Colbert's segment is making me sick right now.

[white_wolf]

Anyone else watching his segment on debt collectors trying to force people to pay up front for emergency care?

[one_voice]

1. Yeah I saw that...

I read an article yesterday about that.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-25/accretive-placed-debt-collectors-in-hospitals-minnesota-ag-says.html

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/54025167-78/accretive-intermountain-patients-minnesota.html.csp

[MrSlayer]

2. Happened to my mother-in-law last week.

No insurance, sick for a month, finally goes to the emergency room and they demand $200 before they'll even look at her. She had to leave. It's bullshit.

[one_voice]

3. I didn't think that was legal...

that's horrible. I hope your mother in law is feeling better!

[October]

4. Totally sick. Reminded me of a DU Thread...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002252691

[Frustratedlady]

6. I don't know how I missed this story. Is he still alive?

What a scary situation to be in and such a tragic way to have to spend the end of your life. All because the insurance companies balked on who was to blame.

Criminal.

[limpyhobbler]

5. didn't see it but the whole situation is sickening

I listened to a lady in the next room being denied care at an emergency room because she had no insurance and basically they said it was not an emergency. They told her to go to her primary care doctor. She said she couldn't since she had no insurance (and I assume not enough money to pay per visit).

She asked for an MRI on her knee and they flat out told her no. It was not an emergency and they weren't ordering an MRI. They told her go somewhere else even though she had no place to go, and they knew it. She left dragging her bad leg behind her on the way out. They didn't offer her a crutch or a wheechair ride to the door.

This was a few months ago. In conclusion our health care system sucks. The technology is good but the way that care is distibuted and rationed is highly immoral.

[Sherman A1]

7. Disgusting treatment

but, we don't have a health care system, we have a fix you when you are broke (as long as you have insurance) system. We need more wellness education & preventative measures (while less dramatic) that in the long run are much less expensive.