole screening.
IQ test, find out your best skills and then learn how to use them to your advantage.
DNA testing, if you really want to know some things you may be perceptive to…though personally i don’t know if I would want to know if Huntingtons is in my future.
Knee brace.
Not a medical procedure, but take the time to reevaluate your medical plan before open enrollment! Look at the cheaper plans and see how much you'd save in premiums. It might be greater than the difference in max out of pocket. And if you get a qualified "high deductible" plan you can even contribute the savings to an HSA that you get to rollover and keep forever into retirement, without ever paying taxes on it.
Gender reassignment surgery?