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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

#81

Post by wolco »

hestipod wrote: post #72
alistproducer2 wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 the…

I apologize for any defensiveness. I am exhausted and tired of being in pain, poor, and alone. I am often criticized and blamed and it conditions you to expect bad from people. I try to stay aware many people mean well but sometimes I overreact. I avoided asking for help for a long time for the pride reasons you mentioned...hoping I could find a way...but once it became clear that wasn't going to happen and I did rea…

Most important question... what health issues are you dealing with?

Re: When Medical Debt Collectors Decide Who Gets Arrested

#82

Post by refurb »

ex3xu wrote: post #79
spamizbad wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Stories like these are why I feel like the medical system in America is extremist, and not a rational, pragmatic, or effective system. We are like the North Korea of healthcare.

Ironically, North Korea has a national health service and free universal health care for all its citizens. [0] [0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthcare_in_North_Korea#Heal...

Yes, but not sure to many Americans would be better off with the free heath care North Korea offers.

Re: When Medical Debt Collectors Decide Who Gets Arrested

#83

Post by hestipod »

DoreenMichele wrote: post #74
hestipod wrote: post #3

My life was ruined by badly done, and even worse ultimately unneeded surgery. That privilege initially cost me many thousands, along with career and insurance going away, and the subsequent struggle to survive since has cost multiples of that. My entire future billed away. For a time I was able to avoid collectors because of a significant savings a frugal life had left me, but as time goes on you have to choose betwe…

"PSA:" It would be nice if HN did a better job of treating statements like this as testimony regarding the problem space and not an invitation for personal critique. The odds are extremely poor that some random internet stranger can fix a mess like this by making one good suggestion in a public comment. If you are genuinely willing to give someone like this scads of money or do a fundraiser (or otherwise actually try…

While there is a lot of truth in what you say from my experience as well, and I can be defensive from all the disappointment and ineffective advice and often outright attack and blame over the years, I try to remember people mostly DO mean well and you never know when the right thing might hit. My only real chance in all these years came from a stranger speaking up. I've gotten some lovely messages of emotional support from a handful of people before as well. I'd rather people speak up than not personally...but yeah an effective solution would be ideal. I feel I am just too far in a hole for any standard ideas to work. If I was in a strongly social nation I'd be getting assistance no question. I can't survive in the Thunderdome in my situation.

Re: When Medical Debt Collectors Decide Who Gets Arrested

#84

Post by wisty »

77pt77 wrote: post #34

> Judges don’t need a law degree in Kansas, or many other states, to preside over cases like these You can't make this up!

In the US you don't need a law degree to be a Supreme Court Judge. It's pretty common with elected positions - it's up to voters to make the decision.

Re: When Medical Debt Collectors Decide Who Gets Arrested

#85

Post by DoreenMichele »

hestipod wrote: post #83
DoreenMichele wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"PSA:" It would be nice if HN did a better job of treating statements like this as testimony regarding the problem space and not an invitation for personal critique. The odds are extremely poor that some random internet stranger can fix a mess like this by making one good suggestion in a public comment. If you are genuinely willing to give someone like this scads of money or do a fundraiser (or otherwise actually try…

While there is a lot of truth in what you say from my experience as well, and I can be defensive from all the disappointment and ineffective advice and often outright attack and blame over the years, I try to remember people mostly DO mean well and you never know when the right thing might hit. My only real chance in all these years came from a stranger speaking up. I've gotten some lovely messages of emotional suppo…

My comment explicitly allows for good faith interest in someone's situation. It's certainly not a suggestion that such comments shouldn't get engagement.

It's possible to speak up and do so more considerately and thoughtfully than is typically done in response to such comments.

Re: When Medical Debt Collectors Decide Who Gets Arrested

#86

Post by hestipod »

wolco wrote: post #81
hestipod wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I apologize for any defensiveness. I am exhausted and tired of being in pain, poor, and alone. I am often criticized and blamed and it conditions you to expect bad from people. I try to stay aware many people mean well but sometimes I overreact. I avoided asking for help for a long time for the pride reasons you mentioned...hoping I could find a way...but once it became clear that wasn't going to happen and I did rea…

Most important question... what health issues are you dealing with?

That's not something I feel would help me in any way to get into publicly. It's multiple very difficult issues with no cure and little understanding even (legitimate and diagnosed...not quackwatch sort of stuff...just not common nor cared about much overall), mostly iatrogenic, I have done all the normal stuff you are supposed to, a lot of alternative stuff, and have never once gotten any useful advice from explaining it all in detail that helped. At best it's just "wow that really sucks and isn't fair". At worst it's "if so much bad keeps happening it must be you". I don't need any more surgery, lab test, medication, diet, or yoga suggestions. I just need stability so I can cope as best as possible within my limits.

Re: When Medical Debt Collectors Decide Who Gets Arrested

#87

Post by hestipod »

DoreenMichele wrote: post #85
hestipod wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While there is a lot of truth in what you say from my experience as well, and I can be defensive from all the disappointment and ineffective advice and often outright attack and blame over the years, I try to remember people mostly DO mean well and you never know when the right thing might hit. My only real chance in all these years came from a stranger speaking up. I've gotten some lovely messages of emotional suppo…

My comment explicitly allows for good faith interest in someone's situation. It's certainly not a suggestion that such comments shouldn't get engagement. It's possible to speak up and do so more considerately and thoughtfully than is typically done in response to such comments.

I know...and thank you. I just wanted to be clear I am appreciative of empathetic and kind people. There is enough victim blaming and defensiveness from the masses in the world as it is...I don' want to alienate good people nor harm the acceptance and understanding for others in my situation by sounding ungrateful. For example I remember how grumpy and mean most older diabetics I worked with were and it wasn't because they were bad people, it's because they were worn out from suffering. But to most people they were just "jerks" who were choosing to be jerks.

Re: When Medical Debt Collectors Decide Who Gets Arrested

#88

Post by yardie »

hestipod wrote: post #36
hu3 wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

An extreme option to consider before the edge gets you: Move to another country. One that has free healthcare even to foreigners. Yes, they exist. Brazil is one. I'm not sure but I've heard Spain might too. Granted you wont get the best and most responsive health care in the world but at least you'll get some and for free. Things are different out there. Worse in some aspects, better in others. Just something to thin…

I've been trying to move back abroad since I returned to the USA. It's not as easy as people think in the best of times to immigrate, let alone when you are in such bad shape all around. No place takes broken and relatively broke people. Believe me I'd have been gone years ago if I could have managed it. I've thought about extreme ideas like asylum but my research shows it's never granted to people from such countrie…

In my travels getting a long term residency visa requires a medical exam. I’m not sure how people think immigration in other countries work but it’s not as simple as showing up at the airport.

Re: When Medical Debt Collectors Decide Who Gets Arrested

#89

Post by black_puppydog »

refurb wrote: post #82
ex3xu wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ironically, North Korea has a national health service and free universal health care for all its citizens. [0] [0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthcare_in_North_Korea#Heal...

Yes, but not sure to many Americans would be better off with the free heath care North Korea offers.

actually, maybe read the linked paragraphs. from what I understand "many Americans" have basically no access to healthcare whatsoever (think homeless people for example) so your statement might not hold as tightly as you'd like...
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