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rurallib

(62,346 posts)
Wed Apr 17, 2013, 11:25 AM Apr 2013

Question: What happens to the uninsured victims of a disaster like Boston?

Even though Massachusetts has universal care (sort of) no doubt some of the victims did not have medical insurance. So if someone runs up a $500,000 bill who pays it? Are they dunned for the rest of their lives? I haven't heard of general funds to cover disaster victims. Hospitals can only swallow so much free care.

What about the victims in any of the recent shootings? Those in Aurora, Colorado - my mind kind of blanks right now on the others. Some no doubt spent some expensive time in the hospital, some no doubt were disabled and can never work again adding to the pain. SSDB probably wouldn't even come close to covering their former lifestyle.

I have to leave for a few hours, but would appreciate any answers. This has been bugging me for a long time. I also wonder why this aspect of an incident like Boston is never covered. My feeling has been that corporate media is mum about this because they don't want to stir up the single payer folks and those who want gun owners to pay some sort of liability insurance.

Thanks in advance.

34 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Question: What happens to the uninsured victims of a disaster like Boston? (Original Post) rurallib Apr 2013 OP
Gun sellers and manufacterers should be responsible for gun deaths. graham4anything Apr 2013 #1
That didn't answer the OP's question leftynyc Apr 2013 #6
Emergency rooms have to take all patients. graham4anything Apr 2013 #10
See, that wasn't so hard leftynyc Apr 2013 #20
They take you. Afterward payment, and rehab is another story. graham4anything Apr 2013 #21
At least the word salad was vaguely coherent this time... n/t Egalitarian Thug Apr 2013 #17
Isn't it obvious? The manufacturer of the pressure cookers, of course. Freddie Stubbs Apr 2013 #19
Most states have victim's assistance programs Warpy Apr 2013 #2
Maybe some of their friends/co-workers have bake sales, yard sales, to raise money. raccoon Apr 2013 #3
I would imagine the GOPDon'tCare program kicks in...... lastlib Apr 2013 #4
They end up poor, disabled, unemploy(ed)(able) and their families are ruined forever SoCalDem Apr 2013 #5
I'm so terribly sorry that you are right. n/t Egalitarian Thug Apr 2013 #16
Great post. nt raccoon Apr 2013 #27
Like Herr Romney mentioned Xyzse Apr 2013 #7
They hold fund raisers in some cases. I remember a few years ago a woman who was a victim sabrina 1 Apr 2013 #8
One Fund Boston frazzled Apr 2013 #9
The Firefighters have also set up a fund. femmocrat Apr 2013 #11
Someone should start a Facebook page for people to check in on that and tell their JDPriestly Apr 2013 #12
In the case of the Aurora shooting, subterranean Apr 2013 #13
My recollection gvstn Apr 2013 #14
the hospitals and docs may well forgive the debts cali Apr 2013 #15
Great question. There's also the care needed long afterwards for some. suffragette Apr 2013 #18
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES Bigmack Apr 2013 #22
Also, more money on actual care and less on insurance industry that diverts the $$$ from care suffragette Apr 2013 #23
they get treated then they get bills they probably can't pay. librechik Apr 2013 #24
In MA they could apply for Mass Health as of the day of the bombing NotThisTime Apr 2013 #25
while i feel bad for the marathon victims, what about the poor smucks who get shot on the street dembotoz Apr 2013 #26
Thank you to all the respondents. Sadly, you pretty much confirmed rurallib Apr 2013 #28
There has been a fund set up that has so far raised a huge amount of money smirkymonkey Apr 2013 #29
The Boston incident is all over the news rurallib Apr 2013 #30
Send the bills to the NRA. Brigid Apr 2013 #31
High medical expenses are the leading cause of personal bankruptcy. Jim Lane Apr 2013 #32
+1 n/t area51 Apr 2013 #33
They pay or go bankrupt treestar Apr 2013 #34
 

graham4anything

(11,464 posts)
1. Gun sellers and manufacterers should be responsible for gun deaths.
Wed Apr 17, 2013, 11:28 AM
Apr 2013

If they are proud enough to sell it, they should take responsiblity
Same with cigarette manufactuers with cigarette deaths

that is an angle that should be looked into

A bartender should be responslibe for giving someone who is drunk another drink, if that person later on gets into an accident by himself or involving others.

Parents in NJ are responsible if there are underage drinking at their homes even if the parent is not there.

and it should be zero tolerance

as to bombs, I will ponder that aspect.

There are ways to make sure zero guns/bullets are not in perimeter.

 

graham4anything

(11,464 posts)
10. Emergency rooms have to take all patients.
Wed Apr 17, 2013, 11:42 AM
Apr 2013

Afterwards is why the new healthcare plan by President Obama will be so wonderful

 

leftynyc

(26,060 posts)
20. See, that wasn't so hard
Wed Apr 17, 2013, 12:33 PM
Apr 2013

It's true that emergency rooms must treat everybody - they don't do it for free.

raccoon

(31,091 posts)
3. Maybe some of their friends/co-workers have bake sales, yard sales, to raise money.
Wed Apr 17, 2013, 11:32 AM
Apr 2013

And they could also put a jar at their local convenience store.

And this sort of thing makes me want to


"My feeling has been that corporate media is mum about this because they don't want to stir up the single payer folks and those who want gun owners to pay some sort of liability insurance."

By George, I think you're onto something.




SoCalDem

(103,856 posts)
5. They end up poor, disabled, unemploy(ed)(able) and their families are ruined forever
Wed Apr 17, 2013, 11:35 AM
Apr 2013

That's what happens to them..

They are in everyone's prayers & thoughts for now...until the next incident happens and a whole new crop of people-to-worry about comes along.. They become old-news soon enough.

People will buy those ribbons & have vigils, but other than the ubiquitous "remembrance anniversaries", don't expect any cold hard cash to come the way of many of these people.


We do the grief-gasm quite effectively, but we lose focus (as a society) and toss aside the people we publicly fawned over not that long ago..

why?

Because it costs REAL money..in a sustained fashion to support devastated families..

Xyzse

(8,217 posts)
7. Like Herr Romney mentioned
Wed Apr 17, 2013, 11:40 AM
Apr 2013

Don't poor people just go to the Emergency Room for free care?



Sorry, I am not sure. However, I am pretty sure some of this goes directly to the ER which then passes on the cost to the government. Either way, very expensive.

Granted, this is limited, but I thought that was how it would go.

Still, that is the initial thing that happens. After ER, which is post-treatment... like other people say here, they will get ruined financially.

sabrina 1

(62,325 posts)
8. They hold fund raisers in some cases. I remember a few years ago a woman who was a victim
Wed Apr 17, 2013, 11:40 AM
Apr 2013

of one of these attacks who survived but needed ongoing medical care, was seen holding a car wash with some of her friends. She did not want it covered in the media.

I am sure they will be billed for their care after we have all moved on to the next tragedy, which should be in about a week or two.

frazzled

(18,402 posts)
9. One Fund Boston
Wed Apr 17, 2013, 11:41 AM
Apr 2013

Set up by Mayor Menino and Governor Patrick. It will help the families of victims. It's not just the immediate hospital bills but months or years of rehabilitation for many of these people.

http://onefundboston.com/pdf/theonefundboston.pdf

To contribute:

http://onefundboston.org/

femmocrat

(28,394 posts)
11. The Firefighters have also set up a fund.
Wed Apr 17, 2013, 11:43 AM
Apr 2013

Saw it on CNN. I'll try to find the link. I googled Boston Firefighters and found this.

Boston’s First Responders Fund
c/o Boston Firefighters Credit Union
60 Hallet Street
Dorchester, MA 02124

https://www.bosfirecu.com/

CNN has some other places to donate, like the Children's Hospital if anyone is interested.

JDPriestly

(57,936 posts)
12. Someone should start a Facebook page for people to check in on that and tell their
Wed Apr 17, 2013, 11:45 AM
Apr 2013

stories.

Whether the government pays probably depends on the state -- and probably doesn't cover all the costs.

Someone may sue the Boston Marathon???? I don't know, and the likelihood of winning???? Again, who knows. But???? What could the Boston Marathon have done differently. Police and security dogs were apparently present.

Charity hospitals and doctors? If they exist. This is a good bet. When you pay for your insurance, you may be paying for the care of the uninsured -- unintentionally perhaps, but you may be.

Cosmetic surgery -- probably charity. Long-term care for those who are permanently scarred. Very hard. My heart goes out to them.

The seriously disabled? SSI or private insurance???

Note: these are just possibilities. I really don't know. But it is an excellent question.


We need single payer. No question.

subterranean

(3,427 posts)
13. In the case of the Aurora shooting,
Wed Apr 17, 2013, 11:59 AM
Apr 2013

some of the hospitals capped or covered the expenses of the uninsured victims they treated.

One of those victims was Caleb Medley, an aspiring comedian who was rendered comatose by the shooting. Media reports said he was facing up to $2 million in medical bills. His friends put together a website to raise funds for him, but I don't know what became of that.

http://gawker.com/5929210/three-colorado-hospitals-will-cap-or-cover-medical-expenses-of-uninsured-aurora-shooting-victims

gvstn

(2,805 posts)
14. My recollection
Wed Apr 17, 2013, 12:01 PM
Apr 2013

Is that usually the government State/Federal (depending on the size of the tragedy) is shamed into making a deal with the hospitals for immediate care. A year later it isn't politically necessary and my guess is the victims are left to their own devices. No special deals, just left to the pauper's safety net if after years of degrading begging then are deemed to "qualify".

I can't point to any sources but remember the 911 firefighters who had to sue to get covered for cancers that were striking men in their prime 30's-40's. These were emergency workers and they weren't even covered. Disgusting. Pathetic.

Here is a quick article on Aurora and I think Boston will be about the same. I hope initial costs will be absorbed b the government/hospitals and then the Boston One fund can be used for continuing care and financial assistance (without mandating poverty in order to qaualify) but that is not guaranteed.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/25/aurora-shooting-medical-bills-_n_1704209.html

 

cali

(114,904 posts)
15. the hospitals and docs may well forgive the debts
Wed Apr 17, 2013, 12:05 PM
Apr 2013

That's what happened in CO re the theater shooting victims.

and personally, I had a nasty accident that resulted in a 5 hour surgery a year and a half ago and had no insurance. The hospital forgave my debt. It's not uncommon.

suffragette

(12,232 posts)
18. Great question. There's also the care needed long afterwards for some.
Wed Apr 17, 2013, 12:14 PM
Apr 2013



http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-08-02/colorado-shooting-victims-medical-bills/56723528/1

Carolyn Tuft, 50, knows the feeling. She, her daughter, and seven other people were shot five years ago at a mall in Salt Lake City. Her daughter, Kirsten Hinckley, 15, died. Tuft, who was hit in the back, arm and lung, spent three weeks in the intensive care unit and had seven surgeries.
The hospital wrote off more than $100,000 in immediate care costs for Tuft, who was not insured. About $10,000 from a fund for victims and gifts from friends paid her expenses the first year after the shooting.
Since then though, Tuft, who is unemployed, has struggled to pay for the ongoing care she needs to treat chronic pain and lead poisoning from the bullet fragments still inside her.
"It's completely destroyed my credit and my life," Tuft said. "I can't rent an apartment or buy a car because of my medical bills."

We need single payer.
 

Bigmack

(8,020 posts)
22. YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
Wed Apr 17, 2013, 12:49 PM
Apr 2013

We do indeed need SINGLE PAYER! We need to spend MORE money on LIFE (health care) and less on DEATH (military spending). Ms Bigmack

suffragette

(12,232 posts)
23. Also, more money on actual care and less on insurance industry that diverts the $$$ from care
Wed Apr 17, 2013, 03:13 PM
Apr 2013

and sometimes denies care altogether while siphoning off the money.

librechik

(30,663 posts)
24. they get treated then they get bills they probably can't pay.
Wed Apr 17, 2013, 03:39 PM
Apr 2013

there may be some assistance (MA has MA CAre) if they are Mass citizens, or from other unknown sources. But that is how the hospital handles an ER bill. Sent to the patient, if Insurance can't pay.

NotThisTime

(3,657 posts)
25. In MA they could apply for Mass Health as of the day of the bombing
Wed Apr 17, 2013, 04:09 PM
Apr 2013

If they are not poor, they will have to meet a deductible and then they will be covered for the rest of their life, there is a monthly charge that is reasonable if the person is not below the threshold set, that's for MA residents.

dembotoz

(16,739 posts)
26. while i feel bad for the marathon victims, what about the poor smucks who get shot on the street
Wed Apr 17, 2013, 04:25 PM
Apr 2013

corner in anytown usa

the bombing victims will have funds

the poor local kid who gets crippled by a stray bullet??
not so much

I guess you are somehow lucky if you get injured on tv

know this makes me look heartless, but what about the others

rurallib

(62,346 posts)
28. Thank you to all the respondents. Sadly, you pretty much confirmed
Wed Apr 17, 2013, 06:47 PM
Apr 2013

my worst fears.
I, too, am quite concerned about the youngster who gets permanently disabled by a stray bullet and has lost their future and must struggle through no fault of their own.

I have seen way too many canisters on convenience store counters to think it would be otherwise.

 

smirkymonkey

(63,221 posts)
29. There has been a fund set up that has so far raised a huge amount of money
Wed Apr 17, 2013, 08:59 PM
Apr 2013

to help the victims with their medical bills. I just hope that is is enough. I think it will be. A lot of corporations and individuals have so far donated a large amount and I think more people will continue to contribute. I am sure if there is any shortfall, people will chip in to help the victims cover their medical bills. I certainly hope so.

rurallib

(62,346 posts)
30. The Boston incident is all over the news
Wed Apr 17, 2013, 10:05 PM
Apr 2013

and has huge publicity.
I was kind of wondering about many of the anonymous thousands who are shot in this country and have no health care coverage.
My understanding is that they are patched up and then have a bill they can't pay, pain that they won't be able to deal with and probably have a hard time getting a job. But in this country they are invisible.

 

Jim Lane

(11,175 posts)
32. High medical expenses are the leading cause of personal bankruptcy.
Thu Apr 18, 2013, 04:14 AM
Apr 2013

Many people rack up huge medical bills and have to declare bankruptcy. This is still the case in Massachusetts, by the way, even after the implementation of Romneycare, which is not a single-payer plan.

As others have noted upthread, victims of highly publicized tragedies are more likely to get help. (On a related note, the government made substantial payments to next-of-kin of 9/11 victims. If, elsewhere in the country that day, your spouse took a bullet because he or she happened to be in a store that was getting robbed, tough luck.)

Emergency rooms are required to provide emergency care. They'll stabilize you and discharge you. They're not required to fit you out with a prosthetic leg or the like. Some people have to do without prostheses or pain therapy that would make their lives much more bearable.

Yay, freedom.

treestar

(82,383 posts)
34. They pay or go bankrupt
Thu Apr 18, 2013, 08:15 AM
Apr 2013

That is the wonderful system we have. They should have worked harder so they would have been prepared for something like this.

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