Dummies share ambulance lies

[kenth]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4244695

Presented with a story of a poor woman who fell and was left to lay there until she died, the dump of course spins their own mini bouncies about health care. No inquiry as to why she was left there, nor any questions about whether her housemate was telling the truth. No, none of that is important when she can be used as a stepping stone to them whining about the free health care they should be getting.

4dsc  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Jan-27-10 09:25 AM
Original message
Woman found dead 4 days after falling, said ambulance too expensive
   
Source: Des Moines Register

A retired Des Moines woman who reportedly fell to the floor of her home last Friday and could not get up died on Tuesday.

A man who resides at the same address told police she refused an ambulance because she thought it would be too expensive.

Read more: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20100127/NEWS/...


How sad any American has to believe an ambulance is too expensive.

Even with health insurance, one's dump cred requires one to join in.

strategery blunder  (1000+ posts)  Wed Jan-27-10 09:54 AM
Response to Original message
3.
   
I have health insurance, but I could see this happening to me anyway, because I have to worry about whether the ambulance would be COVERED or whether the claim would be DENIED.

American health "care" is so ****ed up. x(

If you're going to lie, you might as well go big... 25 grand big.

LiberalArkie  (678 posts) Wed Jan-27-10 11:11 AM
Response to Reply #3
13. Same here
   
I live 40 miles for the hospital. I cut my hand with a saw. The paramedics came and bandaged it, called a helicopter and transported me to the site. I had no choice but to take the helicopter, BC/BS pays $1000 for transport. The Ambulance charged $695 for the 2 mile trip, The Helo charged $25,000 for the 30 air miles to the hospital..

I found out that the Paramedics/Ambulance co gets a cut of the helo ride..

The primitives always try to out do one another with tales of woe. Not to be out-done, family members are now charged to ride along.

Tracer  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Wed Jan-27-10 10:01 AM
Response to Reply #4
5. I can beat that one.
   
My insurance was charged $3000 for a 15 mile ambulance ride.
 
Donnachaidh Donating Member (1000+ posts) Wed Jan-27-10 10:35 AM
Response to Reply #5
9. oh no shit!!!
   
three GRAND? Were they working on you, or just driving you there? Our six hundred taxi ride was a horror show -- AND they charged the SAME to give my kid a ride with me to the hospital. No treatment for him, just a ride. :grr:

The blame game begins.

JohnWxy  (1000+ posts)  Journal  Wed Jan-27-10 12:44 PM
Response to Reply #6
47. Her tombstone should read: "I'm sure glad the Republicans kept the government out of my health care"
   
But the Corporate Lobbyist Party did their job. The insurance companies kept the profit margin (and 20% general & adminsitrative costs) in tact. Death by profit motive.

THank you Corporate Lobbyist Party. THank you Tea-baggers. May you all recieve the same fate. (Well, the Republicans in Congress won't. THEY have GREAT health care - through an exchange where they pick among dozens of providers - paid for BY US.)

Uh oh, someone pees on the bonfire.

Common Sense Party  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Jan-27-10 10:24 AM
Response to Original message
7. The guy's story sounds fishy to me.
   
He could have called the cops, the paramedics, some neighbors, a pastor or priest...hell, the mailman could have helped him pick her up.

A nameless one tries to fan the flames up a bit.

salguine  (1000+ posts) Wed Jan-27-10 11:14 AM
Response to Original message
16. Someone please explain to me why we aren't
   
storming the Capitol and Wall Street, dragging legislators and CEOs into the street by their hair, chopping their heads off and burning down their houses? Can someone explain why this isn't happening?

[GOBUCKS]

In our little town, decades before the current emergency rooms on wheels with trained EMTs or paramedics, ambulance service was free. The ambulance was very similar to a Cadillac hearse, except for the red light on top and siren. It was owned and operated by the local funeral home, and if you needed emergency transport to the hospital, it would be the undertaker himself who strapped you to a gurney and loaded you into the ambulance. I guess if the patient expired in transit, he'd just make a U-turn back to the mortuary. Anyway, it was an appreciated service, and I suspect something similar was very widespread throughout the country.

[Specbid]

salguine  (1000+ posts) Wed Jan-27-10 11:14 AM
Response to Original message
16. Someone please explain to me why we aren't
   
storming the Capitol and Wall Street, dragging legislators and CEOs into the street by their hair, chopping their heads off and burning down their houses? Can someone explain why this isn't happening?

Because you're pussies...

[Ralph Wiggum]

How sad any American has to believe an ambulance is too expensive.

Let's extrapolate that just a bit.  How sad any American has to believe that a Jaguar is too expensive.  Free Jaguar coverage for all NOW1!!!!!11111eleventy

[Chris_]

4dsc  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Jan-27-10 09:25 AM

Original message
Woman found dead 4 days after falling, said ambulance too expensive
   
Source: Des Moines Register

A retired Des Moines woman who reportedly fell to the floor of her home last Friday and could not get up died on Tuesday.

A man who resides at the same address told police she refused an ambulance because she thought it would be too expensive.

Read more: http://www.desmoinesregis...om/article/20100127/NEWS/...


How sad any American has to believe an ambulance is too expensive.

He resides at the same address? Did he just walk around her all weekend?

[Specbid]

LiberalArkie  (678 posts) Wed Jan-27-10 11:11 AM
Response to Reply #3
13. Same here
   
I live 40 miles for the hospital. I cut my hand with a saw. The paramedics came and bandaged it, called a helicopter and transported me to the site. I had no choice but to take the helicopter, BC/BS pays $1000 for transport. The Ambulance charged $695 for the 2 mile trip, The Helo charged $25,000 for the 30 air miles to the hospital..

No mention of the fact that this action probably saved the ungrateful bastard's hand...

[IassaFTots]

Let's extrapolate that just a bit.  How sad any American has to believe that a Jaguar is too expensive.  Free Jaguar coverage for all NOW1!!!!!11111eleventy

I like that!  I want one!!!! 

[IassaFTots]

No mention of the fact that this action probably saved the ungrateful bastard's hand...

True.  I guess his hand wasn't worth 25K? 

[Specbid]

I like that!  I want one!!!! 

How come you're avatar is carrying a purse...oh, because it's a saints player...

[Chris_]

LiberalArkie  (678 posts) Wed Jan-27-10 11:11 AM
Response to Reply #3
13. Same here
   
I live 40 miles for the hospital. I cut my hand with a saw. The paramedics came and bandaged it, called a helicopter and transported me to the site. I had no choice but to take the helicopter, BC/BS pays $1000 for transport. The Ambulance charged $695 for the 2 mile trip, The Helo charged $25,000 for the 30 air miles to the hospital..

I found out that the Paramedics/Ambulance co gets a cut of the helo ride..

Does that $25,000 figure sound accurate? My cousin had to be flown by Leer jet from S.E. Georgia to a burn center in North Carolina a couple of years back. I can't remember how much she said it cost, but I didn't think it was that high.

[IassaFTots]

How come you're avatar is carrying a purse...oh, because it's a saints player...

 

Man, that ain't right.  Now, I know you know it ain't a purse.  

[dutch508]

 

Man, that ain't right.  Now, I know you know it ain't a purse.  

It's a European Shoulder bag.

...it was a gift...

[IassaFTots]

Does that $25,000 figure sound accurate? My cousin had to be flown by Leer jet from S.E. Georgia to a burn center in North Carolina a couple of years back. I can't remember how much she said it cost, but I didn't think it was that high.

It does sound high, but it doesn't sound unreasonable.  

[Chris_]

Does that $25,000 figure sound accurate? My cousin had to be flown by Leer jet from S.E. Georgia to a burn center in North Carolina a couple of years back. I can't remember how much she said it cost, but I didn't think it was that high.

Sounds fishy.....my 93 yo MIL had a stroke a few years back, and as she lives on a farm in a rural area, she had to be medevac transported by helo to the hospital 30 miles away......I think the charges were about $3500, and her insurance (largely Medicare) paid the bill......

doc

[Specbid]

 Man, that ain't right.  Now, I know you know it ain't a purse.  

You know I'm just pickin'...I'm a Panthers fan and actually glad to see someone from the conference make it to the SB (as long as it wasn't atlanta.)

[Alpha Mare]

LiberalArkie  (678 posts) Wed Jan-27-10 11:11 AM
Response to Reply #3
13. Same here
  
I live 40 miles for the hospital. I cut my hand with a saw. The paramedics came and bandaged it, called a helicopter and transported me to the site. I had no choice but to take the helicopter, BC/BS pays $1000 for transport. The Ambulance charged $695 for the 2 mile trip, The Helo charged $25,000 for the 30 air miles to the hospital..

I found out that the Paramedics/Ambulance co gets a cut of the helo ride..

My ex cut off ALL his fingers with a saw. 30 mile ride to 1st hospital-$275. 25 mile ride to transfer him to 2nd hospital-no charge.

[Specbid]

The Ambulance charged $695 for the 2 mile trip, The Helo charged $25,000 for the 30 air miles to the hospital.

Ya know what folks, maybe we're missing something here. Maybe the EMTs know he's a DUmmie and decided to mess with his head..."let's send him a bill for 25 grand, see what he does." 

[IassaFTots]

It's a European Shoulder bag.

...it was a gift...

 

[IassaFTots]

Ya know what folks, maybe we're missing something here. Maybe the EMTs know he's a DUmmie and decided to mess with his head..."let's send him a bill for 25 grand, see what he does." 

Hmmmmm.....ok, after a little quick googling, I think that may be a bit high???

The cost to transport a loved one continues to rise with the increasing costs to provide transportation services. As of January 30th 2009, a typical air ambulance flight from California to North Carolina now costs around $ 35,000 for the medical jet and medical crew including ground ambulance charges in each city compared to long distance ground costs around $12,000.

http://www.medtransportcenter.com/blog/2009/01/the-high-cost-of-air-vs-medical-ground-transportation/

[BEG]

Sounds fishy.....my 93 yo MIL had a stroke a few years back, and as she lives on a farm in a rural area, she had to be medevac transported by helo to the hospital 30 miles away......I think the charges were about $3500, and her insurance (largely Medicare) paid the bill......

doc

Wouldn't the "retired" person who died most likely have medicare as well?  If they aren't old enough to qualify for medicare why are they retiring if they can't afford insurance so that an ambulance would be covered in case of an emergency? 

[kenth]

It seems to be very high. A few articles I found actually quoted costs lower than some same distance ground rides. I would imagine it would fall under 3-4 k. I did find one article that said that some helo ambulance rides cost up to $25000. I imagine the dummy came across the same article.

[BEG]

When we moved here to Orange County the city offered a service (through the water bill) where you "prepaid" for an ambulance. I believe you have to pay the fee every year.  It's under $100.  We didn't opt in as it would be covered under our insurance.

[DumbAss Tanker]

No mention of the fact that this action probably saved the ungrateful bastard's hand...

I dunno, unless the roads were closed by 20' snow drifts it seems like someone could have driven the dumb bastard there quicker than getting the helo dispatched, landed, loaded, and on the ground at the hospital.  It wasn't a life-threatening injury and he would have gotten there as fast if not faster by hitting the road immediately.  But like all DUmmie 'True' stories and icebergs, I'm sure 90% of it is out of sight below the surface.

[IassaFTots]

Wouldn't the "retired" person who died most likely have medicare as well?  If they aren't old enough to qualify for medicare why are they retiring if they can't afford insurance so that an ambulance would be covered in case of an emergency? 

Could be that she didn't have enough money earned into it.  Then, she wouldn't be eligible for Medicare A.

[kenth]

Could be that she didn't have enough money earned into it.  Then, she wouldn't be eligible for Medicare A.

Considering the only side of the story being told is from the guy that let her lay until she died, I imagine being able or unable to pay for the ambulance had nothing to do with her not getting help.