Posted by socialdeviantjeff on February 18, 2004, at 20:28:10
In reply to Um... » socialdeviantjeff, posted by Racer on February 17, 2004, at 18:39:12
> Actually, that's part of the problem: the Outrageously Poor, as you put it, really do not have meaningful access to health care. At least around here, the only thing that they might be able to find is the ER, and that generally has a wait of up to 12 hours for SERIOUS problems, let alone moderate problems.
>If you don't mind me asking, where are you from? I realize that I was overgeneralizing when I said what I said. To clarify a little, Utah does have a better health care system than some others I've heard about. If you're dirt poor or certifiably homeless and severely medically needy, finding halfway deacent health care isn't too hard. The issue comes to fore when your income is somewhere between below poverty and rich. The working wages in Utah are low and most working or middle class can't afford insurance premiums. And I agree aabou the ER thing. I think it's a real class based discriminatory system.
> Yes, there is a real problem. Yes, it is criminally immoral.
>
> No, there are no easy answers to the problem.
>
> And where I live, it's virtually impossible to find out who to call to get started on finding any sort of medical care whatsoever. Let me restate that: I, personally, a reasonably lucid and reasonably intelligent person who has a great deal of experience navigating through bureaucracies, cannot figure out where to get information about seeing a doctor. If I can't do it, what do you suppose that means for someone who speaks limited English, or is severely depressed, or actively psychotic, or even just running a high fever with a rash?
>
> OK, that's enough from me.That's true. I didn't learn what I learned until I had several ER visits and massive bills. Unfortunately at the time I was making a "working wage" and there was/is no help from Medicaid. I'm still trying to decipher the bureaucratic maze here. I faked homelessness once to get some antibiotics for strep throat. It was that, or pay over $100 between the doc and scripts that I didn't have. I had no other choice. I guess I could have taken another $600 ER bill that I can't pay and be a little more honest.
And I am not very lucid. it was very hard for me to find the info I have.
Ok, have I contradicted myself enough or should I go on?
Your friend in confusion,
SDJ
poster:socialdeviantjeff
thread:312786
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20040209/msgs/315351.html