If Healthcare is a right....

#53
#53
healthcare is already a "right" in the USA.

no one presenting to an emergency room can be refused care. thus the portal of entry into the absolute most expensive form of health care delivery in the nation that has the most expensive health care in the world.

who pays the bill? we do. hospitals "shift" the costs from the nonpaying/noninsured by raising the cost for care on those who can pay. and not only is the care we receive at an inflated price, we also pay higher insurance rates whether we end up getting care or not.

i have no confidence that barackstar obammer and his minions are going to fix this complex and important problem. i'm confident in fact that as outlined and alluded to, the government intervention is going to make things worse. but it will be proclaimed successful just like the stimulus and be worth a number of votes from the have nots and the politically correct among us.
 
#54
#54
My question is how much do the taxpayers already pay for people who are uninsured?

First of all, I am uninsured. That's my choice, and I'm totally comfortable with it. I don't think I have some "right" to have my bills paid; that's retarded. I think a poster once said, "I didn't have health insurance as a student so that I could enjoy a beer and a steak." Well, that's basically my situation.

Anyways, I had a situation come up a month ago, and it has just been resolved.

I had a seizure on June 26th, and was taken to the hospital. They performed a CT Scan and some other tests. The bill was like $2500, and they gave me an initial discount of $1000, taking it down to $1500. I spoke with a rep (UTMC), and their monthly bill was just too much for me to pay, so she said that she could send me a form to fill out to get me set up on a payment that I can afford. Awesome, they're working with me to get this figured out.

I send in all of my information, making note that I am a student and providing my income information from last year. Yesterday, I get a letter back that tells me my account has been adjusted to ZERO. I owe nothing; I have "qualified" for a full write off.

Basically, I was shocked and relieved. People paint these organizations in a terrible light, but if you're willing to work with them, they seem like they'll work with you.
 
#55
#55
wbailey7 said:
My question is how much do the taxpayers already pay for people who are uninsured?

First of all, I am uninsured. That's my choice, and I'm totally comfortable with it. I don't think I have some "right" to have my bills paid; that's retarded. I think a poster once said, "I didn't have health insurance as a student so that I could enjoy a beer and a steak." Well, that's basically my situation.

Anyways, I had a situation come up a month ago, and it has just been resolved.

I had a seizure on June 26th, and was taken to the hospital. They performed a CT Scan and some other tests. The bill was like $2500, and they gave me an initial discount of $1000, taking it down to $1500. I spoke with a rep (UTMC), and their monthly bill was just too much for me to pay, so she said that she could send me a form to fill out to get me set up on a payment that I can afford. Awesome, they're working with me to get this figured out.

I send in all of my information, making note that I am a student and providing my income information from last year. Yesterday, I get a letter back that tells me my account has been adjusted to ZERO. I owe nothing; I have "qualified" for a full write off.

Basically, I was shocked and relieved. People paint these organizations in a terrible light, but if you're willing to work with them, they seem like they'll work with you.
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And this is a major factor in the problems the US is facing. I guess they figured they would spend more money trying to collect than they would ever squeeze out of you, so they turned it in to be written off, now that cost will be passed along to those responsible enough to plan for these situations.

Congratulations, because you decided a beer and steak were worth more to you than your health we all pay more. The didn't work with you they work every responsible person over because you would rather pay for luxuries over necessities.
 
#56
#56
KB5252 said:
And this is a major factor in the problems the US is facing. I guess they figured they would spend more money trying to collect than they would ever squeeze out of you, so they turned it in to be written off, now that cost will be passed along to those responsible enough to plan for these situations.

Congratulations, because you decided a beer and steak were worth more to you than your health we all pay more. The didn't work with you they work every responsible person over because you would rather pay for luxuries over necessities.
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Bitter much? I was being responsible in trying to get set up on a payment plan to actually pay for it. They made the decision to pay it off.
 
#57
#57
wbailey7 said:
Bitter much?
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Irresponsible much?

Selfish much?

I'm not bitter, just pointing out how low life's effect the system, sorry if you don't like it but by your own admission you have very little respect for others. Sad part is that isn't very rare anymore, too many around like you these days.

Maybe one day you'll wake up and get it, but from reading many of your other posts I doubt you will. It really is sad, I would hate knowing that whatever wealth I had built up over the years wasn't due to my own hard work.

Had you been responsible you would have never been in that position. I'm sure they would be more than happy to receive any payment you could offer.
 
#58
#58
wbailey7 said:
Bitter much? I was being responsible in trying to get set up on a payment plan to actually pay for it. They made the decision to pay it off.
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i'd bet $100 medicaid paid it off. thank me for your free health insurance.
 
#59
#59
KB5252 said:
Irresponsible much?

Selfish much?

I'm not bitter, just pointing out how low life's effect the system, sorry if you don't like it but by your own admission you have very little respect for others. Sad part is that isn't very rare anymore, too many around like you these days.

Maybe one day you'll wake up and get it, but from reading many of your other posts I doubt you will. It really is sad, I would hate knowing that whatever wealth I had built up over the years wasn't due to my own hard work.
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Irresponsible? What part can't you read that I was working to set up a payment plan with them, THEY made the decision to pay it off. I paid my premiums for three years, and used them twice in that time for checkups. I made an informed decision to drop my insurance, and I'm happy with it.

How the hell do I have little respect for others? Where the hell are you getting this stuff?

You know nothing about me, so quit sitting there acting like you do from a few posts on a damn forum. I've worked my ass off to get where I am, and I'll be damned if some ******* on a forum is going to tell me otherwise.
 
#60
#60
KB5252 said:
Irresponsible much?

Selfish much?

I'm not bitter, just pointing out how low life's effect the system, sorry if you don't like it but by your own admission you have very little respect for others. Sad part is that isn't very rare anymore, too many around like you these days.

Maybe one day you'll wake up and get it, but from reading many of your other posts I doubt you will. It really is sad, I would hate knowing that whatever wealth I had built up over the years wasn't due to my own hard work.

Had you been responsible you would have never been in that position. I'm sure they would be more than happy to receive any payment you could offer.
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So I'm a low-life because I dropped my health care? Wow, that takes the cake.
 
#61
#61
wbailey7 said:
Irresponsible? What part can't you read that I was working to set up a payment plan with them, THEY made the decision to pay it off. I paid my premiums for three years, and used them twice in that time for checkups. I made an informed decision to drop my insurance, and I'm happy with it.

How the hell do I have little respect for others? Where the hell are you getting this stuff?

You know nothing about me, so quit sitting there acting like you do from a few posts on a damn forum. I've worked my ass off to get where I am, and I'll be damned if some ******* on a forum is going to tell me otherwise.
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I guess because you drove for three years without ever having an accident it would make sense to drop your auto coverage as well?

The fact that you don't see dropping your health coverage (because you don't want to do without beer and steak) is an irresponsible act shows how irresponsible you are. Actions speak louder than words, no matter how hard you worked to get where you are.
 
#62
#62
KB5252 said:
I guess because you drove for three years without ever having an accident it would make sense to drop your auto coverage as well?

The fact that you don't see dropping your health coverage (because you don't want to do without beer and steak) is an irresponsible act shows how irresponsible you are. Actions speak louder than words, no matter how hard you worked to get where you are.
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First of all, the beer and steak thing is figurative, but I wouldn't expect you to actually figure that out. What it really means is that it allows me to live a little more comfortably. It doesn't mean I go out and eat everynight, it simply means I can actually live closer to school in my own place instead of in my hometown. Note that after I get out of school, I have every intention of getting health insurance.

Also, it's a state law to have auto coverage (which I'm sure you know, so I'm wondering why you even compared it). Once again, I made a decision to not have health insurance, and expected to deal with the consequences if this happened. That's responsible in my book.

I'm currently paying every other bill that resulted from this visit, including the ambulance bill, they physician's bill, and the radiology bill. So don't you even ****ing dare to sit here and paint me like I'm a freeloader.
 
#63
#63
if you are a student it's highly likely your school provides medical coverage for a very small fee. there's a difference between making being more comfortable and being stupid.
 
#64
#64
droski said:
if you are a student it's highly likely your school provides medical coverage for a very small fee. there's a difference between making being more comfortable and being stupid.
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It's $1500, with $50 copays. I had it for three years and it sucks ass. I chose to use the funds to live closer to school instead of getting it. I'm paying for it now, but that's my decision, and I can live with it. I'm not trying to blame anybody else. Once again, I tried to get setup on a payment plan (I even offered them the per month payment in the form), and they chose to pay it off. I'm sorry to those who that offends, but maybe you want to take that up with the medical institutions.
 
#66
#66
droski said:
once again, i bet medicaid paid it off.
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I don't know if it did or not, but I did everything in my power to work with them, and that's the choice they made. Like I said, I'm sorry it happened that way, I don't want anyone's premiums to go up because of me. I had every intention (like my other numerous bills that I occurred from this event - which I have paid!!!!) of paying this off.
 
#67
#67
wbailey7 said:
Once again, I made a decision to not have health insurance, and expected to deal with the consequences if this happened. That's responsible in my book.
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just some hypothetical steak and beer food for thought here ...

suppose you fall down the steps and sustain major head trauma. surgery, a week in neurotrauma ICU, a week in stepdown care, a month in a rehab hospital ...

or let's say you get cancer, at your age maybe testicular cancer like lance or lymphoma. surgery, hospital, chemo, radiation, etc.

the above situations could run up tabs in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. easily.

i hope it does not happen, of course, but i'm curious what your plan is for dealing with it responsibly if it does?
 
#68
#68
tm3 said:
just some hypothetical steak and beer food for thought here ...

suppose you fall down the steps and sustain major head trauma. surgery, a week in neurotrauma ICU, a week in stepdown care, a month in a rehab hospital ...

or let's say you get cancer, at your age maybe testicular cancer like lance or lymphoma. surgery, hospital, chemo, radiation, etc.

the above situations could run up tabs in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. easily.

i hope it does not happen, of course, but i'm curious what your plan is for dealing with it responsibly if it does?
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$50 a month
 
#69
#69
wbailey7 said:
I don't know if it did or not, but I did everything in my power to work with them, and that's the choice they made. Like I said, I'm sorry it happened that way, I don't want anyone's premiums to go up because of me. I had every intention (like my other numerous bills that I occurred from this event - which I have paid!!!!) of paying this off.
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I'm glad you are being responsible and paying the other expenses off, I'll give credit where it is due. It still doesn't minimize the fact that because you chose luxury over necessity others are footing the bill (whether you intended them to or not). Choosing a luxury (having a place closer to school) over health insurance is being irresponsible. Perhaps I was too harsh on you, nevertheless the point still stands and is every bit as valid as it was before.

You are in no way the worst case of being irresponsible there is by far, but are still a mild example of how choosing luxury over necessity has added to our health care costs and problems over the years.
 
#70
#70
show me the part of the Constitution where healthcare is a right.

"promote the general welfare" doesn't count, either.
 
#71
#71
wbailey7 said:
I'm currently paying every other bill that resulted from this visit, including the ambulance bill, they physician's bill, and the radiology bill. So don't you even dare to sit here and paint me like I'm a freeloader.
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That's the problem. Every "write-down" and "adjustment" to your bill is picked up by someone else. You can call it whatever you want, but you are uninsured and had your medical fees paid by someone else - whether you asked for it or not.
 
#72
#72
UT IE 95 said:
That's the problem. Every "write-down" and "adjustment" to your bill is picked up by someone else. You can call it whatever you want, but you are uninsured and had your medical fees paid by someone else - whether you asked for it or not.
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Not true. Insurance companies only pay a portion of the bill. Doctors will knock 20-25% off their bill if they know you are uninsured and they lose nothing since they are receiving the same "net".
 
#73
#73
KentheOrange said:
Not true. Insurance companies only pay a portion of the bill. Doctors will knock 20-25% off their bill if they know you are uninsured and they lose nothing since they are receiving the same "net".
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So you're saying a doctor, since it's the same "net", knocks off a quarter of your bill if you're uninsured?

The way I see it working, is the only place an uninsured person is seen these days is an ER. Every clinic and FP they make you pay up front. The ER will then over charge people with health care to make up for the dead weight they have to care for.
 
#74
#74
UT IE 95 said:
So you're saying a doctor, since it's the same "net", knocks off a quarter of your bill if you're uninsured?

The way I see it working, is the only place an uninsured person is seen these days is an ER. Every clinic and FP they make you pay up front. The ER will then over charge people with health care to make up for the dead weight they have to care for.
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Well, you see it wrong. I don't know how many of the supposed 40 million uninsured are uninsured by choice, but they do exist. I was one of them.

I received excellent care for 15 years, worked with my doctor instead of blindly following his/her edicts and was not restricted to choosing a doctor from within a particular plan.
 
#75
#75
KentheOrange said:
Well, you see it wrong. I don't know how many of the supposed 40 million uninsured are uninsured by choice, but they do exist. I was one of them.

I received excellent care for 15 years, worked with my doctor instead of blindly following his/her edicts and was not restricted to choosing a doctor from within a particular plan.
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Please post the family practice clinic that treats uninsured patients without full payment for services prior to treatment. I'll check them out.
 
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