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[Esna Pitoojee]

As someone who had a mystery health issue that very nearly cost me $300 for no help (its a long story), I'm glad it seems to be resolving on its own.

[Vikarion]

Thanks everybody, for all the support.

« Last Edit: Today at 05:48 PM by Vikarion »

   Editted because I suddenly suspected it might be taken the wrong way somehow. Glad it wasn't. 
Thank you for the compliment.     

[John Revenent]

Good to hear you are doing better Kat <3

Meanwhile in Socialist Canada, I passed out at work because I am a dumbass and lifted things I shouldn't resulting in the start of a hernia. Got a ultrasound and hooked up to some heart thingy (my brain sucks I cant remember what its called), took some blood, and some other yummy bodily fluids. Sat around for 4 hours, and got to go home without a bill. I do love our slow free healthcare system sometimes.

[Odelya]

So, I needed to ask some questions about how serious a broken rib is, if I needed to risk my job filing a report and seeking worker's compensation to get treated, and basically where to go. Come morning, my chest was feeling a lot better (admittedly under the influence of some leftover pain meds from a while back). After working the shift, with my chest still feeling much improved long after the meds wore off, I'm fairly convinced that it was a sprain.

I once had five broken rips and my sternum was fractured. (A car accident). It was very painful, but the doctors told me that the broken rips will heal themselves. It took quite a while and I was on heavy pain killers for a month or so. My biggest problem at this time was that my lungs were full of blood and my spleen was in danger of rupturing—luckily it didn't. All that I wasn't allowed to do was to work over head. But I am a human scientist, not a doctor, so I can't really help.

[AOkazon]

I hope things continue to improve swiftly.

[Katrina Oniseki]

Things are unsure at best right now. I still have crackling and wheezing when I breathe, suggesting fluid in my lungs and/or collapsed alveolar. Right now, no other symptoms have appeared, and I'm watching myself closely to determine if I need to run to the ER. I'm currently doing searches for local clinics and trying to work out a way to get seen by one.

[Ava Starfire]

I missed this.

I am very happy you're ok Kat! Get better soon! Mystery chest pain can be the scariest stuff, especially as we get a bit older... is it an embolysm? A clot? What is it?? I am happy you have a mom who can help, and the folks here gave awesome advice and offers of help too! If youre having fluid in your lungs, GO TO AN ER PLEASE? Dont wait, just go. They have to see you. A lot of charities will help pay after such ER visits.

Just as an FYI, for anyone interested, I had a knee surgery a while ago (Torn ACL and meniscus in my right knee) and could not even walk without crutches or help. I had no healthcare.

It took me nearly 8 months (January to August) to  get a charity to agree to help me with the bills. No one would see me until I could prove I could pay. The US Healthcare system does not care if you cannot walk. When I did go get my surgery, the charity paid it - except the 1,800 dollars for my leg brace, which I had to pay.

The surgery itself was 31,000 dollars.

The "recovery room" i stayed in was 11,000 dollars. I was in here for about 2 hours ( I was asleep, I dont remember exactly )

The MRI was nearly 7000 dollars.

All told, the surgery was nearly 60k, for a 3 hour outpatient procedure. How, exactly, is anyone who isnt very well off supposed to pay this themselves? And it is not like this is of benefit to society - I could not walk, and therefore, could have gotten disability benefits.

It is sad. And the health program didnt fix it and got all gutted =(

[Gottii]

Kat, just keep in mind, the times I broke my ribs, I knew it.  Like, would almost black out from pain if someone bumped into me kinda knew it.  Hopefully was just a sprain.

[Katrina Oniseki]

I found a health clinic with a sliding pay scale (all the way down to free). They also have dental! I'm going to walk in monday. I've already downloaded the sign-up paperwork, so I'll have it filled out when I get there.

Hopefully I'll see a case worker and get myself an appointment soon.

[orange]

I found a health clinic with a sliding pay scale (all the way down to free). They also have dental! I'm going to walk in monday. I've already downloaded the sign-up paperwork, so I'll have it filled out when I get there.

Hopefully I'll see a case worker and get myself an appointment soon.

\0/  Huzzah!

[kalaratiri]

As an Englishman, the horror stories of American healthcare make me extremely nervous about our Conservative government's work to privatise our national healthcare. I like the NHS as it is 

[Katrina Oniseki]

As an Englishman, the horror stories of American healthcare make me extremely nervous about our Conservative government's work to privatise our national healthcare. I like the NHS as it is 

Don't let them.

[orange]

As an Englishman, the horror stories of American healthcare make me extremely nervous about our Conservative government's work to privatise our national healthcare. I like the NHS as it is 

Don't let them.

I would argue as with most things there is a balance that can be achieved and may be necessary.

For example, in a entirely tax-funded system (cost is hidden from patient), if someone refuses to get a flu vaccine each year (which is free), then contracts the flu and puts a strain on the medical system (and larger society) to care for them, how is the behavior discouraged?  Is it fair to force everyone to have the vaccine?  What about other preventative care?

What about the person who does not make good dietary or health choices, does not have an annual physical, and then is rushed to the hospital when their body final collapses and they are diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes?   Once they are stable, is it society's burden to pay for the individual's choices?

At the same time, when parents are making the right choices for their child, including annual checkups, and they rush to the hospital when the child is attempting to expel acid through their lungs due to Type 1 Diabetes, the last thing I want those parents to worry about is "can I pay for this?"   The same goes for the person working their job and having their hand crushed or leg broken.  These are generally not the result of a pattern of poor choices by the individual.

I am very much in favor of a tax-funded health care system, especially for true emergency and child healthcare.  I, however, struggle with a totally free health care system for adults where the choices of the individual burden society as a whole.  Part of it is an attempt to balance individual liberty, including the freedom to make stupid decisions, with providing good health care.  I suppose the real problem is that I am in the middle and am trying to seek a balanced solution.

[Pieter Tuulinen]

The last time I checked, making unwise health choices was not subject to the death penalty. Remember? The point of a societally funded health care system was that it avoids making us have to step over dead people in the street.

It would be better to spend money on finding a solution for the issue, like a smarter pancreas, than to deny healthcare in the hopes that the affected die off without causing too much of an eyesore.

[orange]

The last time I checked, making unwise health choices was not subject to the death penalty. Remember? The point of a societally funded health care system was that it avoids making us have to step over dead people in the street.

It would be better to spend money on finding a solution for the issue, like a smarter pancreas, than to deny healthcare in the hopes that the affected die off without causing too much of an eyesore.

That is what you think the purpose of a health care system is?  So we don't step over dead people in the street?

I thought it was to keep people healthy and able to contribute to society.  And there in actually lies my issue, you know that first paragraph of questions I asked.

For example, in a entirely tax-funded system (cost is hidden from patient), if someone refuses to get a flu vaccine each year (which is free), then contracts the flu and puts a strain on the medical system (and larger society) to care for them, how is the behavior discouraged?  Is it fair to force everyone to have the vaccine?  What about other preventative care?

I ask these questions not out of hyperbole.  I ask them because I honestly struggle with them myself.

Is it right for our (current) society* to force on its inhabitants health care they do not want? (Even if they may very well need it.)

There are clear societal benefits from ensuring that everyone has an annual check-ups, is appropriately vaccinated, preventive/early treatments, etc.

At what point does society overstep?


*I often contemplate what many would consider sci-fi societies, like early Martian or free-space colonies.