[Wolfie]

What we NEED is a law that says if you don’t have insurance and cannot otherwise pay, no healthcare provider (doctor, hospital, etc.) is obligated to treat you.

[Aria]

There are decent people who can’t get insurance despite having the ability and desire to pay for the insurance. What would you have them do?

[DLfromthedesert]

What we need is more choices in insurance. A 22 YO healthy male does not need maternity coverage; probably a high deductible catastrophic/major medical would work for such a person. But it is not available in one-size-fits-all Obamacare.... I don’t know what Newt has in mind.

[Let_It_Be_So]

What we NEED is a law that says if you don’t have insurance and cannot otherwise pay, no healthcare provider (doctor, hospital, etc.) is obligated to treat you.

 

While I think I understand where this is coming from, it presents some problems for me depending on what you mean with the phrase "and cannot otherwise pay".

 

Take the hypothetical situation of an automobile wreck.  One of the passengers, a 3-year old child, is critically injured and is taken to the hospital emergency room for trauma treatment.  I don't like the thought of the medical personnel delaying life-saving treatment arguing whether the patient can pay for the treatment.

 

Now, after the child's life has been saved the question comes up as to who should pay for the treatment.  In this hypothetical case, the parent says he was recently laid off from the plant and has no insurance at the moment.  He nevertheless should be held liable for the cost of treatment, even if it means he pays $25 per month for 10 years...and more if/when he secures gainful employment again.  In other words, he should pay what he can pay, even if it is a "token" amount.

[terycarl]

What we NEED is a law that says if you don’t have insurance and cannot otherwise pay, no healthcare provider (doctor, hospital, etc.) is obligated to treat you.

Not going to happen, far too many liberal "feelers" out there. County hospitals and their staffs are required by law to attend to those who seek help. What would you do with the "homeless " person who slips and breaks a leg??? Because health care is not a right, no doctor, except one paid by the government, can be required to treat you. In an emergency, tornado etc, they all come forward and give treatment where necessary.....however, routine health care should remain up to the individual.

[napscoordinator]

What we NEED is a law that says if you don’t have insurance and cannot otherwise pay, no healthcare provider (doctor, hospital, etc.) is obligated to treat you.

I kinda agree with this. At the very least they should have their visa card ready for payment or loan papers so the hospital or tax payers are not on the hook for it.

[DoughtyOne]

You and I agree on a lot of things, and this too ultimately. What I’m NOT willing to do is address any circumstances our citizens must face, until we get the issue of foreign nationals addressed.

Our national leaders must be on the crack pipe, to continue going at us from behind on the issues concerning immigration, and I’m damned tired of it.