Oct. 26, 2004

Health-care provider

Prior to United Healthcare, the former Blue Cross/Blue Shield New Mexico insurance covered blood tests and X-rays at the Santa Fe Imaging Center for the co-pay that the patient paid to the doctor. Now, you pay the co-pay to the doctor plus pay the company where the doctors send the blood for testing and the same with the imaging center and all others. They all send the patient a bill. Why can't we see other health-care providers that provide better plans? For as much as the medical profession is charging nowadays it is worth trying. Even the deductible is more under our current health plan when a person is hospitalized.

--Rosina Martinez