I don't know if it's true or not, but I heard that you will get no treatment in an american hospital if you don't have insurance or money to pay them.
If that is right, what about the hioppcratic oath? Isn't that for american doctors like for any others?
I am from a country where medical treatment is granted by the goverment. Is it realy true what I heard? How does the american health system work?
2006-12-28 08:35:30 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Other - Health
the hippocratic oath is to do no harm unto others...and what youheard is true in some cases but if you can't afford it at most hospitals you have some sort of systems helping you out..you do get some medical benefits and the government pays for what you can't if you don't have insurance or any way to pay them..i hope it makes sense...it's kinda like how in america they will not tax you if you make less than a certain amount of money...hope this helped.
2006-12-28 08:44:25 · answer #1 · answered by lylitalianbeauty 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It does NOT work in the states...AT ALL.
"those of us with insurance pay for those without" is blatant bull. If you don't have insurance in America you're looking at going into SERIOUS debt for any medical treatment beyond that of something REMARKABLY simple.
There's a LOT of reasons for this, really, the largest of which is that the pharmaceutical corporations have a larger stake in the American health care system than anyone else. They produce the products that doctors use and charge OUTRAGEOUS prices for them. Then, on top of that, the Pharmacy that sells you the drugs cranks up the price even more... (gotta make their profit, you know)...
In America the health care industry isn't all about helping people and saving lives, it's about making money.
Illegal or not, there are still many clinics nation-wide that will not treat you if they find out that you can't pay your bill by the end of your visit. God FORBID you go to an independent practitioner... the amount of money you're going to have to fork over without insurance will be asinine.
Wherever you live, asker, sounds like they've got their heads screwed on A LOT better when it comes to health care providing than the U.S.
2006-12-28 08:48:13 · answer #2 · answered by Ramsanator 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's true, to a certain extent. An American Hospital is bound by law to treat you for a bonafide emergency......whether you have insurance or can pay for the treatment or not. By emergency, this is defined by a danger to life, limb or eye. If you don't have an emergency, then they'll probably ship you to a "charity" hospital, where you'll get the treatment you need.....after a lengthy wait. As I understand, doctors here in the US take the oath also. Now whether they abide in that oath is another thing.
2006-12-28 09:01:41 · answer #3 · answered by cajunrescuemedic 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes it is true we do have a oath here that doctors take, but very seldom abide by. i cant understand this i have no insurance and have been treated so bad by doctors and dentists in this country, It is all about money for them. and I feel it is so wrong. however they may have in your state a sliding scale system like here where I live. the state is suppose to help with this if you do not have insurance. sliding scale is based on your income. ask the hospital in your area or you can call social services or welfare office in your state good luck I know how you feel if I can help more email me. i am in the same boat as you
2006-12-28 08:43:01 · answer #4 · answered by mystical s 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
health care in america is very expensive, because americans tend to be very demanding, always wanting the most expensive diagnostic tests (like MRIs and other high-tech x-rays) and demanding expensive drugs, and furthermore not expecting to pay a dime for any of it. the government tries to cover some of the expenses thru various programs like medicare and medicaid, but essentially it's up to various third parties to cover the costs. the hospitals and doctors do in fact accept part of the costs when they take care of uninsured patients. so to answer part of your question, no, doctors and hospitals will NOT refuse to treat you if you have no insurance or are unable to pay for their services. there are federal laws against that. however, like i said, health care is very expensive in the US so almost all providers will take steps to ensure that they are going to be paid appropriately. that means as soon as you walk into a hospital, they are going to ask you financial information and get your insurance information. but if a homeless person walked into the ER without any money on him, the hospital would still be obligated to care for him. keep in mind that no other business in the US has that sort of obligation, to take care of non-paying customers and essentially lose money doing so.
2006-12-28 09:15:13 · answer #5 · answered by belfus 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Totally untrue. In fact, it is illegal for a hospital to deny service to someone based on their ability to pay.
What happens is that those of us with insurance end up paying for those without insurance, through higher taxes and higher insurance premiums.
Many times, the doctor just doesn't get paid at all. But we still have the "opportunity" to get sued.
I know, I'm the doctor.
2006-12-28 08:41:00 · answer #6 · answered by Pangolin 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The truth is the Hippocratic oath is so that you promise to help and not hurt others. I don't think it says you have to do it for free.
2006-12-28 08:40:09 · answer #7 · answered by Jessica M 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you have a medical emergency and are taken to an ER, you cannot be turned away due to lack of funds. Period.
And I agree with Dr. Pangolin. We, all of us, still have the "opportunity" to be sued. That's why she and I have malpractice insurance.
2006-12-28 08:42:49 · answer #8 · answered by TweetyBird 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋