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No health insurance... help!?

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Typical
Posts: 2269 - Karma: 83
After years of staying healthy on the slopes I took a spill yesterday and really messed up my knee and ankle. It very well may require surgery and I was wondering if anyone else has dealt with a similar situation.

Luckily I have a few thousand dollars in cash and a professional full time job possibility coming along this summer, but I will not be able to afford surgery if I need it. ik ik, I should have had health insurance and I had it until Dec 31st, but I am past that now. I think COBRA is not applicable in my case.

Just wondering if anyone has me some advice to help me out.
Jan 31 2010 2:54PM
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jibjim
Posts: 1814 - Karma: 10
yay for the USA!
Jan 31 2010 2:56PM
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.travis.
Posts: 1737 - Karma: 46
go to or call the hospital and ask about a free care form. Usually before they will give you free care you have to apply for whatever free insurance your state offers, if there is one. Either they will deny you and the hospital will cover it or they will accept you and they will cover it. Hope that helps. Call the hospital and tell them what's going on they will walk you right through it. Good luck!
Jan 31 2010 3:08PM
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[Steeze_Please]
Posts: 281 - Karma: 279
move to Canada ! :)
Jan 31 2010 3:11PM
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Typical
Posts: 2269 - Karma: 83
thanks man, I will give that a try.
Jan 31 2010 3:12PM
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JordanClarke
Posts: 998 - Karma: 1,922
re-apply for health insurance, get approved then claim it?
Feb 1 2010 1:16AM
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Steezy_IN_KC
Posts: 2033 - Karma: 1,607
i wish i had four hand to give this comment four thumbs down.... aaaahahah Rich james
Feb 1 2010 1:18AM
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Rajna
Posts: 3824 - Karma: 90
Welcome to the club.

my knees fucking kill right now
Feb 1 2010 1:22AM
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jeremy.g
Posts: 4931 - Karma: 459
we seriously need to provide healthcare for people. vibes to you man
Feb 1 2010 1:27AM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
pre-existing condition.

dont you have like 30 days after your insurance expires to apply for cobra? if so you can apply, and claim it was mailed before the injury
Feb 1 2010 1:45AM
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Gnarshred
Posts: 5670 - Karma: 18
Go to the E.R. then never pay?

I dunno, that would probably suck down the road, but they have to treat you if its an emergency.
Feb 1 2010 2:19AM
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remove
Posts: 2566 - Karma: 1,026

they fuck people all the time for this.

solid idea

Feb 1 2010 2:23AM
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25443 - Karma: 13,844
Vote Republican.
Feb 1 2010 2:57AM
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remove
Posts: 2566 - Karma: 1,026
and make his problem probably worse
Feb 1 2010 3:00AM
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Hogis
Posts: 551 - Karma: 393
Move to Sweden
Feb 1 2010 8:56AM
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Benedetto.
Posts: 2526 - Karma: 64

What about the postage date? You'll wind up doing time with insurance fraud. Possible serious time.

Feb 1 2010 9:26AM
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soulskier
Posts: 17806 - Karma: 3,841
well, shitty prison healthcare is better than no healthcare at all
Feb 1 2010 9:49AM
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WikiWiki
Posts: 5584 - Karma: 426
this

on another topic the park that i work at- we had some guy up their break his wrist and hurt his nose pretty bad- I saw him last week- after all was said and done it cost him 1800 and another 1000 in meds-


Feb 1 2010 10:06AM
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EastCoast315
Posts: 3136 - Karma: 137

Oh, but god forbid you make it free. Thats god damn nazism, it ain't christian. Oughtta be illegal.

Feb 1 2010 10:10AM
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Static
Posts: 8559 - Karma: 4,128
that would be slavery, doctors gotta get paid
Feb 1 2010 10:15AM
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SSteezle
Posts: 9300 - Karma: 7,700
so that the rest of us have to pay for his sugery? because where else would that money be coming from. This happens to homeless people all the time without health insurance, they go to the ER get the surgery, the ER drops them back on the streets and the rest of us pay.
Feb 1 2010 10:57AM
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factory81
Posts: 3967 - Karma: 63
how bad do you have to hurt your knee to say "i need to visit a doctor"?

im walking with a gimp today cause my right knee hurts like a bitch when i extend my leg fully. for instance walking up or down stairs hurts.
Feb 1 2010 11:57AM
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Mr.Panda
Posts: 17711 - Karma: 564
Let it fester until the Dems decide to pass the fucking healthcare/tax bill. And then wait the 3 years for it to take effect. I am sure whatever appendage you hurt won't rot off by gangrene by then but I can't guarantee your life.
Feb 1 2010 12:02PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
oh true. nevermind. i could have sworn that you had a month to apply regardless of whether you were injured/needing it or not
Feb 1 2010 12:31PM
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speedy29
Posts: 868 - Karma: 10
To whatever people said at the top dont try to slip one by the insurance company they WILL catch you and then charge you with everything they can. But good luck man I hope things work out for you.
Feb 1 2010 2:18PM
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Rachy
Posts: 4355 - Karma: 2,761
I had no health insurance and NEEDED to go to the ER. It cost me $600. I still havent paid it. It doesnt show up on my credit report anymore.... It took 3 years but I think the hospital charged it off as bad debt. I'm not saying this is a good thing to do or that it would work for you, but it worked for me. At the same time the Mammoth Hospital is probably one of the most bankrupt hospitals in the US. Probably also why things are outrageously priced at the hospital.
Feb 1 2010 2:23PM
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factory81
Posts: 3967 - Karma: 63
i gotta pay $75 to see a doctor. and if i get an x-ray fuck that, i gotta pay for people to take it, look at it, all that shit.


im going to the doc with $75 tomorrow and imma be like alright i want a cortisone shot for my ass to relieve the coccyx discomfort. then i want an opiate substance for the pain with my coccyx and my knee.



i can't afford to pay for x-rays.

fucking thing sucks
Feb 1 2010 2:30PM
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freestyler540
Posts: 13106 - Karma: 18,906
+karma for giving hope to NS


Feb 1 2010 4:01PM
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,684
It won't be free unroll doctors and nurses decide to work for free. And the guys who make the medical equipment and the receptionest and the guy who drives the truck to get shit to the hospital, and the guys who built the hospital... you get the idea. ( hopefully ).
Any way it won't be free. The only difference between a national health care plan is that you and I would be paying for it instead of him. The actual cost ( if you want to maintain the same level of care) won't go down.

Personally I am glad that I don't have to pay for his irresponsibility.
Feb 1 2010 4:24PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
so he doesnt pay taxes?
Feb 1 2010 4:41PM
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hablablaha
Posts: 201 - Karma: 15
this is not directed at every american or "americans" as people.. but some times when i hear people arguing against public helthcare i just get the feeling that i cant fuckin belive so many of the american people are unable to se through the propaganda the small elitist fraction of the population that makes all of the money has enforced(?) on the people to squeeze the last penny of from them and keep the social class spectra scatered enough to make sure a "climb on the ladder" is beyond reach for most people.
you get the feeling that the american dream is just.. a dream. Its every mans right to dream about the kind of life that only a verry selected few is entitled to.

i wonder if i get banned now?
Feb 1 2010 6:15PM
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hablablaha
Posts: 201 - Karma: 15
or maybe i just dont get it...
Feb 1 2010 6:18PM
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dbstar
Posts: 2038 - Karma: 20
pm delphi or skiminnesota, they both will offer great insight into your problem
Feb 1 2010 6:47PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
yeah, i looked some more, i could have sworn there was some sort of clause allowing you like a month without insurance and you could apply no penalty. but maybe i was wrong. or maybe you apply but dont activate it... idk.

i wasnt advocating insurance fraud, i could have sworn you were allowed some sort of grace period.
Feb 1 2010 6:52PM
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Typical
Posts: 2269 - Karma: 83
hahahaha. Yea, well if the bill passes I think preexisting conditions will be required to be covered by insurance companies at the time of passage.
Feb 1 2010 6:53PM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
lol


i would want to know why you are skiing without health insurance? (cause ide have a damn hard time doing that)

i would also wonder why you let this problem get away from you? if you had insurance until dec 31 why did you not do everything in your power to stay insured? (or maybe you did?) but i would have been feverishly looking into what plans i could afford, Cobra, etc.

i would have had a plan so when i take a fall skiing, i know my situation, in terms of insurance.

grab life by the balls and take charge, dont let things just happen. make them happen.


who knows, with fewer regulations you may have been able to afford a cheap no frills health insurance policy. but thats purely speculation on my part. but be assured if your state is anything like my state you are saddled with numerous regulations as to what an insurance policy must cover.

when im done with college ide love to be able to purchase a no frills, catastrophic event health insurance plan. (for cheap) something that would cover the big things in life. not everyday medical needs. IE a flue shot, or strep test.

ide buy coverage for if i fall deathly ill, break my leg, something of that nature.
Feb 1 2010 6:57PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
holy speculation batman
Feb 1 2010 7:01PM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
do you have a pet mouse in your pocket?

who is "we"? cause i am NOT in favor of providing free (no such thing) government healthcare to everyone.
Feb 1 2010 7:02PM
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Typical
Posts: 2269 - Karma: 83
Okay okay, I take offense at 'his irresponsibility'. Am I irresponsible for being hurting or for not having health insurance? Honestly a rude comment.
Feb 1 2010 7:04PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
dont you know? according to conservatives youre a lazy sack crack addict, just like everyone with out insurance.
Feb 1 2010 7:05PM
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Typical
Posts: 2269 - Karma: 83
You are correct it is called COBRA. I don not think that it applies my case due to my previous plan.
Feb 1 2010 7:06PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
ah. but even with COBRA, you have a set amount of time to apply, after your insurance expires. i know i went a month a few years without health insurance because my dad skips jobs, and basically we applied but didnt activate it because you dont have to unless you need it. idk, i was younger, i may be remembering wrong.
Feb 1 2010 7:07PM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
be rest assured, ide have to be at the absolute end of my rope. (like one finger) before i reached this stage.

but go do your social services office and see what they can do. there are a whole plethora of government programs to help people. and its honestly stupid to speculate on NS if you would qualify for any of these. (atleast MN has a shit ton of government health care options)
Feb 1 2010 7:11PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51738 - Karma: 163,438
If you can pay some of it they'll probably help you out. And then if you don't pay them back then whatever. Nobo''ys going to come after you and send you too debtors prison. Hopsitals lose money every year from people who don't pay them back.

Some people send them like 5 bucks a week for a while. Def apply for the aid though. Try a few different ones and see what you can come up with.

Good luck
Feb 1 2010 7:16PM
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Typical
Posts: 2269 - Karma: 83
Yea, in retrospect I have contemplated how I could have stretched my budget and all, but now it really doesn't matter.

Luckily I have found a 'case manager' who is helping me find assistance as I need it.
Feb 1 2010 7:21PM
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Typical
Posts: 2269 - Karma: 83
A great example of how most of us already pay for the health care cost of the homeless and the poor. In some cases costs could decrease if primary care was available to everyone and we could possibly pay less for our insurance.

Just sayin'
Feb 1 2010 7:35PM
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prontocuts.com
Posts: 5244 - Karma: 42
MN has a crazy stupid free healthcare system, we bring in soooo many people because of it.
Feb 1 2010 7:38PM
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Mr.Panda
Posts: 17711 - Karma: 564
Jackass, it isn't crack... it is heroin and meth you fucktard liberal hippy pot smoking tree hugging bisexual douchebag!
Feb 1 2010 7:42PM
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Static
Posts: 8559 - Karma: 4,128
dude, if anything your irresponsibility is an example of why we need government health care, to force assholes like yourself to pay. You group yourself in with homeless people as you post in an internet forum for one of the more expensive sports in the world. You couldn't afford health care? well then you should be able to afford anything else past food and shelter. Should it be someone else's burden that you valued material items more than you respect the wallets(essentially the labor) of your neighbor?
Feb 1 2010 8:23PM
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