I honestly do not know how anyone without health insurance

[Rainbowreflect]

can financially survive being ill.
We have pretty good health insurance, but I am stressing on how we are going to pay our deductible & 20% for all the tests my husband has had in the last few weeks. The first bill just came in & our part is going to be almost $1,000.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

1. It's easy - I hold my breath and don't see any doctors.

I've had this bump on my back for about a year now and it's sorta worrying me. Damned if I can get it checked out though. I can't afford a doctor.

Oh, and I am employed. My boss just fucking blows.

[TheFarseer]

2. I'm in the same boat.

I *could* afford health insurance but I begrudge those assholes the air they breathe let alone my hard earned money. I'm young and not sick so I'm not too worried.

[Dora]

20. Got appendix?

Hey, I was young and not sick once, and then I came down with a whopping case of appendicitis.

The ER demanded a $200 deposit - thank goodness I still lived in the same town as my folks and they could write a check for it.

After I was discharged I received a bill for $?$?$? I don't remember how much, but I was in tears. Finally the hospital told me that the state health care system could kick in and help out, but only after I first paid $9000 of the bill. I contested and argued it at three different meetings, and finally at the third meeting (county level, I think), a career bureaucrat turned off the recorder and said what was bound to happen in my case, as it happened in most other cases: The hospital would bill the state for their share of my bill. The state wouldn't look real close at the bill, neither would the state look at my income and what I was considered liable for - they'd just pay the whole damn thing.

That's exactly what happened. Six months later I had moved and was going to graduate school when the hospital sent me a check for $200: it was a refund of the ER deposit.

And I thought organ farming was illegal.

[Rainbowreflect]

4. That is just what I mean.

There is no excuse in this country that anyone should have to go without health care. This really pisses me off.
Things will be tight for us for a while, it happens a lot, but we will be ok. Too many others are not so lucky.

[Mizmoon]

3. Here is a story to curl your hair

A good friend of mine is in California trying to make it in the movie business as a tech person, not an actor. But he's not in the union yet. This means he had no insurance of any kind.

Well, it turned out he had periodontal disease and had to have (gulp) ALL of his teeth pulled and get dentures. Well,t he problem is that this is a very expensive proposition and he has not a penny. And charities don't generally help single men. They are supposed to make it on their own.

So he let it fester until (puke) he had effin pus and blood coming out of his nose from the infections. He's lucky it didn't spread to his brain.

Finally he scraped together $4,000 or so which was enough to get his teeth pulled (there were complications). Now he's trying to raise money for dentures, but it's not exactly easy to find work when you have no teeth.

Everytime I think about it I want to cry. If anyone knows of a charity that would help him get dentures I'd be grateful ...

[Rainbowreflect]

6. I don't know if they can help, but he might try here...

http://www.modestneeds.org/

[Mizmoon]

10. What a nice organization

thanks for showing them to me

[Rainbowreflect]

13. I got that site from someone else on DU.

[bleedingheart]

30. I would also recommend that he contact a Dental School

typically they will take patients at a much reduced rate and he will have the benefit of the latest dental technology including implants ..permanent dentures...

I know many low income kids who got really good prices on braces through Pitt's Dental School when I was growing up...

[ThomWV]

5. Don't Get Out Much, Do You?

I am 58 years old, recently retired from the Federal Government. I have decent Health Insurance and will have for the rest of my life, if I continue to come up with the money each month.

At least half of the people I know are not so fortunate and have no health insurance at all. In the last decade I have had two friends die at home who were simply sent home from hospitals because they had no money to pay (surprisingly young people and cancer in each case).

My wife, who is covered of course, has a small business with a single partner. Her partner, her partner's husband, and her partner's children are not covered by any policy on earth and every member of that family has a full time job but they barely have enough money to pay rent. There isn't a chance on earth that they will ever own a home, by the way.

[ihaveaquestion]

7. Only read the title of the thread, didn't you? n/t

[brainshrub]

8. I have an inch-long splinter in my foot as we speak.

I got it last night. I can't get it out, but I can't afford to pay $300 to get it removed. I'm trying some folk remedies to ease it out, but if it doesn't come out by this evening, I'm going to have to shell out the money.

For the record: I do have health insurance, but the deductible is $2500.

[converted_democrat]

17. Have you tried bacon greese and bread? It works really well.

Private message me and I'll explain what to do and how it works.

[Obamanaut]

25. My very first Dr visit was

my enlistment physical at age 17. Until then, everything was home care. We used a lot of icthamol ointment on splinters and the like. Before making this post, I googled icthamol and discovered that it is listed on a lot of animal care type sites. I guess my folks figured if it didn't kill the animals, it wouldn't hurt the kids too much.

[converted_democrat]

28. Welcome usnret88!!!!!!!

:hi: I hope you enjoy yourself here. I sure do!!!!

[brainshrub]

39. Welcome to DU

The animals here are not as dangerous as most children.

:toast:

[ihaveaquestion]

9. My daughter has none and I worry about her a lot!

She hasn't been to the dentist in the three years since she's been ineligible for my family health plan. She works at Walmart and Busch Gardens Florida, which both have health insurance plans available, but she can't even afford these meager plans.

[Rainbowreflect]

12. I remember when I was about 19 years old & did not have any

health insurance I cut my toe on broken glass. We are not talking about a little cut, I basically cut top of my toe off. Even though both my husband & I worked full time we could not afford health insurance. So instead of going to the doctor I cleaned it the best I could, squished it back together & taped it. About 3 or 4 times a day for the next few weeks I would clean it, put aloe gel & tape it back together. Luckily I did not get an infection, but my toe is kinda misshapen & pointy.

[shrike]

26. I've heard stories of people using superglue

for these kinds of things.

My husband gets cuts and serious gashes all the time, and he's usually coming up with some creative way of making it heal (usually with adhesive. We have insurance, BTW, he just hates to go to the doctor.

[raccoon]

24. Check with your local colleges

and see if any of them has a dental hygienist program.

A local community college in my area does & they will do a cleaning and checkup for $5 or $10, and they'll do x-rays.
They don't do dental work but that may vary according to the school.

If there's a dental school nearby they might do some dental work at reasonable prices.

[ret5hd]

32. our area has a osteopathic doctors college...

i made an appointment with a doctor-was told it would be $300+.

the office called back a few minutes later and asked if i would mind if a student doctor observed. i said no, of course not.

the price dropped to $30.

[ihaveaquestion]

34. Good idea, I'll check into it.

[mpanno]

11. My kids and I

don't have medical insurance and keep praying that we don't get sick. We don't get routine check ups because we can't afford doctors. My husband has his own health insurance with a $10,000 deductible and $600 a month premium.

[Internut]

38. You're joking. $10K deductible/$600/month premium?

What kind of pre-existing conditions does he have? This is way outside of normal pricing.

[indepat]

14. The number of medical bankruptcies show many don't and many die

needlessly from lack of medical care: on a positive note, this is the RW way of weeding the weak and sickly from the flock.

[seabeyond]

15. you die

simple/ let it go and die

i am in the same situation. i have the stuff. i pay 900. a month. i dont trust it.

in 40's. feeling things. hearing everyones shit how everything is going to kill me. so i have thought about this. what if i come down with illness. do i financially bankrupt family, or die. i chose die, right here and now. we will see as life goes along what happens, lol lol. i have kinda a sick humor to death.

but for me it is that serious. we run a business. the corporate, conservative smart repug male doesnt want to hear how bad his world has become, and bluntly, on this board. you all say fuck you, as soon as i say i pay peoples wage, i pay peoples health, and it hurts, so bad. maybe bad enough for us to drop health insurance, and fire employees because we cant afford it

and people literally treat me like shit. because i pay wage and pay health insurance to others, in pay for their work to me.

so

i agree with your post. certainly something to look at as i am the one bent over. maybe i have something to say

[FloridaPat]

16. I've spent most of the last 3 years now unemployed. I don't have

money for health insurance - $700 a month last time I had it. I'm like the other person - pray and don't see doctors. I spend a lot of time looking at homeopathic remedies and playing doctor myself. Considering doctors didn't help me when I had health insurance, not reason to think they could help now.

[graywarrior]

18. I had insurance from my job but,

I got sick, mt employer replaced me because I was gone for a month, now the insurance company is questioning whether I had a pre-existing condition so they don't have to pay for my treatment.

I also have a deductible of $1000 per year and it took me 2-1/2 weeks to get a doctor appointment.

Now I can keep my lousy coverage if I pay COBRA $310 per month-for an insurance that won't cover me becuase I may have pre-existing conditions.

[converted_democrat]

19. I have Lupus, but can't afford treatment.

It sucks. It sucks hard. I got the diagnosis 2 years ago, but I can't afford any of the things they want to do to me.

[Kansas Wyatt]

21. Health care is a lot cheaper when you do not have insurance...

Funny how doctors don't want to run a bunch of bogus tests on you, just to learn what you have already told them.

Health care stopped being health care, when it became a business and a business opportunity for insurance companies. It's all about the bottom line for money now, not the health and welfare of the sick or injured person.

While millions are without health coverage in this country, the Banana Republic of Murika (USA) can outspend the rest of the entire World combined for military spending. 'We The People' have morphed into 'We The Corporations.'

[Dora]

29. No, it's not. Please don't think so.

While I agree with most of your post, I have to say that your premise is way off base.

I had an emergency appendectomy while uninsured (see my post earlier in this thread). While the end of my story was positive and I did not have to file bankruptcy, the same is not true for my husband. He had to visit the ER twice in one year; once for a bicycling accident (the handlebar nut broke and he wiped out on a ride) and once for a rollerblading accident (he hit a patch of gravel). Well, after his second trip to the ER, the hospital was sold to a for-profit corporation and they hardballed his ass on his balance due. He had no choice but to file bankruptcy.

I just had a baby in a hospital. I thank the good graces that be that I have a steady job with benefits, because if I hadn't had my health insurance, my hospital and medical bills would have been over $20,000. As it is, we probably paid less than $4000 and that was still a hell of a lot of money to us.

The insurance companies "negotiate" with the hospitals for discounted rates (it's the warehouse club approach to medicine). What an insurance company pays Hospital X is significant less than what an uninsured patient would be required to pay.

[Kansas Wyatt]

40. Let me clarify my post.

Yes, if an uninsured person that has a medical problem, the medical industry will over-charge that uninsured person compared to an insured patient.

However, the medical industry has found a way around being forced to accept less as mandated by insurance companies. If you have insurance and the medical industry sharks see you come in, they have learned to run every test on you that they can get by with just so they can bill for a volume of tests and multiple office visits. The insured patient now pays a higher deductible and a bigger percentage for their medical bills (no wonder why), so the insured patient gets screwed just like the insurance companies for additional tests and office visits that were not needed or wanted for the insured patient.

The medical industry is a BUSINESS and they are working every angle they possibly can to get more money.

[sojourner]

36. "health care" cheaper for uninsured?

Nuh, uh. No way...it is outrageous to learn that insurance companies have "bargained" doctors and hospitals down - so basically there's a two (or more) tiered health care system. Reduced fees for the HMO and insurance companies (who have the leverage to negotiate them), and hiked up fees for the (unrepresented and powerless) uninsured. SICK!!!

[babydollhead]

22. Husband works for non-profit health relief...

they send surplus medical supplies to developing countries, set up clinics, set up hospitals, send bedding, medication, incubators....he has complete health coverage. I have none. it would have been 600 a month to include me. so I don't have any...3 kids are covered thru blue chip, haven't had any for more than a year.everytime I get hurt the first think that comes into my mind is "I don't have health insurance"

[Mnemosyne]

41. Welcome to DU babydoll head!

Your husband's job sounds great! My thanks to him.

:hi: O8) :toast:

[Obamanaut]

23. I picked up four Rx from

the pharmacy one day, looked at the amount listed as being paid by my insurance, and asked the pharmacist the same question that you asked in your subject line. She looked at me, shook her head, and said "They just don't get their medications, Mr ret88." This just seems so wrong.

[ihaveaquestion]

37. United HealthCare is now letting us know

what they are actually paying for tests/procedures/Dr. visits etc. My last blood work (5 tests for liver and thyroid) would have cost me about $395 dollars. I paid nothing. I don't know how anyone can afford any of this.

National healthcare is a necessity if we're to avoid 3rd world nation status within the next 10 years!

[Rainbowreflect]

27. My husband just called & the doctor got some more test results

back from the lab & they mean more expensive test & an expensive prescription.

[Love Bug]

31. I hear you -- I just had my gallbladder out after 2 attacks

I sure wasn't expecting to have to do that. Even though it was outpatient laparoscopic surgery the total bill was still $10k. After reading some of the other stories here I realize my insurance is actually pretty good -- an 80/20 plan with a $250 deductible with $1,000 yearly out-of-pocket. What I have to pay after insurance for the GB surgery isn't going to make me do the happy dance, but it won't send me to the poor house, either. I feel lucky.

Edit: Oh, and my premiums are about $90/month for single coverage (includes dental).

[stranger81]

33. they don't

my mother lost her health insurance in late 2002 and died four months later of an illness that's routinely and easily treated -- if you have the insurance to pay for it, that is.

[lastliberalintexas]

35. I don't know how the average wage earner WITH insurance

financially survives being ill. Oh wait- they don't. That's why studies show time and again that about 75% of the personal bakruptcies in this country are precipitated by medical situations. I'm so glad Congress passed that bankruptcy reform bill to crack down on those credit card cheats. :eyes: