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No, that's what happens when people don't have health insurance. They go to the ER because they can't be turned away there. They give false information or just skip out on the bill. It's not just illegals either. Regular citizens (albeit dishonest or perhaps just desperate enough to become dishonest ones) see illegals getting treated that way so they do it too. If they had health insurance they could go to their regular doctor.Quote:
Originally Posted by janelle
My DH was a reservist for 22 years. He went to 2 wars ('91 and '03). He retired from the reserves 4 years ago. In return he gets base access in the states and commissary privileges (which aren't what they used to be. AAFES discovered they can charge roughly the same as WalMart.) He gets no insurance unless he's on active duty until he's 63. He gets no retirement pay until then either. The military really screws over reservists. We wouldn't even have base access at all here and our kids couldn't go to DodDs schools unless DH's employer (Air Force contractor on base) allowed it.Quote:
Originally Posted by whatever
DH was an enlisted reservist. He has several degrees but stayed enlisted because he has a bad back and knees and couldn't have done the runs necessary to become an officer. He was a reservist for 22 years. He went to Iraq from March '03 until May '04 as military. Because of various reasons from financial pressures to difficulty acclimating back to normal life (the VA offered no help and told him to try to get some rest when he went in complaining of night terrors.) he decided to go back to the ME as a contractor. A few of his friends who were in his unit had done that and they reported that it helped their mental state to be back in sort of that environment but with more civilization. It helped them create a bridge into normal life again.Quote:
Originally Posted by pepperpot
In Jan '06 he left to go to Kuwait as a contractor. He came back in July '07. Because of the work he did there (IT) he was able to get a lot of new certifications and was able to change his career from construction management to IT. Having him in Kuwait for 1 1/2 years was hard but at least I knew he was safe there. TBH, things were starting to go downhill for us between the time he got home from Iraq and when he went to Kuwait. He was a mess and it was ruining our relationship. Even the kids noticed that he was always sad and moody. After he came home from Kuwait things were back to normal again. He got his head together over there and the transition back was much easier.
He worked a regular job in AZ after that but really enjoyed the contract work. Dealing with the military environment is his comfort zone now. When this job (contract) in Germany came up he was thrilled. Even better is one of his best friends from Kuwait is here too.
Of course, since all seemed to be perfect we had to have the rug pulled out. *sigh* After DH got here he was told that the 2 year contract was extended to 5 years. He wasn't obligated for that long. It just meant he had a guaranteed job for at least 5 years if he wanted. That was great news. About a month ago the AF decided to change things. DH and 4 other contractors in his office were told that their jobs are going to be changed to GS positions early next year. DH and the other 4 actually had to apply for their own jobs and they may not get them. We should find out next month. There is a bridge contract in place so their work will continue until the GS position takes over. Except there is one less job in the bridge contract than there are guys already working here. DH is the new guy.
Needless to say, we're incredibly stressed out right now. If all goes well DH will get his own job under a GS position and will go to work one day as a contractor for his company and the next day as a GS employee for the government with no other major changes. Worst case scenario is DH won't get his own job, won't get the bridge contract, and there won't be any other position to transfer him to. In that case we'd end up kicked off base, our kids would be kicked out of school and wouldn't even be able to attend boy/cub scouts since they are on base, and we'd be unemployed in a foreign country where we don't speak the language. We wouldn't be able to go back to our home in AZ as that's rented out on a 2 year lease. Even if we could, with no income we couldn't afford to move our entire household back. We could very well be seriously screwed. DH is a nervous wreck and frankly I'm scared out of my mind. If you (anyone) could spare any prayers +++ vibes or happy thoughts we'd really appreciate it.
Oh Buddy, you get all of that and more from me, sending out as much good energy as I can find http://bestsmileys.com/hugging/1.gifQuote:
We could very well be seriously screwed. DH is a nervous wreck and frankly I'm scared out of my mind. If you (anyone) could spare any prayers +++ vibes or happy thoughts we'd really appreciate it.
OMG Bahet. You got all the prayers I can send up. Big Guy is going to get tired of listening to me again.
Bahet, That is terrible news. You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.
I hope it works out, I'm sure it will...but it is scary with everything up in the air.
Bahet I am sooo sorry and I pray everything works out. It normally does in the end but it sure is a long road to get there. HUGs!!!
It doesn't matter what you think. I think Krogers charges to much for their hamburger but if I want it, I have to pay the $2.99 a pound, not a $1.50 a pound. Why should my neighbor have to pay more to cover the other $1.50 I didn't have to pay. Thats what happens when people get their bills reduced.Quote:
Originally Posted by gmyers
Why is it ok for you or Janelle to get "free/reduced" medical treatment but not millions of others that are uninsured? You all can't have it both ways. You can't think free medical care is only ok for you and yours and to hell with anyone else. Just because you make a phone call and asked to get it for free doesn't make it any better then the one that doesn't call but yet doesn't pay their bill.
What always peeved me was seeing what the medical facility bills the insurance company....and what the insurance company will pay and accept only from them.
In other words....the Med Facility bills $400, the insurance pays $125 and the facility just writes off the rest. But...had that been billed to a non-insured person, they'd be liable for the entire $400. Not fair. The non-insured should be able to give $125 just like the insurance company.
There should be no adjustment in prices....everyone pays the same for the same services. That would be fair. Why should insurances automatically get discounts? :shrug
That always peeves me off too. Back last winter, my hubby had a procedure done to place a pain gadget in his back. He was in the hospital a whole 5 hours.Quote:
Originally Posted by pepperpot
We get the papers from our insurance company. The bill had started out over $85,000 dollars, the insurance company got a break but still paid well over $50,000. Oh and then, we got to pay the hospital an additional $1,500.
Bahet I really do wish you the very best.
Nightrider I notice that every time we have had a hospital bill that the write off for insurance is very large. Usually it is due to some contract between the medical facility and the insurance company.