Comments | emmycantbemeeko: I think I might have spent too long at the hospital today.

emmycantbemeeko

I think I might have spent too long at the hospital today.

May 19, 2009 17:30

Everybody understands- in fact, everybody has experienced at some point- that when food is free, or perceived to be free, many people take more than they actually need. After all, why not? It's free. Think of every buffet you've ever attended, especially ones you didn't have to pay anything for ( Read more... )

nursing school

Comments 39

cubes May 20 2009, 00:19:08 UTC

Preach it, sister ( ... )

majellen May 20 2009, 00:21:44 UTC

Well said, and I agree with you. Just look at the welfare system and you can see how badly it is abused. We can't get health insurance for my husband because, quite simply, too many other people are in the program right now. I'm willing to bet at least half of them don't need it any more and simply haven't disenrolled, just because "hey, it's free, I'm going to keep using it until I get caught ( ... )

cubes May 20 2009, 00:29:29 UTC

Ooh ooh, I know!

By the time someone (legally) qualified enough to figure out if the case is truly emergent or not (i.e., a doctor) sees the patient, you've already racked up most of the cost. And if you do turn someone away, and they end up sicker or dying, even from something unrelated, they're gonna sue your ass anyway.

Also, it's terrible PR for a hospital to turn away sick people, and hospitals have to maintain a good image so they attract the money-making patients (maternity, elective or nearly so surgeries, etc.) who keep the ER funded.

emmycantbemeeko May 20 2009, 00:50:44 UTC

You beat me to it.

cubes May 20 2009, 00:56:38 UTC

What do I win?

Thread 12

dpolicar May 20 2009, 00:59:04 UTC

(nods)
So, absent a sudden change in human nature such that people consistently give up short-term benefits in favor of long-term sustainability, do you see a way to improve healthcare distribution you think is practicable?
Or is the current structure pretty much as good as it's possible to get?

(The comment has been removed)

emmycantbemeeko May 20 2009, 02:15:14 UTC

I also think Singapore's system is pretty amazing, but I'm pretty sure that implemented here it would wind up looking a lot like our current system, with many people using it responsibly and paying their share, and a significant minority being irresponsible and winding up subsidized by everyone else.

(The comment has been removed)

Thread 14

jakflak May 20 2009, 01:52:21 UTC

Well put!

deathling May 20 2009, 01:57:54 UTC

I'm all with you there buddy. I know people who HAVE health insurance and STILL go to the ER for free healthcare because that's all they've ever known.

heypete May 21 2009, 17:55:25 UTC

I've got insurance, and my insurance has a $150 co-pay for ER visits, and only $75 for urgent care. Is this not common for other insurance providers? It's certainly not "free."

$75 for a lowly student like me is a fair bit, so it discourages me from going to the ER unless I really need it. That, and urgent care has -- with the exception of grievous injuries and other emergency conditions -- shorter wait times and often better service.

Where are these magical "free" ERs?

emmycantbemeeko June 15 2009, 04:35:36 UTC

ERs aren't free in the sense of actually being free- someone, somewhere, is picking up the bill- but they are perceived as free by many people because you can get care without paying up front, and then ignore the billing attempts forever.

This has bad real-world consequences for both the ER and the dunned patient, but it does mean you can get care while completely broke, unlike most urgent-care clinics, where you must pay ypfront.