Letters to the Editor Dec. 19

Editor:

You hear people say "I have a doctor's appointment on Tuesday." I am almost 50 years old, I pay $275 per month for Blue Cross of Nevada (health insurance) and I take pretty good care of myself. I figured I should be responsible and get a check-up so I made appointments with a doctor here in Carson Valley and a dermatologist.

I met with the doctor " he listened to my chest, asked a couple of questions and said "Let's do a blood panel for a baseline." He instructed me to make a return appointment so we could go over the baseline panel and also address my recent asthma symptoms. This made sense to me.

I did not meet the dermatologist, but the nurse. She looked me over and said "Let's freeze off a couple of spots, and razor off a couple of moles, better safe than sorry." Again, this made sense to me. I was in and out of the office in less than 10 minutes.

I received the bills for these services: Blood panel $800. My insurance paid $79. Doctor visit " Still waiting for the bill, was told anywhere between $150 and $350 for my "get acquainted" visit. The dermatologist bill was $1,200. My insurance paid $6.

Yes, $6.

I was told by the dermatologist "You should have asked for the cash price. Too late now, we already billed the insurance." Carson Valley Medical (the blood panel) offered 10 percent off if I paid it in full within 10 days.

Can it be? It just cost me more than $1,000 per doctor visit. I am shocked.

Please tell me how you can say "I have a doctor's appointment on Tuesday." I certainly will not be saying it again for a very long time as my savings account just took a huge hit. I actually cried writing the checks. It will take me a very long time to save up another $2,000.

I used to go to the health fair for a blood panel and the charge was somewhere in the $50 range.

How can they charge $800 for a baseline blood panel one day and $50 at a health fair? Are you aware about cash prices? I cannot even imagine what it would cost to "address my asthma symptoms" nor will I be finding out. I can only hope to stay healthy.

Please beware and ask how much it will cost if you are one of the medically insured and decide to get a check-up.

Lynne Frost

Gardnerville

Editor:

If you are having trouble thinking about what to give a teenager this holiday season, think about giving a gift certificate for a driver education course. This will bring joy and safety to a new driver.

New drivers face distractions every day on the road. Driver inattention is a factor in over 1 million crashes in North America every year resulting in injury, death, and an economic impact of over $40 billion. Whether its talking on a cell phone, changing the CD, or dealing with a child, being distracted can have devastating consequences

Help a new driver gain the skills he or she needs to become a safe driver by giving them the knowledge they need to make good choices and prevent accidents. It is with great sadness that we regularly hear of tragic car accidents involving our beloved and talented young people. Giving them a gift that will save lives is a good choice.

Western Nevada College offers gift certificates for both credit and non-credit classes. Giving an educational gift certificate provides students with skills that last a life time.

Judy Larquier

Jacks Valley

WNC Driver Education

Editor:

Hello, I'm the "Genoa woman" that was injured and lost her horse at Marlette Lake that The R-C article of Dec. 9 mentions.

I'm writing to publicly thank the people that jumped in there so quickly to help find my horse the next day. It never occurred to me that so many people would respond; it was unbelievable. I'm so grateful to you all for finding him before he did damage to himself or caused an accident on the nearby highway; that was my biggest fear.

Thanks to my riding buddies that day: Deby and Kelly O'Gorman and Jennifer Cleppe who started the process of organizing the search and took a day off from their busy jobs to return the next day. Thanks to Megan, who I just met the day of the accident, for returning for the search. Thanks to Kimberly's boyfriend, who I've never met, that came in her place.

Thanks to Cindy Phelps and her husband Larry, members of both the Back County Horsemen of America and the Douglas Country Sheriff's Mounted Posse for organizing those groups and also joining in the search. Thanks to Patty and Doug Hill of Backcountry Horsemen for bringing my trailer home after the search. Thanks to all of the other members of the Backcountry Horsemen and the sheriff's posse who rode horseback, walked or drove the area helping. Prior to this letter I have tried to reach you all individually and if I missed anyone I apologize.

Special thanks to Spooner Park Supervisor Bill Champion, who showed up like a miracle in his truck and drove me several miles down to the parking lot on his day off. I'm still not clear who told him about my situation. He was able to make the area beyond the locked gate available for some of the searchers to stage their trailers the next day.

I'm such a lucky person to know all of you.

Tracey DeJong

Genoa

Editor:

The Carson Valley Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary Post No. 8583, would like to thank the Douglas County community for all the Buddy Poppy donations during Veterans Day.

We would also like to thank Raley's Scolari's and Wal-Mart for letting us set up our tables outside your stores. All donations for Buddy Poppies goes back into the community. Again, thank you Douglas County.

Judy Dunn-Schmidt

Carson Valley Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary Post No. 8583

Minden

Editor:

I want to thank Ron Hall, owner of Norris Auto Body, and Lynn Miller who covered the repairs on my 4x4 pickup and the front headlight of the new GMC truck belonging to the Carson Valley Community Food Closet. I had a mishap backing up in the parking area while I and other volunteers were working there a few weeks ago. What a wonderful donation to do the repairs for me to both vehicles. Thank you both so very, very much. Director Eileen Boettiger is also so very grateful for your kindness.

Lura Morrison

Carson Valley Community

Food Closet Volunteer

Pine Nuts

Editor:

This last fall we held our very first smoking cessation course at Carson Valley Medical Center. The course was a huge success and I wanted to give a special thanks to our sponsors that donated some great raffle prizes for our graduation celebration:

J.T. Basque Bar & Dining Room, Tangles Hair Salon, Lincare, Paradise Tan, Northwest Martial Arts, Lori Goldberg from Ala Carte Nails and Anne Vondruska from Exquisite Massage.

Everyone knows quitting smoking can be one of the most challenging feats a person can face. We hope more Carson Valley residents will take advantage of our next course beginning Jan. 6.

Paula Blaver

Carson Valley Medical Center

Minden