i just spent the morning on the phone consoling a friend. She had a college friend

[madmom]

that she kept in touch with all these years and that friend just died. The reason she died is because she had no medical insurance and couldn't afford to see a doctor. She had what she thought was a bladder infection (she got them frequently)she decided to wait a little longer and she would then go to the ER. Well it turns out it wasn't a bladder infection, she had a kidney disease and she waited too long.:cry:

Have I ever said how much I hate insurance companies?:grr: :mad:

[zazen]

1. +1 for the right-wing agenda

I guess they aren't intentionally killing people, but I think they'd don't mind if those who are poor go ahead and die and thereby "decrease the surplus population," as Uncle Ebenezer would say.

Very sorry for your friend.

[PassingFair]

2. The new reality.

And people VOTED for them.

[RKP5637]

7. The one who told it like it is, and they were outraged. I really really can't stand these

repressive regressive republicans. They are throwbacks.

[dflprincess]

21. Don't forget every single Democrat who refused to even discuss single payer

they are as much to blame as any Republican.

The Democrats had a majority but rather than controlling the message and taking the case for real reform to the people they were content to pass the Health Insurance Profit Protection Act.

The insurance companies may whine about Obama's version of Romney Care but they're planning on cleaing up big time with this scam.

[RKP5637]

23. Agree!!! n/t

[Arkansas Granny]

25. The insurance companies were whining to cover up the sound of their giggling anticipation

of the premiums they'll be collecting from all those new customers.

[Enthusiast]

29. We will either have cost effective

single payer or we will have a convoluted mess of a high profit health care system that includes massive medicare fraud by care providers (Scott) perpetrated on the American tax payer.

[roguevalley]

13. I have to help my sister and her RN niece write an appeal letter

to her insurance company because they DENIED HER PROSTHETIC LEG!!! The fuckers. FUCK THEM! The insurance says when there is a change and a new leg is needed she gets it. They said no. FUCK THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Darth_Kitten]

3. That's terrible.

I'm so sorry.

[madmax]

4. No words. k&r

[Overseas]

5. Sad K&R. //nt

[hedgehog]

6. The odds are, the untreated bladder infection caused the kidney disease!

[MedicalAdmin]

9. I asked our med director about this...

She told me that something else was going on there and it was unlikely that the symptoms of the lesser problem lead to the larger problem, but that the symptoms of both were indicative of other issues.

Prevention is key and it is NOT practiced in the US for te most part.

This is tragic and sad. Please pass on my sympathies and outrage. Voting has consequences.

[RKP5637]

8. I'm saddened to hear this happened. Things like this are what MSM should be

covering, but not in la la land. Insurance companies are the scum of the land.

[ejpoeta]

15. no, we are the BEST healthcare system in the world!! that is the only story they want told.

how many of the people on extreme home makeover were living in a hovel because they now couldn't afford to fix the house because someone was sick. uggh.

[RKP5637]

18. USA, #1 in everything. The lies spread in this country by TPTB are really whoopers. n/t

[The Doctor.]

10. One day, I'd like to live in a civilized country.

So sorry for your friend. I wish the rancid pukes that fight against universal care would get a clue and realize it costs far more NOT to care for everyone.

[RKP5637]

19. "One day, I'd like to live in a civilized country." I've been wanting that for decades and

it seems to just get worse. People are way too dumbed down. Maybe people are waking up more now with the WI stuff going on. If people would collectively wake up we could make a huge difference. Too many people are still too trusting and willfully stupid.

[spanone]

11. just had a conversation with my sister who hasn't seen a doctor in many years

no insurance....people without insurance don't go to doctors....it's out of their financial reach...it's the ultimate death panel

[MiniMe]

12. I'm uninsured, and unemployed. I had a heart attack on Christmas Day

I really didn't know that was what it was, symptoms are different in a woman. So being uninsured, I went to the urgent care center. They sent me to the hospital by ambulance, wouldn't let my friend just drive me. They took care of me, I even got a stent in an artery. Spent 4 days in intensive care. They never even handed me a bill while I was in the hospital. When I got home, the bill came by mail. I now owe $20,000 to the hospital and various doctors. Almost had another heart attack when I opened the mail. So I am still unemployed, and have a huge bill to pay. They will get it $5 at a time. They really treated me well while I was in the hospital, I just don't have the $$ right now.

I hate being uninsured.

[ejpoeta]

16. our hospital had financial assistance. i didn't know that until i was looking on their website

to find something else. they wiped out my daughter's bill because she had no insurance but wouldn't help me with mine because i had insurance. $300 is what I owe them. Maybe you should call them and see if they have anything like that there.... or check their website.

[ejpoeta]

14. chances are if she went to a doctor they would have treated her for a bladder infection.

treat em and street em. I am sorry but that is the truth. My dad was in and out of the hospital for two or more years and they never did any in depth testing even though he had a history of hodgkins, melanoma..... by the time they caught it it was ravaging his whole body and there was nothing they could do. he was dead in less than two weeks. and he HAD insurance. they said it was really fast moving so fast that it was in his liver and lungs and everywhere so much they couldn't tell where it came from. i tend to not believe that. He had been having problems for two years at least!!

But we need a for profit system..... if you don't have money or power then you are SOL!

[Chris_Texas]

17. Many of us are in the same boat

To all of you who, like me, have nothing but hope to fall back on...

Good luck.

[proud patriot]

20. FUCK

:-( I'm sorry

[madmax]

22. This nightmare could happen to anyone.

Could happen to my Granddaughter. Works 2 jobs = 66 hours a week, no insurance or benefits of any kind. She has several medical issues, most recntly a kidney stone which was handled - one visit in the ER and she suffered for a week until it passed. No follow up, nothing further until something happens.

I'm very sorry for you and your friend. These things should not happen in America. Shame on America.

[Safetykitten]

24. But we are winning the political game in HCR. That's real double-plus good news!

What a horrifying place this nation has become.

[mmonk]

26. Sad. I know that was rough.

[CTyankee]

27. A horrible and totally unnecessary loss!

I was saddened to learn last year that my auto mechanic who has been our mechanic for 15 years lost his wife due to not finding her cancer in time (couldn't afford individual medical insurance). She was only in her 50s. Their son, who is also a mechanic in his dad's garage, used to spout the Republican line but has seen what happened to his mom, and who now has a little kid and depends on the state's Husky program for her health care. He's now in favor of universal health care (surprise, surprise). Plus, he pushing 30 and never finished his Electrical Engineering degree (that was supposedly going to make him rich) because he had to work in the garage all the time just to have enough $$ to live and support his child. Middle class dreams and people's lives are slipping away, one family member or friend at a time.

What a sad, sad loss...my most sincere condolences to her...

[mdmc]

28. I work full time, fully insured, cannot afford medical treatment

affordable care act my ass..