Long term freeper's husband has stroke. No insurance. What to do?

[denverbill]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2054377/posts

I posted one like this several years ago. Almost identical situation. In that case, a guy worked all his life, then his wife fell ill and he lost his job. Suddenly, he was begging for national health insurance.

No clue why this guy didn't have insurance in this case. I feel bad for them, like I did the other guy, I really do. It's hard for me to hold a grudge against anyone in need.

But still, the responses are interesting.

90% of them simply offer prayers, which is fine. No that it will help her save her home or anything, but who knows, maybe divine intervention can help somehow.

The others mostly tell her to call a lawyer (yes, a trial lawyer to file a frivolous lawsuit I guess) or tell her to find a social worker to check into government assistance, which wouldn't exist if freepers had their way.

Oddly, there are no posts extolling the virtues of our health care system. No one asks why she didn't have insurance. No posts call her a leach on society.

I guess it's ok for freepers to use lawyers when they need to stop someone from taking all their assets to pay for their debts. It's ok for freepers to oppose government assistance for anyone except themselves.

Times change. Freepers never do.

[Doctor_J]

1. Laugh aloud in their faces

Make some posts about how he's responsible for himself and to quit trying to mooch off of us hardworking taxpayers. Then offer to buy him an asbestos to wear when he heads for hell.

[nxylas]

6. Tempting, but I think progressives have too much decency

If it's possible to have "too much decency", that is.

[Doctor_J]

14. Yes, that's why we lose elections, let right-wing politicians open gulags,

and have our churches shot up by insane devotees on hate radio. It might be time to rethink excessive decency.

[nxylas]

16. The old, old struggle

"When fighting monsters, take care lest you become a monster yourself" - Nietzche (sp?)

vs.

"Good will triumph over evil, but only when it learns to fight dirtier" - The Rev. Jesse Custer

[tavalon]

86. Been here long?

We are not above this, unfortunately, here at DU.

[donco6]

2. How can you stand that place?

It's depressing reading stuff there. Always reminds me how evil the human heart can be.

[TNOE]

3. Monkey see, monkey do.

Bush & Co. lawyered up right away and remain so while railing against trial lawyers.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

4. It's sad, really.

They have their idealogy, then reality impinges upon that. It's as if they have no cognitive functions at all. Just anger, bitterness and frustration, without one little idea of what led them to their circumstances and no desire to learn.

Too bad we cannot raise a grand to send to that woman, to ease her burden somewhat.

[denverbill]

Yes, I think about raising money too, but the shitty thing is,

virtually everyone at DU would willingly pay higher taxes to fund national health care, (especially since we would probably be paying less for health care overall) so that nobody EVER had to worry about losing their homes and life savings due to illness. But because those dumbasses can't see past their free-market theories, we are forced to consider raising money for someone who thinks everyone else should have private insurance.

I have no doubt DU could raise $1000 and would, but it's hard to justify giving it to someone who could care less about anyone else versus the thousands of other people who face this situation every day.

[alstephenson]

48. You are absolutely right, denverbill.

Stupid and selfish dumbasses.

[demgurl]

80. When I am teaching I always tell my students....

not to let others dictate who you are. Never give someone else that power. This speech usually comes on the tail end of someone saying/doing something mean to a person and the other person reacting in kind. I always tell them to decide who they want to be. Do you want to be a selfless, good, kind and caring person or someone people do not like. Decide who you are and think about it before you react to others and give them the power to change you. Decide who you are and then act in that fashion. Do not act differently with different people. Always act in the way you envision yourself and be that person you wish to be.

As for these folks, do not concentrate on who they are. Who are you? Are you the type that sees someone in trouble and offer help? If so, collect money and show these people who you are.

As a great man once said, "Be the change you want to see in the world."

In Metta,

Demgurl

[yardwork]

92. You're right.

[Frank Cannon]

107. Michael Moore actually did that for one of his Freeper detractors once...

when the guy's wife ran into a similarly fucked situation. The guy had a popular Internet site that bashed Moore, and when he posted about his predicament on his front page, Moore sent him an anonymous helping hand.

As I recall, the guy was every bit the clueless douchebag after the assist as he was before.

[YOY]

5. The prayers...if wishes were horses beggers would ride.

Empty well wishing. I've given positive thoughts to those in need...cos sometimes that's all I can do but prayers really don't do jack.

[NightWatcher]

7. maybe they should attack some liberal church. the liberals are obvious to blame

[EFerrari]

8. Maybe I should offer to help raise some funds for her. n/t

[helderheid]

15. My first thought as well.

[Vinnie From Indy]

18. I agree

[EFerrari]

28. Long time no read, Vinnie.

:hi:

[Vinnie From Indy]

115. Thanks!

Sometimes I need a break from DU. I'm back and ready to rock!

Cheers!

[alfredo]

33. Like we did for Andy.

[EFerrari]

40. Yes, like we did for our sweet Andy.

[alfredo]

63. I don't think they'd try to block the delivery of the funds.

[EFerrari]

67. Or vilify the organizers or try to alarm the hospital or the local social service providers..

This is a small planet.

[alfredo]

89. A small planet with a small mind problem.

[XOKCowboy]

41. How sweet would that be?? DU sends money while their "brothers" send prayers...

Even funnier if the Freeps were so embarrassed that it turned into a contest to see who could raise the most money.

[EFerrari]

46. It would be difficult because while we tend to pitch in to help each other

freeps and their sort tend not to. So, they don't really have the same kind of network we did, for example, for Andy, let alone, the same habit of helping each other out. I mean, we had Thom and Mike and so many people putting out the word for us.

Somehow I don't see Rush or Bill in a like role.

If they set up an account, we could give it a shot, anyway.

[pitohui]

53. no way you don't see the unfairness in this?

how can anyone argue straight faced to send MONEY to these people?

jesus if you are so wealthy that money is burning a hole in your pocket then you can walk out on the street of any city right now and give money away to poor people who are sick and who are in pain who DIDN'T vote to steal our rights and our futures

why give $$$ to evil doers? that is just not right

if you have unlimited wealth, and can give to everyone fine, but a freeper needs to be at the bottom of the list

i could walk out of my house right now and stick money in the hand of a falling-down crackhead and be confident that he never spent one moment voting for */cheney or advocating for the evil war in iraq or the destruction of our unions -- and plenty of people would chew me out for giving $$$ to the crackhead but at least he hurts only himself

freepers are evil, don't give evil people money

[EFerrari]

55. I generally don't answer unfairness with unfairness.

It doesn't seem to work out very well.

Don't blow a gasket, pitohui. Nothing is worth that.

:)

[pitohui]

56. there are uninsured people who are democrats and liberals, did you not know that?

unless you have infinite funds, then it is just not right to talk about giving a freeper's family money when we have plenty of OUR OWN who don't get help

right here in new orleans our charity hospital was destroyed by katrina and has not yet been rebuilt, 3 years later, that's a lot of DEMOCRATS who no longer get any health care

and you folks are seriously talking about giving money and raising funds for a freeper?

i damn well am going to blow a gasket when i see not just injustice, but stupid injustice

if you have money to spare and apparently you do, give it to help people who have helped us in the past and will help us in the future

not to people who will take your $$$ and laugh in your face...it's a wicked waste...let their libertarian buddies give them a hand out

[EFerrari]

58. I've had no health insurance for 15 years.

And of course, you are entitled to blowing a gasket any time you want to.

:)

[pitohui]

64. then don't you think you should be helped before a shithead is helped?

this time of century there is such a thing as triage

every penny given to a freeper is a penny that didn't go to a decent person, think about what i'm saying

three years later and we still have no charity hospital, do i care if a freeper who wants nothing more than for ME and my whole city to die, do i care if instead he dies? nope, i don't -- and i shouldn't in a world where resources are limited

support should be for the good and the harmless not for the evil and those who do harm

[EFerrari]

66. I do hear what you're saying. It may not sound like it, but I do.

And, you know, it's not up to me to decide who gets help or not. It's not up to me to decide who is decent or not.

Mostly, I don't believe that resources are all that limited. A lot of people including me are in bad shape but that doesn't mean there isn't money somewhere. I don't believe there isn't enough money to throw at our problems. The money is there. The will may not be there, but there is always money somewhere.

So, no. I don't believe that I should refrain from trying to help this freeper while I do what a person like me can also do for NOLA. I don't believe anyone needs to get voted off this little island.

You may disagree with me, and that's of course your right.

[XOKCowboy]

70. Didn't mean to start a fire here..

I'm like you though. As a symbolic gesture to show who really has their heart in the right place I could scrape up $10 or $20. I'd do the same for a DU family member who asked.

Also if I give to the Red Cross or United Way I don't put a loyalty test on who the money helps. Same thing here.

[EFerrari]

71. The charity hospital that our fellow DUer wants opened

wouldn't ask for a loyalty oath before admission.

I don't want to start a fire either although, it may be too late.

Sorry, guys. :)

[crickets]

119. After reading the entire thread, I have to say I really admire you

for gently but firmly sticking up for your principles, sfexpat. You and others who have shown such compassion even managed to sway some who disagreed with you at first, perhaps even strongly disagreed. I have to admit I was on the fence a bit - still my heart goes out to people in this situation, regardless of who they are and the mistakes they've made that got them there, whether philosophical or practical or both.

FTR, I don't have health insurance either, partly thanks to a catastrophic illness that I survived. (Long story, etc.) If another comes along, I don't know what I'll do. There are many families out there right now going through situations like this. A change in government policies is what we really need, but in the meantime, "I told you so" doesn't win hearts and minds. Maybe, just maybe, some help and understanding might reach in and take hold where political discussion has not.

I'm a big believer in the Golden Rule. If there's a fund, somebody point me to it. I can kick in my little bit. A little bit here, a little bit there. Every little bit helps.

The charity hospital that our fellow DUer wants opened wouldn't ask for a loyalty oath before admission.

This. Kudos to you.

[emilyg]

95. I've done it for DU members. Count me in.

Any person in need - gets my attention.

[Fran Kubelik]

110. ...

:applause: :pals:

[yardwork]

93. Hell, now I've got to send money to New Orleans too.

I never should have opened this thread.

[demobabe]

79. it would be a symbolic gesture if we did

that's what i could see. out-jesus the jesus freaks. spread love instead of hate.

however, this person didn't say they were denied healthcare, just that the hospital could take their assets. my take is that these people are covered right now - the hospital has cared for the guy - she just wants to see him pull through. i'm sure she will be all right, even if she's in debt for a while. amazing how republicans will rethink their positions when confronted with some major life challenges.

any bill collector makes threats to scare debtors into paying - however they generally just go the way of sending outstanding bills to a collection agency which hounds people into paying whatever they can, whenever they can. those folks won't lose their house - i've never seen a bill collector go after a house, unless it was a bank foreclosure.

i too, would like to see us do more for our own... new orleans was and still is a disaster.

[demgurl]

83. The reason we should help?

Because these are people who have hearts and feelings. We could act like them but that is not who we are. These are people who have folks who love them. Perhaps their children are Democrats and are hurting over this. Perhaps one good deed from the other side will make a difference, maybe even in who they are and what they believe. Maybe they would be swayed and convince others we are the correct way to live.

I have read many posts here and a lot of us have freeper relatives including me. If one of us came on begging for our relatives life would we be denied? Is that really "our" way of responding to things? It is not my way.

[yardwork]

90. That was my initial reaction as well.

I wrote a post about how I'd rather contribute money to Obama's campaign in the hope that it will someday yield better health care for all than give that amount to one person who will no doubt cancel my vote by voting for McCain.

But I felt so lousy, so crummy after writing that post I decided to delete it.

Then I read sfexpat's post - a poster with whom I have exchanged angry words in the past and one who may for all I know still have me on ignore - and I saw a light. For some reason it just seems like the right thing to do. It doesn't seem logical, but there it is.

I'm not a Christian but I try to remember the rebel Jesus's words. Love your enemies. Turn the other cheek. If there is one single Truth that stands out in the history of humankind it is that somehow that really is the strongest and best course.

I'll contribute the same amount to Obama and the freeper's widow. Where do I send my paypal money?

[Iris]

69. except the basis of their whole philsophy is that the private sector should take care of stuff like

this. They should all be chomping at the bit to pitch in on this one. Although, it might conflict with their survival of the fittest meme.

[EFerrari]

74. That was my point. They aren't used to helping each other

and so have no network in the habit of helping each other out.

[hootinholler]

62. The way they helped us with Andy's fundraising?

I'm torn, there's still a vindictive streak in me. I try to rise above it, but it's hard.

Maybe a fundraiser would demonstrate a positive difference in approaches to life.

-Hoot

[EFerrari]

81. Do we walk the walk?

:)

This morning I heard a great lecture on expecting less and investing more. It resonated with me a great deal. But that's the same outlook that got me in trouble with our freep friends in the first place. That's okay.

I'll do this. If some freep emails me (and they have my address) an account where we can contribute to this family, I will do my best for that family.

[hootinholler]

88. That's why we love you Beth. n/t

[Hawkeye-X]

After what they did to Andy?

Hell no, I'm not even giving them a penny. Let them learn the lesson that they inflicted to us.

[yardwork]

91. I'll help you. Where do we start?

[Mojorabbit]

104. That would be lovely

and I would love to contribute if you do.

[jobycom]

9. What do you call a Republican suddenly faced with the reality of our health care system?

A Democrat.

[That Is Quite Enough]

10. Freepers are pretty much hypocritical degenerates.

Sorry for her situation, but still.

[Selatius]

11. Tell them to take their own damn advice: Get high interest loan from bank. Go bankrupt. Foreclose.

That's what the US health care system will drive you to do, and it's why so many have declared bankruptcy, and it is a system the Freepers defend, since they have offered no solution that would be better from what we have now.

[Brewman_Jax]

12. Let them pull themselves up by their freeper bootstraps

geez, what happened to that rugged, freeper individualism? Good freepers don't need gubmint help, like ______ (insert hated group here).

[Brewman_Jax]

103. I'm one of their preferred targets

Bed, made, lie.

[Robbien]

13. There is a disconnect

The Wingnuts have to hate leftie programs, Oxycotin Rush says so. So they do. But they are the first to whine and ask for public help when in trouble.

[nxylas]

24. I deal with it all day

I live in a redder-than-red state and work for a state agency that enforces anti-discrimination laws. Barely a day goes by without someone phoning because they've been terminated from their job and they want us to do something. When I explain that we can't get involved unless they have been discriminated against on the basis of race, sex, age, religion, color, national origin or disability, I get the standard rant about how they should be entitled to government help whatever the reason for their firing. I'll bet 90% of them are Republicans who spend most of their time railing about the gubmint doing too much to help the poor and not enough for hard-working businessmen.

[Deja Q]

75. Well, nobody's perfect.

:(

[Jeanette in FL]

17. Maybe Michael Moore will come to her rescue

I know he paid the medical bills of a guy who's wife had extreme medical bills. The guy had a website that mocked Michael Moore, I believe.

It would be cool.

[ColbertWatcher]

87. I came here to say this.

"Jim Kenefick has had an obsession with Michael Moore for years, even setting up Moorewatch.com, which boasts it's “Watching Michael Moore’s every move”. On his blog he recently wrote about the difficulty he was having paying his wife’s medical bills.

Kenefick then received an email from an anonymous donor asking to pay his premiums of $12,000. He accepted."

--Short News

[kskiska]

19. As they like to say, anyone can get free health care

Just walk into any emergency room.

Every so often one of these people will post something like this - they've lost their job, have health or financial problems - and the others will all pile on telling them they should have prepared for this sort of thing, saved their money, bought insurance, etc. If they haven't, too bad.

[uppityperson]

20. That is too bad. I wish the best for them, hope they can find help. This reply makes me wonder...

"He had a stroke on SUNDAY, and the hospital is already threatening to take your house?'

[demobabe]

47. That's just standard crap that's said to try to motivate people to pay bills

The Hospital isn't going to take anybody's home. The most they'd ever do is to get a judgment against the person who owes the bills and then call them repeatedly to pay any amount.

[Fox Mulder]

21. Maybe they should start voting Democrat from now on.

Then they'll have health insurance.

Why don't they see that? I feel bad for her, I do, but still. The truth hurts, I guess.

[yellowcanine]

22. Huh. Amazing how many say "get a lawyer". I thought lawyers were evil librels. Two favorites:

"And 4th (this is just the devil in me!)Tell the next person who hassles you about money that you are going to the president of the hospital with your complaints. Then flip him/her off behind his/her back...it’ll make you feel better!"


"Move everything you own...money, house, children, pets... everything...into an offshore account. Nobody will be able to touch it.
Do it NOW."



Heh. Freepers are such grownups.

[yardwork]

94. How would they move their children and pets into an offshore account?

Does this person know what an offshore account is?

[yellowcanine]

97. I think this person does not know their A** from a hole in the ground, so no.

[Blue_Tires]

98. well hey; if a house can fit in an offshore account,

surely kids and pets can

[yardwork]

114. I was trying to give them the benefit of the doubt. You could liquidate assets like a house

but I don't think that the kids and pets are going to be worth much on the open market.

[MiniMe]

23. Tell them to pull themselves up by the bootstraps?

Isn't that what the freepers always say that people who are having financial problems should do?

[Bluebear]

25. Notice all the prayers, prayers, prayers, and not one offer of assistance.

And I am betting that only one out of twenty actually said a prayer.

[Ian_rd]

29. Ahh yes, I rememeber Bush's "prayer vigils" for our troops.

As a substitute for body armor and veteran's benefits, prayers are incredibly cost-effective.

[smoogatz]

26. We should take up a collection, of course.

Show them how liberals operate. I'll put up the first $5.

[The Backlash Cometh]

27. They use to say that a conservative is a liberal who was once mugged.

Maybe a liberal is a conservative who once got very sick.

[jberryhill]

30. "90% of them simply offer prayers"

Which is all the OP asked for, btw.

[denverbill]

35. That is all the OP asked for. Prayers for her husband's recovery.

There are dozens of similar prayer requests posted there every week. None of them normally mention lack of insurance or losing a home. Clearly, I think she appreciates all the prayer requests. But the fact that she mentions finances leads me to believe that she would also welcome any advice on actual solutions to her financial problem. I suppose she could post a separate thread asking for prayers that she get $100,000 to pay for his medical care, but prayers for materialistic things aren't always well-received.

[Bluebear]

36. She won't even get prayers. just someone sanctimoniously typing "prayers going up for you!"

I doubt if anybody actually follows up and says the prayer.

[BrklynLiberal]

31. Funny how when a Repuke RW suddenly NEEDs public/govt assistance,

it isn't the curse that they thought it was before.
Amazing how many of these repukes can become "liberals" when THEY are the ones who need the help.

[no limit]

32. Most advice is get a lawyer. Are these people fucking retards?

How much more disconnected from reality could you be? If you can not afford health insurace, your husband is at risk of dying, and they are about to take your home these idiots actually think you could afford a lawyer. This shit makes me sick, it really does.

I hope everything works out for the lady, nobody deserves this.

[wicket]

34. "Are these people fucking retards?"

Well, yeah :P

[demobabe]

44. Seriously

How does one pay for a lawyer if they can't pay their bills? Most lawyers don't do financing plans, especially if they have a chance of not getting paid, themselves.

[Frank Cannon]

108. These people really live in a bizarre fantasy world fueled by bad TV

Where Matlock is waiting at the phone to handle their cases free of charge.

[kestrel91316]

37. Some people might say, "He made his bed. Now he can lie in it."

I'd have to think a while on whether to agree with that. It's tempting.

[RB TexLa]

38. I might wind up in a similar situation, I promised on a thread here that if have a smoking caused

illness I won't file any insurance claims for it because my decision to smoke is affecting other people's insurance rates. I'm a decent person and will uphold my word.

[jberryhill]

85. Ummm...

Insurance premiums factor in the collective risk of the insured pool, including smokers.

All you would do is increase their profit. There would be no benefit to the other insured.

[devilgrrl]

39. Gee, I guess they should have worked harder and lived within their means!

:sarcasm:

[Fuzz]

42. Their lack of empathy for anyone not in their 'group' who is in a

similar situation makes it extremely difficult to empathize with her, but I still do.

What they did to Andy when DU helped him is still fresh.

To them it's always 'someone else', someone not worthy of empathy or assistance, it could never be them because they are loyal citizens of the greatest country that has ever existed on the planet.

[BlueEyedSon]

43. Why does stroke hate America?

Freepers are too stupid an lacking in empathy to participate in a democracy.

[Lex]

45. They have no "abstract thinking" skills. They can't understand it could happen to them.

They only understand when it happens to them. Kind of the thinking skills of a toddler.

[Fuzz]

49. Good grief, a post from that thread:

This is the difference between conservatives and liberals.

Conservatives are offering up heartfelt prayers and sound legal advice and even offering to take up a collection.

Liberals would be arguing about nationalizing healthcare and blaming the “man”.

Good luck to you, patriciamary

101 posted on Thursday, July 31, 2008 4:45:42 PM by Prime Mover

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

60. What a dipshit

It's a board where liberals are not allowed to speak. Never mind that what is said and what is done over there is another issue.

[MadrasT]

50. Prayers

Now there's a concrete, pragmatic plan. Yeah, and let us know how well that works out for you... :eyes:

[kaybea]

51. Someone should help her find those proverbial boot-straps and pull herself up

It's the Republican thing to do. Wouldn't want them to be hyprocrites, since they have no experience with that.:sarcasm:

[pitohui]

52. do as they would do unto you...that is, let them die in poverty

we all have limited resources, there are plenty of decent people here on DU who lack insurance or who have gone for long periods without any medical care for lack of insurance (hell, i happen to be one of them)

when you are in this position you find out what the freepers and the libertarians and the fundies will do for you...which is jack shit...prayers, empty words, are an insult to the intelligence when someone is sick, injured, in pain, maybe dying

they would not give you a penny if they picked it out of a toilet bowl in back of a gas station

i suggest you do the same

we all have limited $$$, and we need to get serious about taking care of ourselves first and taking care of OUR OWN first

we are foolish and irresponsible to dilute our limited resources by giving $$$ to the freepers who have destroyed this country

they made their bed, let them lie, i know too many INNOCENT victims who can't get care -- a slap in all of their faces if people give to a freeper

[Raksha]

106. I'm with you on this one...even if I had money to donate,

I wouldn't do it for a Freeper. I just cannot bring myself to care. The ONLY way they can possibly know what it feels like to be in a bind where they could lose everything is if happens to them personally--and sometimes even then. My compassion and generosity are for my own, NOT for people who sneer at the idea of the common good.

And after what they did to Andy? Forget about it!

[raccoon]

113. Me either. I'll give some food to my local food bank instead.

Freepers would say the people who go to the food bank are moochers, should just "get a job" --probably most already have them, should handle their money better, etc. :puke:

[AlCzervik]

54. i'd kick in a few dollars if they set up a fund.

[Kerrytravelers]

57. People who vote against their own self interest make me sad.

It's just sad.

I have a family member like that. Votes against their own self-interest time and time again. And lets everyone know about it (family, co-workers, etc.) This person worked in health care, as did his wife. She was in a head on accident almost two years ago. Badly injured, she endured several surgeries of skin and muscle graphs. The kicker? No health care. She was put in a ward of the hospital for the uninsured. She was with, in her and her husband's own words "those kind of people." They have taken every bit of government assistance and handouts from the hospital and the family. I can't believe a former non-profit healtch care accountant and a nurse don't have any more sense, but sadly, they don't. They are the embaressment of the family.

I don't feel superior. I don't feel vindictive. It just makes me sad that someone would have so little regard for their own well-being and the well-being of others, that someone would be so wrapped up in ideology that they refuse to see what is obvious to the rest of the country and to many other countries in the world who have health care for their citizens. I can't imagine have that much self-hatred.

[DailyGrind51]

59. Anyone see "Sicko"?

Michael Moore sent an anonymous check for $16,000 to a RW Moore-hating blogger who got sick and didn't have health insurance.

Progressives believe in human decency, even for our ideological enemies.

[whatchamacallit]

61. What to do? How 'bout laugh my ass off at their comeuppance

No, I'm mean but not that mean. I hope her "people" can help her, and that she begins to understand.

[pitohui]

65. let her hit bottom, maybe then she'll "understand" EOM

.

[napi21]

68. For a long time I've said many people think everything is just fine...

UNTILa BIG PROBLEM hits "THEM"! I even admit, I THOUGHT our health insurance was fine and couldn't understand what everyone was complaining about UNTIL I broke my ankle 2 years ago! THEN I found out what that cute little 80%/20% section really meant! We struggled to pay off $2,500 worth of bills but finally did. About 6 months after we managed to pay those bills off, my husband was taken to the ER because they suspected a heart attack. At the time he was arguing with the drs that he couldn't go to the ER because we couldn't afford it! I told him not to worry about it, and thank god, the problem wasn't a heart attack, but of course we ended up with another $1,900 in medical bills.

I know those amounts may no sound like much to many of you, but we really don't have much money, and our annual income is $27,000. It's though to scrape together a spare couple of thou!

I think it's going to take enough people from all parties and every class to be personally touched by some tragedy before there will be enough Americans that start screaming at their congress critters to do something!

[shrike]

72. Unfortunately for this woman, the hospital can, and could, take her house

For those who didn't read the whole post, the hospital is threatening to take her house if they don't pay up. Some of her freeper cohorts think it's an idle threat. It's not.

I don't know how common it is, but I have heard of it happening: one very well publicized case involved a man in NJ, who actually had insurance, but not enough to cover the whole hospital stay. The hospital decided to charge full price for the entire stay, instead of the rate they usually charged the insurer. The insurer refused to pay, of course, so they came after the patient, who had been rendered helpless by a series of strokes.

The story described the legal process by which the hospital was taking his house, his only asset. Don't know the outcome.

[EFerrari]

73. But there has to be a process over time. She may still have time

to protect herself.

[shrike]

77. Yes, of course

I wish her well, actually. I don't want anyone to lose their home, especially to a hospital. And especially a woman with a sick husband and young children. I hope she gets good legal advice.

However, telling her the hospital can't "possibly" take her house is doing her no favors. I hope she won't listen to those comments.

The law is pretty convoluted, but I have been told that if you at least make a good faith effort to pay SOMETHING they may back off. I'm not a lawyer, though.

Knock on wood, I have good health insurance. Never been faced with that situation, though I have been stuck some annoyingly high co-pays.

[EFerrari]

78. Yeah. I'm glad I don't take advice from fr. n/t

[Blue Diadem]

76. I'm just surprised they started already with his just having the stroke on Sunday.

Maybe if he's stable enough she should move him to a county hospital or a hospital that takes charity cases.

[Marr]

82. Call me an asshole, but there's no way in hell I'd help.

There are plenty of people out there for me to donate my time and money to (and I do, thanks). People who haven't spent all their free time trying to punish and blame the poor and less fortunate.

Beyond that, I'm sorry but it must be said; crowds like the one found at Free Republic have more than their fair share of con-men.

[Redstone]

84. I feel sorry for those people. No matter their politics.

Redstone

[librechik]

96. I'm certain they have enough in their Health Savings Account to cover this emergency.

best wishes for a full recovery--including months of expensive rehab, no doubt.

[notadmblnd]

99. Want to organize a DU collection for him? Anyone?

[puerco-bellies]

100. If they named the fund after Andy I'd kick in a couple of bucks.

The quote "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind" comes to mind.

[TankLV]

101. he should suck it up and quit whining...

seriously...

[Dukkha]

102. If they'd rather die, they had better do it and decrease the surplus population.

I say good night to you, gentlemen.
Humbug!

[fed_up_mother]

105. Just went over to read the thread

Really ticked me off. A few people recommended getting in touch with various government programs. Why do they think this woman and her family are entitled to help, but the rest of us aren't?

A bunch of stingy right wing bastards. Well, I hope their prayers help pay her bills. Even though I'm a christian and believe in prayer, I think we can mostly assume that God isn't going to be writing a check for her mortgage every month.

[Vinca]

109. I have as much sympathy for their uninsured status as they have for mine. nt

[varelse]

111. Nice people :/

To: patriciamary; Red Badger
I agree with Badger. I believe there is suppose to be a law that prohibits medical professionals from refusing to provide care to sick or injured.

You might even find something on the hospital website (and look for the Board of Directors or whatever Board they have in the medical profession). They need to know this if that is NOT their policy.

And another 2 cents: if our tax dollars are used for providing health care for illegals and loafers then they should use it to help you and your husband. Please contact not only a lawyer but your state agency to find out how to get help.

Prayers up for you and husband.



154 posted on Friday, August 01, 2008 5:22:39 AM by beachn4fun (I am not Pro-War; I am Pro-Freedom)
< Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies>

[sentelle]

112. "i will put you in my prayers"

When they say this what do they mean? Is it a prayer like: "I pray that PatrioticMoran sees the error of asking for handouts and just gets a job"?

[warren pease]

116. They need to concentrate on finding a faith-based solution...

...since only gawd will rescue them from the corporate vampires who run the American medical system, a failed and corrupt system that triages by bank accounts so that the rich tend to recover while the poor tend to die young.

Of course, this is the exact type of free market "solution" that their hate radio heroes have taught them to embrace. These gullible simpletons are also taught that the far less expensive, medically superior alternatives practiced in every other industrialized country are "socialist," which in today's context-free America is the equivalent of accusing somebody of intentionally spreading the HIV virus.

As a result, even though polls continue to show that about 86 percent of Americans hate the current scam and support some form of single-payer, universal-access system, there are enough of these half-wits around to keep electing the same corporate tools to congress. The ones who can be counted on to subvert or kill all attempts to get rid of the current shameful profit-based scheme and replace it with a health care system that actually concerns itself with patients and medical professionals rather than shareholder return, armies of micro-managing pests, claims deniers, real estate investments and obscene executive salaries.

Fine. If they're so fond of this privatized, for-profit scam of a medical system, great. But I think it's only right that they get to experience it, first hand, at its most merciless and lethal.

Giving money to help any of these demented reactionaries and astoundingly stupid pricks would feel the same as giving money to the RNC or the McCorpse campaign or the GW Bush legal defense fund. I'd rather eat light bulbs than give a single penny to any of these evolutionary mistakes.

Consider that these bastards have been among the loudest cheerleaders and apologists for every single crime against humanity the Bushies have committed for the past 7.5 years. And they're still at it, despite mountains of evidence proving that the entire regime is guilty of so many high crimes -- serious violations of both US and international law -- that convicting them on only two or three counts would still put them behind bars for life and a day.

If that's not bad enough, they -- along with legions of identical brain-dead, slack-jawed clones who infest this country and spread their Ozzie and Harriet culture, their religious insanity and their medieval cosmology far and wide -- are responsible for electing every single lying, bought-off GOPer or blue dog in congress. And they'll vote for them again this year because they actually like the wingnut garbage these corrupt bastards stand for. They should have discovered by now that shooting yourself in the foot isn't covered by most private insurance plans, but they're uniquely slow learners.

Sorry, but too many other organizations supporting causes far more deserving than this one are hitting me up for money I don't have. I'll give as much as I can to Kucinich's reelection campaign fund -- and to numerous other causes I believe in -- before I'm going to waste my money on some asshole who thinks Bush is a fine man, wrongfully accused, and that Kucinich is just a low-rent opportunist kicking our dear dictator while he's down.


wp

[EFerrari]

117. I stepped away from this thread because a lot of people disagree with me

and because I don't want to stir up sh!t. No freeper has emailed me although I know they have the offer in hand. fyi

[pengillian101]

118. sfexpat2000,

You are just too kind :-)