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!
Dentistry. This shit is always hard to get for free so you should do everything you can.
Not covered by my health insurance, or even most health insurances in the US. We have special horrible dental insurance for that.
Ew, i’m not even surprised, this seems to be trend in all capitalist countries, in Poland dentistry also went to shit after 1989 and even worse after 1999 healthcare reform.
The dental insurance plans available in the US are basically a scam for adults because they have an annual maximum of $1-2k. You have to get a lot of cleanings before you even break even with the premium, and if something major happens you’re basically not even covered.
IMO you may as well just have that $1-2k saved up yourself and pay for your own dental appointments.
Chewing bones and seeing orbs are not covered in US health insurance
Seriously not even eyes?
Only a basic exam, no special screening.
They have their own, extra shitty, Vision Insurance. It’s really only good for covering your eye exam every year. Now if you need ocular surgery or something, that’s when your health insurance would come into play.
I think seeing orbs are still mostly covered for medical issues
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 goes the opposite way for wanting to reproduce, too. That is, myself and my wife decided we would try to start a family, and she’s apparently fine, but something isn’t working on my side of things. (Her doc even said “Don’t worry about it, men tend to be an easy fix.”)
There’s a million programs and special coverages and stuff for women’s fertility, but all I asked is “Hey can we just diagnose what’s wrong with me? I don’t want super-swimmer-syrum or something I just wanna know.”
They refuse to consider it urology or any kind of “men’s health”, and keep wanting to rule as “fertility treatment” which conveniently isn’t covered.
Men’s reproductive rights aren’t even on the radar.
This is the perfect opportunity to recreationally infect yourself with rare short term diseases. Try breaking your arm or nose you have a story. Self harm has never been so cheap.
Seriously though get checked for prostate cancer. Seriously, 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.
I was actually told by my doctor that unless you have a history of colon or prostate cancers in the family, advisory boards are pushing testing to past 40.
Yeah, as an early 30s AMAB having to go in for annual checkups for insurance, two different doctors told me there really isn’t shit to do for someone my age
Idk. When I worked oncology all our prostate patients were very young men way before 40.
But thats anecdotal. I don’t have any numbers. But whats the worst thing that can happen when you get a prostate check? That they don’t find anything?
I mean the downsides are basically cost, another stick/blood draw, potential for false positive and further anxiety/testing. No weigh-in on whether or not any individual should at any specific time, but even less-invasive screenings are not zero risk.
Excerpt from the US Preventative Task Force about prostate cancer screening:
“An elevated PSA level may be caused by prostate cancer but can also be caused by other conditions, including an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia) and inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis). Some men without prostate cancer may therefore have positive screening results (ie, “false-positive” results). Men with a positive PSA test result may undergo a transrectal ultrasound-guided core-needle biopsy of the prostate to diagnose prostate cancer.”
Checking for prostate cancer is super easy now and doesn’t even require a finger in your bum. It’s a simple blood test that is far more accurate than the traditional manual method. I get one done every time I have a physical since they just add it on to the other stuff they check my blood for.
-doesn’t even require a finger in your bum
Then what the heck am I paying these deductibles for?? >:(
PSA sucks, it has both low sensitivity and low specificity.
I would talk to your doctor about it for your case specifically rather than advocating broadly for prostate cancer screenings.
Huh, I’m always happy to proven wrong. thank you for bringing this up.
Is this still relevant however with blood testing becoming more prevelant? The main reasons listed are due to harms caused by probing both physical and psychological along with false positives which out-weigh the positives of a 0.128% life saving outcome. It’s been 6, nearly 7 years now and prostate testing is both more accurate and non-invasive
Either way, this body is currently in the final research plan stage of updating the recommendation.
https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/draft-update-summary/prostate-cancer-screening-adults
I’d agree we should stand by the current assessment though until it changes. Thank you for the correctionI have no clue, it’s just something I’ve read about a little. It’s definitely not my area of expertise, so take this with a grain of salt.
From what I understand, prostate cancer is usually very slow, and it’s possible to have a little spot of it for years that doesn’t affect you. For some people, the right answer to finding a prostate tumor is to just monitor it, but obviously, people freak out when they have cancer, and want treatment. Cancer treatments are all no joke, so it seems that you could sacrifice a lot to treat something that would have just chilled there not hurting you.
I have no clue about the blood tests. If it’s like a “yes or no” for prostate cancer, it might have that same disadvantage. If it tells the Dr something more like type of prostate cancer or growth, it’s a different story.
Not sure if your link is the same as I’ve read, but yes, the thing with prostate cancer is that treatment doesn’t seem to change the outcome.
This is most likely because it usually doesn’t develop until mid-50’s or later, and grows so slowly that it doesn’t have time to kill you.
I think the concern would be it occurring in younger ages, or it growing faster than typical.
So test and monitor is likely a good thing, treatment shouldn’t be a given, unless there are clear signs.
There are primarily 2 stool tests available today, one has significant false positives, the other doesn’t.
I forget the names, or I’d send you a link. It’s been about a year since I looked it up. I know my insurance uses the more accurate one, fortunately.
Colonoscopy
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.
I don’t know what’s covered under US “healthcare”, and I think it also depends on your age. Probably should talk to your doctor and ask them. Maybe a bunch of blood tests, dental work, cancer screenings, prostate check, colonoscopy, and upper endoscopy.
I work in American healthcare. Your doctor is actually one of the worst people to ask about coverage.
Unfortunately, the only solid way to be 100% sure of coverage is to call your insurance company and make them guarantee your planned procedures in writing. Every doctors office has a department to deal with insurance—after you talk to the insurance company you will want to talk to the insurance department at the doctors office and give them the written statement from the insurance company.
After your procedures, your bill will be processed by a medical coder at the doctors office, and a clearing house coder who gets things ready for your insurance company, before it potentially gets double checked again by coders who actually work for the insurance company. Those people will not have any clue about the arrangement made prior to your procedure, and this is the series of steps where something might happen that would cause your insurance company to not pay.
If you did your due diligence and got everything in writing beforehand, then the insurance company will kick the bill back to the doctor, at which point it will be reviewed by a payment specialist who will be able to see and use the written commitment to force the insurance company to process the bill.
This whole process takes anywhere from weeks to months, so you may not know there is a problem until a while after your appointment.
Welcome to American healthcare. Good luck getting whatever you can.
Unfortunately, dental is typically separate from health care in the US. (It’s stupid).
This isn’t always the case, technically. Dental can be considered for normal health insurance if it’s directly impacting your health (like an emergency surgery). That being said, your insurance may fight the shit out of this and will still most likely require you to list your dental insurance as the primary for billing.
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.
Medical authorities usually don’t advocate for getting imagery like that as a screening tool without any relevant risk factors or symptoms. Everyone has stuff that is unique and weird about their bodies but completely benign, and chances are, it turns up in an MRI or CT. This can end up leading to unnecessary invasive procedures to remove or biopsy something. The odds (in the literal sense) are that not-called for screening leads to either worse outcomes or the same outcomes as people who didn’t get the screenings.
I didn’t look up a source for MRI specifically, cause that’s pretty broad, but here’s a report that does a good job explaining it for prostate cancer screenings. The logic is the same.
I mean, sure, but if it detects something and there’s no reason to suspect it’s necessarily cancerous, then I’d hope doctors would recommend just keeping an eye on it and possibly scheduling periodic checkups to ensure it doesn’t continue growing. No competent doctor is going to recommend invasive surgery right off the bat.
Mole map
Find a excuse to get physical therapy.
My ‘bone spurs’
Teeth. Teeth right the fuck now. And if somehow there is nothing wrong with them see if your insurance will cover a flouride coat to keep them that way.
Oh and literally every cancer screening possible. Get your butt checked, your nuts checked, some dermatologists will literally check every inch of your skin. Tell your doctor about every bad habit you have and see what else they’re willing to look for.
Teeth are not covered by insurance in the U.S. (I know. We all know)
Yes here in America we operate healthcare with the knowledge that your teeth and eyes are not a part of your body.
For those not in the US: it may be covered, but normally it’s a separate insurance plan and not covered by your regular health insurance.
It also varies what type of “dental” care. Some mouth/gum surgeries may be covered by the health plan. I think most dental plans cover checkups. All this varies wildly with your employer and insurance election, though.
Was just going to point this out too. It’s so stupid.
I’ve also done the math on dental insurance vs out of pocket and a few times, out of pocket was significantly cheaper than the service + insurance.
I’ve done the same math recently and decided it would be cheaper just to pay myself and keep a bit of savings around for anything extra. I could not find a plan that would pay out more than $2k in a year, and that’s not even a month of rent some places.
It was a very sad day when I learned that my dental insurance is a reverse deductible. Like you said, they only pay out $2k a year then it’s all out of pocket. Actually so stupid.
Damn, teeth are included in health insurance in the US?
Nope, same with eyes. Dental and eye health are separate insurance in the good ol US
Do you snore? Get a sleep study and a CPAP - thats pricy! Need a colonoscopy? Gel shots in your knees? Any family histories that would warrant testing for cancer markers?
Just had Inspire surgery. How do you think I hit my maxes lol! What I do think I have also is arthritis.
If you’re beginning to struggle with joints, get on the PT, MRI route while it’s free.
I was curious so I looked up the inspire website… this has got to be the best accidentally hilarious medical video I have ever seen:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BOnZjPD6n5Q
Who directed this monstrosity!?
I only made it to the 0:28 mark. That may have been the worst “acting” I have ever seen.
I’m curious, how did you find the surgery? Did it work well?
I’m still in the “ramp up” period, so I’m not getting the full effect yet. I am supposed to get accustomed to having my tongue muscle electrically stimulated to force me to stick my tongue out, to greater and greater intensities. It’s a very odd sensation at first. And it’s been rough going, not gonna lie. But I think with some timing adjustments it will do its thing. I have only heard good things from everyone else who has done it, so I’m honestly not concerned at this point. Also, I am a cyborg now, and I have my own remote control, so that’s freakin’ sweet!
Do you charge it with a magnetic charger like a Fitbit watch?
Nay. The battery is good for something like 15 years.
+1 for cpap. You might not like it at first but seriously try out different options. There’s different mask types. My wife’s blood pressure dropped to normal very quickly once she started using it. Mood and energy levels improved by a lot. Sleep is super important
I’d say colonoscopy, esp if you’re over 45, but those are required by law to have no out-of-pocket costs, regardless.
Vasectomy if you don’t plan on having kids. Also consider mental healthcare. Everybody could use a little bit now and then.
Vasectomy is probably free anyway.
Or crazy cheap (like copay), since it prevents lots of expenses for the insurance company.
Yes! Mental healthcare!!
OP editing their post cuz they got put off by 2 whole downvotes is a sign that, yes, it’s time to consider mental health
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.
Fun fact: for people over 45, colonoscopy screening for cancer is always free. If your insurance tries to make you pay for it, report them to your state insurance commissioner or the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight. ACA made a lot of preventative medicine & screenings free.
in my experience the first one was free. the followup a few months later wasn’t.
Yeah, it’s the screening that’s free. If that turns something up, then it transitions to “care.”
I’ve had the same experience with “wellness” check-ups: if I mention some complaint to the doc during the visit, it suddenly becomes “visit with complaint” and costs me $120.
This is great, except in my case, where I have regional insurance that no one takes where I live. Everyone is out of network.
Get your ears cleaned at an ent. Go to a dermatologist and get a facial. Go to a pediatrist and get a mani/pedi.
Really sucks that dental doesn’t count as medical.
Get my ears cleaned by an ent?
I’m so soryy. I couldn’t resist.
I’llseemyselftothedoor~
Why does it look like the Ent is feeding him 😂
