Letter: Medical care costs are unreasonable

Having lived in the southwest, I often joined snowbirds from the north who routinely crossed the Mexican border to get good health care at an affordable price. But having retired back in Iowa to be near family, trying to find good and halfway reasonably priced dental care has been a lost cause. And with $400 ripped from my monthly retirement check for Medicare/medical/drug insurances, no way is anything left for dental insurance.

Recently, I had a small bridge come loose. I called various local dentists and then went to one in Marshalltown, asking them to cement it back in. He looked at the bridge and said it needed to be replaced as there was one small hole present. I asked for an estimate. He said $3,500. I said, 'You've got to be kidding,” took the bridge back, got up and headed out. He hurriedly followed, saying how they could provide financing. I said, 'No thanks.”

I then went online and ordered a non-toxic resin filler for the hole, dental cement to put the bridge back in and three dental tools, all for $50. Even if repairs only hold for a month, I'll clean the bridge and redo. That should suffice until midwinter and then I can make a pleasant drive back to Mexico and get a new bridge. Total cost, including fuel, motels and dental bill, around $800.

The cost of medical care in America absolutely sucks.

Mary McBee

Tama