Question:
Some areas are in worse shape than others. Here are some statistics from a Detroit tv news web site published today: About 21 percent of Detroit residents have no insurance coverage. Medicaid, a public health plan for the poor that doesn’t fully pay treatment costs to doctors and hospitals, covers another 31.5 percent. http://www.clickondetroit.com/health/2360820/detail.html That would be 52.5% of people in Detroit who are uninsured or underinsured. I’d say that’s extremely high. It has created a huge health care crisis in Detroit as each of the three hospitals in Detroit are providing $100 million in free care annually. Denise – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > "Overall, 14.1 percent of the population — some 38.9 million Americans > of all ages — was without health insurance coverage in the first half > of 2001" – US Department of Health & Human Services > http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2002pres/20020204.html > Define "high percentage" as you will. 38.9 million Americans without > coverage seems like a lot, even if it’s only 14%. > -rev > ^ Here in the U.S. a very high percentage of > the population does not have medical insurance > incorrect statement
Response:
Hi, had a look at the site, it made interesting reading. Despite what some say about the NHS, I’m glad we have it! Mel 
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> If you’re interested Mel, here’s a good site talking about the uninsured > in the US: http://coveringtheuninsured.org > Hospitals legally can’t deny medical aid to someone who requires it. If > the person is uninsured, the get the full bill for the hospital visit. > Often, they can’t pay it and they don’t. Normally the hospitals just > give up on the bill. If the person doesn’t have enough money to pay for > it, going through the legal process of trying to claim the bill is just > a waste of time and money. > So, the hospital ends up paying for it. Which means they must raise > prices to compensate for it. So, those people who can pay end up > compensating for those who can’t. The US Federal Government (and many > state governments) also do some level of subsidies to help out hospitals > in areas that have a high number of patients who come in unable to pay. > -rev > Thanks mgbio 
> so do they still get treated and the hospital somehow has to try and get the > money back? Surely they wouldn’t let someone die because they have no > insurance? > Mel
Response:
Mel, Hospitals must treat anyone who comes to the ER. However, if you are uninsured, instead of of someone else paying a lower, negotiated, price, you pay the full price and then some. Usually this "then some" helps to offset the reductions given to the insured folks (IMHO). Plus, the cost of being treated for basic medical care that should take place in a physician’s office skyrockets. Hospitals do give out charity care, but you must qualify; not all the uninsured do. If you are middle class, own a home or other assets, you could end up loosing them if you seek needed medical care in a hospital room. The system stinks and needs change, hard, expensive, but better for all Americans. mgbio – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Thanks mgbio > so do they still get treated and the hospital somehow has to try and get the > money back? Surely they wouldn’t let someone die because they have no > insurance? > Mel > Opps, hit send by accident, here is what I meant to say, in full > I don’t know where you are getting your numbers, but here are a few > things I came across in a quick search: > http://www.statesman.com/metrostate/content/auto/epaper/editions/toda… > In Texas it is estimated that 38% of Hispanics do not have health > insurance. > http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/discussion00-14.pdf > A 2000 report shows that 15.4% of the nonelderly population have no > insurance. Of that 15.4% 23.7% are among adults age 18-34, which means > either our college students or young workforce. > http://www.motherjones.com/commentary/columns/2003/30/we_482_01.html > The article states that over 41 million Americans have no health > insurance. (I’m not concerned right now w/ placing the blame, which the > article discusses at length.) > http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/parenting/07/17/american.children.ap/ > A recent CNN article about discussing child health states that 88% of > children have health insurance. This means that 18% don’t. > http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=16466 > Discusses how the uninsured in IL are paying 50-70% MORE for health care > than those who are insured. Those who can afford it the least are > paying the most. The article goes on to say: "The full rates uninsured > people end up paying are usually vastly inflated from the actual cost of > providing service. For the past 20 years health care bills have risen > at twice the inflation rate. In 1993 the U.S. General Accounting Office > reported that 99 percent of hospital bills have overcharges, which can > include "phantom charges" for services that weren’t actually given, > markups, duplicate billings and charges for unnecessarily long hospital > stays or unneeded services." > The article later states that of these uninsured: "..in Illinois 28.9 > percent of Latinos and 22.8 percent of African-Americans are uninsured, > compared to 11 percent of whites." > Furthermore, > http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/gate/archive/2003/07/… > discusses that the cost of these uninsured, who go to ER’s for basic > health care and those inflated costs are born us, the taxpayers. (And > believe me, I have seen it and had to wait as an emergency patient > behind this mis-use of resources.) > I don’t know about you, but I find these statistics appalling. > mgbio > > ^ Here in the U.S. a very high percentage of > > the population does not have medical insurance > > incorrect statement
Response:
I’m not surprised! I live in Houston and I know lots of people without health insurance…I’m very fortunate to have excellent health insurance…many physicians are dropping the HMO plans and sticking with the PPO’s…can’t say I blame them because they have to do the same amount of work and do not make any money. I have a feeling that most physicians in my community make a pretty nice chunk of change!
> Opps, hit send by accident, here is what I meant to say, in full > I don’t know where you are getting your numbers, but here are a few > things I came across in a quick search:
http://www.statesman.com/metrostate/content/auto/epaper/editions/toda… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> In Texas it is estimated that 38% of Hispanics do not have health > insurance. > http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/discussion00-14.pdf > A 2000 report shows that 15.4% of the nonelderly population have no > insurance. Of that 15.4% 23.7% are among adults age 18-34, which means > either our college students or young workforce. > http://www.motherjones.com/commentary/columns/2003/30/we_482_01.html > The article states that over 41 million Americans have no health > insurance. (I’m not concerned right now w/ placing the blame, which the > article discusses at length.) > http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/parenting/07/17/american.children.ap/ > A recent CNN article about discussing child health states that 88% of > children have health insurance. This means that 18% don’t. > http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=16466 > Discusses how the uninsured in IL are paying 50-70% MORE for health care > than those who are insured. Those who can afford it the least are > paying the most. The article goes on to say: "The full rates uninsured > people end up paying are usually vastly inflated from the actual cost of > providing service. For the past 20 years health care bills have risen > at twice the inflation rate. In 1993 the U.S. General Accounting Office > reported that 99 percent of hospital bills have overcharges, which can > include "phantom charges" for services that weren’t actually given, > markups, duplicate billings and charges for unnecessarily long hospital > stays or unneeded services." > The article later states that of these uninsured: "..in Illinois 28.9 > percent of Latinos and 22.8 percent of African-Americans are uninsured, > compared to 11 percent of whites." > Furthermore,
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/gate/archive/2003/07/… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> discusses that the cost of these uninsured, who go to ER’s for basic > health care and those inflated costs are born us, the taxpayers. (And > believe me, I have seen it and had to wait as an emergency patient > behind this mis-use of resources.) > I don’t know about you, but I find these statistics appalling. > mgbio > ^ Here in the U.S. a very high percentage of > the population does not have medical insurance > incorrect statement
Response:
Thanks mgbio so do they still get treated and the hospital somehow has to try and get the money back? Surely they wouldn’t let someone die because they have no insurance? Mel
> Opps, hit send by accident, here is what I meant to say, in full > I don’t know where you are getting your numbers, but here are a few > things I came across in a quick search:
http://www.statesman.com/metrostate/content/auto/epaper/editions/toda… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> In Texas it is estimated that 38% of Hispanics do not have health > insurance. > http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/discussion00-14.pdf > A 2000 report shows that 15.4% of the nonelderly population have no > insurance. Of that 15.4% 23.7% are among adults age 18-34, which means > either our college students or young workforce. > http://www.motherjones.com/commentary/columns/2003/30/we_482_01.html > The article states that over 41 million Americans have no health > insurance. (I’m not concerned right now w/ placing the blame, which the > article discusses at length.) > http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/parenting/07/17/american.children.ap/ > A recent CNN article about discussing child health states that 88% of > children have health insurance. This means that 18% don’t. > http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=16466 > Discusses how the uninsured in IL are paying 50-70% MORE for health care > than those who are insured. Those who can afford it the least are > paying the most. The article goes on to say: "The full rates uninsured > people end up paying are usually vastly inflated from the actual cost of > providing service. For the past 20 years health care bills have risen > at twice the inflation rate. In 1993 the U.S. General Accounting Office > reported that 99 percent of hospital bills have overcharges, which can > include "phantom charges" for services that weren’t actually given, > markups, duplicate billings and charges for unnecessarily long hospital > stays or unneeded services." > The article later states that of these uninsured: "..in Illinois 28.9 > percent of Latinos and 22.8 percent of African-Americans are uninsured, > compared to 11 percent of whites." > Furthermore,
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/gate/archive/2003/07/… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> discusses that the cost of these uninsured, who go to ER’s for basic > health care and those inflated costs are born us, the taxpayers. (And > believe me, I have seen it and had to wait as an emergency patient > behind this mis-use of resources.) > I don’t know about you, but I find these statistics appalling. > mgbio > ^ Here in the U.S. a very high percentage of > the population does not have medical insurance > incorrect statement
Response:
"Overall, 14.1 percent of the population — some 38.9 million Americans of all ages — was without health insurance coverage in the first half of 2001" – US Department of Health & Human Services http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2002pres/20020204.html Define "high percentage" as you will. 38.9 million Americans without coverage seems like a lot, even if it’s only 14%. -rev – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > ^ Here in the U.S. a very high percentage of > the population does not have medical insurance > incorrect statement
Response:
If you’re interested Mel, here’s a good site talking about the uninsured in the US: http://coveringtheuninsured.org Hospitals legally can’t deny medical aid to someone who requires it. If the person is uninsured, the get the full bill for the hospital visit. Often, they can’t pay it and they don’t. Normally the hospitals just give up on the bill. If the person doesn’t have enough money to pay for it, going through the legal process of trying to claim the bill is just a waste of time and money. So, the hospital ends up paying for it. Which means they must raise prices to compensate for it. So, those people who can pay end up compensating for those who can’t. The US Federal Government (and many state governments) also do some level of subsidies to help out hospitals in areas that have a high number of patients who come in unable to pay. -rev – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Thanks mgbio > so do they still get treated and the hospital somehow has to try and get the > money back? Surely they wouldn’t let someone die because they have no > insurance? > Mel
Response:
Opps, hit send by accident, here is what I meant to say, in full I don’t know where you are getting your numbers, but here are a few things I came across in a quick search: http://www.statesman.com/metrostate/content/auto/epaper/editions/toda… In Texas it is estimated that 38% of Hispanics do not have health insurance. http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/discussion00-14.pdf A 2000 report shows that 15.4% of the nonelderly population have no insurance. Of that 15.4% 23.7% are among adults age 18-34, which means either our college students or young workforce. http://www.motherjones.com/commentary/columns/2003/30/we_482_01.html The article states that over 41 million Americans have no health insurance. (I’m not concerned right now w/ placing the blame, which the article discusses at length.) http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/parenting/07/17/american.children.ap/ A recent CNN article about discussing child health states that 88% of children have health insurance. This means that 18% don’t. http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=16466 Discusses how the uninsured in IL are paying 50-70% MORE for health care than those who are insured. Those who can afford it the least are paying the most. The article goes on to say: "The full rates uninsured people end up paying are usually vastly inflated from the actual cost of providing service. For the past 20 years health care bills have risen at twice the inflation rate. In 1993 the U.S. General Accounting Office reported that 99 percent of hospital bills have overcharges, which can include "phantom charges" for services that weren’t actually given, markups, duplicate billings and charges for unnecessarily long hospital stays or unneeded services." The article later states that of these uninsured: "..in Illinois 28.9 percent of Latinos and 22.8 percent of African-Americans are uninsured, compared to 11 percent of whites." Furthermore, http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/gate/archive/2003/07/… discusses that the cost of these uninsured, who go to ER’s for basic health care and those inflated costs are born us, the taxpayers. (And believe me, I have seen it and had to wait as an emergency patient behind this mis-use of resources.) I don’t know about you, but I find these statistics appalling. mgbio – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > ^ Here in the U.S. a very high percentage of > the population does not have medical insurance > incorrect statement
Response:
Oh Mel, what a can of worms! Here in the U.S. a very high percentage of the population does not have medical insurance. If you are extremely poor, the feds will pay the way (though getting care becomes more complicated and not everyone will take you as a patient). If you are the average middle class American you either have inadequate coverage (hospitalization which will prevent your being bankrupt maybe) or no coverage (way too many). Two of the biggest messes we leave for our children are health care and social security. In a thought, it stinks! mgbio – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hi, > Just wondering how the med insurance works in other countries. Here in the > UK we have the NHS so care is practically free. What happens in countries > where you have to have insurance, if someone hasn’t got it? Or do you still > get basic care free? > Mel
Response:
^ Here in the U.S. a very high percentage of the population does not have medical insurance incorrect statement
Response:
I don’t know where you are getting your numbers, but here are a few things I came across in a quick search: http://www.statesman.com/metrostate/content/auto/epaper/editions/toda… In Texas it is estimated that 38% of Hispanics do not have health insurance. A 2000 report shows that 15.4% of the nonelderly populatin have no insurance. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > ^ Here in the U.S. a very high percentage of > the population does not have medical insurance > incorrect statement
Response:
Hi, Just wondering how the med insurance works in other countries. Here in the UK we have the NHS so care is practically free. What happens in countries where you have to have insurance, if someone hasn’t got it? Or do you still get basic care free? Mel
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