"Free" health care!

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2003
"Free" health care!
250
Thu, 07-22-2004 - 7:15pm
I wonder how many of you have had to live without health insurance? You say that health care is not a right? NO WONDER! You have always had a place for the bills to go other then your mailbox! How many of you have ever asked what the actual cost of your prescriptions are? Do the math! Do you have any idea what it is like to call around from doctor to doctor trying to find one who would see you WITHOUT insurance? Have you ever stood at your doctor office and humbly asked for samples instead of a prescription because u know that your $360 check wont stretch enough to cover your $280 med bill AND the doctor appt. Don't even mention medicaid! If you make enough money to buy food and scrape by...you do not qualify.

Go ahead and be technical but if you ever run into some bad luck you will see things in an entirely different light!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
Fri, 07-23-2004 - 12:13pm
That's generally what I've heard from people overseas, up north: The level of care in the United States is superior, kind of quality over quantity. Doctors also make more money in the States than in Canada.

Avatar for papparic
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 07-23-2004 - 12:53pm
Technically speaking health care is not a right, unless you want to interpret broadly the "life, liberty and pursuit of happiness" section of the preamble to the declaration of independence.

It can be a right, however, when in countries like Canada, Sweden and Great Britain (three countries I have personally had cause to use their medical systems) the people vote to share the economic burden of medical costs. A small amount from everyone into a common pot means that no one goes without.

Yes, the medical system in these countries are under financial strain. But as the general populations life expectancy goes far beyond the standards of yester year amd the medical treatments become far more expensive and inclusive, such strains will occur.

But the bottom line is no one goes without. No matter what procedure I need, or more to the case, what my child needs, the treatment is there, free of cost. I gladly pay the taxes it requires. I have extended coverage through my work that covers things like dental and ambulance fees but I never have to sit down with an economic advisor to figure out how much of any medical procedure I can afford (as stated by someone else on another post)

I never have to fight with HMOs to get complete coverage. If you have had any experience with trying to recover costs through any kind of insurance policy you'll know they have a standard "NO!" answer ready with the first submission. If you have seen any of the undercover reports on insurance companies you will know that "NO" is their answer for the first tree times before they even consider dealing with the case. (they know that a good number of people tire before re-submitting and then go away) Money is their bottom line, not health or life.

In Canada that is not the issue. We do have waiting lines for some surgeries. But my child has never had to wait for any surgeries and the health care is immediate, efficient and thoughtfully provided. My child's list of surgeries is a long one. The total days in hospital, along with extended aftercare, equal more than a year of a short 14 year life span. And yet I have not had to pay a penny. Tell me, what is wrong with such a system?

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-17-2004
Fri, 07-23-2004 - 4:43pm

<<That way, they will have their universal health care, and a

Renee ~~~

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-18-2004
Fri, 07-23-2004 - 4:51pm
Yes!

Miffy - Co-CL For The Politics Today Board

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-03-2003
Fri, 07-23-2004 - 5:26pm
Luck probably did play a part, as I didn't need any major medical services during that time. But another part was my mindset... I didn't feel that the government owed me anything, that I was somehow entitled to insurance. I simply accepted the fact that as an adult I was responsible for the debts and bills I accumulated, to include medical bills.

Just the way I was raised.

~mark~

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-06-2003
Fri, 07-23-2004 - 7:27pm
Totally agree. I was eligible for free health care and food stamps for a period of about 10 years. Didn't even consider taking it. Doctors I could pay on monthly and didn't run my kids to the Dr whenever they got a cold or a fever. There are many meals even today that are filling and relatively inexpensive. My adult son today is a college student who is also eligible for these but refuses. As long as there are Ramen noodles, beans and corn bread and peanut butter, he'll survive. His health issues have been a few but he's on the payment plan at a university. He knows it's up to him to make his way. Sink or Swim, so to speak.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-12-2004
Sat, 07-24-2004 - 2:08am
yeah, I'll say it's not for everyone.

can you imagine of everyone were military? 1984 anyone?
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-12-2004
Sat, 07-24-2004 - 2:19am
I did post too soon, and I apologise, I get excited.

SO, my assumption shoud have been that you had no huge medical catastrophies?

If you HAD been hurt and needed surgery, do you think that the outlandish costs of medical care would have made you feel otherwise? when you looked at your itemized hospital bil and saw that you had been charged 23 dollars for a two dollar tube of antibiotic cream that a nurse opened up in your room, used once and threw away? It might have made you angry to see how insurance companies drive up medical costs.

Also, just so you know, I was eligible for all kinds of FIP and welfare and what not, and I did not take it. I bought insurance for my kids and none for myself. I was brought up the same way, except that I also learned that there were people out there that were not as capable as I was and that I was not to judge them, I was to help them. But that was in bible school... I am not religious now, but I know that many pople are, and wonder how they fit that in with the belief that welfare is bad.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-12-2004
Sat, 07-24-2004 - 2:32am
I agree with you. But I would like to point out that I have known kids to be taken out of the parens home because they are fed ramen noodles and not much else. They get a cold and it goes untreated, they are taken for being denied medical care. (more or less, they are finding ways to get around the whole , "being poor is not child abuse") I know that they are not supposed to be able to remove kids for that, but they do, and I can think of at least ten kids it has happened to in my small city in the past year. You have to watch out for that.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-18-2004
Sat, 07-24-2004 - 2:51am
LOL

Miffy - Co-CL For The Politics Today Board

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