Iconic skier's death points out U.S. health gap (salary, spokeswoman, insurance)
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The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA)[1] is a U.S. Act of Congress passed in 1986 as part of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). It requires hospitals to provide care to anyone needing emergency healthcare treatment regardless of citizenship, legal status or ability to pay.
As I stated previously, you walk into an ER, you get seen, period.
That costs money, money that the hospital isn't compensated for. In a country when people can't afford healthcare premiums, they use the ER as their regular doctor.
Whats a 300,000 dollar collection bill for someone making 40,000 a year? Its ignored, thats what it is.
Only if you have a life, limb, or organ threatening emergency. They can still charge you, as well, and threaten to ruin your credit rating.
From the link: An emergency medical condition is defined as "a condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that the absence of immediate medical attention could reasonably be expected to result in placing the individual's health [or the health of an unborn child] in serious jeopardy, serious impairment to bodily functions, or serious dysfunction of bodily organs." For example, a pregnant woman with an emergency condition must be treated until delivery is complete, unless a transfer under the statute is appropriate.[11]
If the patient doesn't pay the bill, the hospital can sue the patient and the unsatisfied judgment will likely appear on the patient's credit report.
That really is the bottom line, isn't it? When medical care in this country became 100% for profit, the costs skyrocketed and millions became uninsurable. What price do you place on a human life?
If you don't like the health care here, you are totally free to go to any other country you want (There are more MRI machines within a 15 mile radius of me than there is in ALL of Canada).
There are over 250 MRI machines within a 15 mile radius of you? To that I call bull.
Only if you have a life, limb, or organ threatening emergency. They can still charge you, as well, and threaten to ruin your credit rating.
From the link: An emergency medical condition is defined as "a condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that the absence of immediate medical attention could reasonably be expected to result in placing the individual's health [or the health of an unborn child] in serious jeopardy, serious impairment to bodily functions, or serious dysfunction of bodily organs." For example, a pregnant woman with an emergency condition must be treated until delivery is complete, unless a transfer under the statute is appropriate.[11]
If the patient doesn't pay the bill, the hospital can sue the patient and the unsatisfied judgment will likely appear on the patient's credit report.
Not true, do you realize how many people get treated at the ER every year for the flu?
Again, if you make 40K a year, you don't give a damn about your credit report. You have to buy cars at buy here pay heres, and you will rarely ever own a home in most places. So sue all you want, send bill collectors all you want, it doesn't matter.
Thats the point, we have many people who can't afford insurance, can't afford care, so they go the ER for the flu, then get a massive bill that they never pay. The hospital then charges others more to make up the difference, because you can't pay the bills with other peoples IOU's
Only if you have a life, limb, or organ threatening emergency. They can still charge you, as well, and threaten to ruin your credit rating.
From the link: An emergency medical condition is defined as "a condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that the absence of immediate medical attention could reasonably be expected to result in placing the individual's health [or the health of an unborn child] in serious jeopardy, serious impairment to bodily functions, or serious dysfunction of bodily organs." For example, a pregnant woman with an emergency condition must be treated until delivery is complete, unless a transfer under the statute is appropriate.[11]
If the patient doesn't pay the bill, the hospital can sue the patient and the unsatisfied judgment will likely appear on the patient's credit report.
By Kari Huus, msnbc.com
Since the death of Canadian skier Sarah Burke in January, fans and supporters from around the world have donated over $300,000 – more than enough to cover the massive U.S. medical bill generated by efforts to save her.
Moderator cut: can only quote 1-2 sentences and provide link
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