Gotta Go

[GreenMachine]

I have to sell my Sky. Medical bills $49K--no insurance. Love my Sky so much. I think I'll buy another one once I work out financial issues. I am also looking at the Nissan GT-R. Almost 3 times the money, but it seems like a great car.Thanks to all of you for your info and support.I know I'll cry when I have to let the Sky go. It was so much fun. Thanks again
Tom

[SkyBaby]

Tom.... Sorry to hear that... but I totally understand.... I dont have medical insurance either... and medicare dont pay for all of my meds.... my shots a month are over 5k. Dont be a stranger.... Please dont leave the forum all together.... Best of Luck.. and if its meant to be.. you will have one again. SkyBaby

[BigSkyCountry]

I realize that I will get flamed for this and probably rightly so, but how does one afford to buy a Sky but yet can't swing medical insurance?

[doc-o-pharm]

Originally Posted by BigSkyCountry

I realize that I will get flamed for this and probably rightly so, but how does one afford to buy a Sky but yet can't swing medical insurance?

Many answers I suppose, but might be like me...I left a job with bennies for a 1099 job. I haven't yet arranged for insurance. Stupid I know, but....


Anyway, you know you can make payments/set up a payment plan for those expenses right? For less than $100/mo and you could keep the Sky. Sorry to hear about your situation though.

[OneSky]

Originally Posted by BigSkyCountry

I realize that I will get flamed for this and probably rightly so, but how does one afford to buy a Sky but yet can't swing medical insurance?

Some may not qualify for insurance or the insurance policy may be extremely high because of their existing health conditions. Unfortunately it may not be their choice.

[cfjara]

somethings wrong with a country that can throw you in jail for driving a car without auto insurance but could care less if individuals have health insurance....

[Gerry]

Auto insurance is a condition of the privilege to drive. Health insurance is a matter of rolling the dice and you don't need it as a condition to stay alive (or to receive health care). In other words, no one will come to your house and kill you because you don't have health insurance.

If you don't have health insurance, you can waltz into the emergency room any time you want. They must treat you (or transport you to another hospital) regardless of your ability to pay. This doesn't apply to elective medicine, like a boob job. This should be posted throughout every hospital you ever go to. It's not a secret.

Now if you have the means or the potential to pay, they'll come after you, but if you are collection proof, then it's on the people's dime. So you roll the dice. If you don't get sick, then you save a lot of money. But if you do get sick...

[cfjara]

Originally Posted by Gerry

Auto insurance is a condition of the privilege to drive. Health insurance is a matter of rolling the dice and you don't need it as a condition to stay alive (or to receive health care). In other words, no one will come to your house and kill you because you don't have health insurance.

If you don't have health insurance, you can waltz into the emergency room any time you want. They must treat you (or transport you to another hospital) regardless of your ability to pay. This doesn't apply to elective medicine, like a boob job. This should be posted throughout every hospital you ever go to. It's not a secret.

Now if you have the means or the potential to pay, they'll come after you, but if you are collection proof, then it's on the people's dime. So you roll the dice. If you don't get sick, then you save a lot of money. But if you do get sick...

you speak as if health insurance is purely a matter of choice. I agree driving is a privilege...and you have options when it comes to commuting. If i wasn't lucky enough to work for a company with good health insurance benefits...I could not afford to pay $1400 a month to insure my family. What options would I have if i were to get laid off , change jobs to one without benefits....or decide to start my own small business in which case I'd likely not have an insurance plan because of the small size of my business? Yes i could roll the dice....but this shouldn't be the case.

Yes we can go into any emergency room and get service...but this doesn't mean we won't get a bill in the mail and collections threats if we can't pay it.

A lot of us , including myself, are blessed to have great insurance benefits through our companies....and we still complain when we are paying $200 a month.

My whole point is health care in this country is out of control. There is no market competition and prices are ridiculous. How many of us know how much it costs to get a cavity filled? Do we even care if insurance covers it??
Maybe if we start makings decisions based on more knowledge we'd be able to drive the $1400 prices tag down and help all americans....

ok i'm stepping down from the podium now.... thanks for listening. T

[pastohio]

someone told me once that IF you only bought catastropic insurance that would cover a major problem and paid for you doctor visits out of pocket, this type coverage isn't too much each month BUT everyone today wants a $50 deductible even for their teeth and IF you had to pay your doctor directly, a lot of doctors will work out a lower rate than you may think...just my $.02

[Gerry]

Originally Posted by pastohio

...a lot of doctors will work out a lower rate than you may think...just my $.02

Indeed they will. Many cash prices are about 50 percent of the insurance or other pay plans. Doctors are in the medical business to be care providers. When they have to become administrators (or hire people to be administrators) and debt collectors, it's going to cost more. So paying cash reduces their overhead costs and they pass that along to you.