Thread: Another Health Care Issue

An friend of mine was in France and had overstayed his visa. He was illegal and became ill and had to be hospitalized. He was treated and released without having to pay a centime. He has since applied for a permanent visa or the equivalent of a green card in the USA.

As thebigspendur says in the USA they are required by law to stabilize and that is it. I know at least one person who eventually died because they lacked health insurance and the E.R. at the hospital gave them short shrift over multiple attempts to access care. I heard a stat of approximately 20,000 per year dieing as a result of not having health insurance to begin with or losing it shortly after becoming ill. Pleasant dreams.

This is something that in this country is brought up with some regularity. The idea that people who have either not paid into the system their whole lives, or simply have no right to be here, use and abuse our healthcare system.

Infact, there is little evidence to support that theory, generally, legitimate migrants move when they are young, and use the services offered very little whilst paying into them. Illegal immigrants generally avoid points of contact with any authority that could start the ball rolling to have them sent home.

It's basically a missunderstood issue.

Originally Posted by gregs656

This is something that in this country is brought up with some regularity. The idea that people who have either not paid into the system their whole lives, or simply have no right to be here, use and abuse our healthcare system.

Infact, there is little evidence to support that theory, generally, legitimate migrants move when they are young, and use the services offered very little whilst paying into them. Illegal immigrants generally avoid points of contact with any authority that could start the ball rolling to have them sent home.

It's basically a missunderstood issue.

Really? Misunderstood you say?

Come on down to San Diego for a time and check out our emergency rooms and while you are at it check out our restaurants and bakeries, our construction sites. Scream "federales" and watch them run.

When you are sick and I mean really sick or your wife or kids are and you are here illegally you're not worried about being turned over to Govt. authorities you want help. Its as simple as that.

When I used to work at the border at San Ysidro on overtime its amazing what you see. People returning back to Mexico with some relation dead in the car and relatives really deathly ill. Some will go back but that's really rare.

As thebigspendur says in the USA they are required by law to stabilize and that is it. I know at least one person who eventually died because they lacked health insurance and the E.R. at the hospital gave them short shrift over multiple attempts to access care. I heard a stat of approximately 20,000 per year

Actually the number is more than double that, about 44,000 per year for people aged 18-64, according to just published research in the American Journal of Public Health.

Ultimately I THINK what will happen is another blanket amnesty and THEN a total government takeover of health care, like it or not that's what I believe we're getting. While on one hand I don't like to see ANYONE denied access to care, it's not my responsibility and I don't think it should be the United States government's job to prod into my health or anyone else's, nevermind someone's legal status. What can we do to prevent this? Nothing. Illegals........er, legals.....are now here to stay. This is what happens when you give one party hell bent on something complete control of our destinies (this goes for BOTH parties.......the left party and the not quite as left as the left party). Think they're afraid of not getting re-elected? Hell no! Statistically, they have a greater than 90% chance of getting back into office! The theatrics we saw during this useless debate a while back have already been forgotten by the voters.

Can the United States afford it? Sure, it's cheap........we can print money!

If one takes the number of physicians in the United States today, according to the Department of Labor that's roughly 800,000 and we add the 47 million people who are uninsured and are in immediate danger of dying (who came up with that number?) to the health care roles.......WHAM! Instant doctor shortage! Like the long line to ride Space Mountain? Pray for Fastpass in your local emergency room.

The good part is those pesky Canadians and Europeans will stop coming over here and hogging all of our MRI and CT machines.......that they can't seem to afford or refuse to buy in those countries because of............?

I love how we "need to get this passed right away!" and it won't take effect until our president is re-elected in 2012. How convenient. Would someone care to translate that one for me?



Number of physicians: USATODAY.com - Medical miscalculation creates doctor shortage

The USA TODAY sales slogan: "Our whole paper is the comics".

Regards,

Mr. Right Wing Nut Job

(I hope at least someone gets a chuckle)

Originally Posted by JMS

Really? Misunderstood you say?

Come on down to San Diego for a time and check out our emergency rooms and while you are at it check out our restaurants and bakeries, our construction sites. Scream "federales" and watch them run.

It certainly is in this country, and we are a massive host country and have been for a long time.

If you can actually back up what you say, then fine, but from a country who has a free at point of service health care system, any abuses are minor and immigrants generally benefit the country in the long term. Especially as, in this country, they generally start their families young. This is something that the 'developed' world has left behind and is starting to pay the price.

Originally Posted by gregs656

It certainly is in this country, and we are a massive host country and have been for a long time.

If you can actually back up what you say, then fine, but from a country who has a free at point of service health care system, any abuses are minor and immigrants generally benefit the country in the long term. Especially as, in this country, they generally start their families young. This is something that the 'developed' world has left behind and is starting to pay the price.

Okay, you were speaking about the UK. I was wondering about that after I replied.