If you had to come up with $30k to get lifesaving surgery could you do it? Uninsureds face this ....

[Blackhatjack]

quite often.

Here is another one. If you had to choose whether to pay your medical bills to continue your child's lifesaving treatment or pay your credit cards and mortgage instead, which would you do?

These are the very real dilemmas faced by many of the 40 million plus uninsureds in this country every day.

In many cases these uninsureds are employed and make too much income to qualify for chapter 7 bankruptcy(liquidation).

[uppityperson]

1. Been there, have done those calculations, faced some of those dilemmas

Figured I'd declare bankruptcy also. It is bad, makes me feel really bad to have to think that way. Have insurance now, but that could change dramatically quickly.

[shadowknows69]

2. Pretty much in that loop right now

have a meeting to get refused for medicaid today. Have wracked up about 5k so far in medical bills and am looking at how the hell to afford my meds and therapy which is going to run about 600 a month or so minimum. Suicide looks good often.

[bunkerbuster1]

3. I could, but I'd have to carve out a chunk of retirement savings

Even with the suck-ass insurance I have now, if I had 30K worth of surgery I'd be on the hook for 2/3 of it.

And I realize I am much, much more fortunate to have set that cushion aside than most of those who are uninsured.

Almost all Republicans, and entirely too many Democrats, are perfectly ok with this. They want a vastly expanded serf class.

[RedCappedBandit]

4. I'll put it this way..

if I wasn't fortunate enough to be born the son of two government employed teachers, i'd be pretty damn screwed.

[shadowknows69]

5. My parents were teachers

so I had health insurance until the day I turned 19. Doesn't do me a lot of good for the last 20 years.

[RedCappedBandit]

10. I'm still covered

so long as i'm a full time student. Regardless, had they not been able to offer me with good health care throughout my childhood i don't know what would have happened.

[davidwparker]

6. No. And it is not right that Americans have to suffer with health care

like they do. I have excellent insurance. I think we all need the insurance that Congress gives to itself. Every American.

[Misskittycat]

7. Many uninsureds don't have the money even to make that choice;

they just can't pay for the operation at all.

[SoCalDem]

8. Pretty sad, isn't it?

Distressed people all over the counrty are holding bake sales & car washes to try & come up with money for necessary medical treatments.. Only in America..

The civilized world laughs at us :(

[ordinaryaveragegirl]

9. It's appaling that...

Many (if not most) other civilized nations in the world provide health care as a basic right to their people, and we're still making people fend for themselves. If I had to come up with that much money, and it were a matter of saving someone I love, I'd do everything legally possible to make it happen. Then I'd wonder why our government hasn't gotten it together with just providing a basic need for its people.

[DearAbby]

11. It's called juggling

you juggle when to pay, what to pay. Month after month. You keep an eagle eye on the "due dates" on bills, not just for medical bills, but for each and every bill. I couldn't come up with that kind of money, I would just have to resign myself to death. I am juggling like a circus clown as it is now.

[catmandu57]

12. No

I'd die and thus decrease the surplus population.

[blues90]

13. I would be screwed

I would probaby die a slow death or step out in front of a bus .

[Blackhatjack]

14. Here is a scary thought for those with medical insurance.. ... Ready?

You think you are covered for any medical treatment you should need because you have a policy and you paid the outrageous premiums for just such an occasion, right?

Maybe not.

Almost all medical insurance policies have a lifetime maximum limit of benefits, in most cases $1 million or less. Well $1 million sounds like a lot of money.

Think again. With spiralling healthcare costs, you could max out your medical insurance policy in short order. Spend 30 days in intensive care, add in a couple of operations, need a transplant, etc.

Once you hit the lifetime maximum you get a letter from your insurer saying good luck, you are on your own now.

Still feel confident you will never be an uninsured?