Rant... Free Medical My Butt

Sorry OP, don't feel too bad for you. My husband is Canadian and has had the privilege of experiencing both systems of healthcare.

We just don't go to the Dr. I have random mystery pains that I'm worried are either my gallbladder or liver. Doesn't matter, I can't go to any Dr about it, can't afford it. I had a heart condition while pregnant, can't afford to get it checked out again. A large chunk of my dad's bicep muscle popped loose last year, it's still wadded up in a ball around his shoulder, can't do anything about it.

My husband's work actually offers insurance, BUT, it's almost half of what he earns every week. He takes home around $500 a week as a certified welder with ten years of experience, but health insurance would be $225.

If I had to go get an MRI, it would be at least $5000. They are crazy expensive around here.

Here in the states, if you've got a painful knee and no insurance, you pop tylenol or advil, take it easy for the next few months and hope it heals itself. Can't afford $5000 for an MRI on a knee, heck, crutches are cheaper.

We don't have free medical care but I have decent insurance as I work for the government. I still paid over a grand the last time I had advanced imaging done and that was above and beyond what my insurance paid. Not to mention the copays for my primary physician, specialist and prescriptions.

I have NO insurance after years of working my tail off and getting laid off. Now i'm a school bus driver and single coverage is so expensive ($100 per week) that I cannot afford to carry insurance. So I hope and pray that I remain healthy. Unfortunately, those with good medical insurance in the US with the employer footing most or all of the bill for the premium are the minority these days. Copays are much better than cash pay so don't complain. I wonder, though, with Obamacare, whether or not a year-long waiting list for an MRI is in our future.

I actually have to disagree with that one. I've been with and without insurance for long stretches in my life. But the majority I was underinsured. Here is an example:

I walk into the ER with insurance. Have various tests and a CAT scan. I pay my $150 deductible. Then come all the insurance rejections because the hospital is a participating provider, but every doctor in the hospital is not (WTF????? Seriously TRUE STORY). I receive bill after bill for doctors and radiologists. I ask for help and get nothing "because I am lucky and have insurance". I end up paying almost $4k additional out of pocket and my credit gets ruined because I couldn't afford it.

Uninsured relative goes into same ER. Has CAT Scan, EKG, etc. Gets big bill from hospital and doctors. Calls them up and says "Help me I have no insurance." All people settle and lower their bills. They pay $750 out of pocket for the visit on a payment plan. Credit remains in tact.

And don't think that getting you a job with medical coverage anymore will give you any relief. Most healthcare plans require a $2500 deductible for a single (and as much as $6200 for a family) deductible before they will cover a dime. The health insurance market in the US is extremely scary now. Unless you have loads of money and can afford a $6200 deductible on a family then you really are screwed.

I have an ankle injury that never will heal because I couldn't afford the $50/ visit co pay for physical therapy 3x a week to get it to heal properly. When I finally could afford to go once a week at $50 it really was too late and wont heal.

Emergency rooms in the U.S. of A. are only required to stabilize patients. They are not required to run down a diagnosis. My uninsured son injured his ankle about 10 years ago. All the ER doc did was take x-rays to ensure it wasn't broken, then sent him on his way with the advice to take Tylenol or Advil for pain. He still has trouble with that ankle.

Oh, and they sent the bill to collections, which added fees to it. It took him a couple of years to pay it off.

Emergency rooms in Canada are also to stabilize patients. My mother got quite a lecture about how unless there was continuing risk of death that they had to monitor she should expect to be sent home and follow up with her family doctor the next morning. They do what they feel is due diligence to ensure you can breathe on your own, you aren't bleeding internally/externally and that your heart is beating then its out the door.

Sorry OP, don't feel too bad for you. My husband is Canadian and has had the privilege of experiencing both systems of healthcare.

We just don't go to the Dr. I have random mystery pains that I'm worried are either my gallbladder or liver. Doesn't matter, I can't go to any Dr about it, can't afford it. I had a heart condition while pregnant, can't afford to get it checked out again. A large chunk of my dad's bicep muscle popped loose last year, it's still wadded up in a ball around his shoulder, can't do anything about it.

My husband's work actually offers insurance, BUT, it's almost half of what he earns every week. He takes home around $500 a week as a certified welder with ten years of experience, but health insurance would be $225.

If I had to go get an MRI, it would be at least $5000. They are crazy expensive around here.

Here in the states, if you've got a painful knee and no insurance, you pop tylenol or advil, take it easy for the next few months and hope it heals itself. Can't afford $5000 for an MRI on a knee, heck, crutches are cheaper.

I'm sure this will be reported but.....


Why did you get pregnant with no way of obtaining medical attention unless someone else paid for it...i.e...taxpayers?

I had a similar situation. My lower leg swelled up like a parade balloon. I could barely walk. My 79-year-old Mom had to help me into the ER at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital. I have insurance through my work, Blue Cross at the time - the ER actually REFUSED to even look at me unless I coughed up $150. I had no cash on me, the one credit card I had was maxed - finally I caved and handed my debit card over, and they promptly cleaned out my checking account. After triage and a half-dozen VERY PAINFUL X-rays (you should have seen me trying to hold my leg in place, literally screaming HURRY UP, THIS IS KILLING ME) - they found NOTHING and sent me home. Ice, elevation, low-sodium diet - it hasn't flared up again. Thank God.

Good luck.

People don't die in the USA because they can't go to the Doctor. Completely untrue. They go to the Emergency Room, the hospital stops calling about the bill in a couple of months, and then they just raise their prices for other things to cover the cost of those who can't pay. Public hospitals cannot deny service in the emergency room.

You can't get chemo in the ER.

I know it's not a good system for the doctors, either, because of the cost of education and malpractice insurance. But there's got to be a better way, and it would have to be system wide, not just reducing costs for patients.

Honestly, with no trauma, the MRI probably won't show much. This happened to me one time and it got better on it's own, although that knee was already touchy and it's gotten worse over the years.

Sorry OP, don't feel too bad for you. My husband is Canadian and has had the privilege of experiencing both systems of healthcare.

We just don't go to the Dr. I have random mystery pains that I'm worried are either my gallbladder or liver. Doesn't matter, I can't go to any Dr about it, can't afford it. I had a heart condition while pregnant, can't afford to get it checked out again. A large chunk of my dad's bicep muscle popped loose last year, it's still wadded up in a ball around his shoulder, can't do anything about it.

My husband's work actually offers insurance, BUT, it's almost half of what he earns every week. He takes home around $500 a week as a certified welder with ten years of experience, but health insurance would be $225.

If I had to go get an MRI, it would be at least $5000. They are crazy expensive around here.

Here in the states, if you've got a painful knee and no insurance, you pop tylenol or advil, take it easy for the next few months and hope it heals itself. Can't afford $5000 for an MRI on a knee, heck, crutches are cheaper.

I'm sure this will be reported but.....


Why did you get pregnant with no way of obtaining medical attention unless someone else paid for it...i.e...taxpayers?

Exactly! Anyone whose job doesn't offer affordable insurance should not be allowed to reproduce!

In response to the individual stating doctors are greedy and overpaid, If I spent 12 or more years of my life sacrificing for my medical education/residency/internship working 80+hours per week, missing holidays with my family to be on call, and paying high malpractice insurance premiums you're damn right there better be a good payout to make it worth it. If doctors aren't paid well, why would they go through all those years of hard work and sacrifice????? I'm not saying everyone is in it for the money, but maybe you just don't know how long of a road and how difficult it is to get through medical school. I think they should get paid for what they've put into their career. I would also be curious to know how long the wait is for MRIs/cancer treatments for patients in Britain and Canada based on their healthcare system (simply because I've heard it's a long time.... it may be free, but takes forever???? Not sure about that one.)

The doctor works hard and makes sacrifices so he can help people and make a great salary, meanwhile the single mom who works just as hard at her 3 part time minimum wage jobs and sacrifices just as much for her kids can die if she gets sick.

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