Question about healthcare.

[LuckyCharms]

I know a couple of people who are sick. They have no medical insurance. In both cases, their income is only slightly above what is needed to qualify for Medicaid, so that is not an option. And they are broke. They really don't have much, which means they don't have much to lose. Their money barely meets their expenses. Robbing Peter to pay Paul...all that stuff.

They are having symptoms that need to be evaluated. Experience tells me that expensive tests will be needed to make a diagnosis. Blood work, scans, etc.

So do they just go to the ER, get checked out, not pay their bill, and then eventually go bankrupt? Will the ER even see them without having insurance? I think any Sisters of Charity hospital has to evaluate them, but I'm not sure about other hospitals.

Thanks in advance.

[Karadeniz]

1. Our small town has a clinic which charged according to income. You have to apply for that program.

They don't do a lot of the tests, so they'd probably be charged separately.

Go fund me?

[emmaverybo]

2. Many counties/cities have free clinics or run urgent cares. Problem is that ER's don't always

conduct the tests on the spot, but often suggest follow up with specialists. Depends really on how critical ER docs think it is to have the tests done immediately to determine if patient needs to be admitted or treated right now.

And yes, some hospitals have clinic system that is sliding scale or free.

Look into options by county first. Also often Yelp will list by city and tell something about services.

[Kurt V.]

3. the er may have a x-mas forgiveness program like our local hospital but you must apply.

Otherwise don't pay the er bill ( they have to treat ). if they sue and serve do not show up in court. you'll automatically lose but the award will be payroll garnishment of 25% or 10% for head of household. tough choices but they won't go bankrupt.

[guillaumeb]

4. A far too typical occurence.

And another reason that the US system of profit oriented healthcare is ranked 37trh.