Tim asked:
If you don’t have medical insurance and you are—for example— involved in a serious car accident and require extensive, major surgery, what happens?
Surely, a Doctor under Hippocratic Oath cannot refuse treatment. Yet, what if the individual clearly has no money or insurance and the treatment costs many thousands of dollars to save his or her life.
I’m just curious (I don’t live in America obviously).
Thanks.
If someone is involved in a serious automobile accident – the police are summoned – and someone with a cell-phone will call 911 to have an ambulance come and pick up injured people.
When we had the Train accident in Chatsworth last year – everybody who was injured went to the hospital – All were treated, no matter whether they had insurance or money or whatever. No one is turned away for lack of money. They get sent a bill, and if they can’t pay, they tell their story to someone on the local newspaper or the story gets on the tellie – and we send money to the listed bank accounts for victims, because we are fair and generous society.
Everyone gets treated in an emergency.
Not everyone receives treatment for known, chronic illnesses.
You get treatment, and then you get a bill. Hospitals are required to treat people with a life threatening emergency, or deliver women in active labor.
85% of people in the USA DO have health insurance. Half of the rest, are here ILLEGALLY. Yes, they still get treated. Yes, they end up stiffing the doctors and hospitals for the bills, most of the time.