The US Private Healthcare System fails again

[Riot]

Since the death of Canadian skier Sarah Burke in January, fans and supporters from around the world have donated over $300,000 – more than enough to cover the massive U.S. medical bill generated by efforts to save her.

The outpouring of grief for Burke and the influx of funds are a tribute to a young woman who was a pioneer and legend in her sport. The need for a fundraiser — to help her grieving family avert bankruptcy — was viewed by some Canadians and U.S. observers as a condemnation of the U.S. health care system.

"The irony is that had the accident occurred in Canada… her care would have been covered because, unlike the U.S., Canada has a system of universal coverage," wrote Wendell Potter, an insurance executive-turned-whistleblower who writes for iWatch at the Center for Public Integrity. "No one in Canada finds themselves in that predicament, nor do they face losing their homes as many Americans do when they become critically ill or suffer an injury..."

more at:

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/20...-us-health-gap

On Monday, Potter pointed to the plight of a 13-year-old Caroline Richmond on life support in Alabama after collapsing from a stroke, which turned out to be caused by leukemia. Her self-employed parents do not have health coverage.

“As it turns out, Caroline is one of more than 50 million men, women and children who do not have health insurance in the United States, which is why her family is in the same predicament as Sarah Burke’s,” Potter wrote.

The community has launched a multi-pronged effort to raise money to cover mounting medical costs for Carolyn — car washes, a bake sale, a fish fry and so on — but like most people who have life threatening medical conditions, she is not famous.

An estimated 700,000 American families file for bankruptcy every year because of medical debt, Potter said.

[dellinger63]

I don't get it. You now want taxpayers to pay for Canadians to have health insurance while in the country? This skier is lucky the accident took place in American and not Canada or she'd likely be dead.

Surely her superior Canadian healthcare policy will pick up med costs while out of the country. No?

[dellinger63]

Does the universe in universal care offered by Canada include Americans?

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

I don't get it. You now want taxpayers to pay for Canadians to have health insurance while in the country? This skier is lucky the accident took place in American and not Canada or she'd likely be dead.

Surely her superior Canadian healthcare policy will pick up med costs while out of the country. No?

fyi the skier did pass away from the accident.

[Riot]

I don't understand why athletes in organized sport: the olympic class, internationals, top level, etc. - don't have high-risk insurance for their sports? Of course you can't be covered by any private insurer for those sports (maybe if you want to pay $50,000 a year or something). But I would think the Olympic team (of course that only covers a few athletes) or international organizations, might provide a high-risk pool for them?

Holding a 30-year-old parents responsible for her medical bills ... I don't get that. Unless the hospital came to them Day One and demanded a signer on her ICU treatment before they would go all-in on treatment options. But to lose your daughter, then lose everything you own (retirement, house, savings, etc) to pay the $300,000 bill.

700,000 medical bankruptcies a year in this country, and most of them have private insurance. It's ridiculous to hire people to pay your healthcare, when they only make money by not paying your healthcare costs. At least they can no longer kick you off for pre-existing conditions and lifetime caps (thank you, Obamacares)

[Honu]

The parents should sue the U.S. for not having universal health care coverage for this non U.S citizen.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Honu

The parents should sue the U.S. for not having universal health care coverage for this non U.S citizen.

Not something I said. Try Dell. Sounds like something he'd say.

[Honu]

Ok then I read the title of the thread wrong which states the US Healthcare system failed again. I thought you meant that our healthcare system failed because it expected the next of kin to pay the bill for medical treatment in trying to save the life of their loved one.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Honu

Ok then I read the title of the thread wrong which states the US Healthcare system failed again.

Yes, but how do you jump to the wild conclusion I want her parents to sue the United States of America for not having universal health care coverage? That's crazy.

I thought you meant that our healthcare system failed because it expected the next of kin to pay the bill for medical treatment in trying to save the life of their loved one.

Maybe you could read the other post I made listing my concerns. Oh, hell, never mind, just jump to whatever conclusions you want.

[Honu]

Originally Posted by Riot

Yes, but how do you jump to the wild conclusion I want her parents to sue the United States of America for not having universal health care coverage? That's crazy.



Maybe you could read the other post I made listing my concerns. Oh, hell, never mind, just jump to whatever conclusions you want.

First off my post was NOT directed at YOU!
I just put it out there to add to the thread and the absolute stupidity of the thread title. What country in the world will pick up a huge medical tab for a non-citizen? If the young lady didnt have adequate insurance for herself then she should have stayed in Canada or purchased some. Not everything that is posted is directed at YOU, jeesh.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Honu

First off my post was NOT directed at YOU!
I just put it out there to add to the thread and the absolute stupidity of the thread title. What country in the world will pick up a huge medical tab for a non-citizen? If the young lady didnt have adequate insurance for herself then she should have stayed in Canada or purchased some. Not everything that is posted is directed at YOU, jeesh.

Geesh, indeed.

You said: .... sue for healthcare?

I said: Not something I said. Try Dell. Sounds like something he'd say.

You then said: ... then I misread the title of the thread.

Yes. That made me think your comment, which you then did not address to Dell but back to me, was indeed directed to me. And again, you called the thread title "absolutely stupid". As I wrote the thread, yeah, I'd say you were talking to me (insert emoticon for little smiley face here)

No. I don't think "America" should pick up the tab for this woman. As I said my concerns were, athletes in those sports cannot get insurance from their private insurers in the US, and foreigners cannot get US privates to write travel insurance for those high-hazard sports - that is a problem I listed, a major fail for US insurance. Or maybe they could get insurance, but it's $50,000 a year or something (what do jocks pay, I wonder?) I also don't know what the deal is why an adults parents would be held responsible for her $300,000. Maybe, as I wondered, they signed something first day. And if so, did that affect the healthcare choice she would or would not have gotten? We know that some hospitals will simply not take self-insured patients, will transfer them elsewhere to a hospital that does. That -that the question needs to be wondered about in the face of a life-threatening emergency - is another major problem with US healthcare.

[Honu]

Originally Posted by Riot

Geesh, indeed.

You said: .... sue for healthcare?

I said: Not something I said. Try Dell. Sounds like something he'd say.

You then said: ... then I misread the title of the thread.

Yes. That made me think your comment, which you then did not address to Dell but back to me, was indeed directed to me. And again, you called the thread title "absolutely stupid". As I wrote the thread, yeah, I'd say you were talking to me.

No. I don't think "America" should pick up the tab for this woman. As I said my concerns were, athletes in those sports cannot get insurance from their private insurers in the US, and foreigners cannot get US privates to write travel insurance for those high-hazard sports - that is a problem I listed, a major fail for US insurance. Or maybe they could get insurance, but it's $50,000 a year or something (what do jocks pay, I wonder?) I also don't know what the deal is why an adults parents would be held responsible for her $300,000. Maybe, as I wondered, they signed something first day. And if so, did that affect the healthcare choice she would or would not have gotten? That -that the question needs to be wondered about in the face of a life-threatening emergency - is another major problem with US healthcare.

I was not freaking talking to you lady....you chimed in on my post, you talked to me first. I was commenting and just putting it out there.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Honu

I was not freaking talking to you lady....you chimed in on my post, you talked to me first. I was commenting and just putting it out there.

I am not angry at you. For god's sakes, you said, "I thought you meant" ... and now you are pissed I responded to that?

[Honu]

Originally Posted by Riot

I am not angry at you. For god's sakes, you said, "I thought you meant" ... and now you are pissed I responded to that?

I was responding to you talking to me first, I addressed no particular person in my first comment. You quoted me and commented so I responded, get it?

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Honu

I was responding to you talking to me first, I addressed no particular person in my first comment. You quoted me and commented so I responded, get it?

Sorry I responded to a comment in a thread I posted, about the title of my thread. How effing dare I.

[Honu]

Originally Posted by Riot

Sorry I responded to a comment in a thread I posted, about the title of my thread. How effing dare I.

No need to be sorry just admit you were mistaken that my first comment was directed at you, when in fact it wasnt directed at anyone, and have yourself a fine day.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Honu

No need to be sorry just admit you were mistaken that my first comment was directed at you, when in fact it wasnt directed at anyone, and have yourself a fine day.

Honu: The parents should sue the U.S. for not having universal health care coverage for this non U.S citizen?

Riot: Not something I said. Try Dell. Sounds like something he'd say.

Honu: Ok then I read the title of the thread wrong which states the US Healthcare system failed again. I thought you meant that our healthcare system failed because it expected the next of kin to pay the bill for medical treatment in trying to save the life of their loved one.

Yes: Very sorry I responded to those posts! Both of them!

[dellinger63]

Bottom line is the best healthcare in the world is expensive. So expensive some can't afford it. Homogenizing it into some sort of one fits all system is not going to fix anything.

The fact some girl in Alabama has leukemia and parents don't have insurance is sad, very sad. But her insurance or lack of it is not the responsibility of others trying to provide for their own daughters. Americans with the means are very charitable and it is with them these charities parents should seek help.

Insurance policies are rising more rapidly than ever in anticipation everyone will be forced to pay more to equal out paying for the monstrous premiums required for insuring a kid with a pre-existing condition of leukemia times millions.

[Danzig]

actually, it's not that expensive dell. ever get a quote on it? for my son, 25 and a smoker, it's about $20 a week thru bc/bc-NOT group coverage mind you.
family of five the other day-about $300/month. and it's also contingent on deductibles and the like. higher deductibles, lower premiums.
truth is most people CAN afford it;most people choose not to. they're young and healthy and don't see a need, not thinking about 'what if?'. the expense comes in when you're overweight, smoker, bad health, etc, etc. you have to pay more-so states have programs in place for high risk or high cost. here in arkansas, you get one decline from one carrier and you can get coverage thru the states program called 'chip'.
but, so many people don't get it. then when they need it, they wish they had it. you know, just like car insurance, homeowners, life insurance. same thing. then they complain because the bills are so high. yes, yes they are.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

Bottom line is the best healthcare in the world is expensive. So expensive some can't afford it.

We don't have the best-rated healthcare in the world. We are rated 37th in quality and access; and first in cost, paying nearly double the percentage of GDP compared to what other first world countries pay for their health care. Private health insurance is a model that is decades old. We need to step into the 21st century. We are part way there with Obamacares.