Guy I work with had a stroke last Thursday...

[JulesMaximus]

dude had 50+ years to figure out how to care for his health and provide for his family

i sincerely hope he makes a full recovery, but there is only one person to blame for not having health insurance. (hint, its not uncle sam)

I've had periods of time when I was between jobs and didn't have or couldn't afford health coverage. Do you have any idea what it costs for COBRA for a family of 3? It is ridiculously expensive. Sorry, we're going to lay you off so you'll collect a fraction of your pay in unemployment and while we're at it, we're going to triple your healthcare costs from $500/month to $1500/month. That's almost as much as my mortgage payment...

(hint, the system is fucked up)

 

[JulesMaximus]

If you cared for him that much, maybe you should have offered to pay for his hospital visit?

Right, because I have $50,000 laying around.

 

[waggy]

I won't blame the guy for not having insurance. shit happens in this economy. I do fault him for being a idiot and not going to the hospital. you all saying he did it to save money are not thinking long term.

hopefully he pulls through.

 

[BoomerD]

There's definitely something wrong when in what's supposed to be one of the richest nations on the planet, a person has to choose between bankruptcy and no medical care in an emergency...

YES, emergency rooms will provide basic emergency care if you can't pay...that doesn't mean they won't hound you into bankruptcy to get paid...and it doesn't necessarily mean they'll provide the necessary care to fix a problem...merely do what's necessary at the time to get you through the emergency.

Have a heart attack? Yes, they'll treat you, but that may not include heart surgery...

As much money as is spent in this country for medical care, health insurance, wellness plans, etc., there's no gawd-damned reason that every citizen isn't covered with at least basic medical care.
Should that include coverage for "elective surgeries?" Fuck no...but care for broken bones, heart attacks, strokes, etc...damned right it should.

Use the money paid into the various welfare medical programs, medicare, etc. to fund it.

 

[preslove]

and a reliable car and housing and higher education and free child care and a really good paying job and..and...and...

The fact that you equate these things with basic medical care makes you a fucking idiot.

 

[InverseOfNeo]

Awful situation for that guy. I hope he comes out on top.

Since this turned political...I find it frustrating that everyone just wants "free healthcare". It seems that focusing on the actual problems of the health care and health insurance industries would be way more beneficial. Reforms could bring health care costs down to a reasonable level where everyone can shop around and find good, AFFORDABLE coverage - just like you do with vehicle, home, etc. insurances.

This. There is a reason that health insurance is a multi-billion dollar industry. There are many problems with it. Let's first fix those problems then see where we're at.

 

[JulesMaximus]

There's definitely something wrong when in what's supposed to be one of the richest nations on the planet, a person has to choose between bankruptcy and no medical care in an emergency...

YES, emergency rooms will provide basic emergency care if you can't pay...that doesn't mean they won't hound you into bankruptcy to get paid...and it doesn't necessarily mean they'll provide the necessary care to fix a problem...merely do what's necessary at the time to get you through the emergency.

Have a heart attack? Yes, they'll treat you, but that may not include heart surgery...

As much money as is spent in this country for medical care, health insurance, wellness plans, etc., there's no gawd-damned reason that every citizen isn't covered with at least basic medical care.
Should that include coverage for "elective surgeries?" Fuck no...but care for broken bones, heart attacks, strokes, etc...damned right it should.

Use the money paid into the various welfare medical programs, medicare, etc. to fund it.

Lobbyists for the insurance industry have done a good job of making people think that it's in their best interest to keep things the way they are. Meaning ever rising insurance company profits... er I mean healthcare costs. Doctors are getting fucked, the people are getting fucked, hospitals are getting fucked, the only ones making out like bandits in this are the ones who contribute nothing... the insurance companies.

 

[preslove]

This. There is a reason that health insurance is a multi-billion dollar industry. There are many problems with it. Let's first fix those problems then see where we're at.

Well, that's what "Obamacare" is. It isn't "free healthcare."

 

[Hacp]

Right, because I have $50,000 laying around.

So you want your neighbor to give your co-worker 50k even though he doesn't know him? If you, a person who knows the guy, won't contribute to his hospital bill, what makes you think someone else who is oblivious to the guy's existence wants to foot the bill?

 

[JulesMaximus]

So you want your neighbor to give your co-worker 50k even though he doesn't know him? If you, a person who knows the guy, won't contribute to his hospital bill, what makes you think someone else who is oblivious to the guy's existence wants to foot the bill?

I'd chip in a few bucks to help the guy out.

My neighbor doesn't have $50k.

 

[LagunaX]

For certain strokes there is a "golden" 4-6 hour window where they can declot or unblock a stroke...regardless of who you are or what you do or don't have go to the ER ASAP cuz you only have 1 brain, 1 life, and 1 body.

 

[Rage187]

My neighbor doesn't have $50k.

We agree

 

[JulesMaximus]

For certain strokes there is a "golden" 4-6 hour window where they can declot or unblock a stroke...regardless of who you are or what you do or don't have go to the ER ASAP cuz you only have 1 brain, 1 life, and 1 body.

You know this, and I know this, but he may not have known it was that serious or maybe he was in denial. Fact is none of us know what he was thinking.

When you have a stroke it's not as though a warning light illuminates on your arm that indicates stroke.

 

[JulesMaximus]

We agree

Right. Universal healthcare means everyone has to cough up an extra $50k annually.

 

[LagunaX]

If you think healthcare is expensive now, wait until it's free! (sarcasm intentional).

 

[ponyo]

You guys are lucky you can get health insurance through your work. If you didn't and had to qualify for individual and family plan on your own, I guarantee more than half of you would not get coverage not because of the ridiculous cost but because of the ridiculous underwriting. They ask you billion questions on the application and you better have not have preexisting conditions or take medications. Insurance companies pretty much only want people with perfect health or close to it as possible. Anyone else, no coverage for you and your application will get denied. And if you're lucky to be in perfect health and get coverage, it's going to be piss poor coverage with ridiculous exemptions, deductible, and co-pay due to the cost. It's a fvcked up system we have here.

 

[Powermoloch]

Our medical system is first and for most a business. $$$ first then your health, and that's the sad reality.

 

[Number1]

It's good to be Canadian and not worry about this shit.

 

[ponyo]

It's good to be Canadian and not worry about this shit.

goes for the rest of the first world countries besides the US. anyone know first world country without some type of basic universal healthcare? other than the US of course.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

So you want your neighbor to give your co-worker 50k even though he doesn't know him? If you, a person who knows the guy, won't contribute to his hospital bill, what makes you think someone else who is oblivious to the guy's existence wants to foot the bill?

I'm surprised I get to be the first to post "You wouldn't chip in <$10 for the roommate's ice cream you stole".

 

[Sust]

I'd rather import mediocre doctors and staff from other countries than continue to let this BS happen. At least then you have a fighting chance without screwing over your entire family. Fuck the AMA.

First, your anger should not be directed at the AMA. Your anger should be directed at whoever was in power back in 1997 and capped the number of residency positions available. Now I havent actually glanced back at whatever bill caused this madness to happen, but it also sounds like the kind of idiocy i've come to expect from all of my politicians.

Medical school enrollment has climbed 2% annually during the past five years due to new medical schools and expansion of existing medical schools. But the number of residency slots funded by Medicare has been capped at 100,000 since 1997.

Second, OP's friend's situation is very unfortunate, but a very real sort of scenario that patients have to face in today's day and age of privatized insurance who will nickel and dime patient, practitioner, and hospital based off of our government medicare's re-imbursement rates. Insurance is a purely profit-driven entity.

Third, the current frankenstein incentivizes the whole medical system to do things to you(i.e. procedures like cardiac catheterization or knee replacement) rather than disease prevention(e.g. financial incentives to keep low BMI or weighing in/out of gyms) which is continuing for the forseeable future so expect to continue watching the medical system warn patients about chronic diseases, but patients ignoring warnings over and over again since there's no immediate incentive to listen to your doc babble on about what could happen to you in 20 years.

Fourth, keeping Americans alive longer is going to make projected healthcare costs really skyrocket as people get older and develop alzheimer's which will place an incredible cost on supervised living arrangements. Who is going to pay for all of these healthy people developing dementia?

If only we could fast forward to 24th century where there is no money...

/Le sigh

 

[KK]

We agree

It's amazing, the mindset of some.

 

[AMCRambler]

I forgot, everyone here has excellent healthcare through their employer, makes 6 figures, is married to a supermodel, and just waiting for their stock options so they can buy a new yacht.

And ride Ducatis.

You Think you're having a stroke then you go to the hospital. No matter what. Bankrupt your family if that's what it takes. At leat you have a shot at beating it and contnuing to work for the remainder of your life. Otherwise they'll just end up being burdened by your disabled ass for sure.

 

[Jadow]

he shouldn't have bought that 8000 dollar mcnugget

 

[Doppel]

I'd be reluctant to go to the hospital for most stuff if I was broke, but with a stroke you need to get your ass in there at the seed of light so they can give you that stuff can possibly nullify the stroke. You only have a very small window to get to the hospital.

Yep, Jules' co-worker is a fvcking buffoon. Doesn't matter if you have insurance or not, any hospital has to treat you for something like a stroke as soon as you get there. Sucks to be him in that situation of course, but seriously it's not a time to wonder about bills if you just had a stroke. get that sh*t some attention.