Quote:
Originally Posted by luckypenny
Correct me if I'm wrong. If you didn't have a credit card, you'd just be left on the street to die  ? |
LP, if it's life/death, they have to treat you enough to make you stable, but that's all. You would then be transferred to a community hospital. If you have a job and means to pay by, they will bill you. If you are low-income, most hopsitals have a charity dept. (forget exactly what ot's called now, it's been yrs!). The problem is this... if you make even a hair over what they consider low income, you are on your own. Sure, they stabilize you, but then they attach your wages, freeze your bank accounts etc. As I said beofre, my sister and her hubby actually had to file bankruptcy twice due to medical bills. They live in a small town, my sister has a bachelors in criminal justice/psych and was working for $8.50 an hour as a teacher in a group home. Her husband makes a little more than she does, but he does back breaking labor for it. With 3 kids and just life in general, you can't afford $600 a month for insurance, which is what it would cost them. Luckily they didn't lose their house, it's in my dads name and will stay that way for now.