Waffling On Health Care Reform

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   Georgiakevinposted 15 years ago

   I am so angry I could spit! I am seeing waffling on both side of the political spectrum on health care reform.Some people are saying our health care is the best in the world and doesn't need to be changed,others are wanting to add unreasonable and unworkable proposals to health care reform. meanwhile many doctors are saying the solution is to stop or eliminate lawsuits against doctor's mistakes.
   
   On Saturday I had my car washed by a group of people who are trying to collect enough money to pay for brain surgery for a student I taught while doing hospital home bound when she was pregnant with her first child. Our community is putting on car washes, yard sales and whatever else they can do to help get her money she so desperately needs for life saving brain surgery. Her husband works but his employer cannot afford to offer health insurance.
   
   When she was first experiencing problems when she was pregnant with her first child,she was misdiagnosed as being epileptic. Even if her husband could get insurance now that she has a preexisting condition she is uninsurable. Misdiagnosis happens frequently as does surgery in the wrong place. When I went in to knee surgery the nurse wrote on my knee which knee was to be operated on. When my wife had surgery on her knee they gave her a local. She had to yell at them that they were beginning to operate on the wrong knee.
   
   The small business that employs her husband feels badly because they cannot provide insurance for their four employees. The cost of insurance would bankrupt the company.
   
   Meanwhile this once vibrant young woman is now to ill to even hold her children and becomes sicker and weaker by the day. Her doctor says her body is strong enough to do well with brain surgery but he is not sure for how long.
   
   The argument is that a  small number of people are without insurance/medical care. What if this small number included your child, your relative or your friend. This girl is only 20. When she dies as a society we are all responsible.

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      nicompposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      How much money did you give them? A weeks pay? A month?

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   Colebabieposted 15 years ago

   De-Nile is not just a river in Egypt...

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      Georgiakevinposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you for the comment! True but sadly with health care reform a river runs through it!

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   Lisa HWposted 15 years ago

   I'm not necessarily disputing your point; but I've been under the impression that people who need life-saving treatment get medical care, whether or not they have insurance; based on laws that require they be treated.  Is this incorrect?
   
   Also, I was under the impression that hospitals may offer arrangements/options (beyond just something like setting up a payment plan) that they can sometimes offer patients who have no insurance.  Maybe this was only related to childbirth, but when I had one of my babies there was a hospital pamphlet that mentioned "options" for people who had no insurance.  I had insurance so didn't pay much attention; but it looked like they offered the names of some kind of agencies or companies.  Am I wrong about these things?  (I'm aware that there's a really good chance I am; so, again, this post isn't intended to dispute what you said - just asking.)
   
   I'm not assuming people haven't already looked into options, but I thought I'd post link for anyone who may be interested:
   
   http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MLT/conte … alth_plans

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      Georgiakevinposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      I cannot say for other areas but in central Georgia that is not the case. Our local hospital will turn you away if you do not have insurance.

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         Michael Willisposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         Under the Impression.....This is the biggest mistake one can make!!!
         Those against Health Care Reform scream that everyone can get treatment. No One gets turned away! BullSh_T!
         It is all lies to save money for the Insurance Industry. Save money for the Pharmaceutical Industries. Save money for the Medical Industry! Pull the blinders over the eyes of the sheep that follow them.
         
         A company I worked for for a decade dropped insurance to save cost to THEM. I had to go to an emergency room because it was a Sunday and no doctor office is open on Sunday. I was told if I couldn't pay I would not receive treatment. I was told to go to my doctor the next day. I went to several places, driven by a friend.....all I needed was an allergy shot!!! (I am  very highly allergic to wasp, it can kill me, almost did once before. It was obvious by the time I got a "nurse" to take an interest that this time I was lucky and would not die from the sting). She told me that that she would give me the shot, but then I got a bill for over $500.00 the next week.
         
         FACT people. Wake up. This happens everyday. You may not want to believe this, but it does happen. I have been there. I know people who have been there. The Law does not protect the people who need medical care.
         It is covered up to push the agenda of the Industry. Protect those in office that need the "Donations" to get re-elected. If Health Care in America is not changed....it will get worse. It is about Business. In business you "cut" what causes loss of profits. What...I mean Who will be cut next to protect the business end of healthcare?
         
         You don't worry about it because you have health coverage by your job or by your spouse's job. You are lucky enough to have a job that pays enough to afford the coverage. Wait till you have a family member die because they couldn't afford a treatment. Wait till this happen to you. What will you say then?
         
         And this is not directed at the person I quoted, but at the general thought of people who are under the impression that everyone gets medical treatment and unbelievably think no change is needed!

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         SweetiePieposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         Many hospitals do not accept anyone that is uninsured.  Often you have to spend hours on the phone calling, and calling just to find one that will take you.

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      Georgiakevinposted 15 years agoin reply to this

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   mayhmongposted 15 years ago

   Awww, just wanna give that girl a hug. Its ridiculous having to raise money for something that may not even succeed?!

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      Georgiakevinposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      It was my privilege to teach her. I teach her brother in law who is in my life skills special education class. The world will be a better place if she survives.

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      Georgiakevinposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      It was my privilege to teach her. I teach her brother in law who is in my life skills special education class. The world will be a better place if she survives.

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      Georgiakevinposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      This will succeed but not if they wait even six months. I visited with her Saturday. She is not the girl I taught. Her eyes still sparkle but the rest of her is so weak!

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         Leta Sposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         Do they have something set up online?  A place to donate $$?  Poor girl...20 is so young...

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            Georgiakevinposted 15 years agoin reply to this

            Not yet but what a good idea!

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   Leta Sposted 15 years ago

   I see these kinds of fundraisers all the time for patients who cannot afford it in this part of the country.  This isn't unusual.  The bills for these kinds of illnesses are astronomical.
   
   Even if the hospital offers 'options,' the family will be saddled with perhaps tens of thousands of dollars or more...more likely, 'more.'  'Options' usually means pay off your medical/hospital bill in small increments for as long as it takes...maybe for 15 years.
   
   No.  This is not humane.  Is it?

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      Georgiakevinposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      No, Not even close. Society is only as strong as it's weakest link.

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   Lisa HWposted 15 years ago

   Aside from the humane question, giving care to the uninsured is one reason health care costs are high.  I don't think the fundraisers are a bad idea, even with insurance; because I know there are all kinds of unexpected financial needs that arise from serious illness.  It should go without saying, though, that fundraisers shouldn't be the only hope of paying for brain surgery.  I really did think, though, that the law requires hospitals to treat people.  I know states have their own laws; and maybe this is a lie; but in the health-care debate people keep saying, "The law requires....." as if that applies to the whole country.

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      Georgiakevinposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Apparently the law only refers to immediate life threatening condition not life threatening that is not immediate (lke with in 24 hours).

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         nicompposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         Generally, you are welcome to sit in the ER until they get around to you. Most normal people don't milk the system to that extent, but there is a subculture that will wait for hours because it's free and they have a sniffle. Some of them have the temerity to complain about the wait.

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   Lisa HWposted 15 years ago

   http://www.citizen.org/pressroom/release.cfm?ID=171
   
   Apparently, when it happens (and I'm not questioning that it happens) it is a violation of Federal law.

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      kerrygposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      From that article:
      
      
      
      As far as I'm concerned, this is just one more reason we need a public health insurance plan. With a public plan, fewer people would be uninsured in the first place, so hospitals would have less excuse for dumping patients.
      
      Re: GeorgeKevin's student, I would imagine that in her case the surgery isn't considered to fall under the category of "emergency" medical treatment, which I think is generally considered stuff like broken legs and sudden heart attacks. Somebody in the medical field can correct me if I'm mistaken.

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         Georgiakevinposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         You are absolutely right sadly enough.

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      Georgiakevinposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      If that is a fact then a lot of hospitals/ doctors violate federal laws in this part of Georgia.

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   ralwusposted 15 years ago

   In the past my medical bills have given me cause to want Jack Kevorkian to visit me. I am in debt perpetually and have good health insurance plus Medicare. Still I owe thousands. I no sooner get caught up with it and boom! here comes another one. We need something good to happen once.

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      Georgiakevinposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      It took us over 10 years to recover financially from my back injuries and it took us 8 years to recover from my wife's thyroid cancer so I can appreciate what you say.

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   annvansposted 15 years ago

   I hope things start looking up.  I have no insurance now and I do not work.  I cannot even afford the cheap low cost insurance they have around here.  I get so sick of this kind of stuff.  If I was rich, I would be helping people like that who are poor.  Whenever I see stuff like this going on and people cannot step in to help with finacial issues, it makes my skin crawl.  That is ok though, I know that those people will also run into problems one day and no one will be there to help them.  I would think that people would do for others like they would have done for them, this is not the case I guess.

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      Mishaposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Did you ask any rich person for help? How in the World they are supposed to know that you are struggling?

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         annvansposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         Are you referring to me?  I haven't asked a rich person to help me.  If I even knew one I would ask.  There are no rich people around here.

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            nicompposted 15 years agoin reply to this

            How much is the cheap low-cost insurance they have around there?
            
            I'm just curious and I'm not being judgmental, but exactly what would you ask the rich person to do?

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               annvansposted 15 years agoin reply to this

               I called the cheap place around here and it was like you have to pay $40 to walk in the door.  Heck, a little more and I could go to a regular doctor for a visit.
               
               I was not referring to me about asking a rich person.  I was saying that I wish a rich person would step in for cases like someone needing surgery and help and stuff.  I was not actually referring to myself.
               
               If I needed help with surgery and knew of rich person I don't know that I actually would ask them, but I think they should be more willing to help the poor than they are.

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                  nicompposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                  I see. You deserve much credit for picking up and moving just to help a family member in need. That's a huge deal.

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                     annvansposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                     Yeah a huge deal is putting it lightly.  I had an apartment and a job and after I moved, the economy fell to pieces.  Now we are struggling with medical bills and stuff.  Hopefully things will pick up soon. 
                     I wonder what is going to happen if all these peoples unemployment runs out and there are no jobs.  That is frightening.

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            Mishaposted 15 years agoin reply to this

            Then use Internet to find one and ask. You might need to try more then one, but if you don't try, you don't get any help. Nobody knows you need it.

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      nicompposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Why aren't you working?

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         kerrygposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         That is easily answered with a quick look on her profile.

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            nicompposted 15 years agoin reply to this

            No. It says "looking for work".

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               kerrygposted 15 years agoin reply to this

               No. It says she moved to a new area to care for an injured family member and is now looking for work.
               
               What part of that is hard for you to understand?

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                  nicompposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                  It was nice trying to talk to you.

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                     kerrygposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                     Dude, I'm just saying. It's a rude question, for starters, and the information really was right there on her profile. There was no reason for you to disagree with me about that unless you just wanted to be an asshole about it.
                     
                     Which you probably did. My Republican brother-in-law likes to ask that question to people's faces so he can divide humanity into two groups: fine upstanding citizens like him and the useless parasites who prey on them.

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         annvansposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         I have been taking care of family members.  I am looking for work right now.  Not much luck here for work.  I lived here about five years ago and moved away when I couldn't find a job.  I had to move in an emergency situation.  Hopefully I will find work soon.  I do as much as possible online to make a few bucks here and there.

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    annvansposted 15 years ago

    Maybe you can call the news and make a story out of it for donations?

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    Jane@CMposted 15 years ago

    My Uncle had aggressive prostrate cancer.  He went to the Mayo clinic in Rochester, MN & they have been treating him for close to 10 years.  They tell him to pay what he can & if he cannot pay anything some months - its okay.  He has received amazing care there.
    
    In Minnesota, there is health insurance for those who work & can not get medical benefits through their employer.  My friend uses this and it is a minimal cost for her & her two children.

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       A Texanposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       I think this should be handled at the State level, federal laws preventing out of State commerce concerning insurance should be lifted and States can implement their own plans!

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       tksenseiposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       What? But I thought America hated the poor and wanted them to get sick and die? How could this be?

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    Aya Katzposted 15 years ago

    It might depend on just exactly how rich the rich person really was, don't you think?

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       nicompposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       That would probably be my next question. I don't know how to judge a person's wealth without getting to know them rather well. They could be mortgaged to their eyeballs or they could be floating in cash while living in a hovel.

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