Crazy medical bills.

[heartofmine]

I'm sure this is a vent many have heard before but medical bills are ridiculous. I don't have insurance and can't get it because of so many pre-existing health issues. I lost my insurance 6 months after I had cancer surgery. Without insurance its ridiculous when you have to go to the doctor or hospital. Tuesday I got really sick. I was in severe pain and vomiting (sorry about tmi). I was almost screaming in pain so my dd calls my doctor and he says get her to the ER. Well I go in and they hooked up an IV and run blood tests and xrays. Before the results were even in a woman came in and demanded $200.00 be paid right then because I didn't have insurance. I had t write her a check. She said I'd be billed for the rest of it. So much for the stimulous. 3 months ago I had a fall and was sent there for an xray and I had to pay it before they would even do it. I don't know how they can get away with that. It makes me mad that I'm treated like that and others are sitting there on their backsides getting it all for free. GRRRRRRRR

I am trying to get my disability but I've been turned down twice. The reason they say I'm having trouble getting it is because I have worked before. How crazy is that. I've went to all their doctors and done exactly what they said. Even their doctors say yes you have all of this wrong with you. I'm waiting on a hearing and have been for several months. If I don't get it I don't know what I'm going to do. My health is getting worse and not better. I'm not being treated for a lot of what is wrong with me because I can't afford the doctors or the medicines. It just really stinks.

[Michelle68]

I'm so sorry you are having such a difficult time getting treated. I agree, our insurance system really sucks. I wish there was something more I could do to help you. Do you have a county medical system nearby which might treat you without payment up front and put you on a payment plan?

--Michelle

[heartofmine]

Thank you Michelle. We do have a health department and I have used them but they can't help me for the major issues. I wouldn't have gone at all to the ER this time but I was in serious pain. The doctor said he thought I had a bug but it was complicated by a stomach condition I have which caused the pain to be so severe. I've had gallstones and kidney stones and the pain was almost as bad. He gave me a shot and something for the sick stomach. I can't take phenogrin so he gave me another prescription. Thankfully they had it in generic or it would have cost me over $500.00 for 15 pills. The pain shot never completely dulled the pain and within an hour it was back full force. He wanted to put me in the hospital but I told him I didn't have insurance so he sent me home. I just came home and curled up in the bed and waited it out. It pain finally subsided late that night and then I quit throwing up about 1:00 the next morning. I still don't feel well and I'm not eating much at all. I just don't want it. I feel some better tonight.

[jamie79]

sending good thoughts

[Michelle68]

I believe (and I may be wrong because I haven't worked in a hospital for many years) that if your condition worsens and if you go to the ER, they must treat you (putting you in the hospital, if necessary) without regard to whether you have insurance or not. Please make sure that you take care of yourself. Try to drink an adequate amount of fluid so you don't get dehydrated. Stick to light foods such as crackers, broth, jello, etc. until you can keep more down. I hope you start feeling better soon.


--Michelle

[Palooka]

That is seriously crazy if she asked you for 200 bucks on demand like that!

Our system needs a big change. Just go back to the ER if it gets worse.(health first and worry about bills later)

Good luck and I hope it all works out for you.

[fernykins]

Here if you go to county they have to treat you even put you in the hospital. It doesn't matter if you don't have insurance. I think its terrible that some states do not take care of the sick. I hope you start feeling better
Fern