I feel the same as you do, Yowie. I earn a good living, and I'd be
glad to pay more taxes so that everyone could have health insurance.
This is not merely an altruistic view. I'm one layoff from not having
insurance myself, as well as being broke due to no income. That's
exactly the position I was in just a couple of years ago. So I feel
that having universal care, paid for by taxes, is self-protection as
well as a moral position on public health.

Yes, I'd pay higher taxes. But maybe I wouldn't *need* so much cash on
hand because I'd have my health care needs paid for. I do pay out some
amount on co-pays, as well as partial premium contributions through my
paycheck deductions.

I just think that people shouldn't be so sure it couldn't happen to
them, that they'd find themselves with no job and no insurance, and
suddenly become very ill. This is one of my big fears.

Joyce

On Oct 8, 10:17 pm, jXwXeXrXmXoX...@sonic.net wrote:

Something I wasn't aware of until it happened to a friend's son--there
*are* means to get medical
care if you can't afford it, in some situations. Surgeons apparently
take on a limited number of
pro bono cases. Her son was in a bad motorcycle accident with no
insurance. They were advised to
apply for Medicaid (knowing they would be denied)...then to bring the
rejection papers back to the hospital.
The hospital then names you a "charity case" and adjusts the bill.
Total bill for extensive facial reconstruction
surgery: $1,300.
Not ideal, but it beats bankruptcy. It doesn't take much to rack up a
huge hospital bill. I was in the hospital
for about 24 hours having a stent done (relatively minor procedure
compared to surgery). Total bill for the
hospital alone was $38,000. I haven't gotten the bill from the cardio
yet.

Sherry

Sherry

My boss at the time was soooo understanding about the situation, Joyce.  He
held the job open for me while I waited for a medical release to go to work.
I was there for 11 years.

Jill

I'm not upset with you.  He and I were roommates for 8 years back in the
1980's.  I was already divorced by that time.  We did the "live and let
live" thing for a long time (although I did teach him how to cook).

He'd have parties.  I usually just sat in my bedroom and read.  Occasionally
we'd have parties together.  But he was the social creature, not me.

Then our paths diverged.  He got married, then 2 years later, divorced.  I
haven't spoiled him.  I was there when he needed me to be there back then
and he was hurting.

I was there last week for 3 nights.  The doctor said he needed to get up and
start moving around.  Get out of the chair.  Take it easy, but do something.
He liked having someone there to wait on him.  Sorry, that's not my job.  I
was there when he needed care the most.  Our older brother drove him home
from the hospital, even though I'd offered to pick him up.  Our 25 year old
nephew has not been there once, even though he doesn't have a job and
there's no reason he couldn't go over and help Uncle Scott.

I'm not a home health worker.  I'm not a paid companion.  I'll be there if
he really needs help, of course.  But to expect me to abandon my pets... to
say to me, "Don't baby them, they'll be fine" when I wanted to go home to
check on Persia and Peaches... that's just silly.  It's not babying them.
It's being a responsible pet owner.  Scoop the litter box.  Check the food.
Fresh water for Peaches.

I *KNOW* the diagnosis is scary.  I know the surgery was serious.  I also
know my brother.  He will milk this for everything he possibly can.  I was
playing chief cook & bottle (dish) washer.  I was vacuuming.  I was doing
laundry.  I was digging up potted plants!

I wasn't supposed to want to go home to take care of my pets.  Sorry, I'm
going home to take care of and see my pets.  They don't know what's going
on.  They don't know why I left them alone for 3 nights.  For all they knew,
I'd disappeared.  Abandoned them.  Persia was already abandoned once.  I'm
not going to make her feel that way again.

No, there wasn't anyone I could ask to check on them.  My neighbors, Roger &
Roseanna, moved away and I don't know the young kids across the way except
to say "hi" to.  I'm certainly not giving them a key.

I'm so sorry he managed to need another piece of gauze slapped on the one
day I wasn't there.  So I drove over on fumes to do that, even though our
friend of 35 years was sitting right there and could have done it for him.

If he wants company all he has to do is say so.  I wouldn't have a problem
with that.  But stop making excuses when what you really want is not to be
alone.  I like solitude.  I enjoy being alone.  Sitting on the patio with a
book, with Persia in her Kitty Walk is quite nice.  I don't need people
around me all the time.  I'd go sit on his patio to read, always within
yelling distance.  He would find some reason to come out and make me come
back inside.  And watch The Food Network.  Sheesh.

Jill

A lot has changed in the past decade re: surgery. This was in 1998. Maybe
now an appendix can be removed laproscopically? I don't know. But if it
can, then I can understand that philosophy - that's just not as traumatic
an operation as it used to be. When my dad had an appendectomy in around
1966, he was in the hospital for a week. No complications or anything,
that's just how long they kept people then.

Joyce

Aside from looking at them and feeling a bit like Frankenstein's monster,
the staples aren't nearly as bad as they sound.  And getting mine out was
far easier than I had been imagining.

Jo

Jill, get this story. My nephew was in a motorcycle wreck, 25 years
old, no ins. He pretty much crushed his cheekbone, eyesocket and left
forehead.
They go to the ER. They patched him up, then referred him to a surgeon
who takes on a few "charity cases" each year. (tax deduction? good
samaritan? Who knows).
Anyway. The surgeon agreed to do the surgery pro bono. The hospital
agreed to provide the operating room and staff for $1,300, which had
to paid upfront.
Now, the ER visit was $10,000. They told him to apply to DHS. Said he
would get turned down, but he had to do it, and bring the rejection
papers back to them. Then
they "adjusted" the bill, to less than half of the original amount.
Isn't that weird? First time I ever heard of a surgeon doing free
work. I'm guessing
this is probably a situation that doesn't apply very often.
BTW, that little plastic cup with the logo in it? You probably paid at
least
fifty dollars for it. :-)

Sherry