Simplifying Access to Men's Health Services This Movember
A man from Tennessee had a problem: the local hospital wanted $60,000 for penile implant surgery, which his insurance did not cover. It felt like salt in the wound after having gone through prostate cancer surgery and developing erectile dysfunction.
It got worse: the people at the hospital would not even answer the most basic questions: who is the surgeon? does the price include the implant? who pay if there are complications? He was exhausted and frustrated by trying to gain access to medically necessary treatment.
The man's solution came in the form of three penile implant surgery packages presented for his choosing. Every one of these packages included the surgeon, anesthesia, facility, and choice of prosthesis. Each had a clear price and the qualifications of each surgeon were clearly presented. He selected the package that made the most sense to him: a $19,000 comprehensive surgery package in Florida. He knew who the surgeon would be, what was included, and how much he would have to pay.
Access to healthcare can often be exhausting and frustrating. Even when services are covered by insurance, getting answers to basic questions about surgeon qualifications, cost, and related other issues can be difficult. All the more so when shopping for surgery without insurance. It's wrong. Men who need healthcare, whether penile implant surgery or psychological counseling, should have simple access: comprehensive service packages that include what most will require. After all, when you buy a car, you expect to have the windshield wipers included. You don't have to shop for those separately.
Men should also have full transparency about quality and cost. After all, if there are quality reports for cars, why not for something as critically important as surgeons? And if the price of the car is known to a customer before the decision to buy, why not the cost of surgery? After all, it's not that complicated. Why conceal it?
Men who need health services should also have choice: more than one surgeon, more than one location, more than one price. After all, not every man wants surgery in Atlanta. Maybe he has a brother up in Boston he can stay with during recovery. Maybe Boston is a better place for him to have his surgery. Or maybe location is not so important but price is. So a low-cost choice would be attractive. Yet there seems to be no real market that would easily provide an apples-to-apples comparison of health service choices. This can change. We can provide choices to men who need health services. And develop financial products that protect in the event of complications, for added peace of mind.
The Movember movement has catalyzed a global conversation about men's health problems: prostate cancer, testicular cancer, poor mental health, physical inactivity, and more. Its successes in building a global army of MoBro's and MoSista's are inspiring and awesome. SurgeMo proudly participates, growing a manly mountain-man Mo.
Let's couple conversation and action. Let's simplify the way men gain access to high quality health services.
Join us: spread the word of comprehensive, flat-fee men's health surgery packages.
