Im in America and I am sitting on the side of the road with a broken leg... - Page 2 - GoFuckYourself.com

Markul · 10-04-2013, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geedub

I haven't had insurance since I was 19, I turn 28 on Monday. There has been 1 time where I could have benefited from having insurance but was able to pay in payments NO PROBLEM. I had an emergency room visit, night in the hospital, various specialist visits, xrays and pills. You know what's amusing is how cheap shit like percocet is with no insurance. I was able to buy 50 percocets for 25 dollars but I also needed 10 antibiotics and those cost me around 85.

In my opinion only some of the system is broken and Obamacare is nothing but another bill I will be forced to pay, in the end insurance companies and politicians will win, not the people.

I am happy for you, but as you grow older, that will change for sure.

90% of the expenses in our health care system (where it's all free for everyone, except dental/cosmetic stuff) are spent on old people. Sure a bullet would be cheaper, but I kinda like that my daughter has her grandparents around to visit and stuff.

PR_Glen · 10-04-2013, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dyna mo

umm, did you already forget you came at me? fyi brainiac, you came at me.

sure i did little buddy.. you keep on fighting the big fight!

what's funny is when people in windsor have a serious heart attack or stroke? they drive straight across the border and get treated in detroit because their staff and facilities are miles ahead of ours despite having 3 hospitals in town.

so there is good and bad on both ends really.

dyna mo · 10-04-2013, 07:36 AM

[QUOTE=PR_Glen;19822520]sure i did little buddy.. you keep on fighting the big fight!

sure thing big boy.

and you keep trying to act like you aren't participating in something you initiated, becasue you are above this.

lolz.

SuckOnThis · 10-04-2013, 07:52 AM

About 20 years ago one of my best friends was diagnosed with bone cancer when he was 26. He HAD insurance and went through almost a year of hell with surgery, chemo, etc. Then after about 10 months he got a letter from the insurance company telling him that he had reached the cap on the policy and they were no longer covering anything. His parents ended up borrowing money against their house to pay for his continued treatment but that money only lasted a few months. He ended up dying in his parents basement with no medical care whatsoever with the little amount of morphine his parents could pay for. The hospital didnt continue treatment and say pay us when you can, they told him he was out of luck. They will only treat someone enough to stabilize them then they are on their own.

dyna mo · 10-04-2013, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan G

Lmfao

Chill dude, he was just asking a question.

in hindsight i can see that now and i apologize to the op, i think the way the topic was worded hit close to home for me and i reacted to that.

Markul · 10-04-2013, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuckOnThis

About 20 years ago one of my best friends was diagnosed with bone cancer when he was 26. He HAD insurance and went through almost a year of hell with surgery, chemo, etc. Then after about 10 months he got a letter from the insurance company telling him that he had reached the cap on the policy and they were no longer covering anything. His parents ended up borrowing money against their house to pay for his continued treatment but that money only lasted a few months. He ended up dying in his parents basement with no medical care whatsoever with the little amount of morphine his parents could pay for. The hospital didnt continue treatment and say pay us when you can, they told him he was out of luck. They will only treat someone enough to stabilize them then they are on their own.

That is fucking horrible! Sorry for your friend and his parents. Damn

Bryan G · 10-04-2013, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuckOnThis

About 20 years ago one of my best friends was diagnosed with bone cancer when he was 26. He HAD insurance and went through almost a year of hell with surgery, chemo, etc. Then after about 10 months he got a letter from the insurance company telling him that he had reached the cap on the policy and they were no longer covering anything. His parents ended up borrowing money against their house to pay for his continued treatment but that money only lasted a few months. He ended up dying in his parents basement with no medical care whatsoever with the little amount of morphine his parents could pay for. The hospital didnt continue treatment and say pay us when you can, they told him he was out of luck. They will only treat someone enough to stabilize them then they are on their own.

Jesus

crockett · 10-04-2013, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Markul

So why would anyone NOT have insurance?

I'll give you an example.. I've paid about $1500 for my insurance this year. That's just for a single male with no prior health issues and that's fairly cheap.. Add in kids or a wife and many simply can't afford to have insurance, which is why Obamacare came about..

dyna mo · 10-04-2013, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuckOnThis

About 20 years ago one of my best friends was diagnosed with bone cancer when he was 26. He HAD insurance and went through almost a year of hell with surgery, chemo, etc. Then after about 10 months he got a letter from the insurance company telling him that he had reached the cap on the policy and they were no longer covering anything. His parents ended up borrowing money against their house to pay for his continued treatment but that money only lasted a few months. He ended up dying in his parents basement with no medical care whatsoever with the little amount of morphine his parents could pay for. The hospital didnt continue treatment and say pay us when you can, they told him he was out of luck. They will only treat someone enough to stabilize them then they are on their own.

fortunately now there are laws in place that a hospital or er cannot refuse someone with an emergency without insurance coverage.

EonBlue · 10-04-2013, 08:09 AM

Not everything is free in countries with free medical care like Canada. For example:

http://www.torontoems.ca/main-site/s...chor-Why-49425

Quote:

Why am I receiving a bill for ambulance service; isn?t the service free?

No. Service isn?t free, but the majority of your ambulance bill is covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (O.H.I.P.). When transported in a licensed ambulance, Ontario residents receive a bill only for that portion of the bill that is not covered by your health insurance. This fee is normally $45.00.

How much does ambulance service cost?

Normal land ambulance costs are billed at a rate of $240.00, of which all but $45.00 is covered by your provincial health insurance.

I am covered by O.H.I.P., but received a bill for $240.00. Why?

O.H.I.P. insures ambulance transportation only for those trips that are medically essential. The hospital to which you were transported makes the determination as to whether your ambulance trip was medically necessary. If the doctor decides that you could have made your way to hospital by another means, you will be billed for the full amount of the ambulance bill. This is necessary in order to ensure that the system is not abused, and that the service is available to those who really need it.

I am visiting from the United States, or from another country, and am not insured under O.H.I.P. How will I be billed?

Anyone who is not a resident of Ontario, or is not insured under O.H.I.P., will be billed at the full, uninsured rate of $240.00. Some private health insurance carriers and travel insurance carriers may reimburse you for these costs. It is up to you to discuss this with your insurance carrier.

And nothing is free if you are from another country:

http://canada.usembassy.gov/travelin...formation.html

Quote:

Good medical care is widely available. The Canadian health care system is run on a provincial basis (e.g., the province of Ontario has its own hospital insurance plan; as does each of the other provinces and territories) and is funded by Canadian taxpayers. Tourists and temporary visitors do not qualify for this health care plan and should have their own insurance to cover medical expenses.

SuckOnThis · 10-04-2013, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dyna mo

fortunately now there are laws in place that a hospital or er cannot refuse someone with an emergency without insurance coverage.

That law existed back then, continuing treatment is not considered an emergency.

DamianJ · 10-04-2013, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ross

Get an E111 card and you get free health care, my wife had one when we lived in the UK, she had to go to hospital one time on our travels and we didn't get charged a cent.

That's just for travel in europe, and they often wriggle out of paying out on it.

dyna mo · 10-04-2013, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuckOnThis

That law existed back then, continuing treatment is not considered an emergency.

in my experience, not challenging you or your friend's experience, i've had life-threating emergencies resulting from a disease that requires continued treatment and i was not denied er or hospital.

in fact, that was the most aggravating part of that foot issue. i went from walking the dog with the television on, to being in a hospital via er, i.e., i was checked-in as a patient to the hospital by the er doctor.
the problem was that i needed to go home and deal with some very important business issues. i was informed by hospital admin that to do that meant i had to check out and if i checked out they were not going to let me check back, i would have to go to another er and get admitted to that er's hospital.

klinton · 10-04-2013, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrBottomTooth

Ya, it works the same in Canada. I can't imagine having to worry about paying for stuff like that directly out of your pocket.

But I suppose we are paying for it in other ways. It costs $45 for a case of beer (cans) here, while I can drive across the border and buy one for $20 tax included.

here its free too, if you are insured... it costs around 100 usd monthly for full med insurance....and the beer costs around 1 usd for 0,5 l bottle ;-)

Antonio · 10-04-2013, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EonBlue

Not everything is free in countries with free medical care like Canada.

Actually, there is nothing "free" about any "free health care system." The money has to come from somewhere and it doesn't come out of outer space, the residents pay for it one way or another. Not to mention that the "free health care" systems are often just as open to scams, fraud, and abuse.

Markul · 10-04-2013, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crockett

I'll give you an example.. I've paid about $1500 for my insurance this year. That's just for a single male with no prior health issues and that's fairly cheap.. Add in kids or a wife and many simply can't afford to have insurance, which is why Obamacare came about..

Is that for all insurances, cause that's cheap? Because I pay around $6000 in insurances every year. Two cars, a house, two kids. Extra coverage for extreme sports. Extra coverage to have the option to go to a privately funded hospital.

And we have healthcare.

EonBlue · 10-04-2013, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antonio

Actually, there is nothing "free" about any "free health care system." The money has to come from somewhere and it doesn't come out of outer space, the residents pay for it one way or another. Not to mention that the "free health care" systems are often just as open to scams, fraud, and abuse.

Yes I know that. I was was just using the terminology already in use in the thread. It just has the false appearance of being free at the point of delivery. I was only trying to point out that so called "free" health care here in Canada is anything but free and that any foreigner traveling here without insurance could find that out the hard way.

kane · 10-04-2013, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuckOnThis

About 20 years ago one of my best friends was diagnosed with bone cancer when he was 26. He HAD insurance and went through almost a year of hell with surgery, chemo, etc. Then after about 10 months he got a letter from the insurance company telling him that he had reached the cap on the policy and they were no longer covering anything. His parents ended up borrowing money against their house to pay for his continued treatment but that money only lasted a few months. He ended up dying in his parents basement with no medical care whatsoever with the little amount of morphine his parents could pay for. The hospital didnt continue treatment and say pay us when you can, they told him he was out of luck. They will only treat someone enough to stabilize them then they are on their own.

This is one of the primary problems with out system.

60% of bankruptcies in this country are due to medical bills and most of those people have health insurance. Health insurance companies employee people that whose only job is to figure out how to deny your claim and they get bonuses based on the denial rate. Or, like your friend they go over the cap.

Emergency care will cover you for a minute, but for something major like cancer if you can't pay they don't treat you.

Obamacare does get rid of the caps which would have helped in his situation, but I feel it is just step 1 in what will eventually become a nationwide single payer system.

Rochard · 10-04-2013, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EddyTheDog

I have no insurance...

What happens - Do they just leave me their until someone takes pity?....

I have always lived in countries with free healthcare - I am just wondering how it works in the US if you are in an emergency situation or have a potentially terminal illness that can be treated...

* I am happily sitting n my sofa in London without a broken leg - Don't worry

.....

This happened to us years a few years ago when my kid broke her leg. We went to an emergency care clinic, they did an x-ray and put a cast on her, and it cost all of like $200. We also did a follow up visit which was $120. Then we had to do some physical therapy, six visits at $50 each. All and all it was $620, which is about what it would cost us for two months of healthcare for my kid.

They charge you a lot less if you don't have insurance, and a lot more when you do.

Courtney_Kellfind · 10-04-2013, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slapass

Yes that is accurate. I assume a broken leg will run 1 to 2k depending on how bad it is.

HAHAHAHAHA
I had a MRSA infection in my arm a few years ago. Emergency room bill for being seen, blood work, antibiotics, anti-histamine (I had an allergic reaction the antibiotic), doctor cutting my arm open and draining the carbuncle = $1,600

I'd imagine a broken leg would be more like 10K, easily.

I had an ear infection just a few months ago, nearlly $500 for the ER visit just so they could give me a script for antibiotics.

Sid70 · 10-05-2013, 01:18 AM

Travel insurance?

Sid70 · 10-05-2013, 01:23 AM

Ah, and after reading it all, I can tell, guys, come visit me in Poland, leave the US and see around. It's not heaven but definitely cheaper. Anyone with 5k+ income would feel fairly good in Poland.

So, don't delay, come over.

Sid70 · 10-05-2013, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyberSEO

Here it's all free. I mean the emergency call, the x-ray, the leg fixing procedure etc. Furthermore, if you'll need a hospitalization it will be free too. In most cases it will be not the best hospital room for several persons, but if you want a singe-person VIP room, you can always pay for it.

I would confirm that about Ukraine too.
At times, yes, not the best room and not clean sheets but surgical help is free.
You may consider "thanking" a nurse or a surgeon by yourself....

Of course, larger problems like operations on heart, other hi tech ones are not free.

clickhappy · 10-05-2013, 02:36 AM

I have a friend who got pneumonia and had no insurance. he had to stay in the hospital 2 nights, had no precedures done, just staying over and taking medicine.
I think his bill was $15,000.
He has no insurance and is poor so he applied for some kind of catastrophic disaster health relief and he got it.

clickhappy · 10-05-2013, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sid70

Ah, and after reading it all, I can tell, guys, come visit me in Poland, leave the US and see around. It's not heaven but definitely cheaper. Anyone with 5k+ income would feel fairly good in Poland.

So, don't delay, come over.

Yuck, and live in a strict far-right Catholic society and go back in time 50 years socially? No thanks. Dont they throw feces at gay people there?

Barry-xlovecam · 10-05-2013, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuckOnThis

About 20 years ago one of my best friends was diagnosed with bone cancer when he was 26. He HAD insurance and went through almost a year of hell with surgery, chemo, etc. Then after about 10 months he got a letter from the insurance company telling him that he had reached the cap on the policy and they were no longer covering anything. His parents ended up borrowing money against their house to pay for his continued treatment but that money only lasted a few months. He ended up dying in his parents basement with no medical care whatsoever with the little amount of morphine his parents could pay for. The hospital didnt continue treatment and say pay us when you can, they told him he was out of luck. They will only treat someone enough to stabilize them then they are on their own.

^^ this is why the Affordable Healthcare Act passed.

Obamacare is an expensive, and maybe draconian law, but everyone should have access to good medical care in this country -- Obamacare is an egalitarian gesture in a selfish capitalist society.

That being said, it is the capitalist nature that has made the health delivery system in the United States among the best in the world for those privileged enough to afford it.

dyna mo's example of his broken foot is an an extreme one but without immediate access at reasonable cost to medical treatment for normally minor injuries these sort of things can occur instead of being prevented. Mo sorry about your foot.

tony286 · 10-05-2013, 04:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dyna mo

fortunately now there are laws in place that a hospital or er cannot refuse someone with an emergency without insurance coverage.

its to stabilize you no more.

tony286 · 10-05-2013, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rochard

This happened to us years a few years ago when my kid broke her leg. We went to an emergency care clinic, they did an x-ray and put a cast on her, and it cost all of like $200. We also did a follow up visit which was $120. Then we had to do some physical therapy, six visits at $50 each. All and all it was $620, which is about what it would cost us for two months of healthcare for my kid.

They charge you a lot less if you don't have insurance, and a lot more when you do.

Actually they dont. I went to an eye doctor for a full eye exam I never had one, this was years ago. I paid $150 cash. I had told my Dad and he asked what did you pay I told him. He said you should of negotiated which I didn't think about. Because my father worked for a large health ins company and he said for that same exam they paid that Dr $35. He did contracts with Doctors.

10-05-2013, 01:18 AM	#71
Sid70 Downshifter Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Road trip Posts: 16,413	Travel insurance? __________________ Русня, идите нахуй!

10-05-2013, 01:23 AM	#72
Sid70 Downshifter Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Road trip Posts: 16,413	Ah, and after reading it all, I can tell, guys, come visit me in Poland, leave the US and see around. It's not heaven but definitely cheaper. Anyone with 5k+ income would feel fairly good in Poland. So, don't delay, come over. __________________ Русня, идите нахуй!

10-04-2013, 07:36 AM	#53
dyna mo The People's Post Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: invisible 7-11 Posts: 64,000	[QUOTE=PR_Glen;19822520]sure i did little buddy.. you keep on fighting the big fight! sure thing big boy. and you keep trying to act like you aren't participating in something you initiated, becasue you are above this. lolz.

10-04-2013, 07:52 AM	#54
SuckOnThis So Fucking Banned Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: In my head Posts: 6,844	About 20 years ago one of my best friends was diagnosed with bone cancer when he was 26. He HAD insurance and went through almost a year of hell with surgery, chemo, etc. Then after about 10 months he got a letter from the insurance company telling him that he had reached the cap on the policy and they were no longer covering anything. His parents ended up borrowing money against their house to pay for his continued treatment but that money only lasted a few months. He ended up dying in his parents basement with no medical care whatsoever with the little amount of morphine his parents could pay for. The hospital didnt continue treatment and say pay us when you can, they told him he was out of luck. They will only treat someone enough to stabilize them then they are on their own.

10-05-2013, 02:36 AM	#74
clickhappy Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 4,027	I have a friend who got pneumonia and had no insurance. he had to stay in the hospital 2 nights, had no precedures done, just staying over and taking medicine. I think his bill was $15,000. He has no insurance and is poor so he applied for some kind of catastrophic disaster health relief and he got it.