If you prefer to hear this information in skit form, click this link: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/irJnrdpz1KnYYWw.html

I was expecting the scary dentist who likes golf to show up.

Oh, Dr. G is an ophthamologist! No wonder he has time to make all these videos; he has a loyal scribe helping him with everything.

So the pride of a bunch of dead guys and the greed of a bunch of living guys.

"US healthcare in a nutshell: we make things way more complicated than they need to be." The accuracy.

As an Australian, this is such a well-levelled and easy to follow explanation of a weird thing specific to American healthcare!

As an OD I hate having to explain that when I find a medical condition during an exam it goes from a vision exam ( $0 or low copay) to a medical exam ($30 or last week $100 out of pocket). Patients feel like it's a bait and switch but really it's just because the system is ridiculous.

Dr. G's message is SO accurate and SO on-target. Sadly, I see many patients getting "medical" care who have chronic debilitating problems all over their body brought on by neglect of their teeth...poor nutrition (from eating too little or only junky things that are easy to chew)...chronic inflammation (stimulated by dental abscesses or caries)...repeated infections in other parts of their body seeded from infections in their teeth...chronic pain...sinus infections. And these problems go on and on because their physicians never looked at it, didn't think about it, figured that treating it was somebody else's problem, etc. I try to do my part by identifying the problem and putting it in my report. I have seen more than a few patients get a lot better after their caries were fixed...you can't cure their AIDS, but eating better, fixing a source of pain, and stopping seeding infections goes a long way toward making their life better.

Hey, this is actually very helpful because it means we can directly petition our representatives to update medicare to include dental and vision. That is much easier than getting a health insurance company to pull its head out of its ass.

Fun fact; until recently (mid last decade) there was a singular enterance exam for med and dentist school in North Belgium. Succeeding meant that you could chose any study at any university in the country :) Also, dentist care should be included!

This is absolutely true. The sad part is people have to refer to private companies to cover for dental, which in Medicare is part C. The only dental that Medicare covers is extractions of teeth for the sole purpose of prepping for treatment of esophageal cancer. There are talks however, of Medicare expanding its coverage to the deficient areas of healthcare but nothing has been set as of yet Dr G, you should make a video of why prosthodontics are covered (like dentures) but not implants. Despite them being cheaper (in the long run) and improving the quality of life to patients.

This is basically the same in the UK - dentistry is only partially covered by the NHS so, unlike any other specialism, NHS dentistry is only substantially subsidised, not free (except for children and people on certain low-income or disability welfare benefits). However, unlike with Medicare, dentistry _was_ originally fully included in the NHS. A lot of factors led to the introduction of dental charges but as I understand it a big one was that British teeth had been _so_ neglected when people couldn't afford dentistry that the NHS was struggling financially under the burden of the massive demand for dentures. (I do know that another one was the reluctance of dentists to join the NHS - originally only a quarter of them did.) In the first 9 months of the NHS it provided over 33 million artificial teeth (the UK population in 1948 was less than 50 million). Charges for dentures were introduced in 1951 and were of course hugely controversial, leading to the resignation of the Health Secretary who had created the NHS, Aneurin Bevan. Once that precedent was set, other dental charges soon followed and here we are today with our internationally-notorious orthodontic reputation.

Dental was included in Medicaid back in the 1980s. I remember my mom getting her teeth done the same time we got ours done. And today medicaid for kids covers dental up to age 21. Though it is suspicious to me that when I was getting dental through my work my kid never had any cavities and I even got her molars sealed so she was less likely to have cavities. Then later when she got care through medicaid she suddenly needed a root canal.

You are just as informative and entertaining without a skit format. I'm fascinated/horrified by what I hear about American medicine and that Canadian is following a different but also dark path

As an American ex-pat, the ONLY thing I can say about health care that isn't better everywhere else is dental/eye care. I'm sure there are some places where they do actually cover dental and eyes, but a lot of places are just as bad as the US in that regard. Though it is still cheaper out of pocket vs. the US.

I would also like to know why hearing aides for older adults aren’t covered by medical insurance.

In the Netherlands dentistry is no longer covered under basic health insurance, but an additional package that needs to be purchased and usually still covers only part of the costs. It's only covered under basic health insurance for 0-18 year olds. I'm a policy consultant for a small city in the Netherlands. My job is fighting poverty, and dental issues getting WAAY out of hand is a huge problem there. Literally have people too sick to work or simply not being hired because of severe dental problems.

We definitely need a dentist character to show up. Maybe pick up his opthamology friend to go golfing...with Jonathan as the caddy.

Wow, thanks so much for this brief overview and clear explanation of how we got to this craziness. Appreciate it!

Really enjoying this format!!

Thanks for sharing your knowledge Doc!

I like this format of Dr G explains things!

Thanks for the clarity.

As a naturalized US citizen, your videos are SO helpful! I have called my insurance company several times over the years to try to make sense of this overcomplicated system but I think I'm finally understanding the basics thanks to you.

Thanks for the info Doc Glauc!

I love the skits, but also, how the doc can talk about serious information in a light way without the need to push in a joke and still be fun.

Fellow eye dentist here. I’d love to see you do a video about the recent changes to MIGs. It could be ophthalmologist Dr G and Joanathan talking to gov’t official and gov’t Jonathan about what qualifies as evidence. Love the content.

Thank you for that explanation!

Great explanation! Thanks Dr. G!

Very well put. Tell Jonathan great job writing it.

"Fewer of my patients die than yours." "Yes, but you're a dentist." - Quacks 2017

Thank you for this clear explanation.

Thanks for teaching us!

I was just trying to figure this out! Perfect timing

This is proof Dr G could be successful making both sketches and informative videos, because this was an amazing explanation for a complicated topic. Thanks!

Excellent explanation!

You are so amazing, thank you for these explanations, it brings awareness to everyone

Thanks much for the info. You gave me an edumication!

this is solid gold informative content thx

Thank you for explaining our screwed-up medical and dental system here in the USA. I never understood before why it is so idiotic.

"Physicians looked down on dentistry and didn't think what they did was real medicine." Why the past tense, Doctor?

Thank you for the information😊

Hey doctor . I'm so happy to say that I got into med school 😊 I spent the last year watching your videos while working hard towards my dream , your videos really helped me regain focus when things got rough . Keep posting more videos they always make me laugh and I'm a huge fan ❤

You've nailed it again.

Dr you are a rare person with values & humour.

Excellent explanation.

ngl i was expecting a comedic short with a visit from the dentist mafia but this was extremely informative. in the UK, glasses are partially covered (they claim fully covered but, if you need lens thinning, or a more comfortable set of frames, you have to pay the extra), eye exams are fully covered (unless you need them sooner than every two years, in which case you pay a small fee). Dentistry *is* fully covered, but only for NHS dentists, and NHS dentists do not get enough funding or support from the government, so the vast majority turned private. The government is of course trying to spin this as an evil dentist issue, rather than a "we've let our social safety nets rot away from under us for the past 50 years" issue. I have to travel an hour to see an NHS dentist and I only managed to get attached to that clinic by a pure fluke of luck. If you can't see an NHS dentist, you pay full private prices. This, of course, has led to a lot of poor dental hygiene specifically amongst the poorest people and their children who will only go to dentists for absolute emergencies, instead of preventative treatment. Both of these are only fully covered if you qualify when means tested. Otherwise they're cheaper (dentistry), or not covered at all (opticians), despite the fact that you can see an NHS GP or go to an NHS doctor even if you're a millionaire. It's wacky. But as with a lot of things, it's technical better. It's "not as awful". And I have to remind myself "it's not as bad as it could be" while still fighting for progress all the time in the UK, or I just about give up.

I subscribed for the skits, but I stay here for the serious info. Thank you, Dr. G, for saying what needs to be said.

This is interesting, I wondered why dental wasn't included in Medicare. So the ADA had no concern for the health of individuals, they just wanted dentists to have no limits on what they could charge patients. This is why so many people, even with dental insurance, can't afford dental care.

Great explanation

you know what i just remembered? the fact that dental care is so expensive where i live that my relatives go overseas for it cuz that's cheaper. y'all should do that too.

As a dentist I was always curious about it. Thank you

I was expecting teeth bro to hit you with a golf club.... 😂😂😂

Yes, thank you! I'm poor but I also have the absolute worst eyes so I've always known that you can see an eye dentist but no other poor people that I know (everyone) knows that before I go on my get your eye conditions treated by the right person rant. Also, you can check with the eye dentist to see how much a refraction costs. It's 40 at my place and then I get my glasses at Costco which is the cheapest If the online places can't handle your prescription AND you don't have to have a costco card to go to the vision center or the pharmacy.

👍🏽 Good explanation

You are the greatest!

With such a reach, this is far better content, IMO. Still like the jokes ofc. Anyhow, this is very insightful!

As a policy wonk, I must say that was a very well done history of health insurance. Your inner Internal Medicine Chief Resident was definitely shining through.

As always, nice video. Incredible the differences between each countries. In Brazil we have universal healthcare, including teeth. But, despite being universal, there is not enough care for so many patients at the same time, waiting list can get enormous. The good part is the "capillarity" of the system, so a grandma from a small rural village can get access to a world class dental treatment, if necessary.

Thank yoou for the explaination

Love this his lesson, Dr Glaucomfleckon! I’ll add one comment that Kaiser Permanente does include vision checks and eyeglass/contacts prescriptions within their medical insurance benefits. They even waive the co-pay. KP isn’t perfect, but this is one of several positives of their version of insurance.

Abolish health insurance companies. 😤

Well said!🎉

You are a beautiful, wonderful doctor-man-dude. Have a lovely day!

I spent over an hour yesterday talking with insurance companies so I cheered wholeheartedly when u said that we make things way more complicated than it needs to be

Same here in Ontario, Canada -- dentistry and eye exams are not included under OHIP. (I believe eye exams are covered for certain individuals, though that may no longer be the case due to some optometry vs government problems) It's real bad!

Super interesting!

Thank you!

I feel this even in Ireland. They won’t cover hearing aids under private health insurance here. They are regarded as cosmetic! Thankfully the Public health care system is still okay here to help with that.

From a physician's perspective, I see so many medical complications from poor dental health. If everyone had good dental care, it would SAVE society a ton of money. I always figured teeth were not covered because they are the most likely to have problems if not cared for properly.

You should do one on the surgeons and their history and why they think they're so special

Arguments for or against universal healthcare aside, it would be great if we could do things like Germany does. My German ex-bf told me that as long as you have been faithfully going to your bi-annual dental exams, if you still have a dental issue of any kind, it's covered 100%. But if you fail to go to all of your exams, that's when you have to start paying.

I find optometrists and ophthalmologists both use a common shorthand that’s hard always to understand, as a GP. Optometrists know their stuff in my opinion and have helped me in a pinch for foreign body exams.

thanks doc

personally i like the fact that eye doctors are specialized when it comes to vision. you get really good and talented doctors who know how to focus dem eyes while the other nice doctors can keep yo eyes healthy.

Ayee, that last line. Hit like a fuckin' truck. Preach it, doc~

Sir, when could you introduce us to the cardiac surgeon

I live in Sweden, our health care system has its flaws but I still think it's amazing. We don't have to pay more than about $120 per year for doctors' visits, labs, etc. You pay a certain amount for each visit, but once you reach that number, all visits are free for the rest of the year. However, dental appointments aren't included in that. I know people (myself included) who don't want to go to the dentist because it's too expensive. I'm a doctor myself, and I know that oral health can impact your general health (especially heart disease), so I have no idea why it's not covered in the same way. I have a friend who's a dentist, and he basically said that the cost is high because people need to brush and take care of their teeth. If they did that, they wouldn't have any problems 🙄 Meanwhile, we treat smokers with lung cancer or COPD without charging them extra...

Helpful

We need to change this. Dentists should not be looked up to or down upon, but should be treated, AND PAID, the same as body doctors. And so should eye doctors.

Ayyyee ophthalmologist! You should do a video on coats syndrome. I had it as a kid.

Dental and eye care are also in Finland so separated from all the other care that it sometimes blows my mind. Almost everybody pretty much have to deal with them in private sector.

this makes me soo glad i live in the UK where i don't have to worry about that

So speaking as an admin in the dental industry were my job is 80% dealing with insurance, and 10% being a reptionist and 10% therapist in Canada...this is accurate even here. While some provinces provide low income/senior dental coverage, what the province i live in has set as the amounts covered barely covers the cost of materials for treatment in many cases, and does not cover or fully cover the time of the people completing the treatment. This is because the government has not updated the pricing of what is covered by their dental coverage plans for at least a decade, or possibly more. Another factor is that certain procedures that are largely considered a best long term treatment, i.e. crowns, are often not covered under those plans. This limits what the dentists are able to do for best LONG TERM treatment. By long term treatment, i refer to helping the patient retain their teeth as much as possible, for as long as possible. Pulling a tooth that is infected and causing pain instead of root canaling and crowning it is a great short term solution. But long term there is bone loss that will occur in that spot because the root is not there to stabilize the bone. This leads the the bone around the surrounding teeth to go away, and then those teeth become loose and more likely to become decayed, which leads to then needing to be removed. I would not be surprised if this was the case in many places, and i also would not be surprised if that was one of the arguments posed by the ADA. Simply put, because the dentists would be limited in being able to provide optimal care, and in a profit focused clinic would be less inclined to prioritize care for patients under that coverage, they lobbied against the medicare system. I do not agree with it, as dental infections can be life threatening, and there are many studies that have shown strong links between oral health and heart disease, diabetes, mental health and overall well-being. Even if you are limited in being able to provide optimal dental treatment, the patient should be the focus. There are a lot of good dentists out there who are patient focused and go above and beyond for their patients, i have seen it first hand. But there are those that or primarily profit focused. I understand that it is a business, but a balance is necessary.

Gosh it took me a long while to realise this wasn't a satirical short

Excellent

Preach!!

I will vote for you. That's one. You have a MILLION subscribers, which is a lot but not enough.

I've also been told that dental insurance is a lot more "stable" on the cost side - most people end up paying around the same amount for dental work over their lifetime, wherase medical costs vary wildly between individuals. Thus the rates are very different. This combined with the fact that dental work can be put off for so long makes it so the "best" way to do dental work is to get 1 year of dental insurance, get like 15 fillings that year, and then cancel your insurance plan until 10 years later when you do it again. hence dental plans have a maximum coverage to reduce the amount of that you can get away with. Essentially, it's because insurance's job as a cost "smoother" reacts very differently between medical insurance where cost is mostly driven by acute problems, and dental insurance where cost is mostly driven by chronic problems.

I expect to see a golf ball roll across the floor😂

Where do you practice? I want to get my routine eye care from you! It'll be a hoot!!

Come for the funny skits, stay for the short-form yet in-depth critiques of the healthcare system.

You should make these type of videos daily

Follow up of Big Insurance and Dentists sitting him down for a "discussion" would be neat

I think glasses and vision tests are separate because it's a common medical need and people generally can't perform well in their lives without visual acuity, so insurance companies save a lot of money by excluding so many people from care, and those people are then forced to purchase the care anyway because they can't drive or do their job without glasses/contacts. If half the population needed another medical device like hearing aids or a wheelchair there would be separate hearing and walking insurance

I was hoping hoping for Ortho Bro to tell us more about teeth. I had no idea before watching him that I have both upper AAANNDDD Lower teeth. I wanna know more!

I have astigmatism so I wear glasses all the time. Not that I mind of course, but I've considered lasix. My grandparents have offered to pay for the lasix as a graduation gift. I don't know if I'll do it or not, or even if I'm eligible but it is a bit strange for surgery to be a gift.

Bro looks like he needs a hug.

Dentists vs. Physicians: The original Sharks vs. Jets.

Interesting video! I've always thought it was ridiculous how dental insurance is essentially a payment plan. It's certainly not insurance for a catastrophic event.