I've been busier than usual these weeks going 2 hours a day to physiotherapy sessions and it's going to add up to a total of 8 weeks when I'm finally finished. A broken wrist on December 20 and a hapless cast that kept me miserable got me into this.
Maybe I should tell you why I am happy about it all. I have a contract to work as a native American language teacher. For years I have only been working for 10 hours a week, somewhat filling 3 afternoons. As soon as I had my contract I went to the Public Health Services for a Health Card, as they are called here. With this I have free medical coverage. They asked me if there were any family members at home that still weren't covered by the State Health System, and I replied that yes, my husband and our youngest daughter. I gave them their names, and voilá... the three of us have been covered ever since in exchange for my work contract. We are in the System!
Eventually we discontinued our private insurance coverage, saving our Mission Board a pretty penny. Now we go to our village doctor for all our care, and he will send us to specialist care if neccessary. We now get amazing discounts on prescription medicine. We used to be the pharmacist's favorite customers. Medical care doesn't cover dental costs, though.
I've had surgery and hospitalization- at no cost. What a wonderful country!
There is an underside, though. The system is bogged down with waiting lines, and operations usually have to wait a little longer than you'd like. The way to cut into that is to go to the Emergency Care, and they will attend to your needs as if by magic. But then, if we'd all do that, the system would hurt even more...
The fact is that I have had good care, but when I'd go in for an examination and control, I complained but wasn't taken seriously. They were in a hurry to see all the patients lined up outside. Oh, my. When the cast came off it was a mess I won't get into now, but I have learned that if there ever is a next time, I will yell and scream to have the cast removed for a check! I didn't complain loud enough, that's just the way I am...
So the now dismayed orthopedist ordered physiotherapy treatment, labelled with the word "With Preference", which means Urgent. Except the system is so bogged down that the date to see a Doctor there is March 25, coming up yet... and I would have been in real trouble, because I don't have a private insurance for complications like this. It was a hard time, and I didn't realize how bad it was. But what happened? Being off work for 2 months, I soon had a visit with the Language School's medical insurance office, and they got me working with their physiotherapy service right away. At no charge! I've done six weeks and need the last two weeks they can offer me. The State reimburses this private company for getting me back to work and shortening the long lists in the State System.
A friend in the church had to wait for months for her turn for something very similar, and then ended up going every day for 1 hour, a total of 2 weeks. I will have had 80 hours of special care when I get done in 2 or 3 weeks, since we'll have Easter holidays before I'm done. My wrist has improved greatly and now they want the last bit to put me in perfect shape... I'm not so hopeful, but am so glad to be on the road to recovery!
See why I'm happy? I'm not paying a penny, only the gas to get there and parking fees.
I love the Spanish system and will not complain like many do. They don't know what a privilege they have here! Do you see why I also say, "Go, Obama, go!"?
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