How do you survive without health insurence in this country?

Question

I always wonder how do 46 million people leave in this country without health insurence. I know if you go to hospital they will treat you without insurence but don't you have to pay later on? what happens if you can not pay? do you have to declare bankruptcy? Thanks.

Answer 1

Well, it is simple....folks that dont have insurance can get samples from their doctors.
And if they have a hospital bill, as long as they pay one dollar a month, they will be ok. but if they miss that one dollar a month,the doctors will get a warrant in debt on them.
Most folks use home rememdies that dont have health
insurance, they take more vitamins and eat healing foods.

Answer 2

I don't have health insurance, but I've been really, really lucky so far. I've only gone to the doctor once since I got my current job about 3 years ago, and I went to an UrgiCare - the cost was kind of high, about $150, but it was affordable for me. My car insurance covers any medical costs I may accrue in case of a car accident, and that is my priority concern, as I drive 40 miles to work each day, and 40 miles back - on notoriously dangerous roads. I am finally at a point where I can afford to purchase my own health insurance, but it is so expensive! I'm set up to start my insurance on 9/1, so you can bet I'll be visiting the doc as soon as possible. I haven't had a check up with a doctor for more than 10 years. Medical insurance is a great need that has to be addressed in this country. I think hospitals are required to treat you whether or not you have insurance, but you'll probably be paying the rest of your life.

Answer 3

You don't survive. You run up your bills, bankrupt then when you think you have paid off the bankruptcy your youngest son gets cancer. Not just any cancer but brain cancer. Ganglioglioma. Very rare. Wow, you did manage to get insurance though but wait. The insurance, Assurnet, tells you he's not covered because it's considered pre-existing condition.

Ok, now what......Childrens Hospital in New Orleans takes you and Ronald McDonald House puts you up. None of them want any money. Charity's come forward and help with phone cards and gas. Your son gets his operation then a freaking Hurricane Named Katrina comes to town. All your help and doctors leave. Fema rushes in. Help the helpless they say. Wait, isn't my kid helpless? No, he's white.

Well the waters subside and you get your son out of the hospital but where are all the doctors? They left. Where is the help? Gone too. Where is the city? Destroyed.

It's been almost a year and as you type this you are glad that somehow your son managed to recover. Now everyone is back in New Orleans. Do you know what they want from you? MONEY? Guess what? You don't have any. You can't bankrupt again and you can't get a job because you are now yourself an emotional wreck and your job was destroyed.

You love America but it's hopless. Everyday you get closer to eating that bullet.

You don't survive America.

I don't think I will.

Answer 4

I have been w/out health insurance for about 6 years now, ever since I left college and was off of my parent's insurance. I work as a nanny and most nannies are not offered insurance. It does worry me some. I don't do dangerous things. Luckily I have not needed hospitalization or had a major problems. When I get sick I don't have the luxury of going to a doctor right away. There have been a few times I've needed antibiotics and have had to pay over $150 out of pocket in order to go to the Doctor, have them test me, and pay for the meds. But its less expensive than paying for insurance. Hopefully someday I will have insurance when my boyfriend and I get married - I can be on his insurance. Until then I just pray my luck holds out!

Answer 5

Hospitals will bill you, but if you can't pay, you can't pay. SOme people do have to file bankruptcy. I used to work for a hospital and people could apply for charity...which is sort of like a bankruptcy, but just for that medical debt. It relieves people of the bill. There were a bunch of requirements, though so it's not like everyone could go that route. I didn't work in that dept so i don't know what the requirements are. They can't refuse medical treatment, though so these people just go to the ER and try not to get sick I guess.

Answer 6

There are many ways & means to survive without insurance. Not all of them are.....no, I don't think I can go into this with any objectivity. I work in health care & have done medical billing in times past....and that shades my perspective tonight.

The easy answer is that you need to check with your local government listings and ask the county court for information on this topic. There are programs in place if you meet certain criteria & the government will help pay for any services rendered, just as every tax-payer does with part of their taxed income.

Answer 7

Most people get insurance through their jobs. Many other people get government help which pays for your medical. If not, you set up a payment plan with the billing office that sent you the bill. As long as you are making an effort they can't send it to collection. If you can't pay that, it ruins your credit for many years. Now a days they even have practically free insurance through the government for people who don't quite qualify for government aid. It's getting better.

Answer 8

Yeah, it sucks. I just recently had to pay full price to get a tooth pulled. That hurt! They will treat you in a hospital. but you'll later on get a nice big bill. If you can't pay they'll probably send your case to a collections agency.
Yeah, here in Oregon there's a program called the Oregon Health plan. But you have to pretty much be home-less or with child to qualify for it.
Yeah, it's hard to get any kind of assistance nowadays.

Answer 9

The perfect book for you that is easy to read and has all the information you need about saving money in healthcare is called "Healthcare for Less" by Michelle Katz....she was just on NECN the other day and spoke of a situation where she was in a car accident herself and needed back surgery and had no insurance at the time....she negotiated with doctors, found programs offered by her state and got out of everything with NO debt!!!!!! You can find out more by going onto www.healthcareforless.us and click on "Buy a Book"...it takes you right to the Amazon order page....or you can just order it from your local Barnes and Noble, Borders etc. It was even helpful to me and I have health insurance and saved a ton of money!!!!! I am recommending it to everyone and highly recommend getting it!

Answer 10

without health insurance, life is kind of hard and miserable. see i don't have health insurance like millions of other people in this country. this country should be ashamed to have the bulk of people with no health insurance. insurance should be more affordable. life is hard without health insurance, you'll be swimming in hospital bills and doctor bills. i just don't pay them, i leave it up to the government, because they're the ones who left me without health insurance.