When Sick Become Expensive In USA
Sunday, August 31st, 2008
Months ago, i walk in a layer of ice that not melt for three days. And this can be quite dangerous. As proven later on.
When crossing the parking lot, there’s a scream for help. Two meter from where i stand, block by the car, a women sit while holding her leg. I ask, “what’s wrong mam?” It obvious that she just slip on the ice. I hold her knee, it seems there is a fracture bone.
This definitely trouble. I offer to call an ambulance. But the strange things is, there’s doubt on her face. I don’t understand this. But, i call the ambulance anyway, that came 5 minutes later with an police officer. 3 paramedic lift her up to the ambulance and took her to hospital. I still does not understand why she look that way.
I finally understand what is the problem when a friend of mine told that he must pay $700 for ambulance service. As an international student, he already have an health insurance coverage. I wonder, if you already have a health insurance have to pay that much, what happen if you don’t?
Brother’s over than 50 billions American citizen live without health insurance, and they can go bankrupt anytime if go to the hospital. Sometimes they choose to die rather that go to the hospital. The hospital medical cost are the number one bankruptcy factor in the USA.
Surprise?
United States are the only develop country that don’t have an universal health care for their entire people. Medical cost in the USA extremely expensive, and the only way to avoid bankruptcy was buying health insurance coverage that in reality not cheap. But, having a health insurance not guarantee people to have a proper medication treatment. Although they already paying the deductible, with so many excuses insurance company can reject to fund our medical treatment that we suppose to get!
Recently, Cigna healthcare refuse to pay liver transplant surgery to an American girl, Nataline Sarkisyan (17th). This make the public go wild and make a demonstration on Cigna Office. Five minutes after the demonstration, Cigna change their decision in a hurry. To late. At 5.50 PM December, 20 2007, Nataline died only few hours after Cigna decide to cover the surgery cost.
Maybe this sound strange. Insurance run by private company that profit oriented, and America hand over this health issue to them! Unbelivable!
So, for now? I would be very careful walking on layer of ice if i were your…
