Angry at Health Care in U.S.

I just found out that my cousin's 31 year old daughter has been diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. She is currently laid-off and has no health insurance. But, because she was a responsible person and put money away when she was working, she is being denied financial aid. So, now that she needs that money for rent and food she's being denied medical coverage.

My cousin is also a cancer survivor.

I also just read that minor reality celebrity (She was on Survivor) just died after fighting breast cancer for five years. She did not have it checked out for a year because 1)she thought it was scar tissue from implants and 2) SHE DIDN'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE. When she finally got it checked it was stage 3.

I've been very fortunate and have always had insurance, so I don't know any avenues to try and help her. Do any of you know? She lives in Michigan near Detroit.

Thank you, Charlotte

I'm sorry, have no clue about US medical care but wanted to say indeed this is outrageous.

I have not seen 'Sicko', seen only 10-15 minutes of it here and there on my movie channel
but I heard of it and from what I heard the US medical care is not at all people- caring. On the contrary, it's all business, hard-hearted and coldness.

Well we here in Canada may have it a bit better but gosh depending on the province when it comes to the government funded services it's not that good, either.

Recently I was experiencing mysterious pain under my ribs on the right side. Looked like it could be gall bladder, and obviously I needed some sort of tests - was sent for USG and was told the line up for USG in a hospital could be up to 6 months.

Not to mention faxing the requisition from my dr's office to the hospital USG department may take up to two weeks -
Thankfully twe have a small bunch of private USG and lab clinics somehow collaborating with government that I was able to get booked into just in three weeks ( nothing showed up)

Waiting period for MRI in some places can be as long as one year!! Thankfully, some provinces offer private medical services - of you can afford them.
BC doesn't quite have private medical services, but it's possible to omit some technicalities and have some labs or other medical institutions. People are fighting local government to be able to have private care. I am not sure how it works here, though.

And just this week on our local TV I heard about a young BC medical graduate who was denied funding for necessary rehab therapies after he lost his brain function in the car accident.
He is currently undergoing treatment in Alberta but the family money is running out.
And he was going to represent the very medical profession of BC that is now denying him the necessary treatment . How pathetic.

I can't believe when people don't have money to pay for medical anymore, they are simply thrown out on the street - this I managed to catch on Sicko.

I sincerely hope your friend can be helped some way Charlotte. I'll pray for it.

Risa

paradox,

here's something that might help. she may need to talk to an insurance agent, or she needs to talk to her state dept. of health.

because she has some assets, they want those assets to be depleted before they'll, (assitance plans, both state and federal) kick in.

a guaranteed issue policy may be an option, but they can be pricey. at this point the cost isn't the problem, fighting for life is.

she can make financial arrangements with a hospital that falls under hill-burton--needs to be non-profit and accept medicaid/medicare.

there may be ways to work through this. also, some hospitals too have funds set up for those that cannot pay.

it's a good reminder of what we need to look at at life, in terms of insurance and our needs, sadly.

When my son graduated from college and was unemployed for six months (he had part-time jobs, but no full-time with insurance) He picked up a mjor medical policy for about $100 a month. Wouldn't cover ER or Dr's visits etc. but would cover if something catastrophic happened.

Neither one of us felt comfortable with him not having it. I guessing because of his young age is why it was so inexpensive.

I'll pass along the HIll-Burton info to them.

Thank you.

Charlotte

Here's what I was talking about with the whole Obama health care bill law thingie. It hasn't passed yet, but this is a link explaining it.

I'd definitely need to see what the health care plan looked like, but it doesn't sound bad. It is $130 cheaper than mine a month. Obama made this huge deal about not judging pre-existing conditions when he ran for office too, so I'd be REALLY REALLY suprised if he backed out of that promise, especially since he plans on making this health insurance plan manditory for everyone who isn't already signed up for one.

Hope this helps. It said it should be brought up within the next year...its moving fast and has high potential as it should ease the deficit (i'm not sure how, but okay?)

I know our healthcare system needs some big overhauls but believe me that Obama's healthcare bill making it government run is definitely not the answer.

Having read alot of the bill, it is really scary.

There would be many procedures that just would not be available anymore because of cost.

If you think insurance companies are bad about declining to pay for procedures, imagine what it would like if the government were making those decisions.

We have the best medical care anywhere, although we need some changes.

Please, if you haven't looked into this bill, please do.

It is scary to say the least.

Cindy

"We have the best medical care anywhere, although we need some changes."

Hmmm. I'm optimistic, but wary. As someone who hasn't been able to afford healthcare for almost a year, and finds it a real hardship to pay for out of pocket, which I nonetheless do, I have to disagree that the US has the best medical care anywhere. I suppose it could be considered that for those who can afford it.
One of my best friends is in a similar boat: she can afford her health insurance premiums, but only if she doesn't actually go to the dr. She can't afford the copays. My sister also doesn't have insurance; she can't afford it. I could go on and on.
I don't know if Obama's plan is the answer. But it would be nice if medical care in the US were affordable for the majority of the people in the US. That would be a start. And it would be one of the changes that are definitely needed.

The way it was shown in Sicko, European's system seem to be waaaay better.
While I was living in Germany 27 y ago they did not complain of theirs. On the contrary even dental was covered.
Even us "transits" waiting for immigration elsewhere were able to sign up for some kind of medical and dental coverage while in Germany. Don't ask me how.

My question is, if THEY can successfully do that, and their countries are not falling apart, why not USA?????



Risa

Auntie: Sorry what I meant by the best healthcare is that we have the best healthcare available as far as technology is concerned. You are so right that the big problem is making that available to everyone.

My husband was out of work for almost two years at one point and we had to use alot of his 401k money to pay for COBRA insurance.

It was terribly expensive and we actually had NO insurance for about 9 months.

Believe me i know how that feels.

We have to somehow make it affordable for all without sacrificing quality of care.

Risa: I do understand what you are saying also. These other countries have made it affordable to all so why can't we?

We had two exchange students from Germany. One from Berlin and one from Kimnitz and while they do get free medical, dental and eyeglasses, they are taxed pretty good for that.

When the parents came to visit here they discussed this with us and no way do they feel like they get the good care we do.

They would like to have the care we get. They have to get on waiting lists for surgeries and often times people die waiting to get them.

Anyway, I know there is some solution for us.

One other aspect of Obama's healthcare reform bill is that it won't be free.

Also, they will have access to your bank account so they can take your payments out.

I don't know about you, but I'm not real thrilled with giving the government access to my bank account.

And what if they raise the premiums? I don't know, I have lots of questions after reading some of it.

This is such a complicated issue. Hopefully our country can find some good answers.

I wanted to mention something I saw on "The Doctors," one day.

A family had a very premature baby and by the time all was said and done, he had incurred so many bills that he had gone over their insurance limits so he is uninsurable now.

I think that is just terrible.

That definitely needs to change.

Cindy

I wrote 2 replies and ended up erasing both of them because is is a touchy subject. I will state a couple of things though.
1. Many of us in the US have excellent health care!!!
2. It is true Charlotte that people acting responsible do often get screwed where people that never planned for a rainy day end up in a better place. Don't even get me started on that subject.
3. I'm not familiar with your state options. In Minnesota we have a lot of options for people without money or much money to have insurance (we are the socialistic state of the country).

I wish I could help. She especially deserves the health care she needs. Keep us posted.

Very true about Minnesota. Although the one bummer thing about it is for a healthy person to get in on the state plan, they have to be without insurance for four months before getting approved. If a person has a pre-existing condition and has been denied other plans, they can get right in.

My son just started doing his four months without insurance in order to get on the state plan. His premiums will be affordable, and he can be insured long term. He will qualify because his employment does not provide health insurance at all. This is how it is in Minnesota.

I'm nervous though, that he will be without insurance for four months. The BC/BS plan he was paying for was not a great plan, and he was at the end of it. He had to make a different choice, as the BC/BS policy was designed to be temporary insurance.

Cheryl

Cheryl - yes, that gap where they don't have anything can be worrisome. My kids also have gone short stints without. Thankfully, they were healthy during this time. My parents pounded in the importance of insurance when I went off on my own and I have done the same with my kids. I think a lot of young people aren't covered because they don't think anything is going to happen to them or they will worry about it later when they are older or they just don't know what options are out therer. I am fortunate that my insurance covers my kids until they are 26, so that gives them time to get situated with their own plans.

Cindy, I see. Yes, I misunderstood the comment. In that context, I agree. Technologically, yes, the US does have excellent medical care.
Interesting about how under Obama's plan,they'd have access to one's bank account. What if one didn't have a bank account because one didn't have income? I'm thinking of the homeless and indigent that Obama promises health care for. Or even just those who don't have a source of income. I personally have unemployment, and thus a bank account, but, to give an example, my sister has been unemployed for over 2 years, didn't qualify for unemployment, and no longer has a bank account. What would happen in her case?
It's an interesting dilemma. I'm sure there are many people in similar situations.

If it is true that the proposed health plan will give the gov't access to my bank accounts, then I am totally against it. This would be enough to make me go off the grid. close my bank and credit card accounts.

Chris

I did read somewhere that people who have lower income or no income wouldn't have to pay premiums if that helps any.

No, I'm afraid that doesn't help. Low income and no income folks can't pay for insurance now, so I don't see an improvement. It's a much bigger problem. I had hoped that Obama would be able to improve the health care system. I am disappointed but not surprised. I think what he originally had in mind was much better than what's on the table. And if it were only up to him, we might have had that. Anyway, what's now proposed is changing one scary situation for another. That's not an improvement and may turn out to be even worse. We'll see. I really don't want to get into a political debate so I'll refrain from further discussion of this very touchy subject.

Chris

Maybe I didn't phrase myself propery. Low or no income families or persons wouldn't have to pay anything to receive insurance benefits. That means that if you make little or no money you would still have insurance. I think thats better than people who can't afford insurance having no insurance at all. It does suck to be forced into paying for healthcare though, even if you don't want it. I think it is a touchy subject. I can't wait to see how it plays out though. Hopefully it will be an improvement in the long run, but I guess we won't know until it happens.

I myself am not good at politics. I just know that my insurance for my family is astronomically expensive and it's putting us in a hole. It costs us $330 a month and our current monthly income minus taxes is about $1200. My insurance policy alone is 27% of our monthly income!!! That isn't including the additional copays which brings my total spending on healthcare up to $500. Thats 41.7% of my monthy income in total. HOLY MOLY!! Someone has to step in and help families like me. I can't afford anything anymore because of my healthcare. I really hope something gives.

The state programs here in NY don't count what you pay into insurance. They only count what you make annually, and if you are just a few hundred dollars over the limit they wont give you assistance. Their limits are rediculously low and it is really hard to get any help. It is really true what they say about assistance programs, you can get anything you want if you work part time, give up your ego and pop out babies like mad. Then they will hand you anything you need.

Meanwhile, hardworking families like mine are struggling to get by, trying to pay for health care and food, rent, and whatever else and get stuck falling behind and they won't do anything to help. It scares me to know my husband hasn't missed a day of work in over a year and yet we worry how we are going to put food in the refridgerator for our daughter and pay for the prescriptions I need to keep me functioning well enough to take care of her. At least I don't eat much now I take topamax LOL.

Lovegia: You are so right.

The folks who are working, raising kids and doing the best with what they have are the ones that sometimes fall thru the cracks but really deserve the help.

This just has to change. Hopefully our government will go back to the drawing board and come up with something that fixes that situation.

Guess all we can do is pray.

Take care,

Cindy

lovegia and Cindy - You guys are so right. In my state anyway, people with families that don't work, live a pretty darn good life. It is us working people that are scraping by. People on welfare here don't have to pay for glasses, dental appointments, food, housing, anything. So, on top of the working people trying to keep up with their own finances, they are helping these people. Doesn't sit well with us. (I'm not talking about disabled people--I'm talking about able bodied people that choose not to work). As Chris said , I better stay out of this also. It can get real touchy. I can say though that change has to be made. It should be fair for everyone, and it just isn't that way right now.

There is even a group of people (I won't say where they are from) who get free medical in MN, and they even get free transportation to their medical appointments. The physical therapist at my work treats many of them, and he told me about the free transportation. They take taxi rides which are completely paid for to come and see him (even though his clinic is located on major bus routes). These people are not disabled.

Cheryl

Cheryl - I have heard that also. Even worse, I've heard it has been abused. They have used the taxi's for their own personal uses. I'll leave it at that because this is a migraine forum, but I could go on and on.

Me, too. You wonder how and when it all started here in MN.

Cheryl

Wow, all I can say is, Minnesota needs to have their system reevaluated if that's what's going on. Though every state has their system abused, of course.

CA is similar to Gia's situation in NY in that they didn't look at the cost of my medical expenses before evaluating me and saying I made too much money to qualify for any assistance, classification as low income, whatever. I'm on unemployment but I still "make too much money"! Half my "income" goes to rent. Half what's left goes to medical costs, and it's still cheaper than paying for insurance, then copays. what's left is supposed to be enough to pay for groceries, bills, gas and oh, life.
Believe me, if I could work, I would. There just aren't enough jobs. And I know a lot of people in the same situation. Unemployment doesn't put you above poverty level, but it's still too much to be considered low income in CA.
I'm hopeful these reforms will made healthcare more affordable for more people in the US, but what I'm hearing here is a bit scary. I certainly don't want the government having access to my bank account. I'd go off the grid too if that happened. I don't want the government having the say so over what medical procedures are approved and what dr visits are approved, either. They'd be worse than the HMO's.
I guess I just don't know enough about this whole situation to understand what's going on with these reforms?