In January 2001, I went to the emergency room with severe abdominal pain (that I'd been "dealing with", off and on for 3-4 months). The result? Emergency surgery, 10 days in the hospital, and medical bills totaling almost $90,000. Then, being unable to work for three months. Bills had to go unpaid. Credit damaged.
Eleven months ago, my wife went to the emergency room with chest pain (which she had been "dealing with", for a year or so.) Result? Emergency (triple) by-pass surgery, two weeks in the hospital, over $300,000 in medical bills and 12 weeks of recuperation, unable to work.
We were just getting back on track, when at the end of October, she suffered a near fatal heart attack, while at work. Result? hospitalized for 10 days, a defib device implanted, and an additional $175,000 in bills. Job lost, credit ruined.
How are we handling all this? We get up every day and we do the best we can. I still have my wife. We still have our home. We are able to meet most of our " necessities". There's nothing left over. In time, we may be able to repair our credit and pay the doctors, who saved my wife's life.
Do I wish things were different? Of course I do. We live in a city (El Paso) where thousands access our medical facilities with no intention of ever paying a dime. At least my wife and I pay into the "system" and have for years.
We know there are thousands, or millions, who are worse off than we are. It just needs to be pointed out, not all people who don't pay their medical bills are freeloading deadbeats. Some simply cannot.
Regards
I think that is very difficult --- all along the border you see them come over --- many times not to work but just for the health care --- and they are not expected to pay a dime but yet a middle class American taxpayers who have always paid in --- even to a very costly county hospital --- will not get even a discount.