So let me get this straight ...

[tooblue]

A one day stay in a hospital in the States costs 6 - $700? Lou Dobbs reports that half or more of the bankruptcies in the states are caused due to a serious illness that prohibits a person from working, losing his/her job and then of course his/her insurance. Then that person CAN'T get insurance because of the existing condition?

Great system you've got there guys (red death in particular) -the same system that informed my wife and I we could take out a loan to pay for the birth of our fist child because as a self employed student I made too much money to qualify for Medicare or like programs.

[Archaea]

Oversimplified, and I don't believe the answer that half of all bankruptcies are health care related. It's not believable.

The cost is also deceptive. In Nevada, if you're a cash patient, you are required to receive a discount equal to about forty percent off billed charges and most hospitals will negotiate any payment plan possible.

It's a scare tactic and the attacks lack adequate reliable support.

The reason for many bankruptcies, we spend more than we make, often on credit cards.

[tooblue]

Originally Posted by Archaea

Oversimplified, and I don't believe the answer that half of all bankruptcies are health care related. It's not believable.

The cost is also deceptive. In Nevada, if you're a cash patient, you are required to receive a discount equal to about forty percent off billed charges and most hospitals will negotiate any payment plan possible.

It's a scare tactic and the attacks lack adequate reliable support.

The reason for many bankruptcies, we spend more than we make, often on credit cards.

Sounds like a wealthy lawyer with his head in the sand.

[BarbaraGordon]

Originally Posted by Archaea

Oversimplified, and I don't believe the answer that half of all bankruptcies are health care related. It's not believable.

Sorry, Arch. TB is referring to a study done at Harvard a few years ago:
link

If you spend much time in the medical world, either as a consumer or provider, you can see pretty readily how this is the case.

[UtahDan]

Originally Posted by tooblue

A one day stay in a hospital in the States costs 6 - $700? Lou Dobbs reports that half or more of the bankruptcies in the states are caused due to a serious illness that prohibits a person from working, losing his/her job and then of course his/her insurance. Then that person CAN'T get insurance because of the existing condition?

Great system you've got there guys (red death in particular) -the same system that informed my wife and I we could take out a loan to pay for the birth of our fist child because as a self employed student I made too much money to qualify for Medicare or like programs.

I get pretty sad when the government doesn't give me free stuff too.

[tooblue]

Originally Posted by UtahDan

I get pretty sad when the government doesn't give me free stuff too.

I just think it's interesting that a society that considers itself the moral compass of the world cannot arrive a reasonable solution on health care.

I should ad to my little personal story above -did I mention that at the time my wife became pregnant I paid Blue Cross / Blue shield $130 a month for insurance coverage. When contacted, Blue Cross / Blue shield indcated they would pay $600 to cover the cost of doctor visits but NOTHING towards the birth ... and of course once the child was born they would happily cover him/her so long as I was willing to accept a larger monthly payment!

It's just interesting that's all.

[UtahDan]

Originally Posted by tooblue

I just think it's interesting that a society that considers itself the moral compass of the world cannot arrive a reasonable solution on health care.

I should ad to my little personal story above -did I mention that at the time my wife became pregnant I paid Blue Cross / Blue shield $130 a month for insurance coverage. When contacted, Blue Cross / Blue shield indcated they would pay $600 to cover the cost of doctor visits but NOTHING towards the birth ... and of course once the child was born they would happily cover him/her so long as I was willing to accept a larger monthly payment!

It's just interesting that's all.

Look nobody gets denied emergency care, period. And when you can't pay the doctors (who have worked more than decade and gone into debt for their education to be license) our society is generous enough to allow a person to discharge their debts. Is any of that consequence free? Of course not.

Also, why is the insurance company the bad guy for telling you what your policy says? I mean, when you were planning a pregnancy did you read your policy to see what it covered first? If not, that is a little irresponsible no? When the wife and I were planning kiddo number one we changed policies to make sure we were fully covered, then we saved the money we knew we would have to pay before we even started trying.

Sorry it this sounds harsh, but your attitude is one I seem to be encountering a lot and its not a very mature one. Society doesn't owe you anything, nor does your health insurance carrier beyond what you bargain with them for.

[tooblue]

Originally Posted by UtahDan

Look nobody gets denied emergency care, period. And when you can't pay the doctors (who have worked more than decade and gone into debt for their education to be license) our society is generous enough to allow a person to discharge their debts. Is any of that consequence free? Of course not.

Also, why is the insurance company the bad guy for telling you what your policy says? I mean, when you were planning a pregnancy did you read your policy to see what it covered first? If not, that is a little irresponsible no? When the wife and I were planning kiddo number one we changed policies to make sure we were fully covered, then we saved the money we knew we would have to pay before we even started trying.

Sorry it this sounds harsh, but your attitude is one I seem to be encountering a lot and its not a very mature one. Society doesn't owe you anything, nor does your health insurance carrier beyond what you bargain with them for.

To even suggest that one must consult an insurance company before deciding to have a child is beyond offensive -and demonstrates the fundamentally flawed nature of the health care system in the states. I'm flabbergasted at the idiocy of your comments. You don't come across as harsh but rather as an imbecile. You claim to live in a society that values life and personal freedoms. Such an attitude is demonstrative of the abject immaturity and selfishness that is rampant in today’s world.

To further elaborate insurance coverage was the very first thing we looked into ... it of course required a significant increase in monthly payments -more than the cost to insure the child AFTER he/she was born And yes we looked at MANY different insurance companies and options!

[UtahDan]

s

Originally Posted by tooblue

To even suggest that one must consult an insurance company before deciding to have a child is beyond offensive -and demonstrates the fundamentally flawed nature of the health care system in the states. I'm flabbergasted at the idiocy of your comments. You don't come across as harsh but rather as an imbecile. You claim to live in a society that values life and personal freedoms. Such an attitude is demonstrative of the abject immaturity and selfishness that is rampant in today’s world.

I think I understand your point of view. I am half suspicious that you are pulling my leg. I meet a lot of people who assume things about the contracts they are in and wind up disappointed. Until Utopia arrives, its a good idea to read your contracts.

Originally Posted by tooblue

To further elaborate insurance coverage was the very first thing we looked into ... it of course required a significant increase in monthly payments -more than the cost to insure the child AFTER he/she was born And yes we looked at MANY different insurance companies and options!

I wonder if that is because child birth is a fairly high risk event where as insuring a healthy infant is not. Just a thought.

[tooblue]

Originally Posted by UtahDan

s

I think I understand your point of view. I am half suspicious that you are pulling my leg. I meet a lot of people who assume things about the contracts they are in and wind up disappointed. Until Utopia arrives, its a good idea to read your contracts.



I wonder if that is because child birth is a fairly high risk event where as insuring a healthy infant is not. Just a thought.

My intent is to give a voice to my outrage. I am not pulling your leg and apologize for my harsh words. My wife and I carefully considered all of our options before trying to have a child. I am not embelishing in any way.

Ultimately I chose to go to school in Canada instead of the states. If I had chosen to go to school in the states, my wife would've gone home to Canada to have the child and then returned to the states.