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When Medical Debt Collectors Decide Who Gets Arrested

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Re: When Medical Debt Collectors Decide Who Gets Arrested

#61

Post by downrightmike »

bjornsing wrote: post #5
Clubber wrote: post #2

Highest prison population in the world by both per capita and total number, and people get thrown in jail because they can't pay their medical bills. How much more corrupt can this country get? What do we do when voting doesn't make a difference?

As I read the OP they get thrown in jail for not appearing in court. Isn’t that very different?

These companies use the court and no shows to give them ground to go after people, when otherwise they'd have ZERO case. It is a total abuse of the court system.

Re: When Medical Debt Collectors Decide Who Gets Arrested

#62

Post by Gibbon1 »

SomaticPirate wrote: post #21

Government funded healthcare on some level would help to alleviate a modicum of this catastrophe. I doubt it would be a magic bullet but medical debt damages society by incentivizing disaster health care instead of preventive care.

If you wanted a small fix as opposed to my preferred solution of burn it to the ground as an example to every other shitty industry. That fix would be to require insurance companies to be the primary bag holder. Not the patient. AKA a the 'independent' anesthesiologist can't sue the patient, he has to sue the insurance company. At least in that case everyone involved has deep pockets and a strong hand.

The reason I say burn it all down is medical billing would be considered outright criminal fraud and extortion in any other industry.

Imagine your mechanic engaging in surprise billing. Well yes my bill of $2500 was just for removing and installing the transmission. The $15,000 is the independent transmission rebuilders fee.

Re: When Medical Debt Collectors Decide Who Gets Arrested

#63

Post by _jal »

bhupy wrote: post #59
_jal wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It theoretically doesn't, but practically speaking, you're talking about risk pools. Those work better when they're larger.

Risk pools in other countries work pretty well, and their populations are Denmark’s population is that of Wisconsin. The least populated state (Wyoming) would have a larger risk pool than Iceland, which seems to be doing fine.

Sure. For that matter, some bigger corporations in the US choose to run their own.

But it is just math - bigger pools have more resources over a larger population, and so are better positioned to survive shocks.

Re: When Medical Debt Collectors Decide Who Gets Arrested

#64

Post by alistproducer2 »

hestipod wrote: post #58
alistproducer2 wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Im confused as to why you don't just walk away. After 7 years it will fall off your credit report and u can start over.

I don't have a financial strain bankruptcy would fix. I cannot walk away from current needs for medical care, housing, food etc. I am getting worse not better which equals more needs and cost with less to no resources. You cannot sign up for a post paid life in America and just ignore the costs. The featured article shows how that debt snowballs into worse issues. There won't be seven years in my future at this rate…

Im sorry to hear about your situation. I asked the question because I have a family member who was in a similar situation to you and rather than make prudent choices, he made decisions based on pride and not wanting hand outs. Years later if cost him dearly. Not saying this js you, but I know there are people who pay debts because it's. "the right thing to do" without realizing it may be the worst thing to do for them in their situation.

Re: When Medical Debt Collectors Decide Who Gets Arrested

#66

Post by privateSFacct »

A quick suggestion.

If things are really this dire sign up for platinum coverage under a total in-network HMO like Kaiser. Platinum 90 0/10 as an example.

If you have serious medical costs these plans are MAJORLY subsidized because they don't discriminate on pre-existing conditions.

You CANNOT go out of network.

Re: When Medical Debt Collectors Decide Who Gets Arrested

#67

Post by snagglegaggle »

Gibbon1 wrote: post #62
SomaticPirate wrote: post #21

Government funded healthcare on some level would help to alleviate a modicum of this catastrophe. I doubt it would be a magic bullet but medical debt damages society by incentivizing disaster health care instead of preventive care.

If you wanted a small fix as opposed to my preferred solution of burn it to the ground as an example to every other shitty industry. That fix would be to require insurance companies to be the primary bag holder. Not the patient. AKA a the 'independent' anesthesiologist can't sue the patient, he has to sue the insurance company. At least in that case everyone involved has deep pockets and a strong hand. The reason I s…

I agree. The idea is the insurance negotiates on my behalf. If they don't pay, I don't pay, and I don't understand how we arrived at the existing status quo.

Re: When Medical Debt Collectors Decide Who Gets Arrested

#68

Post by shantly »

_jal wrote: post #24
bhupy wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why does healthcare have to be a federal issue?

It theoretically doesn't, but practically speaking, you're talking about risk pools. Those work better when they're larger.

More important is that states can’t control immigration and cross-border trade, making a variety of policies infeasible or much more expensive, compared with the same implemented nationwide.

Re: When Medical Debt Collectors Decide Who Gets Arrested

#69

Post by DaiPlusPlus »

privateSFacct wrote: post #66

A quick suggestion. If things are really this dire sign up for platinum coverage under a total in-network HMO like Kaiser. Platinum 90 0/10 as an example. If you have serious medical costs these plans are MAJORLY subsidized because they don't discriminate on pre-existing conditions. You CANNOT go out of network.

This doesn’t help if you have pre-existing debts.

Also, there are no Platinum plans where I live (western WA), some counties, especially rural, low-density areas, sometimes only have one plan provider for individuals for people who don’t qualify for Medicaid - and they aren’t obligated to provide even a Gold-level plan.

We need universal coverage, now.

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