Replies

Trauma care can cost upwards to $100,000.

Yes, it can. But why? What are you paying for? I had massive shoulder surgery when I lived in Seattle. The total bill was only $30k.

And the main problem is that they are “forced” to treat me. They shouldn’t be.

I’m reminded of a small town that privatized the fire department. People could pay a small fee per year or they could opt out, in which case a fire at their house would not be responded to.

So, one day a guy who didn’t pay saw his house catch on fire. The fire department responded, proceeded to water down his neighbor’s (who did pay) homes and watched his house burn to the ground. He asked how they could do such a thing. They said that if they put out his fire, why would anybody pay?

It needs to come to that. You don’t pay, you don’t get the service - and please stop bleeding all over our nice clean tile floor. I’m ok with that. At least it’s MY choice then. And then maybe I’d make a different choice because it would be a LOT cheaper.

Trauma can involve post hospitalization inpatient rehab. Massive shoulder sugery is not trauma.Trauma is femur fracture, head injury, spinal trauma, etc. Trauma is a injury that affects 2 or more body systems.

The problem is, a lot of people think the waythat you do until they get an expensive diagnosis, like cancer. Then, all of a sudden, they cry big baby tears, and want the hospital to find a solution to their problem.

It is bad enough that hospitals are now the “social net” for societies ills. I remember working in the 1980s. We discharged patients to the streets, we felt that patients were responsible for their own situation post discharge.

Now, hospitals have to find housing for their patients, arrange transportation and interpreters, assist in post hospital financial planning for patients, be a cop to prevent them from getting admitted to the hospital in 30 days.. I even had a patient ask me to call his landlord to complain about lice in his rental. I basically told him that the lice in his apartment was not the landlords responsibility, but his.He had to clean and do laundry to get rid of them. The patient looked upset, and thought someone else had to do his work for him.

So, when I hear someone say they do not have health insurance by choice, I also do not want those people crying big baby tears to me. Be responsible for your decision. Be willing to lose your home if you have a catastrophic illness. No one else should have to pay for it.