(Italy) Dead teen was 'too broke to pay dentist'

[The Straight Story]

Dead teen was 'too broke to pay dentist'


An 18-year-old woman from Sicily has died after reportedly being unable to afford dentist fees to treat an infection, Italian media reported.

Gaetana Priola, from the Sicilian capital of Palermo, died a week after collapsing and being rushed to hospital, Palermo Today reported on Monday.

An untreated dental infection had spread to her lungs and led to blood poisoning, the news website said.

....

While Italy has a national health service, which covers dental work, citizens are often required to pay a fee for state care while a number of dentists run only private practices.

The country’s financial crisis has led many Italians to forego medical treatment; a survey last year found that the number of people struggling to buy medicines rose by 97 percent between 2006 and 2013.

http://www.thelocal.it/20140211/italian-teen-too-broke-to-pay-dentist-dies

[ck4829]

1. Thanks, Austerity!

[The The]

2. It's sad

It happens often in our country too.

[yeoman6987]

4. I find this hard to believe

I feel horrible for the young lady who died, but Italy has free everything or it did two years ago when I was living in Sicily for 5 years.

[Romulox]

3. Unfortunately, the ACA doesn't include any dental or optical. Can/does happen here. nt

[Sweet Freedom]

5. FYI I purchased dental under ACA

(It was separate from my medical policy and was through Delta Dental.)

[Romulox]

6. Yes. You can buy it yourself, after you've paid for your mandatory for-profit health insurance. nt

[WeekendWarrior]

7. And Here I Just Assumed Amanda Knox was Guilty

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