America: Where calling an ambulance is first step to bankruptcy

[T_i_B]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1077230,00.html

In the US today, there are nearly 44 million people in her position - without medical insurance in a country that does not guarantee basic healthcare - and the crisis is deepening. In the three years since George Bush took office, the ranks of the uninsured have risen by 10%, or four million people. The government will pay if you are destitute but not if you earn enough to keep above the poverty line - about $18,000 (£10,600) for a family of four. In theory, employers are supposed to provide health insurance but more opt not to, and buying cover individually is either very expensive or impossible if you have a "pre-existing condition".

Consequently, 15% of the population, most of them the working poor, live in the fear that an accident or sudden illness could plunge them into debt. The uninsured will typically put off going to see a doctor in the hope that their medical problems will pass. They tend to seek treatment only when their condition is critical.

There are public hospitals across America, but their size and number are tiny compared to the scale of the problem. Chicago has Cook County hospital which is overwhelmed in most departments by the sheer volume of needy patients. But it does have a world class emergency room and excellent trauma specialists.

It is not just the uninsured who can end up impoverished. Richard Roche thought he had insurance. His employer, a cab company, did not provide it, so he paid more than $400 a month for his own policy. When he had to have a growth removed from his windpipe, his insurer agreed to pay only a fraction of the cost. The hospital went after him rather than the insurer and the bills eventually forced the 61-year-old into bankruptcy. He had to sell his house and cashed in his life insurance. "They got me. Once you get sick - that's it. You're in deep trouble." Ronald Pollack, the head of a Washington pressure group, Families USA, said: "This problem reaches deeper and deeper into middle class and working families. For most Americans it has gone from an issue of altruism for a discrete, disadvantaged population, to an issue of self-interest."

[DuctapeFatwa]

1. Societies make choices, and choices have consequences

I think some of the focus on health care has to do with 2 things. One, the aging of the baby boom, and Two, the phasing out of the middle class.

As a result, there is a new demographic - people who are uncaccustomed to indigence, and are also unaccustomed to aging.

One tends to bring increased medical problems, the other tends to preclude medical care.

It is sad to see some of the same people who ten, evn five years ago, would loudly denounce anyone who suggested "socialized medicine," and stoutly maintained that those who cannot afford to care for children not have them, and those who cannot afford to pay the doctor stay healthy, today find that they have fallen into that second category, if not both.

[ugarte]

2. It's only going to get worse

until voters wake up and begin to demand something other than a war machine for their taxes.

[Skittles]

6. DTF, you are one smart cookie

who are you, really? :D

[DuctapeFatwa]

7. Just an ordinary Enemy of the State

Bet you didn't know we get a 10% discount at participating Walgreens ;)

[MadMan]

8. A toast to DTF!

Always know when you post without even looking at the nick. Yours is an unmistakeable mix of wit and sarcasm. Keep up the good work!

:toast:

[camero]

9. That's because doctors have blamed everything on lifestyle

And nothing is blamed on environmental toxins and pollutants. It amazes me that people fall for this so much. It gives doctors a perfectly moral (in thier eyes) justification for not treating the indigent. All while they rape the medicare system with various frauds.

[papau]

10. Excellent anaysis and point on terse write up - congrats!

Now I realize once again why I do not depend on my writing skills for income!

A Will Pitt level (my highest accolade) post!

:toast:

:-)

[Syncronaut Seven]

3. Med bills drove us into bankruptcy

Didn't shed a single tear writing those EVIL MF's off. They called my work, family, landlord trying to collect. Made me sicker as a result.

Heartless soulless evil bastards, every one. Spent $300,000 keeping one preemie alive last year & called it "charity" thus fulfilling their moral obligation to serve the poor.

Fucks turned us away 2 years ago when my little girls arm was hanging like a chicken wing. My daughter was shivering violently, clearly in shock, some nice little Catholic whore tried to send us across town because of our "payment history".

After the intervention of no fewer than 17 security guards and 4 local sheriff's deputies they finally agreed to treat her. It wasn't shame that did it but the fact that my daughters was loosing conciousness when a deputy suggested that there might be legal ramifications if the hospital didn't relent.

Evil Fucks, every one! Doctors, nurses, administration. They don't give a shit. Huge Catholic hospital.

Between them & the Adventists they have the health care neatly locked up in this town. They buy up the small private clinics and hospitals specifically to shut them down.

I'm not bitter, no, not me!

[beyurslf]

5. Catholic Hospitals

I so agree about Catholic hospitals. In my city (Wichita, KS), they run all but one hospital. Oftentimes, an insurance carrier will only associate with the one or the other though, so you have no choice. The Catholic hospital won't tie tubes or give hysteroctomeies (sp?) to women unless they are medically necessary. They bring in priests to the rooms. (We had to specifically tell them we did not want a priest in my grandmother's room and even then I think they came in while we were gone. And we were not allowed to take down the cross from above her bed.)

[camero]

11. Here's a nice little scam for you guys

I go to a not-for-profit clinic in my town and get my diabetes medicine from them. If I have money. If I don't I am turned away.

All of the medicine is donated but they force us patients to give "donations" which is really Orwellian language for a "fee".

If you force someone to give a "donation", isn't that really a "fee"?
I suspect the reason they call it a "donation" is so they can have tax-exempt status. Which means it would be against the law for them to charge a fee. Sorta like the Salvation Army forcing you to pay for rent help. Do I have a point here?

[CHIMO]

13. Hang In

You do everything to help your family.
You can make a difference as you have started here!

[cosmicdot]

4. "The whole system is messed up ...

... In this country the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, and no matter how much you work, you're going to get poorer." - Rose Shaffer

of course, Corporate America has done its fair share of destroying our infrastructure

"In the three years since George Bush took office, the ranks of the uninsured have risen by 10%, or four million people."

[brainshrub]

12. Every ethical system developed by man has one thread is common:

and that is: "When you see a sick person...you help him."

It isn't: "When you see a sick person, first check if he's insured...then only give him as much care as his health plan covers."

It is pathetic that we allow so much needles suffering in this country while we blow billions of dollars on a needless war.