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Post by Maria on Jan 14, 2007 21:41:03 GMT -5
I just got off the phone with my 30 year old niece who lives in Arizona. She has a little baby born in April. Her husband was killed in an accident a week before she knew she was pregnant. So here is the thing that is making me so angry. She took her son to the emergency room Friday night. The little guy has a respiratory infection and was having a hard time breathing. Now my niece who has started a new job a month ago, is not yet covered by work health insurance. So she goes into the hospital, explains her insurance situation and this is the hospital response. Sorry we can't help you. If you were an illegal, we could help you but you are not. They refused to help the baby unless she paid up front.
Now you all know I am the one who is usually for helping the illegals become legal and I certainly know many illegals who contribute and pay taxes etc. (how they pay taxes, I don't know) At least here in RI. I am so angry that I am spitting bullets. Imagine turning away a baby with a mother that doesn't have health insurance. Thank goodness my sister has a friends in the medical field that stepped in.
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Post by Dabbit on Jan 15, 2007 1:53:09 GMT -5
Maria that is terrible...I can fully understand why you are spitting bullets, I would be too (in fact I am starting to myself). We're lucky in the fact we have the NHS which is free to all so your nieces shild would have got treatment here. How can a hospital say no to treating a 8-9 month old baby? I know the newspapers here would love a story like that
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Post by Mark on Jan 15, 2007 10:20:07 GMT -5
Exactly the reason I've been complaining about our health services system for years, Maria. We've been needing something similar to national health coverage here for a long time and the medical field's greed will eventually cause it to come to pass. In the meantime, stories such as this deserve as much 'Press' as possible, and should be repeated in every venue possible until it gets the coverage necessary. For starters, look at americanhealthcarereform.org/ Remember, nothing gets done if no one takes action. That's why we're here - to inspire, assist, coordinate and inform.
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Post by Fluffy on Jan 19, 2007 10:35:59 GMT -5
How horrible. You would think that a babies life would be more important, but sadly it's a sign of the times.
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Post by Mark on Jan 19, 2007 15:20:18 GMT -5
And, a sign of the greed of some in the medical profession and ancillary services as well, I'm afraid.
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Post by Maria on Jan 19, 2007 16:14:45 GMT -5
Here in RHode Island, where I live, it is illegal to turn anyone away from a hospital--whether have have insurance or as poor as a church mouse.
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Post by Mark on Jan 20, 2007 15:58:33 GMT -5
Trouble is, the ambulance driver might miss Rhode Island if they don't have really sharp eyes.
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Post by tarradiddle on Jul 17, 2007 16:19:55 GMT -5
Ha Ha. Actually the first time my aunt and uncle came to visit us in RI they drove right on through to Massachusetts.
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Post by Mark on Jul 17, 2007 17:29:37 GMT -5
Somebody forgot to tell them whether it was before or after the traffic light and on which side of the road.... ;D
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