Just a question about healthcare?

[MissBoogus]

In the US or anywhere that doesn’t have free healthcare, what happens if you get pregnant or injured with no money? How do people afford to give birth in hospitals? What happens if you can’t pay? Can you go to jail for debt? Is it common for people to be in debt over medical expenses?

[NamerOfStars]

Nowhere has free healthcare- even if doctors worked for free, drug companies wouldn't give their products away. Government-funded stuff is still paid for by the citizenry; I don't know why so many people can't see that.

Anyway, here in the US, if you need emergency care, the hospital WILL treat you, and then the billing department will usually work with you to try to get what money they can; generally, they get the rest from the government. Getting medicines is a much trickier affair, however.

As to debt, no, you explicitly can't go to jail for it- well, aside from child support nonpayment (and our laws on that are awful on a scale that beggars belief), but family law is a whole other kettle, if not BARREL, of fish.

[jaskin777]

1. Soo if u get pregnant or injured I usually go to the emergency room. But if u get pregnant I highly advice u to get a job asap because u need money to go to the doctor and make sure the baby Is healthy and everything else..

2 the hospital does have a financial aid paperwork.. ask for it

3. Soo I never gave birth before but I do believe that they will send u the bill after ur hospital is done.. and u can pay in payments u don't have to pay all at once. Also ask for financial aid

4. I don't know if u can go to jail for debt because I have friends that are in debt rn. But I advise u to make payments find the smallest bill u got in debt and pay it off then keep doing it till ur done with it.

5. Yes absolutely the debt definitely comes from healthcare majority of it.

[MzAsh]

Emergency services have to provide their services, and then they bill you later. Those who need help are sometimes offer programs or discount to assist in paying, otherwise it goes to debt collections and hits your credit eventually.

[Fireguy17]

First of all there is no "free" anything including health care.
Everything has a cost to it.
What you are referring to is paid by much higher taxes.
Those systems have longer wait times to see a doctor, or have a surgery, with more stringent restrictions on what you can have done and how long you have to wait to have the surgery.
In the US there are programs in place for those who don't have insurance, have lousy insurance, or simply can not pay for health care.
Universal health care comes up every so often then fizzles away.

[Nifrayu]

My partner and I went with a home birth. It avoided medical expenses and its a less stressful environment. As for injuries I'm pretty good at not getting them, but there was this car accident about 13 years that had me pretty messed up. I refused the ambulance and recovered at home. It was difficult without pain meds, but I eventually made a full recovery on my own.

[Nifrayu]

*years ago

[MissBoogus]

Wow! I’m happy to be in 🇨🇦

[Dinklex3]

This happened to a friend.

She owed debt and she couldn’t pay and got nervous so she ignored their phone calls, then her stuff went to collections. Then she got a plan and was able to pay if off.

All after her treatment of course.

[BuckCannon]

Everyone has free healthcare in America, even illegal aliens. It's called the emergency room.

[MissBoogus]

It’s free if you go through emergency?

[BuckCannon]

It's free for you, but not for the tax payer and hospital.

That's why millions of illegal immigrants from Mexico come to America to have their baby. It's free for them and their baby becomes a US citizen.

[exitseven]

Hospitals cannot deny anyone medical treatment if they cannot pay. You may not get the best treatment but you will not be turned away

[Jennz6]

Break a store window and when you get arrested and go to jail you’re gonna get medical attention

[OddBeMe]

Hospitals have a law that requires them to help. But you get minimum care.

[Anonymous]

Why to get pregnant when you can't afford hospital expenses?

[MissBoogus]

Because shit happens

[gorydetails]

What's free healthcare? How does that work?

[MissBoogus]

Well, you just don’t need to pay anything for most things medical related. But the downside is long wait times, occasional bad doctors, and higher taxes. But still that’s all worth it to me

[gorydetails]

So, it's not free? Is that what you're saying?

[MissBoogus]

No it’s free for me

[gorydetails]

So the doctors you see, work for free? The utility companies stop charging the facilities during the time you're there?

[MissBoogus]

No .

[gorydetails]

So then it's not free now, is it?

[MissBoogus]

Ur dum

[gorydetails]

You’re the one claiming something is free when it’s clearly not.

[Anonymous]

I'm outside of US