The system is going broke because there are people who use the system as a way of life. If it was used as it was intended as a short term stepping stone on a return to independence then there wouldn't be the major issues we have now and I doubt that there would be far less hostility towards people who have used things like Medicaid in the past. I say that coming from a place on both sides. Medicaid also paid in part for the birth of one of my children as well as the prenatal visits. That doesn't make me someone who sucked off the system, it was there when we were in need of it, we used it as intended and are no longer in need of it and haven't been for many years.
I also work in the school system. I can not tell you how many families I see who are life long abusers of the system. We recently had a family who was crying to the school that they needed money for heat. I have known this family for years in the school setting and they had been very open that they were in welfare system with me. The teachers took up a fund for them donated money in their name to a local oil delivery company. Never got so much as a thank you. It was also discovered that they get heating assistance as well. The kids came back to school after Christmas break raving about the Big screen TV and Wii and cell phones that mom and dad had gotten them. That is the kind of thing I take issue with. Not someone using the system appropriately as it was intended.
I don't get the feeling that the OP was using the system for anything other than what it was intended. I also don't get the feeling that if she is told that this balance is her's to pay that she will disregard it. It took four years for this bill to come to her. Any good consumer would be checking it out. She may find out that the bill was already paid and that during updating of software some statements were sent out that shouldn't have been. It is appropriate to ask those questions especially when a bill comes that far after the fact. She also stated that she does support casues for people who are not as fortunate as she is now. I didn't read the post as being an attempt to look for sympathy.
I know that there are people who come here "whine" about their financial troubles, ant sympathy and claim a trip was gifted to them. As a family who did have a WDW trip gifted to them (we went along with a relative who picked up the cost) when we couldn't have otherwise paid for it ourselves, I know it does happen. As often as stated on the DIS I don't know, but I was the recipient of a WDW trip. Our first trip in fact. We then saved every single penny we could to pay for our next trip on our own in full.
I also recieved a bill for services 3 or 4 years after the date of services. These services were through Child Development Services (Speech OT etc) for one of my children. CDS makes it very clear that their services are FREE to the individuals who are enrolled, regardless of their financial standing. The bill I got was for approximately $3000. I contacted CDS and the Billing department of the providers who were contracted for the services. I recieved the bill three more times after that. Could I have paid a bit here and there and just paid off the bill. Sure but the services were supposed to be provided free of charge at the time those services were given. It was not my responsibility to pay that bill and I didn't. I don't feel that I abused the system.
Familyoffive I am glad that you were in a position that you were able to pay for your prenatal and birth expenses out of pocket. Thats great! I also hope that should you be in the position to need asistance, that you do so responsibly and only for the amount of time necessary. I sure you would.
ETA Never in my life have I been able to do a hand stand or a cartwheel for that matter.
