if someone and their family was sick would they be treated at an emergency hospital for free?

Question

I have heard that this happens. How can this be?

Answer 1

Not really- nothing in life is free.
If someone came to the ER with an injury or illness, the ER staff is obligated to provide emergency care regardless of ability to pay. In return they get the opportunity to purchase some of their drugs under a special program called 340B for a lower cost than if the drugs were going to a paying customer.
BUT- the overhead costs of the visit and treatment are still there.
Consider- the hospital is paying the doctor, the nurses, the secretary who is faxing orders, the janitor who is mopping the blood and puke, the security team that makes sure no one gets hurt by crazy patients, the lab staff and all the equipment and test stuff, telemetry staff and equipment, CT and MRI staff, the administration (running the hospital, doing the billing, negotiating for these government programs...)- all of these costs are part of the ER visit cost. The patient WILL get sent a bill and be asked how he/she is going to pay it off AND be expected to pay it. It WILL go on the credit record if payment is not made.
And in the meantime, the hospital goes deeper into debt.
SO- because they are made to provide care even to patients not paying for it, they ask for financial help. Money left over unspent in the state and federal budgets CAN, and sometimes will, be allocated to the "free care pool" where it gets doled out based on how many dollars were spent on indigent care. Some years, the government gives them back 60 cents on the dollar, some years ten cents. Some years- like recently-nothing.
Who really pays? YOU do and I do- because this provision of care drives the costs up for the rest of us. They have to charge us more to make up for not getting money from x percent of their patients.
The problem is when people don't see doctors regularly and let poor health spiral out of control, and then use the ER for regular or "urgent"(not emergency but too severe to wait very long) care. That is what really drives costs up.
The government has Medicare and Medicaid to help people who qualify, and it's in the hospital's best interest to sign qualifying people up so they can be reimbursed.
Now do you understand why some people are so angry about illegal immigrants? They use these resources SOMETIMES, and society thinks they drain them.
BUT- a true civilization is one that cares for its indigent, and it is a hallmark of our society to not deny care to someone in true need. If you were in an accident and brought to a hospital and had no ID or insurance cards on you, wouldn't you feel better knowing the hospital will fix you up first and ask about insurance later?

Answer 2

Oh it definately happens and way more often than you think. Emergency rooms cannot turn down people regardless if they dont plan on paying. Catholic hospitals will not make an uninsured person pay wheras a different hospital may try and get them to pay after the visit. This is why hispanics and such always flock to the catholic hospitals to have their kids. This is why our health care system is in the toilet. People think stuff, including medical care is free, and those of us who have insurance have to essentially pay for the uninsured in our insurance premiums and health care costs. Basically nothing is free in life. If patient X gets free health care b/c they cant afford it, patient Y (who has insurance) pays more to offset the cost of the uninsured person. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

In 99% of the cases they are required by law to give treatment. You will however receive a bill and then be asked to prove "financial need" based on a few things and then the billing office will work with you on payment. So to answer your question, no, they do not do it for free.

Answer 4

im not to sure that this happens so im gonna say no except maybe for like special occasions but i dont know what those would b

Answer 5

pro bono work