Originally posted by jibeho
reply to post by MacDonagh
We have Medicare and Medicaid and hospitals that are designated as public and do not deny service to anyone. The taxpayers already bare the burden
for these people that treat the ER like a family doctor. These current systems are certainly broken and full of corruption. However, Barry's plan
to rush his plan through without any thought is outrageous. It will still be the same old system only it will get fatter and more corrupt.
My wife and I pay through the nose for the best insurance coverage that we can afford through our employer and in return we have gotten the best care
when we have needed it the most. When you add in the govt. and all of the red tape associated with it you will achieve failure.
Many years ago I was vacationing in Oahu and took a nasty tumble off of a moped during a blinding rain storm while riding along the road in a rural
and remote part of the Island.
A passerby who happened to be a male nurse stopped to pick me up off the side of the road and immediately recognized I would need some stitches.
He offered to take me to a hospital and asked if I had insurance or a preference as to which hospital. I said no I don’t have insurance but I have
cash and would prefer the best hospital. He replied that would be the Kaiser Permanente which if you aren’t a member of Kaiser’s Managed Health
Care Program all they would accept is a Kaiser Card or Cash.
Since I had cash he took me there and dropped me off. It was a Saturday afternoon during midget football season so I don’t have to tell you how
crowded that ER was with broken arms and legs and abrasions not to mention the usual runny noses and little old ladies who had taken falls that
day.
I mentally prepared myself for a wait that I surmised would be hours since mine were non-critical injuries and checked myself in at the admissions
desk. The smiling nurse said do you have your Kaiser Card and I said “No I have Cash” and pulled out a thick wad of tourist dollars to display to
her. “Oh” she smiled and took my information and even before I could find a place to sit in the crowded waiting room I heard my name being called.
I figured the intake nurse forgot to ask something…she did alright…”how fast is it we can separate you from your money!” they were ready to
see me that quick, ushered me right in had me stitched up and a fresh tetanus shot, paid and out the door I kid you not 25 minutes and $445.00 cash
dollars later.
There were a lot of much worse injured people who had yet to be seen in that waiting room, some of them were there for hours before I arrived and
still waiting to be seen Kaiser Managed Health Cards in hand.
Cash is king though in a capitalist society and even the doctor quipped and laughed about how and why I was getting such quick treatment.
That is institutionalized one price pays all managed health care, hurry up and wait, try not to bleed all over the place, an orderly has to clean that
up and your membership fees and dues might go up as a result.
That’s what Obama wants to give America…thanks, I will pass…point me to the cashier please.
