Health insurance options for our family?

So they can't bill you and have collections calling when you don't pay. And so it won't show on a credit report for failing to pay. Pretty common practice here in VT as well. But since I DO pay mine I am now paying for all the false name droppers too.

Exactly! Those of us that do pay our bills, honestly, get stuck with all the deadbeats bills as well as those funds go uncollected and has to get made up somewhere. No wonder our hospitals are in such a mess when people do these kinds of things. Not fair to the rest of us.

So they can't bill you and have collections calling when you don't pay. And so it won't show on a credit report for failing to pay. Pretty common practice here in VT as well. But since I DO pay mine I am now paying for all the false name droppers too.

Exactly! Those of us that do pay our bills, honestly, get stuck with all the deadbeats bills as well as those funds go uncollected and has to get made up somewhere. No wonder our hospitals are in such a mess when people do these kinds of things. Not fair to the rest of us.

To be fair, the failure to pay outstanding bills is NOT the core problem with JFL.

So they can't bill you and have collections calling when you don't pay. And so it won't show on a credit report for failing to pay. Pretty common practice here in VT as well. But since I DO pay mine I am now paying for all the false name droppers too.

Exactly! Those of us that do pay our bills, honestly, get stuck with all the deadbeats bills as well as those funds go uncollected and has to get made up somewhere. No wonder our hospitals are in such a mess when people do these kinds of things. Not fair to the rest of us.

To be fair, the failure to pay outstanding bills is NOT the core problem with JFL.

That is, unless you're referring to JFL's failure to pay ITS OWN outstanding bills ... but that's a different conversation.

I am sure you are right but I'll bet it's a contributing factor.

Hospitals in general are horrible about paying their bills. But a good chunk of the money they need to pay out comes from you and me when we pay. If people don't pay you can't expect the hospital to pay it's bills. Not that it is the sole problem, but I'm sure it doesn't help when people cheat the system.

I was in the ICU for two days and the regular part of the hospital for another two in March due to a stroke. I will tell you this: there is no way I would have rec'd better treatment in the states. Despite the fact that I did not have insurance (stroke happened 3/17, insurance kicked in on 4/1... lovely), they went above and beyond in their care and treatment. In terms of payment, I came out with a $20k plus bill and they are kindly allowing me to pay that off $75/month. In the states, I think it is quite possible that I would have rec'd worse care b/c I did not have insurance. The difference in the quality of treatment and care for people who have insurance and those who don't, I would venture to say, is quite less pronounced here in the VI. I cannot say enough good things about the STT hospital. Shame on folks who use a fake name.... and also shame on folks who badmouth the hospital who have never really experienced it and are just making assumptions or repeating rumors.

I am sure you are right but I'll bet it's a contributing factor.

And who can afford to pay? Medical costs are staggeringly overbilled, no reasonable health insurance is available for island residents, and, oh right, our biggest employer just closed and unemployment rates are through the roof.

Adequate and competent health care is a basic human RIGHT, not a privilege reserved to the rich. This issue of dodging bills will always be a "contributing factor" until this country joins the twenty-first century and starts treating its citizens like human beings and not cattle.

After the Boston bombings, one of my first thoughts was that in no other industrialized nation would worry about how to pay for the health care costs -- some of which are likely to be massively high and continue for years, particularly for amputees -- of the hundreds of victims be an issue.

I was in the ICU for two days and the regular part of the hospital for another two in March due to a stroke. I will tell you this: there is no way I would have rec'd better treatment in the states. Despite the fact that I did not have insurance (stroke happened 3/17, insurance kicked in on 4/1... lovely), they went above and beyond in their care and treatment. In terms of payment, I came out with a $20k plus bill and they are kindly allowing me to pay that off $75/month. In the states, I think it is quite possible that I would have rec'd worse care b/c I did not have insurance. The difference in the quality of treatment and care for people who have insurance and those who don't, I would venture to say, is quite less pronounced here in the VI. I cannot say enough good things about the STT hospital. Shame on folks who use a fake name.... and also shame on folks who badmouth the hospital who have never really experienced it and are just making assumptions or repeating rumors.

I'm referring to JFL on STX. I've heard that Roy Schneider is much better. I'm glad you had a positive experience there.

ETA: Shaming people really serves no purpose.
ETA2: Isn't thinking it "quite possible that [you] would have a rec'd worse care b/c [you] did not have insurance" an assumption? Isn't "ventur[ing] to say" that "[t]he difference in the quality of treatment and care for people who have insurance and those who dont ... quite less pronounced ... in the VI", also an assumption? One of those things for which you think we should heap shame on people?

I'm referring to JFL on STX. I've heard that Roy Schneider is much better. I'm glad you had a positive experience there.

ETA: Shaming people really serves no purpose.

I can shame if I want to, I can leave my friends behind because my friends don't shame and if they don't shame, well they're no friends of mine. (had to sing a bit)

Perhaps you are right about shaming.... Let's just say, then, that people who badmouth the hospital based on rumors and who have no personal experience and talk $hit are fearmongers and kind-of jerks who certainly do no good for our/your community.

And to your "ETA2" YES - those are assumptions, and qualified as such within the sentences ("it is quite possible", "venture to say" )... do you have problems with reading comprehension?

Hospitals in general are horrible about paying their bills. But a good chunk of the money they need to pay out comes from you and me when we pay. If people don't pay you can't expect the hospital to pay it's bills. Not that it is the sole problem, but I'm sure it doesn't help when people cheat the system.

I have a colleague whose partner's family member could not get basic meds for a basic treatment and therefore was stuck in a room at JFL for weeks waiting for the medicine -- incurring charges of thousands of dollars a day for the bed while nothing happened. Colleague spent an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out why this simple procedure was taking so long and, as a result, costing his partner's family member so much money. Turns out, the vendor refused to send the meds becuase JFL hadn't paid its bill in ages. So the colleague ordered and paid for it himself from a Puerto Rico vendor and delivered it to the hospital himself so the patient could be quickly treated and discharged to his home.

True story. At this point, given my experience with JFL, I'd rather be treated by Dr. Hess at the Island Animal Clinic.

I'm referring to JFL on STX. I've heard that Roy Schneider is much better. I'm glad you had a positive experience there.

ETA: Shaming people really serves no purpose.

I can shame if I want to, I can leave my friends behind because my friends don't shame and if they don't shame, well they're no friends of mine. (had to sing a bit)

Perhaps you are right about shaming.... Let's just say, then, that people who badmouth the hospital based on rumors and who have no personal experience and talk $hit are fearmongers and kind-of jerks who certainly do no good for our/your community.

And to your "ETA2" YES - those are assumptions, and qualified as such within the sentences ("it is quite possible", "venture to say")... do you have problems with reading comprehension?

No. I was just pointing out the irony of you saying, in the same breath, that assumptions are bad and then unapologetically going forward with several of your own.

No. I was just pointing out the irony of you saying, in the same breath, that assumptions are bad and then unapologetically going forward with several of your own.

Sheesh. Thanks for clarifying. I thought you were getting onto me for shaming people. I am forever in your debt. You, I am quite sure, would never stoop so low as to shame someone.

In all seriousness, done here. Can't argue with someone who has such pronounced reading comp issues.

remind me never to get sick. 😉

No. I was just pointing out the irony of you saying, in the same breath, that assumptions are bad and then unapologetically going forward with several of your own.

Sheesh. Thanks for clarifying. I thought you were getting onto me for shaming people. I am forever in your debt. You, I am quite sure, would never stoop so low as to shame someone.

In all seriousness, done here. Can't argue with someone who has such pronounced reading comp issues.

Wow. No, I don't shame people. I've actually presented a paper on it at several conferences. Your sarcasm is not appreciated, and neither are your ad hominem insults. Please stop.

Pay a $2000 ER bill or use that money towards your family. My family is covered under 2 health plans now. However, once in my life I had no insurance and still have debt collectors after me for medical bills.

I completely understand why someone would use a fake name. Calling a poor person a "deadbeat" only shows how out of touch with reality you are. The problem is not the poor or lower middle class; the problem is affordable healthcare does not exist.

I find it sad Fox News will give a reason why universal healthcare will not work is because it will cause doctor shortages. This type of reasoning feels like jim Crow laws directed toward stopping low income families from getting affordable healthcare.

we have had both good and bad experiences, the bad outweigh the good. not all hospitals have to treat a person, i believe only public hospitals do, i think private can turn you away if you do not have insurance or money to pay.

we also know many people local and non local who always go to the states for treatment. with these extra layoffs, it only makes you wonder what kind of care you will receive now.

I find it sad Fox News will give a reason why universal healthcare will not work is because it will cause doctor shortages. This type of reasoning feels like jim Crow laws directed toward stopping low income families from getting affordable healthcare.

i find this statement interesting. low income families already get free health care. and i dont feel this is anything like jim crow laws. that is a long stretch

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"I find it sad Fox News will give a reason why universal healthcare will not work is because it will cause doctor shortages. This type of reasoning feels like jim Crow laws directed toward stopping low income families from getting affordable healthcare."

i find this statement interesting. low income families already get free health care. and i dont feel this is anything like jim crow laws. that is a long stretch

I am also refering to lower middle class families. I would not have thousands in medical bills in debt collecting agencies, and others would not use fake names if this was true. A majority of young people have no insurance and also a huge pride issue for many about medicaid. Doctors offices treat you differently if you use medicaid because they get very little money for it.

The attitude of this Country is if you cannot afford healthcare, and you get sick; you need to hurry up and die.

true, it just seemed like you were referring to the poor and not the working middle class who even with insurance still cant pay for treatment.

but i still dont get the jim crow comment

After reading over this thread, I remembered reading an article pertaining to insurance a while back. Article is titled "Affordable Health Care on Horizon for Small Businesses in Virgin Islands" (October 2012)

http://www.stjohntradewindsnews.com/index.php/582-news/2012-10-news/8269-affordable-health-care-on-horizon-for-small-businesses-in-virgin-islands

www.bcbsusvi.com

Doctors offices treat you differently if you use medicaid because they get very little money for it.

I am on SSDI with medicare and medicaid. I have found the opposite to be true. Hell my main doctor sent me for a skin biopsy and bone marrow biopsy (some of the worst pain I've ever felt, I actually gasped during the procedure and I pride myself on my ability to take pain) because my red and white blood cells were off by a bit. The doctor that did the biopsies scheduled me for a repeat visit six months later and was eager to treat me.

true, it just seemed like you were referring to the poor and not the working middle class who even with insurance still cant pay for treatment.

but i still dont get the jim crow comment

Take my comment on Jim Crow laws as a grain of sand. From my perspective the elitist that have great insurance are trying to scare Americans on how evil universal healthcare is. Telling us if everyone was covered there will be a shortage of doctors, or we cannot afford to cover everone. Also people in the media love to make those who cannot afford it as free loaders. One group suppressing another group with scare tactics reminds me of Jim Crow laws.

noOne - I agree some outstanding doctors out there who accept medicaid. However a lot of doctors refuse mediciad which I cannot blame them.

i know where my mom lives, doctors are not taking medicare ( for the elderly , right ) anymore due to the health care reform.

i know that i think and have always thought that every one should get quality health care and should not be left to die because they do not have coverage. and i do not think it should eat up half of your paycheck for health care.

thanks for your explanation on why you relate it to jim crow, though i do disagree.

i know where my mom lives, doctors are not taking medicare ( for the elderly , right ) anymore due to the health care reform.

i know that i think and have always thought that every one should get quality health care and should not be left to die because they do not have coverage. and i do not think it should eat up half of your paycheck for health care.

thanks for your explanation on why you relate it to jim crow, though i do disagree.

My time to share... First, some doctors have always avoided medicare patients, it has nothing to do with "new" healthcare reform. The "new" healthcare legislation is a mess because congress made it a mess. It will take years to sort things out. However, it has given relief to some people.

IT IS TIME TO DO THE RIGHT THING. We need universal healthcare or at least a single payer government program. Private run healthcare is bankrupting individuals and the country. Huge medical profits are immoral. period...