A Bright Light in Healthcare

Meet George

“I’ve lived in 14 states, two foreign countries. I’ve spent most of my life in Alaska. I got to Alaska on my own boat, actually, traveling from Puget Sound to Ketchikan. It took parts of 3 years to get there, but it was very much a high point in my life.

This year, I’m kind of stuck down here [in Texas] because of COVID-19. I run a small rooming business up [in Alaska], and because of COVID-19 there’s just really not enough business, you know, for me to go and spend the summer up there. So I stayed down here, and this was my first real summer here in Alpine, Texas. Luckily it didn’t get over 100 degrees!”

A Veteran’s Affair with Healthcare

“In February, I all of a sudden had trouble with both knees. I mean, I could hardly get around. So I went to my doctor and he said, ‘Well, you need to do a blood panel and have some X-rays of your knees done.’ So he filled out the paperwork, and I went over to our local hospital, you know, to get my blood drawn, and neither one of my insurance cards would work. 

Why? Number one, I didn’t know that I needed to fill out more paperwork for treatment in Texas, even though, as a veteran, I’m covered through [the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)]—which is a national organization. I’d already filled out the paperwork in Alaska. So, I’m still stuck on that. It’s just another hurdle, you know? And [VA employees] are not easy people to get ahold of, to ask questions and stuff. And, number two, my Medicare is only Part A—it won’t be Part B until next year. Part B covers everything except hospital visits, but I can’t get that until January 1 [2021].”

“My Copay Would Have Been More”

“On my way out of the hospital, I asked, ‘Well, do you have a cash discount?’ And the lady at the front desk said to me, “Yes, it’s 80% off.’ I thought, ‘That sounds pretty good.’ But then when I went back to the clinic I go to here, in my neighborhood, one of the ladies said, ‘You should try this MDsave site because it’ll be cheaper than the 80% off deal at the hospital.’ Which to me is totally ridiculous! So I filled out the paperwork and purchased my vouchers. I got four knee X-rays for, I think, about $130. And I got the blood panel done for $130. I paid cash, and in our health system, shoot, my copay would have been more than that!”

Continuous Savings

“When a business like [MDsave] comes along, I believe in promoting it. And [MDsave] worked equally well in my daughter’s case. She needed to get an IV port removed, and it was going to cost $800 at the hospital. Crazy! So she checked with MDsave, and sure enough, it was only going to be $65.”

“MDsave’s Services Can’t Be Beat”

“I know it works, and I want to get the word out. One of the main reasons for bankruptcy these days is medical debt. Our little clinic here is a reasonable place to go, for a doctor’s appointment, but for diagnostics and testing and anything more than that, MDsave works very well. It’s affordable.

And for hospitals? MDsave fills a niche for them too. It’s such a good deal. Because if the procedure you happen to need is cheaper than your copay, why not just pay it? I’ve really got to commend [MDsave’s] negotiators.

Our world needs a couple of bright lights, especially in times like these. You know what I mean? MDsave is one of those bright lights. I can’t say enough about it. [MDsave’s] services can’t be beat.”