What happens in the US if you need treatment but have no health insurance?

[Actual_Criminal]

In the UK, we have the famous NHS where health care is mostly free.

 

Obviously, in the US you need insurance.

 

So what would happen to a US national if you broke your arm but didn't have insurance? - I imagine they bill you and you pay it off?

 

If so, what if you were a homeless national and had no way to pay it off?

 

Would they ever shrug you away?

 

 

 

 

(NOTE: This thread is not intended to be a political debate, just the facts about health care procedure in the US.)

[Fasauceome]

Hate to say this but

 

You die, usually (or just live with whatever happens to you). People who are impoverished have to try their hardest to not get sick. They won't call ambulances when they're in danger because they won't recover financially from the bill.

[Andreas Lilja]

25 minutes ago, Actual_Criminal said:

So what would happen to a US national if you broke your arm but didn't have insurance? - I imagine they bill you and you pay it off?

 

If so, what if you were a homeless national and had no way to pay it off?

The homeless and poor qualify for Medicaid.

 

Otherwise you either get a payment plan or it goes to collections.

[Actual_Criminal]

20 minutes ago, Fasauceome said:

Hate to say this but

 

You die, usually (or just live with whatever happens to you). People who are impoverished have to try their hardest to not get sick. They won't call ambulances when they're in danger because they won't recover financially from the bill.

No way!

 

That is very harsh. They should make health insurance mandatory, but then I guess it would just be a tax rather than insurance which is what the NHS is.

 

Surely if you walk into a hospital in dire pain due to a broken arm or even worse, they can't turn you down? 

[PlayStation 2]

You just pay it off, usually. 

[Letgomyleghoe]

50 minutes ago, Actual_Criminal said:

Obviously, in the US you need insurance.

You don’t, you can pay out of pocket, but it’s recommended.

 

50 minutes ago, Actual_Criminal said:

So what would happen to a US national if you broke your arm but didn't have insurance? - I imagine they bill you and you pay it off?

Correct.

[Mooshi]

58 minutes ago, Actual_Criminal said:

In the UK, we have the famous NHS where health care is mostly free.

 

Obviously, in the US you need insurance.

 

So what would happen to a US national if you broke your arm but didn't have insurance? - I imagine they bill you and you pay it off?

 

If so, what if you were a homeless national and had no way to pay it off?

 

Would they ever shrug you away?

 

 

 

 

(NOTE: This thread is not intended to be a political debate, just the facts about health care procedure in the US.)

 

You either have insurance, a lot of cash, or what I did and wait 7 years for medical bills to drop off my credit report.

[Donut417]

1 hour ago, Actual_Criminal said:

No way!

 

That is very harsh. They should make health insurance mandatory, but then I guess it would just be a tax rather than insurance which is what the NHS is.

 

Surely if you walk into a hospital in dire pain due to a broken arm or even worse, they can't turn you down? 

Obama did make it mandatory via Obama care (ACA) but that meant if you didn't have insurance you owed the government $600 in penalties at tax time, this has since been dropped from the ACA. Remember our healthcare system is a business, its not meant to make people healthy its meant to make profit. Health insurance is very expensive. For my health insurance thru my employer I pay $49.93 per pay check, Im paid bi weekly. My employer pays $215.66 per pay check. The only reason its that cheap is because they get a group discount. On top of that I have to pay a co pay every time I see my doctor, every time I fill my prescription. Dental, Vision, etc all costs extra. 

 

I dont think most hospitals will turn you away, some might. But your going to get a bill. The first thing you have to do is figure out if you need a hospital. If you dont, you go to Urgent care. Urgent care would probably be able to handle a broken arm, but thats who you see if you need a doctor now, but dont want to get fucked later by a massive hospital bill. If you do need to go to an hospital then you best drive yourself or get an Uber, as an Ambulance ride can cost $600 or more. 

 

One trick to lowering your medial bill however is ask for an itemized bill. Hospitals like any business like to add bull shit on to bills. BUT they dont want to look like Comcast or AT&T, so when you ask for an itemized bill, you might get a lower bill as a result. 

[kasugatei]

The thing that I don’t understand is how come the lots of US people are so brainwashed into thinking that the current system is good? Usual argument is “choice”. What choice? To survive and go into poverty or to survive and become a homeless. North Korean propaganda is nothing compared to the US one. At least in North Korea people are not aware about the rest of the world so they (unfortunately) have an “excuse” not to know any better. 

[SpaceGhostC2C]

4 hours ago, Actual_Criminal said:

So what would happen to a US national if you broke your arm but didn't have insurance? - I imagine they bill you and you pay it off?

 

 

It depends...

 

4 hours ago, Actual_Criminal said:

(NOTE: This thread is not intended to be a political debate, just the facts about health care procedure in the US.)

inb4 locked due to CS  

[jones177]

10 hours ago, Actual_Criminal said:

In the UK, we have the famous NHS where health care is mostly free.

 

Obviously, in the US you need insurance.

 

So what would happen to a US national if you broke your arm but didn't have insurance? - I imagine they bill you and you pay it off?

 

If so, what if you were a homeless national and had no way to pay it off?

 

Would they ever shrug you away?

 

 

 

 

(NOTE: This thread is not intended to be a political debate, just the facts about health care procedure in the US.)

I am a UK citizen living in the US and I have always had insurance here. There are certain things you need to do here like be qualified to get a job that offers insurance.  

In the UK I worked for Jaguar cars as an assembly line worker and a welder so you know I am not rich or highly educated but I do what you need to do to live comfortably in a society. 

 

I have been hospitalized in the UK and in the US and the difference is the NHS is care on a budget and in the US it is not. The people(staff) are about the same.

 

I preferer the UK system since it gives a safety net if things go bad. They did for me once.

 

Now I am retired and on Medicare and it is easy to see that Medicare for all would be a good idea. This time of year I am inundated with mail from insurances companies wanting me to join their plan. There are no insurance companies wanting to insure my home since I live in Florida. So I figure the insurance companies like Medicare.      

[Donut417]

6 hours ago, Niksa said:

What choice?

Its because any time a government official suggests the government offer a better option its considered Socialism. Socialism leads to communism, at least thats what some believe. And the God damned commies are not going to win. LOL. We have too many people in our government that lived thru the Cold War.  The fear of communism is real. As a result their followers are heavily anti communist, anti socialism, anti social programs. These are the same people who believe in trickle down theory. That if a business is making tons of money, that wealth will trickle down to the poor people. Its a bunch of bull if you ask me. 

 

Sorry if this seems kinda political. But this is the reason, no other way to really put it. 

[Nayr438]

7 hours ago, Niksa said:

The thing that I don’t understand is how come the lots of US people are so brainwashed into thinking that the current system is good? Usual argument is “choice”. What choice? To survive and go into poverty or to survive and become a homeless. North Korean propaganda is nothing compared to the US one. At least in North Korea people are not aware about the rest of the world so they (unfortunately) have an “excuse” not to know any better. 

It's not so much that everyone thinks it's good, its that its driven by money and expectations, most things here are. People with better insurance tend to get higher priority and better treatment options. When it was last proposed for a free insurance for all, the number one complaint was that people were worried they would no longer be prioritized over the less fortunate and offered the best of of the best in treatment options.

 

11 hours ago, Actual_Criminal said:

So what would happen to a US national if you broke your arm but didn't have insurance? - I imagine they bill you and you pay it off?

If so, what if you were a homeless national and had no way to pay it off?

You could deal with it and prepare for the worst, or you can go to the hospital. A hospital has to take any patient that is considered to have an emergency or life threatening condition.

If you don't have insurance then your billed, some hospitals will offer payment plans or offer to erase the debt in full or partially if you qualify for certain income eligibility requirements. Otherwise it falls either into collections or they can sue you and have your wages garnished and property put on the line, though less likely. I would also like to note, that even if you have insurance, you could still come out with a bill that can vary drastically. Insurance companies and plans are not treated equally. Person A with insurance A could come out with no bill, Person B with insurance B could come out with $500, Person C with insurance C could come out with $5000, etc... Depends on what they cover, what deals the company has worked out with various medical companies, and how much of the cost they actually cover.

The homeless usually fall under same basic eligibility requirements and I believe qualify for some government assistance in these events.

 

Insurance here is a business and really nothing else.

[zogthegreat]

My sister lives in Phoenix. About 10 years ago, she broke her arm and didn't have any insurance. She had to find a job with health insurance, wait for 6 months for the insurance to kick in, and then went to the doctors again. They had to rebreak her arm and then set it straight. This is the richest country in the world we are talking about. Really glad I immigrated to Canada!

[Actual_Criminal]

3 hours ago, zogthegreat said:

My sister lives in Phoenix. About 10 years ago, she broke her arm and didn't have any insurance. She had to find a job with health insurance, wait for 6 months for the insurance to kick in, and then went to the doctors again. They had to rebreak her arm and then set it straight. This is the richest country in the world we are talking about. Really glad I immigrated to Canada!

Wow, that's soo fucked up man.

[SansVarnic]

18 hours ago, Actual_Criminal said:

Obviously, in the US you need insurance.

This is not obvious.

 

I dont have health insurance, dont need it. Have no use for it. I pay out of pocket when I have need of a doctor.

I put a little into a savings account and when it is needed I use that to pay, the money I save is tremendous, and don't say people cannot do it. Its called discipline, monetary priority, and being responsible.

If one cannot pay it in one payment you can finance through the hospital at no [zero] interest rate and make payments according to your income, its easy and most people do not think of it. There is very large misconception about this.

 

In the US you cannot be turned away for treatment, its is a Federal law (has been for decades) and anyone... and I mean anyone that says differently is lying to you.

 

Since the introduction of Health insurance the rates and cost of health care have gone up leaps and bounds more than it would have due to any influence of cost of living or inflation. I wont cite sources do your math based on the last 50years of cost compared to inflation. Not to mention Medicaid and Medicare.

 

[Donut417]

6 minutes ago, SansVarnic said:

its easy and most people do not think of it.

So if you get hit with $500,000 in medial bills, your going to pay that in one go? Thats the issue. Hospitals are like Comcast, they add a whole load of below the line fees and they charge a ridiculous amount for their services. Thats why I stated in my previous post about itemized bills, because hospitals dont want you looking at them like they are greedy corporations. But in many ways they are. Hospitals are owned by big greedy corporations much like how the drug companies are. Not having insurance is fine, even if you have simple conditions. But if you get cancer or any other major condition, not having insurance means your fucked. I know someone in that situation now. 

 

Again Ill stated it. The US healthcare system is not about healing people. Its about money. Its about the drug companies making massive profit. Thats why there will NEVER be a cure for cancer or other disease like, because thee is too much money in treating it instead of curing it. Its a pretty well known fact, that if your poor in the US and get very ill your pretty much screwed for the rest of your life. If your rich, you get the best treatments money can buy. If your a major government official like The President, Congress or Member of the Supreme Court, you get the best medial care ever invented, and the best health insurance, all paid for the the tax payers, while we get the shaft. 

[SansVarnic]

14 minutes ago, Donut417 said:

Hospitals are like Comcast, they add a whole load of below the line fees and they charge a ridiculous amount for their services. Thats why I stated in my previous post about itemized bills, because hospitals dont want you looking at them like they are greedy corporations. But in many ways they are.

14 minutes ago, Donut417 said:

Again Ill stated it. The US healthcare system is not about healing people. Its about money. Its about the drug companies making massive profit.

Absolutely correct, though there are legal avenues to fight them. Not saying that it is easy for those particular cases. But for most common medical scenarios, what I said applies.

We need to go back to privatized medical practice and walk away from health insurance companies. In the 50's health care was pretty straight forward and affordable, it was after insurance companies got involved that cost became an issue and due to that additional "hidden" costs became a thing. A complete reboot would fix the system and the problem.

Privatization would force competition and lower pricing. Choice will promote cost ceilings and so forth.

 

*edit 

I will state that medical laws and practice do defer from state to state and it is rediculous. I live in Iowa and though not the best they do have some protections for patients.

[Donut417]

2 minutes ago, SansVarnic said:

Absolutely correct, though there are legal avenues to fight them. Not saying that it is easy for those particular cases. But for most common medical scenarios, what I said applies.

We need to go back to privatized medical practice and walk away from health insurance companies. In the 50's health care was pretty straight forward and affordable, it was after insurance companies got involved that cost became an issue and due to that additional "hidden" costs became a thing. A complete reboot would fix the system and the problem.

Privatization would force competition and lower pricing. Choice will promote cost ceilings and so forth.

Or we expand Medicare/Medicaid and the government just tells there Health companies how its going to be. Healthcare in my opinion is a human right. As such, it cant be placed in the hand of the private sector. We have wayyyyyyyyyy to many greedy people in this country. The government could set the prices and make it law that hospitals have to accept them as the insurer. As far as prescriptions go, the drug companies can take what they give or the government can just import the drugs from a cheaper company else where in the world. 

[SansVarnic]

5 minutes ago, Donut417 said:

Healthcare in my opinion is a human right

Your preaching to the choir on this point. As I said it is Federal Law to be treated, no one can be turned away, for any reason.

 

5 minutes ago, Donut417 said:

Or we expand Medicare/Medicaid

Absolutely not. My paycheck goes to me as I earned it. I am not going to pay for other peoples medical care through increased taxation.

[Donut417]

1 minute ago, SansVarnic said:

Your preaching to the choir on this point. As I said it is Federal Law to be treated, no one can be turned away, for any reason.

Yeah, but putting people in financial ruin is wrong on so many levels. Too many people go without treatment because they CANT afford the services. I know people who go without meds because they can afford them. Unlike hospitals, Pharmacies dont have to give you the drugs and setup a payment plan. 

[akio123008]

 

1 minute ago, SansVarnic said:

Federal Law to be treated, no one can be turned away, for any reason.

That's not the problem; the issue isn't people with their arms cut off bleeding to death not being helped out, the problem is people with subtle symptoms and other small issues that can grow out into big trouble, that doubt getting themselves checked out/helped.

 

Therefore going to a doctor shouldn't have any economical considerations associated with it. It should be free.

 

 

[SansVarnic]

6 minutes ago, Donut417 said:

Yeah, but putting people in financial ruin is wrong on so many levels. Too many people go without treatment because they CANT afford the services. I know people who go without meds because they can afford them. Unlike hospitals, Pharmacies dont have to give you the drugs and setup a payment plan. 

6 minutes ago, akio123008 said:

 

That's not the problem; the issue isn't people with their arms cut off bleeding to death not being helped out, the problem is people with subtle symptoms and other small issues that can grow out into big trouble, that doubt getting themselves checked out/helped.

 

Therefore going to a doctor shouldn't have any economical considerations associated with it. It should be free.

 

 

 

You both are missing the point of what I said.

Government regulated healthcare is also the problem, Medicaid and Medicare pay out more than insurance companies do, it exacerbates the problem. Subsidies encourage increased cost. Government can establish laws to curtail pricing but providing funding just erases the progress those same laws would accomplish.

I dont know a better way to make this more clear.

 

Nothing is free, the cost still ultimately falls on the taxpayer....

[Donut417]

1 minute ago, SansVarnic said:

Medicaid and Medicare pay out more than insurance companies do,

Thats because they dont have any backbone and government officials are paid off. Citizens United anyone...... 

 

The fact is, the private sector will FUCK us 30 ways from Sunday. Because thats how the private sector has always handled things. In my option setting prices and making all hospitals public owned is the only solution. You cant trust a private business to do the right thing. That stands for hospitals, insurance companies, and big Pharma. Standing up to these guys is the only way to solve the issue. On top of it, from what I read, we pay more for health insurance, then it would cost the government to provide health insurance for all. 

 

National health care also works in many other nations. Canada anyone? Many nations in the EU, and of course are best allies from across the pond, the UK. If they can do it, we can do it. The only difference is instead of paying the health insurance providers who can deny a claim on a whim, we pay the government who's sole purpose is the serve the people. 

[akio123008]

14 minutes ago, SansVarnic said:

You both are missing the point of what I said.

You mentioned a completely private healthcare system. AKA I go to doctor X, I pay doctor X for their services, completely out of my own pocket. Therefore going to doctor X now becomes a financial decision, not just a medical/personal one. I find that worrying. That's what I pointed out.

 

Therefore a system like the NHS is an excellent idea. The government pays the healthcare providers, and so they can then go ahead and negotiate with those parties over pricing,  and deal with economical aspects. The patient can just worry about their broken arm.

 

 

6 minutes ago, Donut417 said:

National health care also works in many other nations. Canada anyone? Many nations in the EU, and of course are best allies from across the pond, the UK. If they can do it, we can do it.

The reason many Americans have such a bad experience with government controlled healthcare is the crappy implementation of it. You have to realise that half-assed efforts don't work. You have to move over to a completely different system in one go to make it work. No one wants this stupid mix between privatised and regulated; companies will just seek ways to exploit the system to make a profit and it'll get worse. You need to go all the way.