Don't do me any favors!

[Toby'sFriend]

That sounds like a scary story. High temps can make anybody feel very miserable.

I know nothing about Maine law, but I know that here Emergency Departments are required to provide a basic exam. Private Hospitals are required to stabilize a patient and get them to the Public Hospital if needed. Public Hospitals are required to provide emergency services and treat serious illness, but are not required to treat everything. No ER is required to just foot the bill. If the patient has any resources at all, they will hound you for $10 a month for as long as they can. There are just too many people that don't pay and Health Care is expensive to provide. There are also several low cost clinics that the uninsured can utilize for at a much lower cost. It is a shame that the first doctor didn't at least culture the throat if he suspected strep. That is a rather basic test that can be performed quickly and really isn't very expensive.

This might be a good time to look into low cost health insurance. You can get high deductible major medical policies for a fairly reasonable cost. If, God Forbid, something really bad happened, those credit cards will fill up very quickly after a couple of days in the hospital.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

 

[AuroraluvsPhillip]

Unbelievable, Robin, that's all I can say.
Mono, strep or acute tonsillitis would be my first rule out diagnoses in this age group.
I'm so glad you got her some definitive care before things really got scary with her ability to breathe!
Unfortunately she's going to feel like crap for awhile...hopefully she'll be her old self before heading off to college. Will she be able to crawl to graduation?
Best wishes for a complete recovery to the Commando!

(Unbelievable!)

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

It's time to get some insurance.

 

[Ranatra]

When I first started reading about her symptoms my first thought was mono! It sounded EXACTLY like my Daughter's symptoms. She had it last year.

I'm sorry you had to go thru this. I would be flaming mad!

 

[Keli]

What a scary situation to be in! I know it must have been very hard on both you and Nikki. Hang in there Robin and I sure hope Nikki recovers really fast and gets right back to her old self.

 

[delswife]

Originally posted by AuroraluvsPhillip
Will she be able to crawl to graduation?
Best wishes for a complete recovery to the Commando!

(Unbelievable!)

This is the child that has worked very hard in school and has won several awards for academics. She got an award in journaliziam, 2nd in the state for layout and design, she got an award for being the yearbook editor and one for outstanding service in the school and community.

Those were her awards for this year only. She started getting awards in the 8th grade, first place state finals in the science fair.

She was also rewarded 2 scholarships for college.

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.

 

[minniepumpernickel]

When I volunteer at the Red Cross, a lot of people have questions about similar things that you and your daughter went through. It is agonizing for me to hear their stories too. I feel so bad for you, and everyone in this position.

The Red Cross has people working their that are really better informed about health insurance issues. You may want to give them a ring! Good luck!

 

[Deb in IA]

Originally posted by gymnasticsmom68
It's time to get some insurance.

 

[sunni]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Lisa F
Sounds like a good story for the local newspaper. Unbelievable! I'm glad she finally got the medical attention that she needs and hope she mends as quickly as possible.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Originally posted by dianeschlicht
I have to agree, Robin. I think you should send it in just as it is!

ITA!

Hope she's better soon.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

First of all, even this ol' postal carrier can be an old softie. i hope your daughter feels better soon.

Unfortunately, in the old US of A, there is no socialized healthcare system. I'm very lucky as I get really great benefits being a treasured civil service employee, but I know that some others are not lucky enough to have that.

Short of moving to Canada, where they have socialized medicine, but other things as a trade off - long lines at the doctors office and expensive property taxes - the best thing you can do for your family is get some sort of major medical coverage for emergency situations.

In this day and age, where it usually ends up costing an arm and a leg to get advil in the hospital for a headache, you really can't live without health insurance.

Now, I don't know what you can afford, and I don't know a lot about the state of Maine, being from Boston and all, but it looks like you can get some low cost health insurance from your local Blue Cross Blue Shield Affiliate.

Good healthcare is vitally important. If you're feeling down and out, and you dont have the money to take care of yourself, how are you going to be able to have a nice, cold mug of beer?

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

I totally disagree -- why send this to the newsaper? nothing bad happened to Nikki, thank goodness, she got the proper diagnosis. no unfortunate consequences, so no human interest story there. though it does illustrate the need for low cost insurance to be made available to people who can't otherwise afford it.

but it begs the question -- why does someone with "lots of money" not have health insurance?

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

I don't mean to be a witch, but this just doesn't make sense.

I don’t have insurance that is true. What SMMC didn’t realize was that I have a wealthy family. Before I got off the Maine State turnpike I had 3 MasterCard numbers and 2 Visa card numbers, no limits on any of them.

Take one of those cards and get some insurance. It makes no sense to happily pay expensive medical bills, but not insurance. That just doesn't make any logical sense at all.

 

[Tinkbell]

Wow! That is a scary story. I hope Nikki is doing much better!

 

[delswife]

Originally posted by Briar Rose 7457
but it begs the question -- why does someone with "lots of money" not have health insurance?

My family has 'lots of money'. They would be willing to pay for any tests that Nikki needed for treatment.

I am the pizza delivery person. Very little qualifications to do much else for a living. Low paying jobs like mine do not offer health insurance.

To get on my husbands insurance would cost us over $600 per month. That is a little steep for us.

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I don’t have insurance that is true. What SMMC didn’t realize was that I have a wealthy family. Before I got off the Maine State turnpike I had 3 MasterCard numbers and 2 Visa card numbers, no limits on any of them.


Take one of those cards and get some insurance. It makes no sense to happily pay expensive medical bills, but not insurance. That just doesn't make any logical sense at all.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


My point was that if money was the decieding factor of my daughter having tests done, I came up with it. Not that my family would pay for us to have insurance. If this hadn't happened on a weekend, I would have paid our family doctor cash at the time of the visit as I have always done.

 

[The Edge]

Originally posted by Briar Rose 7457

but it begs the question -- why does someone with "lots of money" not have health insurance?

I have to agree here. If you, or someone in your family, can easily afford insurance, why not get it? I don't agree with the health care system in the country. The very poor receive free insurance, the rich can afford to pay for it and the middle class is left out. Luckily, my family is insured through my occupation. Insurance is necessary in the USA. Your post proves it. I can't imagine having the money to pay for insurance, but not having it, especially with kids.

I do hope your daughter is ok now. You were very smart to take her to another hospital.

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

delswife, five years ago I contracted pneumonia. I spent four days in the hospital. my bill was well over $10,000. for that kind of money I could have spent a month and a half in WDW, right? my insurer paid everything except the phone bill.

do you really want to have to file for bankruptcy if one of your kids gets seriously ill? you got lucky this time, your daughter is seriously ill but she was properly diagnosed and will recover. what if you hadn't taken her to the other hospital? witha swollen liver...?

I pay a small fortune to have health insurance. it's worth the peace of mind. spend the $600 -- it may save your daughter's life next time.

 

[Bumbles]

I'm buddies with our local Wal-Mart greeter.....he has few skills but I know he gets pretty decent insurance.

So called low skilled jobs don't necessarily equate with getting no benefits.

I assume you work for a mom and pop type pizza place that doesn't have to provide its employees with insurance? Maybe you could deliver for Dominoes, Pizza Hut, whatever?

Hope your daughter feels better soon

 

[Snow_White]

My brother is a pizza delivery boy for Papa John's and I'm 99% they offer health insurance, with certain qualifications (I remember my brother bringing home the pamphlet a few months ago). Just another place to look into! I teared up just reading your post and I was so glad that Nikki was finally treated and diagnosed! My fiancee has been pretty ill for a few years now (not as ill as Nikki was, but still quite uncomfortable) but still doesn't have a diagnosis, it's very scary

Jenn

 

[Serena]

I know jobs are hard to find right now, but I make minimum wage and have health insurance.
I know if you don't make enough money that there should be a government program that you might be qualified for.

You might look into it.