Supreme Court Healthcare Ruling

[jon71]

Getting back towards the original topic, what happens to people who are wounded in an incident such as happened in Aurora, CO last night, especially those who may not have medical insurance and do have major medical problems to deal with. For all we know there may be people who were as seriously wounded as Gabby Giffords but don't have the benefits that our politicians do as far as medical care.

Some of the wounded (barring benefitting from charity) will go deep in debt to pay medical bills. Medical bills are the number one reason for bankruptcy in America today.

[Sanslines]

Some of the wounded (barring benefitting from charity) will go deep in debt to pay medical bills. Medical bills are the number one reason for bankruptcy in America today.

Why even bother to fight the battles to pay them? It all depends on how much the bill is, but hospitals will do this: if you have no insurance and offer to pay the entire bill at once the hospital may give the person a 10 percent discount. If the person does not pay the bill then eventually the uncolected bad debt is sold for pennies on the dollar to a debt colection agency that makes huge amounts of money by badgering a person until they pay the bill. Why the hospitals never offer to settle with the injured for anything less then 10 percent is amazing given that they will ultimately accept pennies on the dollar. Do what one senior does around here.......she throws all of her bills away and claims alzeheimers.

[Kouak]

Why even bother to fight the battles to pay them? It all depends on how much the bill is, but hospitals will do this: if you have no insurance and offer to pay the entire bill at once the hospital may give the person a 10 percent discount. If the person does not pay the bill then eventually the uncolected bad debt is sold for pennies on the dollar to a debt colection agency that makes huge amounts of money by badgering a person until they pay the bill. Why the hospitals never offer to settle with the injured for anything less then 10 percent is amazing given that they will ultimately accept pennies on the dollar. Do what one senior does around here.......she throws all of her bills away and claims alzeheimers.

And interestingly, the very same hospitals will settle for receiving 40% less due to the negotiated discounts with insurance companies. Funny how 40% less is OK when an insurance company pays but not when dealing with a single patient who pays cash.

This is the very same reasoning and strategy that caused the creation of unions. Single voices are not that loud.

[Sanslines]

And interestingly, the very same hospitals will settle for receiving 40% less due to the negotiated discounts with insurance companies. Funny how 40% less is OK when an insurance company pays but not when dealing with a single patient who pays cash.

This is the very same reasoning and strategy that caused the creation of unions. Single voices are not that loud.

Massive and collective alzeheimer's is the answer.

[BinCo]

As a Canadian, it blows my mind that health care is such an issue for Americans. You will find most Canadians don't understand the issue...... As for the people in Colorado, I imagine that there are people who would say the victims should have planned ahead for such an event by saving up, etc.....

Most of the victims were under 30, being a midnight movie I would say it's safe to assume most of the audience (therefore injured) are also under 30. How much money did any of the anti-healthcare haters have when they were 25? How many of them had jobs even offering insurance?

Of note, my wife and I used to live in Aurora and remember when they built that theater. We saw many movies in it but moved an hour away so we don't go back to Aurora anymore.

The NEWS channels are reporting of many places to help donate to the victims. Money, blood, etc.

[Illinois59]

Most of the victims were under 30, being a midnight movie I would say it's safe to assume most of the audience (therefore injured) are also under 30. How much money did any of the anti-healthcare haters have when they were 25? How many of them had jobs even offering insurance?

Of note, my wife and I used to live in Aurora and remember when they built that theater. We saw many movies in it but moved an hour away so we don't go back to Aurora anymore.

The NEWS channels are reporting of many places to help donate to the victims. Money, blood, etc.

It is good that funds are being set up to help victims but you never seem to hear how victims of such violence fare in the long run. No doubt that some victims will have serious and long term issues to deal with long after the story is out of the headlines.

[Yogi Bare]

you never seem to hear how victims of such violence fare in the long run. No doubt that some victims will have serious and long term issues to deal with long after the story is out of the headlines.

That's pretty much true unless a victim is someone well-known, such as Gabby Giffords. It's like the other victims just aren't as important, for some strange reason.

[Sanslines]

That's pretty much true unless a victim is someone well-known, such as Gabby Giffords. It's like the other victims just aren't as important, for some strange reason.

Can someone explain why the media goes on and on about the Aurora incident and yet thousands of people are killed each year in this country who are never eulogized by the media?

[Kouak]

That's pretty much true unless a victim is someone well-known, such as Gabby Giffords. It's like the other victims just aren't as important, for some strange reason.

Can someone explain why the media goes on and on about the Aurora incident and yet thousands of people are killed each year in this country who are never eulogized by the media?

Yes. Media exists to make money. If the story is boring, they will either drop it or look very hard to find a new, more exciting story. They want readers.

[nimrod]

Can someone explain why the media goes on and on about the Aurora incident and yet thousands of people are killed each year in this country who are never eulogized by the media?

[sarcasm]The liberal media wants us all to believe that these things happen because of lack of gun control.[/sarcasm]

Seriously, it is probably because bigger is better for viewership or brings in more readers. Usually when I hear about a murder there is something "sensational" to it like there is a young kid that died, racism is claimed to be involved, charges of police brutality, or incidents like Aurora are attached to the story.