What are people supposed to do if they get seriously ill?

[Travis]

In my own case* there is no way I would be able to afford major things like an organ transplant or most cancer treatments. So if I got something that would require either I would be up a creek. I also know my parents who would probably insist on selling their houses to pay for it and I would hate for them to do that. As such I would probably end myself to spare them that.

Other people might not go down that path. So what really, if there is to never be any health care reform, are such people supposed to do? Does anyone have a plan? Or is the plan to just let such people die?


*Remember that I'm excluded from health care because of my medical history. Unless I want to pay as much every month as I would for a house mortgage there are no health care plans for me.

 

[Thunder]

get sent to prison and receive free health care.

or enlist in the military, and receive free health care.

 

[The Mutha]

What about the people who were injured in Tucson? If the Congresswoman didn't have government health care, would she still be alive? If she was still alive, how soon would she and her husband be declaring bankruptcy?

The other victims who were shot and survived? Hope all of them had health insurance...

 

[Ziggurat]

*Remember that I'm excluded from health care because of my medical history.

Really? You can't walk into a hospital if you get a cut and need stitches?

You are conflating health care with health insurance. They are not the same thing. I'm surprised that you never once used the word.

 

[Ziggurat]

What about the people who were injured in Tucson? If the Congresswoman didn't have government health care, would she still be alive?

What makes you think that she has government health care?

 

[NoCoPilot]

get sent to prison and receive free health care.

or enlist in the military, and receive free health care.

The former has its own disadvantages, and the latter may not be open to him if his medical history is complicated.

 

[DavidJames]

Really? You can't walk into a hospital if you get a cut and need stitches?

You are conflating health care with health insurance. They are not the same thing. I'm surprised that you never once used the word.

You take disingenuous to a whole new level. I'm shocked you picked out one sentence, ignoring the rest, to make your "point"

 

[daredelvis]

Really? You can't walk into a hospital if you get a cut and need stitches?

You are conflating health care with health insurance. They are not the same thing. I'm surprised that you never once used the word.

OK, now that we have finished pedantry 101, how is he to pay for his health care without health insurance? Under our current socialist acute care system, if he gets a cut and goes to the hospital to get stitches, without the means to pay, you and I foot the bill. What if he has a more serious chronic issue?

I'm waiting in rapt attention for the Republican solution to health insurance reform. You know, the reform that the believe is necessary, but never took one step to implement at any point since 1994 (when they were suggesting solutions along the lines of the recent bill that passed).

Daredelvis

 

[Ziggurat]

You take disingenuous to a whole new level. I'm shocked you picked out one sentence, ignoring the rest, to make your "point"

I didn't ignore the rest. Nowhere does the word "insurance" ever get mentioned. That's a rather glaring omission, since it's getting insurance, not health care, which is really the problem he faces.

 

[daredelvis]

I didn't ignore the rest. Nowhere does the word "insurance" ever get mentioned. That's a rather glaring omission, since it's getting insurance, not health care, which is really the problem he faces.

OK, you have made your point, let's move past that and replace "health care" with "health insurance" in the OP.

Daredelvis

 

[Ziggurat]

OK, now that we have finished pedantry 101, how is he to pay for his health care without health insurance?

That may or may not be a problem. I know someone who paid for their cancer treatment out of pocket. Not everyone can. I couldn't. But I can get insurance. Evidently Travis has a problem getting insurance. But that is the problem. Even though he labels it something completely different.

Under our current socialist acute care system, if he gets a cut and goes to the hospital to get stitches, without the means to pay, you and I foot the bill.

That's a problem. But 1) it's not his problem, and 2) that's not what his post was about.

What if he has a more serious chronic issue?

Then he has a problem. But he has not correctly stated what that problem is.

I'm waiting in rapt attention for the Republican solution to health insurance reform.

That, right there, is rather my point: it's getting insurance which is the problem he's facing.

You seem to think I'm trying to take a partisan stance on this issue, but I'm not. The Republicans failed to do anything real when they had a chance. And what the Democrats have done isn't going to work as promised. It's a damned difficult problem. And mischaracterizing it doesn't help us find solutions.

 

[Dancing David]

Really? You can't walk into a hospital if you get a cut and need stitches?

You are conflating health care with health insurance. They are not the same thing. I'm surprised that you never once used the word.

You are correct , however EMTLA does not say they have to provide medical treatment for cancer or transplantation.

 

[Dancing David]

OK, you have made your point, let's move past that and replace "health care" with "health insurance" in the OP.

Daredelvis

Well considering that they will only provide emergent care, you need medical insurance.

Travis, can you get group coverage through an employer, I have five strikes now, HBP, sleep apnea, major depression, hyperlipedmia and melanoma (removed).

 

[daredelvis]

You seem to think I'm trying to take a partisan stance on this issue, but I'm not. The Republicans failed to do anything real when they had a chance. And what the Democrats have done isn't going to work as promised. It's a damned difficult problem. And mischaracterizing it doesn't help us find solutions.

It is hardly "mischaracterizing" it. It might be some imprecise language, but not an attempt to mischaracterize the situation. I'm sure Travis will step in to clarify, if that is absolutely necessary, but I can hardly see where the confusion comes from.

You need a very large bank account, or health insurance to pay for cancer treatment. Since an extremely small percentage of Americans have a bank account sufficient to deal with a serious cancer diagnosis, and a significant percentage do not have health insurance, what would be the best option for them?

Daredelvis

 

[Darat]

Go to A&E for treatment of course!

 

[johnny karate]

And what the Democrats have done isn't going to work as promised.

Cite please.

 

[Skwinty]

The UK has a National Health Service and I suppose once you present to Accidents and Emergencies you will accepted into the health system for treatment.

Does the US have a similar system?

In South Africa you will be able to get treatment for any illness even if you have no money. It may not be under the best conditions as you would expect from a private hospital.

However, you will not be sent home to die.

 

[Pantaz]

I broke a patella (knee-cap) when I was without health insurance. I had surgery at Harbor-UCLA hospital, and I wasn't required to pay for anything. The Los Angeles County hospital works on an "ability to pay" system, and I had very low income at that time.

 

[Ziggurat]

Cite please.

For example.

 

[WildCat]

get sent to prison and receive free health care.

or enlist in the military, and receive free health care.

I don't think the military is going to take you if you're that sick.

Prison will though.