Do you think people are treated differently when they don't have medical insurance?
537019
I have medical health and dental insurance now but not always. I think that I get better treatment and have more options available to me by having insurance. I also think that it depends on how good your insurance is too. If you have crappy health insurance that doesn't cover much then you may as well not have insurance at all. It is a big game with the providers and they are all in it for the money. Some insurance companies bargain with health care facilities and will only pay a certain amount where as some insurance will cover at 100%. Which person do you think they'll kick out of the hospital faster? The one that either can't afford it or they are making little money OR the one that they are getting their whole costs paid?\nSad but true. Scandalous actually but this has been an issue for years. The cost of insurance keeps rising because people that don't have insurance usually don't pay their bills or can't pay them in a timely manner so the person who can afford insurance ends up paying for it with higher premiums or deductibles,etc...
1159842
In some states, it's against the law for a hospital to turn someone away who needs medical treatment. Most states require that a doctor sees a patient before the person can be turned away – to insure that the person needs medical care. Generally speaking, you will be billed for your stay in the hospital, and it’s treated like any other expense. If you don’t pay it could affect your credit: half of all personal bankruptcies include some medical debt.\n\nIt’s estimated that 1 in every 7 Americans will visit an emergency room this year, with the average cost being around $400. The average cost of surgery is closer to $1,000. A New England Journal of Medicine study suggests than more than 1 in 10 emergency room visits were for non-emergencies. That means that 10 percent of emergency room visits could have been handled at a doctor’s office, where the average cost was $60 per visit during the study period. It’s even less if you have a small copay under an HMO or PPO.\n\nThere are hundreds of health insurance plans out there that provide financial protection in case you are injured and require extended hospital stays or costly medical procedures. Many of them have a monthly cost of less than a tank of gas. If you’re worried about getting hurt or sick without insurance, you should talk with local state-licensed health insurance agents. Check out MostChoice.com. It is a health insurance shopping site that provides free instant quotes and policy descriptions along with a quick and easy way to get in touch with insurance experts in your area. There’s no cost or obligation to you, and you’re information is used solely to help you find affordable health insurance.\n\nYou can find it here: http://www.mostchoice.com/health-insurance.cfm\n\nGood luck,\n\nBarnes@MostChoice.com
35701
Most homeless people are homeless because they refuse to work, therefore they have no money to maintain any type of home.  Just look at the ones that refuse to go to shelters if they are expected to even clean up after themselves or help out while stayng in them.\n\nAnd just a comment about the "right" to health care.  I work a full-time job that gives lousy medical benefits.  If I cannot afford the services of a doctor or a dentist (we have no dental plan) I do not get treated. I just have to suffer. I do not have the "right" to have the problem taken care of, so why should a person who refuses to work have that right?
421752
Probably not.\n\nMost hospitals treat patients regardless of their ability to pay.  Most hospitals will enroll very poor people in Medicare and/or Medicaid.
78920
the hospital question, no there are some prorams availible to help pay or to pay in full if you are really below income levels. unemployment: yes mostly but if you haven't found a job or got called back there is an emergency contingency.the question on poor people, yes we do and it is deplorable and heart wrenching. and for the last question,yes we do there doesn't seem to be much of a middle road. you either have money or you have to struggle with what you have.I hope this info helps
535529
Well, if you are paranoid about doctors and medications, then it doesn't matter whether you have insurance.  Insurance is there to help pay for your doctors and medications.\n\nBut the two biggest reasons to have insurance are 1) to get choices; and 2) to get much lower costs.  Let me explain.\n\nIf you have no insurance, your only option in health care (unless you are wealthy enough to pay cash) is to take charity care.  That means you can't pick your doctor, can't pick your hospital, and may not even be able to pick your medicines.  Insurance gives you the option to seek out the doctors and hospitals that you feel most confident in.\n\nBut insurance also makes the cost lower.  Hospitals have two rates, the "official" rate and the negotiated charge that they agree to accept from the insurance company.  I had very complicated surgery a few years ago.  The surgeon billed $50,000 (that is not a typo), but the insurance company paid $8,500.  And because there was a contract to accept the rate paid by the insurance company, that was the whole charge.  I didn't have to pay anything.  If I had no insurance, I would  have had to pay the whole $50,000, not even just the $8,500 that the insurance company paid.
947166
Although I do not know if each individual country in West Africa (Africa is a continent not a country) has government paid health care I will generalize.....\n\nIt resembles the US in that the people who can pay to maintain good health or get medical attention get it and those who can't pay don't get any or get less quality care.
578080
It all depends on the person. Like me for instance, I get treated differently because I'm small and have no limbs so people automatically assume I can't do anything at all or completely ignore me. I hate it because I can do some stuff, but it's just because I'm different. People don't know how to act. But if you get one of those with a disability who feel sorry for themselves and don't even try and let people give them special treatment. If I can do stuff so can they. You don't need limbs to do so. I hate people who take advantage of people who don't know.
761538
maybe, it all depends how much money your policy was for and  what kind it was\n\nfor example, if your policy repaid X amount of damages and you got X, there is nothing you can do, you were underinsured\n\nif you did not get full coverage, you may be able to state a claim.
8348
Yes they can and they do. Most of the times, the doctors office calls the insurance companies to verify insurance and to make sure the particular treatment you are getting done is covered. They also make you sign documents that if the insurance does not pay, you are liable to pay, and they make sure you do. They can even have collection agency on you to recover if you do not pay.
466357
where are you coming from? another country? usually states don't have medical requirements, the country itself imposes the requirements.
677710
Most likely.  Right now people who are insured are charged extra to cover people who cannot pay their medical bill. If illegals are covered, at least in part, by medicare or medicaid, then that will ease the financial burden on the insured.
1029378
Although it seems wrong, I think it's because the insurance companies have negotiated a lower rate with the doctor for the people that they insure.  That way, they pay less and the doctor will potentially get more patients coming to him if they're accepting that insurance plan.
438405
No. Maybe some other programs based on income but not insurance. Insurance Companies are profit making Companies as most all others. This is a capitalistic country.
59097
The average person does not understand the importance of insurance until they are sick, dying or their house is on fire.  Most people think its a waste of money until they need it.
1011014
Of course they do.  Here I am a law abiding citizen of the USA and I have a very hard time find anybody that would insure me.  I was born with a bad heart and have a Brain tumor  and by no fault of mine I can't get insured but if I went to prison I would be a burden to the taxpayers and all my medical expenses would be free!!!!!!!!!!!!.   Prisoners do have more luxury than many hard working americans who are law abiding.  Prisoners should get nothing!!  If anything is needed then charge their family members.\n\nPrisons should get only the mininum from taxpayers and nothing more.
350680
Be upfront about not having insurance, and some hospitals will give you financial assistance or a sliding scale fee. There are also sliding scale clinics out there, so ask around for them. My husband owes his life to a hospital that was willing to offer us financial assistance, so I know how overwhelming and frightening this can be.