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A costly new knee UPDATE Total Knee Replacements
Total Knee Replacements
#2044
Not all things acquired are done so by monetary payment. Think of taking a walk and reaping the benefits of a healthier you. For the healthier you, you didn’t actually pay any money but you paid nonetheless through your time and sweat you expended in doing the walk.
Doing economic radio shows and newscasts for many decades now, I have come to realize there are many ways to pay for things we desire and reap said rewards and many of those transactions do not involve the transfer of money as the above walkabout example illustrate. When I realized that fact, a slew of new topics presented themselves for my Money Matters media.
Today’s musing leads us to the costs, benefits, and the how and why of total knee replacement (TKR). As mankind’s life expectancy is extended through the miracles of science, new expectations arise about how long we can stay active.
One is either a newbie to the world of TKR or a seasoned veteran. And with my second TKR done September 17th, I am now a seasoned TKR veteran.
I was told I needed a TKR on the right knee decades back. Since the knee still worked and was only moderately inconveniencing me as to frequency and pain level, I figured if I waited a few years, technology would improve and better and longer lasting knees would be available. Additionally, although I had pretty good health insurance back then, I would still have a considerable co-payment.
Having been right on both instances, about 30 years ticked off on my old right knee and I found myself, starting around about the age of 55, really feeling the effects of the knee. It was now bone on bone.
Continuing to play a variety of sports, I ground the thing down to the point where running and jumping was almost impossible and the pain was exhausting. Luckily for me, the age of 65 sprung upon me and with it, the financial savior called Medi-Care became available.
I then began to investigate where the new knee technology had progressed to and like I had thought, TKR had become common place. The methodology, medicines and equipment utilized during TKR had vastly progressed.
Turns out that right about that time my left knee began to give up the ghost. This only made my resolve to get the right knee done that more urgent.
Having a large social media presence I ran a survey two counties wide as to who might be the best doctor to go to and three came to the forefront.
The top doctor was a four hour drive away which, at that time, was a bit of a deal breaker for me.
I then set up appointments with the next two in line which were closer and decided on one of those shortly thereafter.
Medi-Care paid for all of it and since I just had the second one done, Medi-Care paid for that one too. Good thing. I saw the bill and it was something like $150,000.00 each knee.
Ouch.
Although Medi-Care covered the cost, the transaction of my two new knees was not all monetary.
Certainly real money was paid to the doctors and ancillary care facilities and I also did pay a cost.
I had paid into Medi-Care for decades through my paychecks.
Additionally, I also paid by having to take time off from my ongoing business enterprises costing me an untold amount. But the good part is the payoff.
Not that a TKR will solve everyone’s problem 100% of the time. There are degrees of success. And on rare occasion, like with any surgery, they do have their risks and possible complications. All surgeries do.
And although my first TKR is not perfect, I can now run and jump without much if any pain.
And that fact was good enough for me to decide to do the other one.
This current knee replacement is a stark reminder of just how uncomfortable these can be during the lengthy recovery. I can say it is definitely NOT FUN.
However when I start running, jumping and playing sports again, I will be reminded only then why I went through two of these.
I can’t wait.
“Watching the markets so you don’t have to”
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(As mentioned please use the below disclaimer exactly) THANKS (Regulations)
This article expresses the opinion of Marc Cuniberti and is not meant as investment advice, or a recommendation to buy or sell any securities, nor represents the opinion of any bank, investment firm or RIA, nor this media outlet, its staff, members or underwriters. Mr. Cuniberti holds a B.A. in Economics with honors, 1979, and California Insurance License #0L34249 His insurance agency is BAP INC. insurance services. Email: news@moneymanagementradio.com
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