- Joined
- Jul 7, 2010
This all is fair and true, but I certainly know people who’ve had to do online fundraisers for basic healthcare bills ($20,000 for childbirth, in one case). It’s that or lose your house. And I know someone whose toddler was killed in a car accident, the at fault driver was held liable and the family got a pain and suffering aware...which the insurance then sued them for. So they ended up still with the hospital bill for the dead child.
many people have insurance - more now with the exchanges - but the system has some major cracks. And people are absolutely afraid to seek treatment. Hospitals and the govt will need to come out clearly and vocally and say people won’t be bankrupted by this, or we will have people trying to treat at home.
This is my understanding as well.
Basically, if you have nothing, yes you will get care, and will not have to pay. The hospital will ultimately eat it and they will not turn you away from the ER. That means that you will not get care until it is SO BAD that you end up in the ER. Some things could have been prevented or taken care of when they were more minor, but because they do not have coverage that is the only way to get help. Or you can try your luck by camping out overnight if these guys or someone similar is in town: https://www.newsweek.com/remote-are...ricas-uninsured-go-through-health-care-287507
But if you DO have something, your life as you know it may be over as they will bill you, you will have to go to court if you do not pay, and that will affect your credit score etc etc. If you don't have a house to lose, and can afford the payment, then it's not as big a deal. It just sucks and you were "unlucky" for your body doing what bodies do. Most people have some kind of insurance, but what does it cover and how much? I know people who will be paying for medical bills the rest of their lives for relatively normal things like complications from diabetes, cancer, and a brain aneurism. Heck, I paid 2K out of pocket last week for orthodontics. My insurance only covers a lifetime maximum of $2,500 and its considered "good" insurance.
Our gov may step in and offer more assistance for this particular disease, but if they don't, a lot of people are going to be stuck choosing between the frying pan and the fire.