How many people use the ER as their doctor because they can't afford a private doctor.?

Question

What do you do when you earn too much to be on welfare and don't want to be on welfare and not enough to afford medical insurance?

Answer 1

Tons of people use my ER as their family doctor. Like someone above said, it's really not smart, because the ER will end up costing you MUCH more than seeing a PCP would.

Also, the ER does not have as many resources as a primary care doc, and can only do limited studies. So you are jeopardizing your own health by using them as your doc.

For a third reason, the ER is for emergencies, and problems that can be taken care of at the office are not emergencies. It's taking time and resources away from people who really need emergency care.

Nevertheless, like I said at the beginning, a ton of people use the ER I work in as a family doctor. It's frustrating.

Answer 2

The ER is the most expensive place you can go for care. I think the real issue is that you can leave the ER without paying for the visit at time of service, and you can't do that in a doctor's office or walk-in clinic, which are usually privately owned.

I recommend that you find a community-based health clinic. They may be able to charge you for care based on your ability to pay.

Answer 3

If you cannot afford a private doctor you sure are not going to be able to afford an ER bill because not only do you get a bill from the doctor you will also get a bill from the hospital itself. If you have to have lab work done or an x-ray there will also be extra charges for those.

You are better off going to a family doctor and working out a payment plan for your non-emergent issues it will be vastly cheaper. If you truely have an emergency condition and/or need, by all means, please seek help from an ER.

Answer 4

Here in Canada we have a lot of people using the ER, not because of insurance, in Ontario everybody has OHIP but we have a shortage of doctors and I know quite a few, who's doctor retired and now they are stuck. its either a walk-in clinic for them and after hours they have to go to the ER which usually has a waiting period of hours, as they take the priority cases first. But then a lot of people abuse it, they do have a doctor but don't want to take time off work and then Saturday nights they sit around the ER.

Answer 5

You do what I just did and go to a private doctor and pay out of pocket. he wants me to check something with a blood test, but I will have to decline. Just going to get my prescription refilled, (mandatory office visit), and that particular blood test is a $100.00 proposition.
Nobody uses the ER unless it is an absolute emergency without insurance! It is hundreds, just to be seen in there.

Answer 6

Theemergency room should charge according to your income and has a program that perhaps you can apply for to assist you. In the event of an emergency according to the government they cannot refuse to see you. Then again you can try some charity hospitals or clinics that scale you according to your income as well.

Answer 7

See if there is clinic for low income families in your area. They often have very good Dr's and the same care that you would recieve at a regular Dr's office. They can tailor the bills to your income to allow you to visit when necessary and often do charity work.

Answer 8

" Theemergency room should charge according to your income and has a program that perhaps you can apply for to assist you"

is everyone determined to make this a communist country or what? what is so wrong if someone makes more money than you?

off topic i know, but it seems there are a ton of posts where people say things like this, there is such a hatred for rich people its crazy, if i ever make money someday -enough to be considered rich- i want to be able to keep at least some of it for myself, it is a free country,why should a service cost different people different amounts? same service it should be the same price

Answer 9

We have a plan that is discount health benefits.
We pay a monthly fee of $59.95 that covers our whole household and we get up to 80% off. It includes vision, chiropractic, prescription, and dental. There are no limits or deductibles. Maybe it would work for you. I will have to go look up the details so email me if you would like me to.

Answer 10

Here in Houston, our ER's are filled with lots of illegals, that don't have any intention of paying for their medical care. It's also filled with people with sick kids, and they didn't want to take time off of work during the day to go to the doctor. Or people like my mother in law, who don't want to wait 2 days for a non-urgent appointment, and want to be seen RIGHT THEN. And think that throwing a temper tantrum in the waiting room will move you to the front of the line.