Partially Torn ACL - Health Care

My husband and I -- self-employed -- are healthy and don't go to traditional doctors (mostly).

So we got the cheapest insurance possible with the highest deductible. Cost about $500/month for the 2 of us.

My husband coaches hockey and partially tore his ACL. Ouch!
Image source @mhrose

On top of the $6K/year, our out of pocket costs were about $3K:
-MRI
-Doctor visit (highly recommended surgery)
-Physical Therapy
-Pain meds (didn't take)
-Knee brace
-Dermatologist visits (not related to injury)

In researching, we discovered a study in Sweden found no discernible difference, 10 years later, in athletes who had the ACL surgery and those that didn't.

We were already hesitant to go under the knife, but this convinced us -- no surgery. I'm guessing surgery would cost at least @$10K, plus time off work, and months of rehab.

After more research, we found the following treatments (cost us about $2K) to be most helpful. None were/are covered by health insurance:

• Egoscue - postural therapy - alignment of back, hip, knee, foot made a world of difference!
• Acupuncture - reduced inflammation, pain, and improved mobility
• Arnica - homeopathic remedy that reduces bruising and pain

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Compare that. Had we gotten the surgery, we would've been covered by insurance. Of the $19K ( includes $6K for insurance), we would've gotten $3K back above our deductible. It **would've cost us $16K**, not including the time off work and months of rehab. Without the surgery, we **spent $11K**, none of which was covered by insurance.

• The insurance industry gets our $6K/year --we are cash-cow clients that make no reimbursable claims.
• The doctors/drug industry gets paid when people choose costly, medically-invasive interventions.
• The consumer that chooses alternative health (works better, costs less) -- gets screwed.

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Just like people who want to control their money with alternative (crypto) currency, I want to control my health care spending.

I don't want to be forced to have health insurance that runs a hamster wheel of coorption and greed via pills and expensive procedures. I want freedom!

Together, dear Steemians, we can promote health by sharing information about:

• alternative therapies that treat the CAUSE of illness rather than costly, convoluted methods that treat the RESULTS of prolonged unhealthy activity
• food and lifestyle practices
• approaches that support underserved populations, and
• cancer-causing, hormone-disrupting chemicals

I'm back on the ice and no longer need the brace - my knee feels great!

Check out are some of my other posts:

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