Could you afford to get sick? Could you afford to go into the hospital?
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
United States
June 3, 2008 10:50am CST
Could you afford to get sick or go into the hospital? Would your medical coverage take care of all the bills?
In our area, we have really good medical coverage for poor women and children. Blame it on the Republicans. They did a really good job in our state to ensure that poor or indigent women and kids had available resources. When I gave birth to my baby, the state government paid for everything, because we were in a real money bind at the time. It was a high risk delivery and we got amazing care. I was so surprised and thankful.
They have good health care for elderly people in our state, too. And, I think in the US, there's a program for seniors, called Medicare? Am I saying that name right? I can't remember the name, exactly.
With that being said, pretty much the rest of the population is left to fend for themselves. So, if you're not really poor, you have to pay your own medical bills. Or, you could get health insurance or medical coverage and that can cost more than $200 for some people.
I'm not really poor enough for government assistance and I can't afford medical insurance. So, I guess it's not really feasible for me to get sick anytime soon. Last time I had the flu really bad, I toughed it out at home. And, didn't even go to the doctor. I guess that I should have gone, but he would have just told me to get plenty of rest and drink lots of liquids. And, then handed me a bill for $900!
How about you? If you got sick, would you just have to go on with life, as if you weren't sick? Would you be covered by insurance? Could you afford to take off work to recover?
3 people like this
13 responses
@roger3611 (200)
• China
3 Jun 08
i cant afford, and in China most family cant afford, go to hospital, is really expesive for us.
3 people like this
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
3 Jun 08
Same here in the US. So, very expensive. Unless you are really poor and then the gov pays, most times. But, it depends on what state you live in. Some states have better health care coverage for indigent than others.
2 people like this
@bluishrose (2289)
• Philippines
3 Jun 08
I have the money for hospital but will do everything to avoid being sick. Base on the economy right now wherein gas and commodities keep on rising. Its hard to be short specially on food. Stay healthy, to cope with what life may bring =)
3 people like this
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
3 Jun 08
Staying healthy is the best way to save money.
2 people like this
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
3 Jun 08
I really could not. It is crazy the prices they charge. I am covered by insurance, but it only pays part of it, and the rest would be a big burden.
1 person likes this
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
3 Jun 08
I hear ya! I hope they do something about the high health care costs in the next administration. Someone should!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160949)
• United States
3 Jun 08
I do not have insurance, as of last week.
Even with insurance I could not afford to get sick.
Time was as much a problem as money. I had sick leave at my school job, but felt guilty when I used it. Hubby gets sick, goes to the doctor, goes for tests, gets told the same stuff always, and we still have bills, and he has insurance. I can COBRA mine for $1200 per month, and I can go on his, which I like better, for about $450 per month. I have another option, and when it is complete, I will let people know about it. 
I think the best choice, though, is to set up a health savings account with a local bank. I am going to look into that as well. When I have had the flu, the offer of the shot to lessen symptoms did not seem worth the cost. Believe me, I get my flu shot to prevent the flu, and even this year, it worked. I get more trouble with sinus and allergy problems.
Even with insurance I could not afford to get sick. Time was as much a problem as money. I had sick leave at my school job, but felt guilty when I used it. Hubby gets sick, goes to the doctor, goes for tests, gets told the same stuff always, and we still have bills, and he has insurance. I can COBRA mine for $1200 per month, and I can go on his, which I like better, for about $450 per month. I have another option, and when it is complete, I will let people know about it. I think the best choice, though, is to set up a health savings account with a local bank. I am going to look into that as well. When I have had the flu, the offer of the shot to lessen symptoms did not seem worth the cost. Believe me, I get my flu shot to prevent the flu, and even this year, it worked. I get more trouble with sinus and allergy problems.1 person likes this
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
4 Jun 08
Oh my goodness! I had forgotten how expensive health insurance can be. Getting sick is no fun in the first place, but it can be financially devastating.
@mummymo (23706)
•
4 Jun 08
This is where I realise how lucky I am to live in the UK and have the good old NHS that treats everyone and all you pay for is your medication at a reduced rate and within a few years we in Scotland are also going to have free prescriptions regardless of our age, health and financial status! There is of course private medical facilities too and private medical insurance but all that ensures is you are in a more luxurious hospital and you are treated quicker! We forget here how lucky we are sometimes and it is good to be reminded of that! xxx
2 people like this
@mummymo (23706)
•
5 Jun 08
Yeah we are really lucky that we have teh good old NHS but we tend to complain about it a lot and all the faults there is - I think we should count our blessings to be honest with you! I hope your dream of free health care in the US is realised sooner rather than later! xxx
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
4 Jun 08
Really! They give you free health care, regardless of income! That's sweet! As the kids say these days.
The only free health care here is usually for indigent citizens, seniors, pregnant women who have low income and children with families that have low income. Everyone else is on their own.
We are definitely looking for a change from our government on these issues in the upcoming election. Free health care in the US would be nice!
I just hope everyone gets out and votes for a winner that will have the courage to give some of our money to programs to help actual people and not just the war machine.
1 person likes this
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
14 Sep 09
Hello beautyqueen. Just this summer vacation I got sick because of a terrible kidney stone, which cost me seven hundred RMB for the treatment and on September 4th, I had a high fever together with a sore throat, which cost me a lot for the treatment. It is really very expensive to be sick. I think that I need to take good care of myself not to get sick.
@carlaabt (3504)
• United States
4 Jun 08
I have insurance that covers pretty much everything, as long as I get approval before I go to the hospital, or it's an emergency, it's covered. I don't have any copays, as long as I follow the rules, and in fact, I don't even have to pay for most prescriptions, and the ones I do have to pay for are like $3 I think (I've never had one that wasn't free, so I'm not positive).
If I didn't have insurance, I probably wouldn't ever go to the doctor. When I was having all my health issues a few months ago, one of the medications I was on was over $10 a pill, and I was on it for two weeks. There is no way that I would have been able to afford that!
As far as taking off time to recover, it might make things a little tight for a while, but as long as we didn't have to come up with a lot of extra money for a baby sitter, we would be ok.
@bagumbayan (2705)
• Philippines
4 Jun 08
Health insurance is one expense that I have to pay for, for emergencies. I was hospitalized twice but my insurance paid for the expnses. But I have to pay for some extras also. In our place we also have government hospitals that take cares of the poor and those without money. But due to the big number of clients sometimes others are not given the care. We do have medicare also and it is deducted from the hospital billings before final payment is made. I dont want to get sick.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
4 Jun 08
I am retired but I have an excellent gap insurance plus
medicare that covers everything. secure horizons
'evercare program and it does cover everything, hospitalization
and doctors and medical procedures. its just plain
fantastic.
@eihdra (3115)
• Philippines
4 Jun 08
hi. I can't get sick because nobody else is gonna take care of the kids. My husband works at night and I do have a nanny and a helper but I dont want them to take care my kids. They're irresponsible and I don't want anything bad to happen to my sons. If I do get sick, guess my husband will definitely go on leave to be with the kids and tend to me at the same time. We have health insurances and it will cover for all the hospital expenses and medicines except home medicines. I'm a stay at home mom, so, I do online business. I think those can wait. As for my husband, he is on paid leave, so no harm done to his salary. It's a good thing my husband works with one of the top 1000 companies, so his benefits are quite good..
@Bentley16 (86)
• Brunei Darussalam
4 Jun 08
In my place,government hospitals provide medical care for free,i think we only pay a dollar to get such prescriptions for flu and fever..we are lucky because government fully subsidised everything here,i dont know how long this free of charge thing will last cause it really took hundred millions of dollars from government budget.
@Bentley16 (86)
• Brunei Darussalam
4 Jun 08
In my place,government hospitals provide medical care for free,i think we only pay a dollar to get such prescriptions for flu and fever..we are lucky because government fully subsidised everything here,i dont know how long this free of charge thing will last cause it really took hundred millions of dollars from government budget.
