Reply #25: No. Just fewer uninsured people will have to visit the emergency room. [View All]

[jobycom]

The way it works now is that a hospital can't turn away someone without insurance at the emergency room, so people without insurance go to the emergency room for every minor ailment. They have the flu, they go to the ER claiming they have chest pains. They frequently give false names, so the hospital can't send them a bill.

So not only do hospitals get stuck with the bills, but the bills are exagerated since the patient really only needed minor care. Worse, the ERs are clogged with patients needing minor care and they can't get to the people with genuine emergencies. You might remember a case a couple years ago where a woman died of a ruptured organ in the ER because the nurses thought she was faking? That's why it is so often assumed they are faking, because the normal routine is to exagerate symptoms to get attention.

Universal Health Care (which isn't really on the table, but anything that gets us closer to it is a good thing) would cost so much less than the current system. It's a shame conservatives don't get it, because they could really save this nation a lot of money, elevate our hospital care, and do the right thing for people by supporting UHC. But, you know how they are--penny wise, pound ignorant.

If people had full coverage, there would be fewer ER visits, hospitals would be more efficient, and even rich Republicans would get better care and lower taxes. And those not covered by a plan would still take advantage of the system, but there would be fewer people in that category to do so. You can't turn someone away from the ER. Only an uncivilized nation would do that. And despite the eras of Bush and Reagan, we are trying to become more civilized.