Emergency room stretchy.

[Carl]

Subdivisions  (1000+ posts)          Sun Mar-22-09 12:19 AM
Original message
I'm NEVER going to the ****ing emergency room again!!!
   
Edited on Sun Mar-22-09 12:24 AM by Subdivisions
God damn it! WE NEED A NATIONAL HEALTH CARE PROGRAM
NOW!!!


Last week I had an episode. It was the third time it's happened. I was feeling a pressure in my chest and that was followed by waves of dizziness and then that was followed by a rapid and pounding heartbeat. Scared the shit outta me.

Sooo...I went to the emergency room. The symptoms had faded by the time I arrived. I don't have health insurance but they commenced to triaging me anyway. They hooked me up to all these machines and tested my blood and told me they didn't find anything wrong and said it might just be hypertension. BUT...just in case..."we want to keep you overnight and monitor your situation and take some more blood samples and run tests..."

I have been very stressed out. Some of you may remember that a recent attempt to reunite with my teenaged daughters in Virginia ended in them being "not ready" for such a reunion. I have since returned to Texas where I was basically homeless as my S/O, whom I was about to ask to marry me, had decided that I took too much time dealing with my daughter situation. So, she broke up with me while I was still in Virginia. So, when I got back to Texas, I had to stay on her brother's couch until I could get my own place. I have now gotten my own place but doing so has drained every spare cent I had. And, my spirit is also drained behind all of this.

So, I thought I was having some sort of heart problem and went to the emergency room. And now the bill has arrived.

$4588.72!!!

And, to make matters worse, the hospital's Financial Counselor says they don't make payment arrangements and that the entire amount must be paid within 90 days or it will be reported to the credit bureaus! If there was nothing wrong with me one hour after arriving at the emergency room, then why the hell did they keep me overnight and well into the next day? Now I'm stuck with a bill that is going to end up on my credit record because there's no way now that I'm on my own and paying my bills alone that I can pay it within that time period. This really sucks and my life in general is sucking bad too.

Something HAS TO BE DONE about this so that people can get medical care they need without it ruining their credit! I was looking at my credit report the other day and the ONLY bad marks I have on there are medical bills that I just haven't been able to pay! Now this!

I'm at my wit's end!

Edited to add: This was Texas Health hospital.

 http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5306061

The thread is for the most part how horrible the medical system is and that socialized health care is needed (how that would change any part of the story except sticking us with the bill escapes me).

All kinds of "my case was worse then yours" stories abound.

[djones520]

They refuse a payment plan over not getting paid at all?  Only a DUmmie would believe that.   

[Chris]

They refuse a payment plan over not getting paid at all?  Only a DUmmie would believe that.   

But it's Texas... those evil, cold-hearted Repukes.  This would never happen in a hospital in a blue state.

[franksolich]

Hmmm.

I thought the subdivided primitive looked familiar, and so I checked.

The subdivided primitive was once the "Texas Explorer" primitive.

A real basket case, but not as much as the lonestarnut primitive.

[Carl]

They refuse a payment plan over not getting paid at all?  Only a DUmmie would believe that.   

Lots of bs being posted.

Just wandered the 9/11 dungeon and got to tell ya I just couldn`t focus on the insanity enough to bring anything here.
They really shouldn`t let those folks roam loose.

[Chris_]

Weren't they bitching a few days back about a hospital sending a DUmmie's relative home instead of keeping her overnight? Now they are bitching about being kept overnight?

[franksolich]

Weren't they bitching a few days back about a hospital sending a DUmmie's relative home instead of keeping her overnight? Now they are bitching about being kept overnight?

Primitives go in cycles, in their complaining.

They'll bitch about A being done instead of B, and then sometime thereafter bitch about B being done instead of A.

It's not only a "women" problem, these cycles.

[jukin]

Clearly we must do everything possible, pay any amount of money to keep this very productive and useful person in tip top medical shape!!!!!!!!!!

[Carl]

Weren't they bitching a few days back about a hospital sending a DUmmie's relative home instead of keeping her overnight? Now they are bitching about being kept overnight?

If he had been turned away then that would have been the subject of the screed assuming there is even a shadow of truth to it.
No idea about Texas but here in NY if the situation was as he states then he would have been signed up on Medicaid and that would have paid the bill or whatever part the hospital accepts.

Nothing would come back to him unless he owned assets that could have a lien attached.
There is much left out of this little tale...surprise.

[franksolich]

.....and my life in general is sucking bad too.

Yeah, I'll bet it does.

Such is the fate of the primitives.

[Chris_]

DUmmy said:

And, my spirit is also drained behind all of this.

I'm shocked I tells ya!! The mystical O was supposed to solve all the DUmmies problems after being sworn in!!  

[BlueStateSaint]

DUmmy said:
 

I'm shocked I tells ya!! The mystical O was supposed to solve all the DUmmies problems after being sworn in!!  

Obviously, said DUmb**** hasn't gotten their Recommended Daily Allowance of Hope & Change^TM yet . . .

[delilahmused]

Good Lord, the normal ebb and flow of life turns them all into pathetic, whiny drama queens. Life has setbacks, earth isn't paradise. I'm half tempted to call that hospital and find out whether they take payments. I bet they do. Maybe this guy already has unpaid medical bills...he indicated this has happened more than once...maybe they won't set up a payment plan for him because he's failed to honor the previous one or two or seven payment plans that have been arranged for him. What makes him think if he had universal health care they would consider his "illness" (the idiot had a panic attack because he hasn't yet learned how to man up and deal with his problems. I think it's incredible there are women actually willing to date these pussies, let alone marry them. Maybe they've never been exposed to a real man and just don't know any better. The thought of being with someone like him makes me cringe.

Still, this is all very suspicious. We don't have health insurance either. My husband starts a new job the first week of April but Cobra was cost prohibitive for us. Anyway, I had to go to the doctor and have some blood work done. The nice lady behind the counter asked me if I had insurance. I said no and she said that was okay, they'd just bill me. When I got my bill I called their financial services department and arranged to make affordable weekly payments until it's paid off. They didn't even tell me I HAD to pay a certain amount, instead they asked me what I could afford. Sorry, there are no cops jumping out of bushes but right outside my window my rooster, Max just leapt out from under a shrub and nailed poor, unsuspecting Trina who was contentedly pecking at the grass. No one was converted, though.

Cindie

[Chris_]

If there was nothing wrong with me one hour after arriving at the emergency room, then why the hell did they keep me overnight and well into the next day?

This is the mentality that I've grown to loathe about the DUmmies. They can't take a crap without the government or a doctor or a mental health professional or a spirit guide telling them it's time.

If you were feeling better, moron, tell the doctor that and leave. Your bill would have been a lot less and patients who were actually in need of emergency room services wouldn't have had to wait for your sorry ass to have your phantom illness checked out.

How do these people manage to get themselves out of bed every day?

[MrsSmith]

Good Lord, the normal ebb and flow of life turns them all into pathetic, whiny drama queens. Life has setbacks, earth isn't paradise. I'm half tempted to call that hospital and find out whether they take payments. I bet they do. Maybe this guy already has unpaid medical bills...he indicated this has happened more than once...maybe they won't set up a payment plan for him because he's failed to honor the previous one or two or seven payment plans that have been arranged for him. What makes him think if he had universal health care they would consider his "illness" (the idiot had a panic attack because he hasn't yet learned how to man up and deal with his problems. I think it's incredible there are women actually willing to date these pussies, let alone marry them. Maybe they've never been exposed to a real man and just don't know any better. The thought of being with someone like him makes me cringe.

Still, this is all very suspicious. We don't have health insurance either. My husband starts a new job the first week of April but Cobra was cost prohibitive for us. Anyway, I had to go to the doctor and have some blood work done. The nice lady behind the counter asked me if I had insurance. I said no and she said that was okay, they'd just bill me. When I got my bill I called their financial services department and arranged to make affordable weekly payments until it's paid off. They didn't even tell me I HAD to pay a certain amount, instead they asked me what I could afford. Sorry, there are no cops jumping out of bushes but right outside my window my rooster, Max just leapt out from under a shrub and nailed poor, unsuspecting Trina who was contentedly pecking at the grass. No one was converted, though.

Cindie

This sounds far more plausible.  I have never heard of a hospital that doesn't take payments.  We have insurance, but the deductible is rather high, so we end up arranging payments all the time...without any problems.

Of course, given this statement:

I was looking at my credit report the other day and the ONLY bad marks I have on there are medical bills that I just haven't been able to pay! Now this!

I would have to wonder if he owes this hospital, or hospital system, a large amount of money already.   

[Carl]

This sounds far more plausible.  I have never heard of a hospital that doesn't take payments.  We have insurance, but the deductible is rather high, so we end up arranging payments all the time...without any problems.

Of course, given this statement:I would have to wonder if he owes this hospital, or hospital system, a large amount of money already.   

It is more then likely that this story was fabricated to lay the groundwork for another woe is me tale later on.

[Celtic Rose]

This sounds far more plausible.  I have never heard of a hospital that doesn't take payments.  We have insurance, but the deductible is rather high, so we end up arranging payments all the time...without any problems.

Of course, given this statement:I would have to wonder if he owes this hospital, or hospital system, a large amount of money already.   

Wait, you mean the hospital might have a reason to request the money by a certain date, that they are not doing it just because they are "evil"?  What a concept!

My friend has insurance, with a fairly high deductible.  She is pregnant, and she had to have an appendectomy during her pregnancy (freaked us all out, especially her husband!).  So, when she got the bill, she was somewhat shocked about how much she owed, but she called for each bill, and explained about her current situation, and asked what they could do to help.  Everyone of them agreed to receiving the payments in installments.

[sofa king]

all healthcare should be free.

doctors, nurses, all of that equipment, all of that care...  hospital beds,  room and board, food.   free.

single payer! 

who is that single payer?  not me!

but it should be free.

free i say!



edit: sorry.  i left off the /dummy rant...

[Vagabond]

Why is this guy calling for an emergency room trip every time he has a panic attack, which is what he is describing.  Odd that, we seem to have uncovered a DUmmy that needs to be medicated.

[Karin]

OF COURSE  that hospital takes installment payments?  If not, then why are they employing financial counselors? 
Welcome, sofa king.

[BannedFromDU]

all healthcare should be free.

doctors, nurses, all of that equipment, all of that care...  hospital beds,  room and board, food.   free.

single payer! 

who is that single payer?  not me!

but it should be free.

free i say!



edit: sorry.  i left off the /dummy rant...

     The underlying message is extremely sinister. Look what the DUmbass said, and look at what their solution was. They had no money and owed a large bill (the bit about no financing is a LIE, by the way). Instead of arguing that the bill should be a fraction of the amount so they could get their arms around it, they want a system that makes other people pay altogether.

     To the idiots, comprehensive healthcare reform is another way to say, "Someone else pay this bill. Oh, and every other healthcare bill I may have."


     Here are a few conditions under which I, BFDU, would accept single-payer, nationalized health care:

     1. No illegals.
     2. Must bring paystub no more than 6 months old to ER or Doctor's appointment- THAT'S your new insurance card, asshole.
     3. Ailments caused by smoking, overeating, and mental disease are not covered.
     4. Annual benefits are capped at 1000% of average annual payroll deduction to cover the program.


     So, DUmmies, assuming you have an actual reason to go to the doctor and a $40,000 job (bear with me - I know those are hard to imagine for you), and you tithe 10% of your gross to the program (probably too low, even with my restrictions), your max benefit is 10*$4000 = $40,000.

     That should be plenty, since you fat smoking mentally ill bastards aren't eligible for my socialized medicine plan.

     I'm sure there are more.

[franksolich]

Well, Hell, Banned, sir, that, or something very close to that, would inevitably happen under nationalized medical care.

Inevitably, especially the part about a "ceiling" on medical care.

[whiteguyPI]

     The underlying message is extremely sinister. Look what the DUmbass said, and look at what their solution was. They had no money and owed a large bill (the bit about no financing is a LIE, by the way). Instead of arguing that the bill should be a fraction of the amount so they could get their arms around it, they want a system that makes other people pay altogether.

     To the idiots, comprehensive healthcare reform is another way to say, "Someone else pay this bill. Oh, and every other healthcare bill I may have."


     Here are a few conditions under which I, BFDU, would accept single-payer, nationalized health care:

     1. No illegals.
     2. Must bring paystub no more than 6 months old to ER or Doctor's appointment- THAT'S your new insurance card, asshole.
     3. Ailments caused by smoking, overeating, and mental disease are not covered.
     4. Annual benefits are capped at 1000% of average annual payroll deduction to cover the program.


     So, DUmmies, assuming you have an actual reason to go to the doctor and a $40,000 job (bear with me - I know those are hard to imagine for you), and you tithe 10% of your gross to the program (probably too low, even with my restrictions), your max benefit is 10*$4000 = $40,000.

     That should be plenty, since you fat smoking mentally ill bastards aren't eligible for my socialized medicine plan.

     I'm sure there are more.

I am in 100% agreement with this except for the highlited portion.  Some mental illness is not something that the afflicted asks for or builds up themselves.  Schizophrenia for example is a mental illness that is organic in nature.  The afflicted don't wish it upon themselves the brain chemistry just occurs and the person must deal with the ramifications for life.  Clinical depression is another.  I'm not talking aout the jackass depession that comes from being a moonbat who is depressed because George Bush "stole the election, is a war criminal etc. etc. etc."  I'm talking about the type of persistent depression that passes from generation to generation.  Other than that I support your plan across the board.

[Celtic Rose]

     The underlying message is extremely sinister. Look what the DUmbass said, and look at what their solution was. They had no money and owed a large bill (the bit about no financing is a LIE, by the way). Instead of arguing that the bill should be a fraction of the amount so they could get their arms around it, they want a system that makes other people pay altogether.

     To the idiots, comprehensive healthcare reform is another way to say, "Someone else pay this bill. Oh, and every other healthcare bill I may have."


     Here are a few conditions under which I, BFDU, would accept single-payer, nationalized health care:

     1. No illegals.
     2. Must bring paystub no more than 6 months old to ER or Doctor's appointment- THAT'S your new insurance card, *******.
     3. Ailments caused by smoking, overeating, and mental disease are not covered.
     4. Annual benefits are capped at 1000% of average annual payroll deduction to cover the program.


     So, DUmmies, assuming you have an actual reason to go to the doctor and a $40,000 job (bear with me - I know those are hard to imagine for you), and you tithe 10% of your gross to the program (probably too low, even with my restrictions), your max benefit is 10*$4000 = $40,000.

     That should be plenty, since you fat smoking mentally ill bastards aren't eligible for my socialized medicine plan.

     I'm sure there are more.

The only issue with that is that some illnesses that can be caused by weight, smoking, etc. can also have alternate causes.  I've had high blood pressure since I was sixteen.  I'll admit that I was kind of heavy in college, and so the doctor didn't really do anything other than tell me "you should lose some weight, that will help the high blood pressure."  I finally lost 40 pound, and I still have some more that I would like to lose, but I am far from obese, and my blood pressure did not go down at all. No change.  That was when my doctor started getting concerned and ordered a bunch of tests for me.  Finally, she said that nothing was showing up, so it must just be genetic.  She does have me seeing a nephrologist once a year though because the most common cause for high blood pressure in young women is kidney problems, so she want to keep an eye on it.

[The Village Idiot]

that plan sounds generous to me. But still it would give govt far too much power