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When You Don't Have Health Insurance (or Money)
Millions of people in the U.S. do not have health insurance, and more and more are losing their insurance when they lose or change jobs. When you have limited financial resources, priorities rapidly shift to the essentials, like food and shelter. Getting medical care tend to be low on the list. Nearly every day, someone will tell me that this will be their last visit due to insurance or financial constraints.
I tend to be highly sympathetic and do the best that I can to hold down costs, often by putting down a lower billing code and making sure to order only tests that are absolutely essential. When prescribing medications, I will look for samples (becoming increasingly scarce) or only use the less-expensive generics. I am often embarrassed by the costs of medical care. As a salaried employee of a large, health organization, there is little that I can do to
I am definitely less sympathetic when I know my patient has not changed expensive habits, like smoking, drinking expensive coffee, and eating out instead of packing a lunch. When someone asks me to bill them for their small, insurance co-payment and I notice they have a pack of cigarettes sticking out of their purses, I tell them how I feel. I am getting too old to let these "teaching moments" slide.
Setting reasonable priorities is not something that all people know how to do. And not all people are proactive and resourceful when it comes to trimming their personal budgets or finding affordable care.
Things you CAN do
Ten Things you should NEVER do
As an optimist, I know things will get better. We need to take care of ourselves...our families...and find time to help others. Together, we will get through this economic crisis.
Related Topics:
I tend to be highly sympathetic and do the best that I can to hold down costs, often by putting down a lower billing code and making sure to order only tests that are absolutely essential. When prescribing medications, I will look for samples (becoming increasingly scarce) or only use the less-expensive generics. I am often embarrassed by the costs of medical care. As a salaried employee of a large, health organization, there is little that I can do to
I am definitely less sympathetic when I know my patient has not changed expensive habits, like smoking, drinking expensive coffee, and eating out instead of packing a lunch. When someone asks me to bill them for their small, insurance co-payment and I notice they have a pack of cigarettes sticking out of their purses, I tell them how I feel. I am getting too old to let these "teaching moments" slide.
Setting reasonable priorities is not something that all people know how to do. And not all people are proactive and resourceful when it comes to trimming their personal budgets or finding affordable care.
Things you CAN do
- Unless you have a true emergency (life-threatening) condition, stay out of the emergency room. If you have a primary care problem, like a sore throat or earache, this would be the most expensive way to get treatment. Call a few urgent care facilities (aka "Doc in the Boxes") for prices. They are certainly less-expensive than the ER.
- Check your area for free clinics, or clinics that charge a sliding scale. There are fewer and fewer of these around, but sometimes you will be lucky.
- Many counties have Public Health Departments that offer free or discounted medical services, especially immunizations.
- Many uninsured and non-working people qualify for state-run insurances like Medicaid but never bother to check their eligibility. Children, especially, will benefit from this.
- Find a good primary care provider or solo practitioner. Medical professionals who work for themselves set their own charges and have the ability to charge less or nothing at all. You will be surprised how many dedicated professionals will find a way to help you out during these tough economic times.
- Ask for samples. Although pharmaceutical samples are also becoming increasingly scarce, even a few days of medication to get you started will reduce your overall health costs.
- Ask for a generic prescription or for an alternative choice of medications known to be less expensive. Although medical providers often do not know what prescriptions cost at the various pharmacies, most will have a good idea if they are giving you an expensive one or a reasonably-priced alternative. Generics are just as good for a fraction of the cost. If your doctor wrote for a brand name, your pharmacist can substitute a generic equivalent in most instances.
- Don't be shy about shopping around for a better price on your prescriptions. Call the pharmacy, read your prescription to them (if the writing is legible!), and ask how much it will be. Many large, chain pharmacies have huge medication discounts for certain commonly-used prescriptions. A prescription that costs $60 in one pharmacy may only be $18 at another.
- Ask for a discount. A $75 office visit may only be reimbursed by insurance companies for a fraction of that cost. So, why should you pay more simply because you do not have health insurance? Even fees vary among private medical practitioners, so call around.
- Be creative in your available resources. I am often surprised that people can afford to buy beer or cigarettes, but they don't seem to have money left for their own medical care. A one pack per day person would save over $150 in a month - a savings less-costly than of an average office visit.
- If you have a credit card, most medical offices will charge your visit to the card, giving you up to a month to come up with the cash.
- If feels good when you help someone, so if you are in serious need, it is okay to ask family or friends to help you out. Remember, you are asking for help to get medical care, not to buy a new toy. By helping you, they will feel better.
- If you are a member of a church or synagogue, many will help the less-fortunate with reasonable, but unexpected medical costs. It doesn't hurt to ask for help. I have seen local churches buy glasses for children, or provide medical appliances for the elderly. Don't forget to thank others who help you, including God.
- Practice medical self-care. The first-step in staying healthy is taking care of your self and practice healthy habits. Don't smoke. Don't take recreational drugs. Don't drink and drive. Always wear seat belts. Exercise and maintain a healthy weight. These things do not cost a dime.
- If you have lost your job and are looking for a new one, try and find employment that will offer health benefits for you and your family.
Ten Things you should NEVER do
- You should never ignore potentially-serious symptoms simply because you do not have the resources. Not only can your condition become worse (and more expensive to treat), you are potentially putting your life in jeopardy. If you feel you need medical care, find a way. You really can't die now and pay later.
- Don't ignore preventative care, like mammograms and pap smears for women or prostate exams and PSA tests for men. And, keep up with your preventative dental visits.
- You should never take someone else's medication. Every person and every disease is different.
- You should never take expired or suboptimal (sub-therapeutic) dosages of leftover medications from prior prescriptions unless specifically instructed to do so by your medical provider. For instance, by not having a complete course of antibiotics - about ten days worth - it may not be possible to eradicate an infection. You may also create a resistant bacterial strain that is more difficult to treat.
- Many people resort solely on alternative medicines, such as homeopathic remedies, vitamins, or herbs. Most are not scientifically proven by clinical trial, and any response may be merely anecdotal. It is okay to try them, but if you are not improving, you may need traditional medical intervention.
- You should never smoke. Smokers have considerably more cancer-fears than other people. People who smoke worry that sore throats, lymph node enlargement, or chronic cough may be something serious. Sometimes, they are right - all the more reason NOT to ignore long-standing symptoms.
- Don't rely solely on online health information sites (including WebMD) in an attempt to diagnose (and treat) yourself. Online health experts have no way of examining you, reviewing your medical history, or treating you based solely on your posting.
- The same goes for being diagnosed (or treated) by your non-medical friends and relatives...don't do it. Just because people have similar symptoms or experiences, in no way implies that it is applicable to your case.
- Don't rely solely on phone advice by your doctor or advice nurses. They can only make medical decisions based on what you have told them. Most advice will most likely be conservative. Don't expect to be definitively diagnosed and treated on the phone.
- Never use the ER as your primary care medical facility. The ER is for life-threatening situations or medical conditions that cannot wait until your regular medical office is available. ER medicine is the most expensive care you can receive. Find a good family practitioner.
As an optimist, I know things will get better. We need to take care of ourselves...our families...and find time to help others. Together, we will get through this economic crisis.
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- Living Better Newsletter - free wellness tips to keep you healthy & strong
Labels: economy, health and wellness, health insurance
50 Comments:
That is the most ridculous article I have ever read! Don't ignore potential life threatening problems? Give me a break! Who is going to foot the bill? There are a lot of folks without income and or insurance who are not willing to further burden tax payors or make county hospitals suffer.
Witout monies or insurance you cannot go to the dentist or a doctor!
I thought the article was very informative. My husband and I are on SS and he has medicare, but I am 64 and do not have medicare. I use a local clinic that charge according to income. They are careful not to run expensive test I do not need. They work with me to keep drug cost down. There are still those with no money or family to help.
To the anonymous first poster:
Talk about a ridiculous post. I suppose if you'd rather die than go into debt that's your business. As to who pays, I'd like to think everyone would pay their own bills.
All too often people will just walk away from a huge bill without making an attempt to pay. But if everyone would pay even $10 a month toward their bills it would help a great deal, especially for hospitals that are close to going broke. So it takes years, so what, there's no interest accumulating. I don't know too many people that can't afford $10 a month, especially since a lot of people spend way, way more than that on booze, cigarettes and shoes. So help out and make an attempt.
I currently have over $3000 in dental bills despite taking good care of my teeth and having insurance. There's a lot of other things I could spend that money on but I'll pay that bill. There's no bailout for responsible people. There's just that knife in the back that goes in deeper and deeper while the blood seeps out. So it may take me months or a year or more but I will pay my bill in full.
The message of not smoking hits home with me. I wish I could quit. I have tried patches, hynosys,and gum and still not able to quit. I hear that Chantix prescription medicine works well but I can't afford the medicine or the office visit to get the prescription. Are there any programs in place to help pay for the medication. My husband is disabled and I can't find work. I have something wrong with my back that does not allow me to sit or stand for a short period of time. At home I move from chair to walking to laying down. How do I go about getting information on programs to help me
Dr Moser-
I think that you posted some great ideas, for people who have limited resources....but there is a huge population of people in the US who, I think, have an even greater problem-those of us who have a decent income AND insurance-but deal with severe chronic illness.
I would consider myself to be middle upper class and I have ok health insurance, however-due to the fact that i DON'T qualify for sliding scales, reduced rates, can't bargain for a discount, and get laughed at when I ask for a payment plan I am NOT able to get the help I need..and spent hundreds of dollars a month on my own health care as it is. My medication co-pays at 30$ per drug (to spite changing what I can to generic) still run 250.00 a month, then doc visits at 25 co-pay PLUS a 30% co-insurance. Emergency room visits=100$ co-pay plus 30% co-insurance. and the list goes on. After spending 3 days in ICU in January, having meds and two follow up visits, having to meet a deductable and spend down I owe $1000.00 for January ALONE. Now waht about mental health care? A therapist would be nice, but I only get 10 visits per year covered at 50% of 90$, but most therapists charge $135.00...you do the math. SO let's just say that when I went into adrenal failure in January we had to dx it over the phone, order labs, and i never got to see a doctor-I COULD NOT AFFORD IT! I am persistant and i do ask to fill out charity care applications, I file appeals, I have my docs write my insurance company to try to get better coverage, I've attempted single case agreements with my insruance....but NO-I make to much money. That being said I am living pay check to pay check BECAUSE of my expenses.
Now what I can tell you is when I "Don't have Health insurance (or Monay)" in 2000 I was on state assistance and I got all my medications and hospital and clinic and supplies paid at 100% by the state. What they didn't pay providers "wrote off". Therapist was willing to slide her fees.
I honestly thought about going back on disability so that I could get the care that I need-BUT I find it better for my health TO GO to work so long as I am standing.
What do you suggest for the living middle class in America? I think this is really the bigger issue at hand.
Jessica
I think it's a very informative article, as well. One summer I didn't have health insurance and was paying out-of-pocket for my prescription, and discovered that CVS charged $30 for my medicine, while Wal-Mart only charged $20 for the exact same thing. Definitely compare prices if you don't have insurance! And don't skip the dentist!! I made that mistake last year, and it ended up costing me an extra $500 when I finally decided to go because of problems I didn't realize were there. I will never skip again!
For everyones information - you can go to Walmart.com and print a list of prescriptions they carry that are $4. Also, we are without insurance with 3 kids. We have a family dr and an asthma dr for my son that both give us a discount on our office visit and provide medication to us out of their samples.
Ok,here's my 2cents worth: As a Nurse of 18+ years & now on Unemployment,I cant decribe how angry I was to listen to Medicaid & FoodStamp personel tell me I ..."dont qualify for assistance b/c I MADE TO MUCH $$..." Do they think I'm hiding $$ in a mattress??? On the smoking- I HAD TO QUIT b/c THEY'RE TOO EXPENSIVE! between the smoking cessation & the down time trying to find a job, I gained 30LBS btwn Sept-Dec! Yeah, I sense the new smells & tastes I didn't have before while smoking but I agree that it's pretty hypocritical to encourage smoking cessation & whining how broke you are, when you're smoking yourself!But it's a real kick in the teeth when you REALLY do need medical care & they tell you "...you made too much"!!!You have to make some really tough choices when you only get $18 left over every other week to take care of everything.(I'd rather go without (& yes-die)than make more bills for myself-or others!!)Patch Adams had the right idea & I agree: Medicare, SSI & Disability ppl get better care than the rest of the working poor...well, thanks 4 letting me vent...(the rest of the article is worth merit if someone does those things!)
Really, if you would just take care of yourself...Catastophic coverage is as cheap as 30.00 a month for a single person. Mine even included preventavive. And if you had a HUGE hospital bill, instead of thinking bankruptcy- think 10.00 a week. We all expect to be taken care of in this country. It is not a God given right, you have to do your part as well.
I'm sure I'm just as guilty of this as most everyone else, but we have to be careful about judging people on limited information (heck even judging them based on full information). We also need to be careful not to assume that our values are any better than anyone else's values.
How do you know that the person with the pack of cigarettes isn't living in their car or hasn't trimmed their budget as much as possible in all other respects and that pack of cigarettes is their one pleasure in life? Or even if they haven't made any sacrafices who are we to say what their priorities should be? I don't think I have the right to tell them that they have to give up smoking because it doesn't fit in my plan of the way they should live their life.
But this is the kind of topic that incites contraversy anyway, and I think rightfully so.
The good doctor should or could compile a list of sole medical pratitioners, other medical practices as well as health care facilities, that would accept private pay (no-insurance) patients at the fee level approved by insurance companies, Medicare and/or Medicaid--rather than tell the readers to "find one". Such a list would be a great help in every community where such medical pracitioners and facilities are located.
I go to a slidescale medical office. They are helping with meds and general care. We are on a fixed income. They don't have access to equipment to help diagnose other problems. We both have several chronic illnesses. My husband has the va but the clinic is limited on what they can do for me.
the goverment should come with some othere method for health insurance.people who work should pay a low monthly bill and for the wealthy "rich" people who have every thing they can have in life should pay most of they bill its not fair for the poeple who dont work strugling with life have nothing have the rights to die im 23 year old i have low coast insurance but that doesent help when i have pain in my head n i know what i have and doctors tell another story. money is root of every in this world i wish money dident excics. mayby if they was only one goverment in this world we wouldent need money. when will jesus come to save all of us
First of all, I am truly amazed at the total insensitivity of some the comments listed here regarding
the subject of healthcare in this country. I also feel that the article was inadequate because most of what it has to say is obvious and common knowledge so it really doesn't offer any real help.
What most people who oppose affordable,accessible,high quality
healthcare for all are not aware of
is that if we continue with the same broken down system that we currently have the costs will continue to skyrocket and our businesses will not be able to globally compete and in the end it will be actually be more expensive
and only available to the very few people who can afford it.
I am one of those people that have no insurance, or afford a doc. I have no insurance because I had to leave a great paying job, with insurance, to get my son and self out of a domestic abuse situation. The only way I felt safe was to move back to my home state where I could have some positive family help.
I got a job right away after moving, but it was only temp, as the economy in Ohio is lacking severely.
Soon after I injured my knee baddly enough I could no longer work. At one point the paid was so great and my knee so swollen, my toes were starting to turn pale and I had no warmth or feeling to them either.
My family took me to er. Because I had no insurance, I was no afforded x rays. They gave me an immobilizer, cruthches, and a bottle of hydrocodone for the pain. And told I had a probable bucket tear to the meniscus. The er doc said he could feel the lump that it would form, when he moved my leg the right way.
It took me from dec. to feb. just to be accepted for the state run insurance. All this time in an immobilizer.
Once I got on the state ins. I was treated like a dog. No one wants to take it, because they do not get paid enough by the state. I had to go to the health dept.
When I got there I was subject to what amounted to being in the room with a womanizing telemarketer that called himself a doctor.
He never took off the immobilizer, looked at my knee, or ask me any questions about the injury. He told me I was a selfish woman, and that I was using him, because I could not find a primamry care provider. He ran over the foot that was attached to the bad knee twice with his wheelie seat. I had to even catch his hand once, when he though he made a funny and absentmindedly tried to slap my knee. Yes, the bad one.
Everytime I asked him if I could have a referal to an ortho, He asked
"You are going to make an appointment at my private practice tomorrow, Right??
After an hour of this, he gave me a piece of paper with a referal on it.
Then it took me a month to get into the first available ortho, as I was and still am in severe pain.
The ortho looked at normal x rays and said they looked fine. Gave me a shot of cortozone and told I had to bend my knee.
When I tried to tell the ortho about how the pain and swelling was not just from stiff knee, or a sprain, and that I had tried to use my knee, anytime the pain and swelling would lesson enough to permit me to do this, HE JUST INTERUPTED ME AND TOLD ME TO ""SHUT UP, THIS IS TREATMENT, LISTEN TO ME, AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS SO I CAN TREAT"
So, for someone who has worked hard all of her life, has brought in adequit funds and supplied a family and drunk of a husband with money and place and insurance, no I am treated like junk.
State run healthcare in Ohio, sucks. You are treated like shit by the docs that take it, told you have nothing wrong, even though there are obvious symptoms that show otherwize, and run around.
To this day, I still cannot walk right. I cannot go to work like this, as I am basically disabled by this situation.
To sign up for disability, you have to show medical proof that something is wrong.
To find a doctor that is willing to take you seriously and actually look for what is hurting me so that I can walk again without pain and go back to a healthy active lifestyle like I had before the injury, I HAVE TO HAVE MONEY, OR INSURANCE THAT A GOOD DOCTOR WILL TAKE.
Being as I have none of these now, I guess I am just going to die of poverty. As I would love to go to work, but I have always worked physically demanding jobs and this is all I know.
So, what might work in another state, does no good in the state of Ohio.
I have diagnosed heart disease and no insurance. It is extremely frustrating to deal with the medical industry. We have a judgment against us from a hospital where a procedure actually made me worse, we have three collection agencies we pay each month, and I haven't had tests run since 2004 even though my symptoms have worsened, and my cardiologist has ordered tests twice. I canceled them due to lack of money. This stupid medical system in our country will probably cost me my life. I am 49 years old.
I do not have insurance and take a medication. The price of the medication continues to increase. I am looking for a pharmacy in Canada or India to order my prescription at a lower cost. How do I find one that is licensed and legit? Please recommend a licensed, reliable, and good quality on-line pharmacy. Are the drugs of equal quality? Any advice?
The good Dr. is out of touch with how his own industry works. The level of care available is 100%dependant on the level of insurance one has. ER's are full of non emergency cases because they can't turn you away, and it is cheaper deductable wise than an office visit.
I have NO insurance~I've had a few health problems requiring treatment~a broken kneecap and my very first asthma attack~while uninsured. I went to the ER for the asthma attack (I didn't know what it was and I couldn't breathe) and for my knee, I was taken from school in an ambulance. I thank god that my school paid for all treatment (ambulance, ER, orthopedic, brace, and physical therapy) regarding my knee, since they were liable.
But I haven't had dental coverage in 3 years. I brush religiously, I floss, I use mouthwash, I Do EVERYHTING I can to keep my mouth in good shape so I can avoid ahving to pay hundreds of dollars that I don't have for a dentist. My glasses are 5 years old and I could use a higher prescription, but again, I don't have the money for that. I also sliced my thumb open a few months ago~I called around to Urgent Care clinicis, and found that the cheapest one wanted 100 bucks just to see me since I as uninsured, and then would charge between 75 and 200 dollars for the stitching. I ended up buying a 5 dollar box of butterfly bandages at Walgreens and taking care of it myself. It took 2 months to copletely heal and regain feeling, and I have a scar.
So instead of making lists of how "we can save money on health costs" why don't you make a list for the health care industry on how that can make themselves more affordable?!
There is lots of help available for those who can't afford their medications or healthcare costs. NeedyMeds has compiled information on all the pharmaceutical patient assistance programs plus hundreds of other programs. We also information on nearly 4000 free/low cost/sliding scale clinics.
All our information is free, easy to access, and updated regularly. Over 12,000 people visit our website (www.needymeds.org) every workday.
Please check out the website - www.needymeds.org.
Rich
Rich Sagall, MD
President
NeedyMeds, Inc.
P.O. Box 219
Gloucester, MA 01931
rich.sagall@needymeds.org
I worked 2 jobs for yrs and my body has given out on me I have been waiting for my disablity to go through for 3 yrs now. The free clinics won't help me because I beyond the realm of there help I'm bipolar.. I to don't want to leave any unpaid bliis..I've signed a living will, no resess assistants, No blood or body help I only want very good pain meds. And to be left to die.. I'm sick of begging for help. My food stamps don't buy t paper when I go to walmart for the small amount of groceries I go into their bathroom and stuff as much paper in my clothes pockets and fill my 20 oz coke bottle with soap I do this several times in one trip.. I don't smoke but I do drink some to make my pain meds work better..I no longer drive so I depend on the illegals down the road they are the only people willing to help me..
Before deciding on major surgery such as a radical prostatectomy, check with your insurance to make sure that not only is the procedure covered somewhat but, also that the promised post surgery therapies are covered. I made the mistake of agreeing to a radical prostatectomy with the promise of post surgery therapy for ED only to find out I had NO coverage for ED. No exceptions. Not even my dr's effort to appeal was in vain.
This is in response to one of the posters on this article.
Quote:
"Once I got on the state ins. I was treated like a dog. No one wants to take it, because they do not get paid enough by the state. I had to go to the health dept.
When I got there I was subject to what amounted to being in the room with a womanizing telemarketer that called himself a doctor.
He never took off the immobilizer, looked at my knee, or ask me any questions about the injury. He told me I was a selfish woman, and that I was using him, because I could not find a primamry care provider. He ran over the foot that was attached to the bad knee twice with his wheelie seat. I had to even catch his hand once, when he though he made a funny and absentmindedly tried to slap my knee. Yes, the bad one."
We too live in Ohio, and have been UNABLE to FIND state run insurance.
Can you PLEASE post how you were able to find it, apply for it, etc- or email me directly at Nancye1962@yahoo.com ?
Thank you!
I dont have health insurance i cant even pay for it if i could i was hurt on the job i was terminated i have a herniated disc in my neck osteoarthritis neuropathy 2 ruptured disc in lower back L5&S1 degenerative disc disease. so insurance companies would be losing their money on me so they just laugh at me when i try to apply for some.lol so i have stacks of dr. bills hospital bills on my bar everytime one comes through the mail i just laugh and throw it on the bar with the others.lol i cant do nothing but laugh about it crying dont help and it takes more muscles to laugh so i am holding down the wrinkles.lol. oh i signed up for disability in 2007 well 2009 and still dont have it.lol i am just shitt out of luck/lol.
You're probably not getting disability because simply listing a bunch of conditions you have is meaningless. Millions of people have the same thing.
Myself, I have degenerative disk disease, 5 bulging disks in my lumbar, 1 bulging disk in my cervical, bone spurs all over my spine, arthritis in my shoulders, knees, ankles, spine, hands, toes. I found a great pain management doctor and I'm not disabled. Everyone over 40 pretty much has degenerative disk disease. If you truly are disabled you're going to need a doctor to go to bat for you and a lawyer.
I am forty five and my husband is fifty two. We are both unemployed and I am a diabetic with a thyroid disoder & high cholesteral. I had to cancel my appointment with my doctor because I can not afford over $700 for all my bloodwork. Having health issues that you did not cause is not easy to deal with and when you add jobless and no insurance makes it work. All we can do is take one day at a time and keep saying our prayers.
What are we supposed to do? What are the physicians and all the peoples in the medical field supposed to do? I've found that most physicians will work a payment plan with you. A person must try to stay healthy the best they can.
I'm trying to pay for my chemo treatments. Let's see, 6 treatments at $10,000 each. Insurance paid 80% and I'm grateful for that. That's not including the lab for each time, the cat scans, and the other invasive tests. And this is just one doctor.
What do you think this so called insurance plan Obama wants to get up and running will do? Nothing.
People without insurance and without a income will still feel like a burden. It won't change a thing except maybe our taxes and make his groupies happy.
I feel a person has choices. If they want to be hard headed, stay ill and not try to get medical treatment, that's their choice. However, there's clinics that will work with people who don't have insurance or monies or a job. So what. I've used them. I've had to swallow my pride and stand in line for a long time to see a doctor. And so what if the doctor was a resident intern? And so what if I had to be seen by a whole group of interns. So what??
If I couldn't afford to pay? That's a choice I made in order to feel better. So what if it took hours? Sometimes, we have to make up our minds that we can either sit back and let our lives go on without doing anything and say we're good about it or we can get up and do something. Get to a doctor, get somewhat well and forget about burdening tax payers.
You have to think about yourself first. I have a list of illnesses, the first of which I'm in remission. I'm thankful for this. Not thankful for the high medical bills. But thankful to be alive and so grateful for the dedication of my doctors.
How do you address life-threatening medical problems without money? Our county does not have a county hospital or provide any medical services for its citizens.
I allowed a hernia to go on for years until it became dangerous. I bought one of the discount provider programs. I had saved up $9000 for the surgery. The hospital assured me I'd pay only half price for their services plus an additional discount. After the surgery, the hospital charged me $19,100, full price instead of the half price. Sorry, but it's hard to figure out how hospitals are hurting for money when they charge over $1000 a day for a room.
My primary doctor charges me 50% since I pay cash. I expected decent discounts from the doctors. My surgeon and the anesthesiologist charged over $1000 an hour for the surgery, giving me a 10% and 20% discount. I'll be paying off the over $30,000 of charges for 5 years if my extra part-time job continues.
Before the surgery, I kept asking about costs, but no one would tell me. I think they were ashamed.
In Dec. 2007, my husband had gall bladder surgery...not a big deal, we had insurance, and I thought we'd have the hospital/doctors paid off in early 2008. Well, then I was diagnosed as diabetic...and then as having breast cancer. So, here we are, up to our eyebrows in medical bills, plus in need of ongoing medical care. I am making monthly payments to everybody, but I'm still feeling overwhelmed. How do I skip the checkup with the oncologist? How do I skip my diabetes checkup? How does my husband go without blood pressure and cholesteral meds? I think I will die because I just can't afford to live anymore.
I am struck by the spectrum of responses here- from
"the goverment should come with some othere method for health insurance.people who work should pay a low monthly bill and for the wealthy "rich" people who have every thing they can have in life should pay most of they bill its not fair for the poeple who dont work strugling with life have nothing have the rights to die im 23 year old i have low coast insurance but that doesent help when i have pain in my head n i know what i have and doctors tell another story. money is root of every in this world i wish money dident excics. mayby if they was only one goverment in this world we wouldent need money. when will jesus come to save all of us
rom"
to the people with chronic illness (there are a lot of anonymous posts in here) and their obvious efforts at combating the system..as an insurance professional, I meet four classes of people- and they are all represented here, in the posted responses.
1) The truly needy, down on luck, lost job, catestrophic illness/ accident to multiple family members.etc. I feel the most for these folk, they try to pay their bills and did not invite the disaster by poor health habits.
2)Those who have poor health habits and refuse to change them due to a belief that someone else should bear responsibility for the health care tab in this country.
3)Example at begining of my post- these people need mental health care and our safety net called Medicaid does not pay for it. This is the person voted most likely to go "postal" in a public place, in my (educated)opinion. I hope the pain in the head goes away soon. Low cost health insurance is apparently good for- nothing.
4)Lastly- the perception thst insurance means everything should be covered- let's all learn to read our policies and if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Insurance is not a BLANKET COVERAGE, know what YOURS COVERS and WHAT IT DOES NOT>
The only hope for this system is to get rid of insurance companies and HMO's and get to the single payer system as fast as possible. It may not be as good as private insurance, but it will provide basic care and emergency medicine for everyone. The wealthy, the middle class and the poor would be treated the same. Of course the wealthy could always go out of the country for care, but they can do that now.
doctors,food,homes,the living cost on everthing is going throw the roof when you don't have the money .like me i cannot get any help i have to come up with the money to see my doctor .they keep sending me for more test the money is gone .i cannot get help from the goverment .yes i am on my own.just like some other people i know. i cannot get the money to see a dentist.frame your picture and come up the money to food your family .no one is there to help .so what do you do stand on your on 2 feet.i have to go throw the hospital am ask them to prove for me to have blood work done. i have got back hospital i cannot pay them.i'm ging back in debt again because of the help i cannot get no help from my family they said i'm on my own.i have apply for ssi keep getting turn down. cannot get medcaid because i have apply for ssi.you try to get medcaid see what they tell you.its no right.
I am a single mother of 3 and all of my kids have medical cards. For that I am grateful. I have always worked and had my own medical coverage. My family Dr. believes that I may have Lupus and had referred me to a Rhematologist. In the meantime I lost my job and insurance. I have since became too bad off to be able to work and need the official diagnosis. How am I supposed to get that if a Dr./Specialist won't see you to begin with if you don't have insurance? I don't see where this article is of much use to me.
This is such a difficult topic because every one of us has our own story to tell. From the well off to the poor and to the squeezed middle class, health care is very individual. Often, unless we live the problem ourselves, we cannot see it.
I have live a healthy life that includes a balanced diet and exercise. I never smoked, barely drink, and never used drugs. As far as medical science knows, I've done nothing to cause the multiple sclerosis that is attacking my body.
One thing has become painfully clear. Health care is not easily affordable and accessible to a great many hardworking taxpayers in this country, many chronically ill through no fault of their own.
Perhaps wholly government-run health care is not the answer for America. However, we must place a safety net under the high wire for those who need it.
Our current system just doesn't work. Any one of us can fall off the high wire in the blink of an eye.
This article does provide some important information that could prove useful to a lot of folks. I don't think the author meant it to be the entire solution for all.
This article is well-intentioned but naive. My PCP wants me to see a cardiologist because I had a panic attack and "maybe" there's some undetected cardiac problem. This could cost thousands of dollars. Where is an uninsured person to go under those circumstances? Nowhere that I can find.
So the author says "You should never ignore potentially-serious symptoms simply because you do not have the resources..." maybe he doesn't know that when you don't have insurance, hospitals expect payment NOW. Not put it on your credit card? The only way I got a discount after an ER trip was to pay before I walked out. Even with discounts it will all come to over $5,000, and now another round of high expenses has been recommended.
I don't see any way I can do it.
If you live near the border, go see a doctor in Canada or Mexico. I don't know how Canada is but in Mexico, they tend to not BS you and give you the treatment you need ASAP. Of course it will cost money, but it is a lot cheaper. Example: X-ray in Mexico, last time I was there, 20 bucks. US, over 100 bucks. I see a lot of Americans getting dental and medical procedures done in Mexico.
What a load of crap! Have ANY of YOU ever tried to get a dentist when you do not have ANY income. Add to that being white and male, means that you do not qualify for any state assistance even at ZERO income.
Why is it in this country that a hospital can not turn you away for not being able to pay on the spot but a dentist can?
i am daughter of surgeon who is not drinker but
who is diabetic and control freak
he has putme in mental hospital a long time aco but did not tell the doctors
what was my husband was doing to me orthe stravation no food or domestic abuse
mydad was going to takecare of it
along with my childern
mom and dad picked out my clothes my food
and were perfect at everything
i passed my are test and husband and dad would not allow me any credit on work i did
and also both denied me my right because i am woman i joined alanon
and got off drugs
they both lie to cover there stories and teach this to my three sons
just recently my husband again used voilence to try to scare me and teaches this to my boys as a way the way
the medical profession should be ashamed of itself
anyway i do my program which is alanon but i have ear ache and dad gave me outdated drugs
are there any consequenses and the medicine he gave me last time did not work
i now recevieve my own disability check which
my husband used to steal and put me on disability
i will get off but first iam getting divorced it not so much the money but dad is blameing me for his illness whichis shingles
anyway that is his problem but i have to wait until june 1st to get to regular doctor
any help would be appreciated
by the way i have quit smoking several times but its thephysical violence from dad know atage 84 and hubby 58 that is a problem
if i succeed at something he starts with pain
To the last Anonymous commenter who commented on May 5/09 at 2:59 p.m. ET, we invite you to visit our various message boards to find answers and support for your issues, to get the help you need and deserve.
You can find them by clicking here.
My daughter has developed a growth on her head which is approximately 1-1/2 inches in diameter. She has been seen at the ER at Providence, USA Medical Center and USA Women's and Children. USA determined that it should be surgically removed but due to Brittany being uninsured they could not get a surgeon to consult, examine, treat or assess her. She was released yesterday from USA Women's and Children's with a prescription for anti-biotics to ward off Staph infection. The only thing we were told is that it could be a tumor or a blood filled cyst which needed to be surgically removed and biopsied. She is scared and in pain.
My daughter is also 35 weeks pregnant. She is on Medicaid for her pregnancy but because this is not related to the pregnancy noone is willing to help. It is sad that this countries medical system will turn away people in need of treatment simply because they are uninsured. No, I do not expect a free ride but to just turn your back on fellow man is an utter disgrace.
According to brilliant idiots like Rush Limbaugh the best solution for all the losers out there that have been used and abused to total destruction by the government, upper management and the greedy conservatives are useless! Yes all 50 million of the uninsured which many are educated, hard working people that have been driven into the dirt by the parties described above. Let them all die our or commit suicide-yes that is Rush's solution as he pulls in his 20 million a year, digests oxycodone by the truck load and the only we he can get any is to hire a crack-whore!
Yes the rich thrive while the rest just go die along the side of the road! Thank God we overpowered the evil-doers/war-mongers and have elected the greatest President of the United States of America ever! Help is on the way-no more dumb wars for water and oil and just plain stupidity!!!
While I find many of the ideas suggested on here somewhat helpful it doesn't seem to help the majority of us who have severe health problems and no way to pay for it.
Middle classed workers have been screwed over when you really look it and no one is willing to lift a finger to help.
My mother kicked me out when I turned eighteen and had denied medical treatment for five years. I found out that I had severe abscesses because she refused to take me to the dentist and I almost died twice. When I was thirteen they overdosed me on oxycodine and got away with it. The dentist I went to was shocked that half the fillings I had received when I was ten through twelve years old had never been finished.
I still had to foot the bill for my mother's and the dentists at fault. I paid over 2,000 dollars and only got two things done. Just one pulled and a root canal and to this day they estimated I have 10,000 dollars worth of work that needs to be done in my mouth alone. I couldn't get on a payment plan because the area I lived in 'wasn't eligible due to zipcode" and even though I make undr 15k a year.
I've also been diagnosed with a hyperthyroid and my hand was seriously injured in an accident. I pass out every four hours if I don't eat. Treatment for both is roughly up towards 20k and no one can pay that. I've tried to appeal to doctors for sliding scale treatment but no one will take me seriously.
If Obama had a plan for healthcare I haven't seen it. People are slipping through the cracks with much worse problems than I ever have. Suggestions are great but that's all they are. Suggestions. America shockingly has one of the worst healthcare systems in the entire world. They're all crooks and couldn't care less about us.
I put an add in the paper to barter services for dental care for my family. I didn't expect a response, but got one! My husband finished an attic for a dentist who took care of the dental needs of our two children and myself. Hubby didn't want to go to the dentist. You never know. I offered babysitting, housekeeping, yard work, and carpentry. Worth a try!
I have no luck with good/preventive care from any low-income clinic (I have no health/dental insurance and don't earn enough to afford it). Care was worst in Texas because system OVERWHELMED by illegal immigrants- Kansas no better- lack of volunteers and resources here.
Another option is leave the US.
Too often, I read these horror stories about being practically left to die because you don't have the money to pay for overly expensive medicare.
The US is the only remaining country which doesn't provide it's citizens with national health care. Probably because all of your taxpayer money is being spent on newer and better ways to kill people elsewhere.
Get out. The US is a nightmare. I know obtaining citizenship elsewhere takes time... but even for non citizens, it's still cheaper than US health care!
I'M 52 YEARS OLD HAVE NO MONEY,NO JOB,NO INSURANCE.4OR5 YEARS AGO I HAD BREAST CANCER,THATS WHY I NEED TO DO TO THE DOCTOR TO GET A PHYSICAL,AND A MAMMOGRAM BEFORE ITS TO LATE.I LIVE IN RAEFORD,N.C.-HOKE COUNTY AND LIVE NEAR FAYETTEVILLE,N.C. CUMBERLAND COUNTY-I LIVE ON CUMBERLAND AND HOKE BORDER LINE,PLEASE HELP ME PLEASE.
If you have a comment about this blog post, you are in the right place. However, if you have a question for one of our health experts or wish to talk with other members, please visit the appropriate message board.
If your question is urgent, you should of course consult your own physician.
I would also recommend this: You may be 20 or 30 and perfectly healthy, and you do have health insurance. But if you have noticed - many, many people are losing their jobs. You, and everyone else, needs to have a plan long before that happens. Stay out of debt, stay away from new cars unless you make six figures, stay away from credit cards, and you have absolutely got to have at least 6 months of an emergency fund, which includes enough to keep up w/ COBRA insurance from your former employer (unless you can get private insurance cheaper). I have a pre-existing condition, and I can't get private coverage.
I'm... a little unsure and a little embarrassed to be posting publicly but I thought it couldn't hurt too bad to write a reply to this article. I found your article very, very helpful. However, I was wondering if there was any other advice you could give me on my specific problem.
My dental problems are quite... advanced. I'd not like to talk about them in the public so much, but it would cost me thousands of dollars to even bring my mouth up to a healthy standpoint. I brush my teeth regularly (and I don't floss because well, there isn't much left in my mouth TO floss). Anyway, I am currently an unemployed, full-time college student.
I cannot get in to any of the free clinics (or at least I haven't yet), because they only accept so many. I still continue to fight for a spot regardless. I don't even know where, or how to go about applying for Medicaid. Do you know where I can go for this? (I live in Michigan).
I just feel like I have little to no options left, and I know my health is deteriorating because of this. I often have to lance infections in my mouth, hoping that it wont get in to my blood stream and kill me. I'm a bit desperate, or maybe paranoid. Do you have any advice for me?
Thank you in advance for any information you could give me.
My friend Ben had severe acid reflex. He lost his job and therefor his insurance too. Because he could not get his medication his acid reflex took a tole on his teeth and now 50% of his bone in his mouth is gone, the infection is spreading and if it reaches his brain which the doctor said it will, it will kill him. The doctor said there was nothing he can do the surgury to get all of his teeth pull is a little over 8,000 dollars. The doctor said he only had a year or two left, i do not think they can turn something away that is life threatening. he has applied for medicaid but they turned him down because he is single. is there a loop hole? do you know of a way he can get help??
Ali
if so email me at live4jesus546@hotmail.com thank you
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