Reply #31: Not to hijack this thread, but the OP reminded me of an experience I had about 10 years ago.

[Systematic Chaos]

I had an HMO with a convenient in-house 24-hour quick care a number of years back. Visits to that quick care were pretty cheap, too -- and since I was prone to attacks of bronchitis much too often back then, I was glad to have that option.

Since I didn't choose when to get sick, if I found myself in a rapid decline and didn't have enough for the co-pay, I would go to the clinic anyway. They'd bill me and by my next payday I dropped off my payment. But about 3/4 of the time I had no issues paying on my way out the door.

And then there was this one day when I was very low on money but got so sick that my voice was completely gone and my chest felt like it was on fire. I had to be seen and barely had enough to cover my medications.

I politely asked the lady at the desk that afternoon (whom I never saw there again) to bill the co-pay ($25 I think), and you would swear that I squeaked some horrible threat out of my ruined throat instead. This woman fed me a lecture, loud enough for the whole lobby to hear, which lasted until I finally just turned my back and walked out. As sick and stressed as I was I barely made it to my car before I just broke down and cried.

Sometimes you just can't wrap your head around how dispassionate and mean-spirited people can be no matter how hard you try.