Most Driven Into Debt by Medical Bills HAVE Health Insurance

→ Washington’s Blog

Most driven into debt and bankruptcy by medical bills have health insurance. For example, Reader's Digest notes:

Between 2000 and 2003, seven in ten adults who were driven into debt by medical expenses had insurance at the time.

Similarly, as of 2009:

More than 2.2 million California adults report having medical debt, and two-thirds
of those incurred the debt while insured, according to the authors of
"The State of Health Insurance in California (SHIC)," a comprehensive
new report from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.

And as the Washington Post pointed out last year:

Sixty-two percent of all bankruptcies filed in 2007 were linked to medical expenses, according to a nationwide study released today
by the American Journal of Medicine. That's nearly 20 percentage
points higher than that pool of respondents reported were connected to
medical costs in 2001.

Of those who filed for bankruptcy in 2007, nearly 80 percent had health insurance.

Why is this happening?

Above
and beyond the fact that health insurers nickel and dime everyone by
trying to exclude necessary medical care from coverage (you've heard the
horror stories), there are two additional reasons:

(1) People think that
they are covered, and so authorize more health care than they would if
they knew in advance that they would have to pay for it out of their own
pocket;

and

(2) People are underinsured, and can't afford to buy an adequate level of insurance for their needs.

As
an interesting historical sidenote, the Nixon administration helped to
launch the whole HMO concept. Specifically, as Michael Moore told Democracy Now last month:

[My
researcher] found this Watergate tape—has nothing to do with
Watergate, it’s one of the Nixon tapes—at the Archives, National
Archives, where Nixon and Ehrlichman are discussing whether or not to
support this HMO concept. And Ehrlichman says to Nixon, "You’re going to
love this, because this is private enterprise. This isn’t like some
freebie thing." Nixon goes, "Oh, I like that. Tell me about it." And
then Ehrlichman says, "Well, this is how it’s going to work, these
HMOs. They’re going to make more money by providing less care. The
less care they give them, the patients, the more money the company
makes." Nixon goes, "Ooh, not bad!" And it’s all there on tape.

In
the same interview, former top Cigna health insurance executive Wendell
Potter confirmed to Democracy Now, "I do know that tape".

Note: The effect of the new health care bill on this issue is beyond the scope of this essay.

Comments

[aerojet]

One blatant act I very much resent is that my dentist always tries to upsell me into some product he is hawking lately.  One time it was electric toothbrushes, the next time it was flouride strips, and on and on.  It's fucking annoying that you can't trust a medical professional to look out for your best interests and not let those slick talking salesmen take over their business.  It's sickening how bad it has  become.

[DavidPierre]

Now... whatever U'alls does down theres don't be looking just a little north of the 49th for maybe some answers to the Heath Insure problems.

Why ... CanuckleHeads can not does nothing right ... besides ... such like them is just a bunch of dirty and malcontented Socialist-Commies and other assorts crazies.  Whys... well over 50,000 young ameriklan's best and brightest youths went and still be draft dodging and hiding like cowards in their's peacefully retirements up in the Rockies, ands other such like places in the snowy wastelands all these 40 years later after TheNam.

Besides which you might have to wait a few long and anxiousfully hours to get into a ER to gets a stitch up or something yous needs for free.

And...most of all don't be listening to that Michael Moore fella...why he just no nothing of import... and  he be a SICKo !

.................................................................

Tommy Douglas, Canada's father of medicare... {Over 50 years ago}

http://archives.cbc.ca/health/health_care_system/clips/419/

[Salinger]

I guess it's so good in Canada that those who need brain surgery head on down to that medical mecca of the USA,.... Buffalo

Suffering headaches, vomiting and imbalance, Suresh Kapur was diagnosed with bleeding on the brain when he showed up at a Toronto-area hospital, then given an “urgent” follow-up appointment with a neurosurgeon — three days later.

The retired professional engineer decided to seek out a second opinion in Buffalo, N.Y

http://www.nationalpost.com/Ontario+told+surgery/3978054/story.html

[Lord Koos]

The Canadians who can afford it, that is.

[snowball777]

How many head to Canada for their scrips?

[EvlTheCat]

To answer your question just ask the Canadian Medical Association:

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) says Canada's health care system is failing to meet the needs of Canadians and is in urgent need of reform. According to a report titled "Health Care Transformation in Canada: Change that Works, Care that Lasts" that was just released by the CMA, Canada's health care is in serious trouble. The report states that Canadians are not receiving the value they deserve from the health care system, ranking last in 30 countries surveyed in terms of value for money spent.

The Canadian Medical Association says Canadians are "increasingly concerned about the lack of timely access to see their family physician,the long wait times for diagnostic testing, a widespread lack of access to specialists and specialized treatment and the compromised quality of care in overburdened emergency rooms." The report states that the biggest factor in long wait times for health care is the lack of physicians as Canada's physician supply relative to the population is far below average.

and the coup de grace

Prescription drugs represent the second largest category in health care expenditures but only 50 percent of drug treatments costs are covered by health care. According to the CMA, the situation is "catastrophic."

http://www.cma.ca/cma-paper-hct

[DavidPierre]

Mr/Ms. Pussy:

Canadian Medical Association?...Let us see! 

 An organisation that'll be mostly extra-specialist doctors, and obscenely-over-payed-type admins and bureaucrats,  and medical/pharma salesmen/lobbyists that roam and bribe in the political aisles and lobbying back alleys of the matrix of health care.

You be smoken Tampa Gold !

Best you return to...

www.TheMoronPlatform.com

{How dat for a coup de grace?}

[EvlTheCat]

Sticks and stones David.  Like I said you are incapable of having an adult conversation.  I placed facts before you, and what I expect in return are more facts refuting those facts.  I was beginning to question what kind of people they breed up there in Canada but then I remembered, you originate from the U.S..  So I do apologize to Canada for thinking such a slanderous thought.

Have a nice day David and tell your compound hello from me!

[DavidPierre]

Now we talkin!

U'all drop TheDP a email and I be hooking yous up with some of that most flameous and worldwide wanted BCBud.

Now... I attests to life prelonging, miracle medical cures, and healthy organismic qualities of our local homegrowed  organic scrips.

Money back guaranteed if not completely cured of what ails yous body or soul with in a few deep tokes!

[Payment via GoldMoney only.]

[DavidPierre]

 J D:

I living in dire fear and seems in urgent need of that much better, Buffalo's brain suregory! 

Please!... Fourwards that fine hospititle adress to myselve a.s.a.p. ...cause my suffering headachers be increasing in direct poorpotion to my time reading sum people heres on ZH.

[nmewn]

"Please!... Fourwards that fine hospititle adress to myselve a.s.a.p. ...cause my suffering headachers be increasing in direct poorpotion to my time reading sum people heres on ZH."

LOL...well David...you asked for it.

"ST. JOHN’S, N.L. -- Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams will undergo heart surgery later this week in the United States.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

“In consultation with his own doctors, he’s decided to go that route.”

Mr. Williams’ decision to leave Canada for the surgery has raised eyebrows over his apparent shunning of Canada’s health-care system.

“It was never an option offered to him to have this procedure done in this province,” said Ms. Dunderdale, refusing to answer whether the procedure could be done elsewhere in Canada.

Mr. Williams, 59, has said nothing of his health in the media.

“The premier has made a commitment that once he’s through this procedure and he’s well enough, he’s going to talk about the whole process and share as much detail with you as he’s comfortable to do at that time,” she said.

Read more: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2510700#ixzz18EViJBsU Has the "premier" made any comment David? It was in February of this year ;-)

[DavidPierre]

Mr. nmewn:

For your info and enlightenments.

Lots of Danny's mostest famous heartfelt interviews and rants.

http://www.cbc.ca/arts/media/blogs/popculture/2010/11/danny-williams----as-seen-on-this-hour-has-22-minutes.html

[nmewn]

Mr.Pierre,

Another world leader who prefers his medical treatment "south" of the 49th. parallel...this world leader apparently chose a hospital named after a Christian religion &...gasp...a Jew...ROTFL...for his choice of surgery.

Out of all the other places in the world...including his own country like your 49th. parallel "premier"...he chose the US. 

"Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah is causing his own diplomatic drama at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, where the 86 year-old monarch has commandeered an entire wing as he recovers from back surgery on the VIP floor."

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/saudi_king_takes_york_the_entire_EypM45miPSYGs0Hd90LfVO#ixzz18EoNCkld

For your further info and enlightenment of course ;-)

[DavidPierre]

Mr. nmewn:

Well... ain't really no debate here.  I total agree .

For the mega-rich, (Danny Williams being one), of this old world; the USSA provides the bestest and most prompt and helpful services their's filthy money can buy...

Both Politicians and Doctors! 

Now for them that ain't not so much rich....well... other stories are at play.

[nmewn]

Mr.Pierre,

"For the mega-rich, (Danny Williams being one), of this old world; the USSA provides the bestest and most prompt and helpful services their's filthy money can buy..."

Well everyone get's promptly treated here regardless of income. 

As a matter of fact we have people literally dying to come here for our services, witness our southern border which our federal government refuses to seal. They are quite generous with our tax dollars you see ;-)

On your herbal theme;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyPYM5uUViI

Take care.

[covert]

so, where are the big profits at? sad that proper health maintence might always be unaffordable to most.

http://covert2.wordpress.com