Don't do me any favors!

[Mskanga]

She was not asking for a handout, the issue here is that she was asking for a service and the proper service was not given based on her not having insurance. Nobody should be refused the proper treatment or subject to reduced treatment because they have no insurance. Most hospitals will be happy to work out a payment plan for those without insurance.

 

[The Edge]

Private hospitals do have the right to not see you or give you reduced treatment if you don't have insurance. The person who stated that hospitals are also a bussiness hit the nail right on the head. As bad as it sounds, Nikki was lucky to have been seen by that first doctor at all. I'm not saying I agree with this policy, but that's just the way it is here in the USA.

Find a way to get insurance. I mean, if you give your child a blank check to take to the hospital, you probably have enough money for insurance. Or, somebody in the family definitely does. I'm glad Nikki is getting better. I'm also positive that if Robin wasn't so beloved (and I'm a fan too) on this board, most people would suggest that she get insurance, Geez, I've seen people get flamed over way less important things.

 

[Melora]

I completely petered out of reading about page 12!

I was at that point for awhile in my life for awhile where I could not afford insurance.. who said a few pages back that $600 per month sounded pretty cheap..???
HOLY CRAP! When I was poor I was lucky if I made that much money a month!

Right now we have Blue Cross that we pay for by oursleves since we own our own business. For one adult and all 4 kids we pay $350 per month.

I tell you my hand trembles when I write that check every 2 months for $700. We have a HUGE deductible so right now we really only have it for catastrophic illness since we dont go to the doc enough to even meet the deductible. So even with this insurance we still have to pay for the insurance mothly cost and then the cost of seeing the doctor until you met the $2000 per year deductible. Lets see for me thats $6500 per year before the insurance pays one thin dime.

I spent many years without health insurance because there was no way I could even have begun to afford it. I got medi-cal (govt subsidised insurance) for awhile but talk about poor care.. when they found out thats what I was using I could not go to the reg hospitals.... I had to go the clinics where I had to wait for hours and hours and then the docs didnt speak english so it was hard for me to get them to understand. So everyone saying its so easy to go and get cheap insurance... it doesnt mean you will get the regular care everyone else gets. it doesnt mean you will be able to go where everyone else goes.

On 2 very specific occasions I went to the real emergency room and ended up going into debt because of it. Because I wanted better care than what was offered. Im not proud that I couldnt do any better at the time, but I loved my kids and did the best I could.

I am really glad we have insurance now and would never want to be without it.

 

[The Edge]

Originally posted by Melora
[
Most of you probably have never been in a situation where you coudlnt afford (really really couldnt afford) insurance.

It does not sound like that is really the case here with the blank checks and unlimited credit. Those who really have no means (including no wealthy family) my heart goes out to you. Still, look into every means necessary to find some medical coverage. Not saying it to be mean. It is so much better to be safe than sorry. That's my final comment on this thread.

 

[Melora]

Originally posted by The Edge
It does not sound like that is really the case here with the blank checks and unlimited credit. Those who really have no means (including no wealthy family) my heart goes out to you. Still, look into every means necessary to find some medical coverage. Not saying it to be mean. It is so much better to be safe than sorry. That's my final comment on this thread.

Well just because someone is willing to help you out once doesnt mean they will do it monthly. I come from a waelthy family who would not have paid my monthly insurance but would have helped me out in an emergency.. again.. until youve lived it.. dont judge it!

 

[chager]

Robin.
I didn't read all the pages here but I did get the gist of them from the last couple pages. My brother has had to go without insurance before and found the state card didn't do much to help him. He now has insurance but it isn't very good. His meds are very expensive every month.

I pray your daughter is doing better. I also think I would go to the paper. Maybe even consider a lawsuit since if the doctor had done his job he would have dx'd her correctly! Instead he jeopordized her life!

This reminds me of something that happened a few years ago where the hospital refused to treat a young man because he didn't have insurance only he didn't have a chance to go anywhere else. He died just outside the hospital doors. ( I want to say he had been stabbed or shot or something I don't remember) It is great you have family to back you up! You are very blessed in that way.
Please ignore the negative comments of some people. They just don't get it!

BTW I read the original post of when you wer DX'd with a virus to my mom. She started laughing because of your descriptions and says you really should consider writing a book She is adding your daughter to her prayer list. She also says she can't believe how rude some people are and if you can't say something nice don't say anything at all. Or like someone else said...hit the back button and move on!

 

[Flounder's Friend]

Gosh Robin, what happened to Nikki is pretty darn scary. I hope she is back to her old whistle-blowing self in no time.

I'm sure this thread, no matter how painful it may have been to read, has opened your eyes to the importance of insurance. $600 a month is $7200 a year. A few family trips to the doctors office and emergency room visits plus lab work, x-rays, blood work and medicine would exceed $7200 in no time. When I get my annual doctor visits statements in the mail, my head spins. There's no way I could afford it w/o insurance.

{{HUGS}} to you. People on the dis really do care about you. Best wishes to Nikki on her graduation too.

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by Melora
I completely petered out of reading about page 12!

Some of you are really acting like a bunch of pains in the patooties!

Most of you probably have never been ina situation where you coudlnt afford (really really couldnt afford) insurance.

I was at that point for awhile in my life.. who said a few pages back that $600 per month sounded pretty cheap..???
HOLY CRAP! When I was poor I was lucky if I made that much money a month!

Right now we have Blue Cross that we pay for by oursleves since we own our own business. For one adult and all 4 kids we pay $350 per month.

I tell you my hand trembles when I write that check every 2 months for $700. We have a HUGE deductible so right now we really only have it for catastrophic illness since we dont go to the doc enough to even meet the deductible. So even with this insurance we still have to pay for the insurance mothly cost and then the cost of seeing the doctor until you met the $2000 per year deductible. Lets see for me thats $6500 per year before the insurance pays one thin dime.

Shame on you all for pretending to put your value judgements and ideals on someone else! Until you have lived in their shoes I sugest politely just close your traps!

I spent many years without health insurance because there was no way in HELL I could even have begun to afford it. I got medi-cal (govt subsidised insurance) for awhile but talk about poor care.. when they found out thats what I was using I could not go to the reg hospitals.... I had to go the clinics where I had to wait for hours and hours and then the docs didnt speak english so it was hard for me to get them to understand. So everyone saying its so easy to go and get cheap insurance... it doesnt mean you will get the regular care everyone else gets. it doesnt mean you will be able to go where everyone else goes.

On 2 very specific occasions I went to the real emergency room and ended up going into debt because of it. Because I wanted better care than what was offered. Im not proud that I couldnt do any better at the time, but I loved my kids and did the best I could.

Those of you who keep hounding Robin really should just take deep breath and hit the back button and move on.

---------------------------------------

Great post!!

 

[Melora]

Originally posted by C.Ann
---------------------------------------

Great post!!

Thank you!..

as per usual with me I always think twice and say Oh I shouldnt have been so forceful etc so I went back to edit out my "gurmpiness" at other posters..

But you beat me to it and now Ive got my original in your quote and my edited version in my post...

 

[chager]

Originally posted by delswife
She has worked too hard for this day. If I have to carry her on my back, she will be able to go to graduation. The doctor thought it would be okay to go, just not to over do it.

I really would carry her up there on my back. She's not that heavy.

So you don't have to carry her you could get a dolly and put a stool on it and just push her up on the stage That was my Dr.'s suggestion when I hurt my knee a week before my wedding

 

[stacilee]

Gee, maybe the moderators should re-open the debate board! Perhaps the reason some have been so vicious towards this family is because:
A) they miss the confrontation satisfaction they get from all the back-biting and arguing on that board and have come here to satisfy that craving. It's ugly. Like a feeding frenzy.

It's a beautiful weekend out there, go out and mow the lawn or something. Get some fresh air. Please stand clear of the COMPUTER!!

or B) they are jealous- of their financial security, of their family closeness, who knows..... I wish the moderators would close down this thread to put a stop to the assaults.


If Robin and her husband can afford to pay out of pocket for their children's health care I can't see how that is anyone's business BUT theirs.

I would venture a guess that these people criticizing Delswife behind the guise of "friendly advice" would not appreciate others telling THEM how to raise THEIR children. If they need a cause, there are lots of childrens charities out there that desperately need volunteers.

I for one would greatly miss the never ending escapades of this one family that adds so much humor and character to the Disboards.


Robin, I hope Nicki gets better real soon. I know how scary it is for any of our babies to be sick. It doesn't matter how old they are. Once a mom, always a mom! I'll keep you both in my prayers.

 

[jinxed]

This post should not have gone to an insurance debate. That was not the issue. The issue here was she felt she received inadequate care. Care received should not depend on whether the person has insurance or not or what type of insurance the person has.

Some of those insurance quotes posted were too high for many people. What if a person just simply could not afford insurance. Or what if it was a homeless person who isn't eligible for insurance or a job because they don't have an address (which is a requirement.)

There are many reasons why people in this country don't have insurance and each has a legit reason. People need to stop and listen.

Everyone situations are different and people should not judge or criticize others if it is not up to "their standards."

Let's stop debating the insurance issue, but if some insist, talk about what US as a COUNTRY can do to help those in need. Instead of putting the energy into turning people away that aren't equal to you, why not put it into a more constructive nature, such as making yourself heard where it counts to improve our country's health care issues.

The whole original point to this thread was how she felt she received inappropriate care. Yes, she was treated with Tylenol or something to reduce the fever. But a fever is a sign that the body is fighting something and should be not disregarded. Especially a high fever for someone this age. I am sure she wouldn't be complaining if the doctor did bloodtests to find out the reason for her illness. That's all she wanted; to be treated EQUALLY. Even if the bloodtests gave a negative result, at least the doctor tried and didn't turn her away or if he referred her elsewhere.

My heart will always be bigger than my bank account because I put people and their feelings first before thinking about what type of money I can make off of the situation. If I were a doctor, I would probably be the poorest doctor because my heart would go out to people in need even if they had no insurance or money. But at the end of the day, I would be happier than those that put money first.

 

[ByTheSea]

I've been reading this thread but don't really see any personal attacks on anyone.

I do think people feel strongly about the subject because frankly, those of us who do carry health insurance on our families, pay for those who choose to use no insurance and using ER's for their medical care.

I never posted on the DB so I certainly am not missing it...

and I am not jealous of family closeness or financial security.

and I'm not going to comment on the fact that she was treated (maybe not the way you receive treatment for a Dr.'s office visit) because many have stated that already.

I have watched friends of mine struggle who have maxed out coverage on their health insurance (with million dollar maximum) and have to rely on government provided medicare...

I personally am aware of people who have had to sell everything they own, their home, their business, in order to be able to choose a life saving procedure. I would never want to put my extended family through having to make those decisions.

and I also know a person who chooses to "waive" medical insurance because he can get any "treatment" he needs at the county ER for free....

I think that the reason this subject touches so many, is that those of us who choose to protect our families by carrying costly health insurance, are also paying for those who choose not to carry insurance, and many of us are sick of the double digit percentage increases in our premiums year after year.

Again, no offense intended to the OP, but after posting about an incredible trip to WDW that many of us could never afford, and posting about choosing not to carry heath insurance, while I certainly didn't have to subsidize their vacation, I am subsidizing their medical choice every month when I pay my Family insurance premium.

 

[huey duey & luey]

Robin
I am also sorry that you got attacked here. Last year my dh switched jobs and we went on cobra for 3 1/2 months at $972 a month. I HATED writing those checks, but with 2 asthmatic children I knew my bills could be alot worse. I kept thinking to myself if my kids were healthy I would just pay out of pocket for their dr bills. By the time you add up the premiums and deuctables most people dont spend that in dr bills. Hope she is feeling better and congratulations on her graduation.
Btw when I was in grad school I was no longer covered under my parents ins. Thru my school they had a plan that covered hospitilizations and er visits, no regular dr visits. I think it was a bout 250 a semester.
Tara

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by ByTheSea

Again, no offense intended to the OP, but after posting about an incredible trip to WDW that many of us could never afford, and posting about choosing not to carry heath insurance, while I certainly didn't have to subsidize their vacation, I am subsidizing their medical choice every month when I pay my Family insurance premium.

------------------------------------------------

And every taxpayer in America (including delswife's family) is subsidizing Medicaid, Medicare, and public assistance - which you might require someday should you fall on terribly hard times..

So have you cancelled any vacations recently because everyone else is subsidizing programs in case you need them somewhere down the road?

 

[SugarBear]

Originally posted by ByTheSea
....and I am not jealous of family closeness or financial security...

...Again, no offense intended to the OP, but after posting about an incredible trip to WDW that many of us could never afford, and posting about choosing not to carry heath insurance, while I certainly didn't have to subsidize their vacation, I am subsidizing their medical choice every month when I pay my Family insurance premium.

It certainly sounds like jealousy.

 

[ByTheSea]

Originally posted by C.Ann
------------------------------------------------

And every taxpayer in America (including delswife's family) is subsidizing Medicaid, Medicare, and public assistance - which you might require someday should you fall on terribly hard times..

So have you cancelled any vacations recently because everyone else is subsidizing programs in case you need them somewhere down the road?

Nope, I pay my taxes....

I pay for my insurance, my home, my living expenses, I save for my son's education and my retirement....

then I plan my vacations with what I have left.... but that's not the point. I don't ask others to subsidize my vacations, or my health care. If something unexpected occured and I lost my job or my insurance, than I would certainly cancel any costly vacations I may have scheduled.

Thank goodness for Medicaid, for those who truly can't afford catestrophic care (I know a few who really need it) but medicare does not reimburse Hospitals and medical professionals at their full rate. Those not on Medicare pay more to subsidize the care. Personally I am all for it for people who have no choice in the matter, it's a good thing. I was just attempting to point out that those who do carry insurance pay dearly for those who choose not to carry private insurance (not those who can't get it, those who choose not to carry it) The OP states she could pay. It doesn't take that big of an unexpected accident or injury to add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical expenses.

Last I checked, no one get's to choose who pays into medicare....

 

[ByTheSea]

Originally posted by SugarBear
It certainly sounds like jealousy.

How is this jealous?

Just curious. You don't know me, I choose not to share a lot of personal information but trust me, I have no reason to be jealous.

and again, regardless of who the OP is, I prefer to see people take responsibilty for their own family expenses when at all possible, rather than rely on the tax payers to pick up the tab so they can choose entertainment expenses over necessities.

A bill for an illness like mono, or strep, was probably certainly something the OP and their family can easily handle. But what if it was more serious? Whether or not my extended family can financially afford to kick in a few hunded thousand to cover my families unexpected medical expenses isn't the point - the point is that I feel it is irresponsible to expect them to do so when we have something called Health Insurance readily available to those who can afford it.

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by ByTheSea
and again, regardless of who the OP is, I prefer to see people take responsibilty for their own family expenses when at all possible, rather than rely on the tax payers to pick up the tab so they can choose entertainment expenses over necessities.

----------------------------------

Did I miss the part where she was relying on people such as yourself to pay (albeit indirectly) for her DD's hospital bill? I could have sworn she said she was going to pay for it herself..

 

[AirForceRocks]

I'm going to ditto everything that ByTheSea said in her posts.

Currently, we are very fortunate in that we don't have to pay insurance premiums, and we still have access to excellent medical care because of the numerous military medical facilities in the DC area. Prior to moving here, we did have (and pay for) private supplemental insurance so that our children could see and be treated by private physicians. Why? Because the medical care at our last station left much to be desired, especially in the area of pediatrics. We were willing to take our chances with the military medicine for ourselves, but not for our kids. That was a choice that we made, and we cut the budget in other, what we considered "less important" areas to ensure that our kids had excellent care.

To *me*, it's a matter of priorities, and for *us* having good medical care is more important than having a great vacation. While as a mother, I can certainly understand delswife's concern about the misdiagnosis of her daughter's condition, I can also completely understand the position of the doctors in the ER. They had a patient with no insurance and no immediately verifiable means to pay the bill.