Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : A US National Health Care System? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: TimF who wrote (3800)	1/11/2008 5:57:18 PM
From: Katelew	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 42652

Somehow in this country, we've ended up with a cobbled together system of healthcare in which the insured are subsidizing the uninsured, and I don't just mean uninsured illegals or the poor. Many years ago, while between jobs, I had to have emergency surgery. The hospital already had my previous insurer in their computer, and automatically assumed I was covered. On the day I was to go home, a representative came to my room to go over the bill and get my signature, and I explained that I actually no longer had insurance. The woman just said 'Oh' and walked out of the room. She came back about an hour later with a completely new statement. At the top, I'd been re-admitted as a self-pay and my total bill was one-third lower than it had been. I was prepared to just write a check and go home, when this person then produced several different payment plans, none of which involved paying the hospital any interest!!! No attempt was made to determine what my finances were, what I was capable of paying, etc. Needless to say, I opted for the longest payback period and set up an automatic debit from my bank account. It was crazy and no way to run a for-profit business. I almost felt guilty. It was nearly seven years before that bill was paid. The surgeon was a little stingier. He only knocked off 20% and insisted on a $500 down payment.