Here we are, right where the republicans want us

[Spacemom]

We have no Insurance. My husband has been sick for a week. He's never been to the doctor as long as I've known him, and we've been married 20 years. I finally convinced him to go this morning. The doc took one look at him and said go straight to the ER. He's been admitted for double pneumonia and is very very I'll. We're looking at thousands in medical bills. Catastrophic. I'm so thankful he's alive and will be okay, but I have no idea where we go from here.

[Mass]

1. Try to negotiate the bills with the hospital.

It still will be expensive, but you should be able to get a discount.

I hope your husband gets better quickly.

[GladRagDahl]

2. Why no insurance?

[Fumesucker]

4. I can think of a lot of reasons someone might not have insurance

Money, preexisting conditions, money, self employed so no employer provided insurance, money..

And so on..

[GladRagDahl]

5. Yes

I can think of lots of reasons why someone doesn't have it -- but not too many people of advanced years. (Married 20 years). Usually people of that age make sure they have insurance one way or another. If we (as I am also of that age group) can't afford it, we apply for medicaid. You don't often see my particular age group letting something as important as insurance lapse, even if we have to pay for it ourselves.

That said, I do wish you the best. Pneumonia is a slow recovery, but in a couple of weeks, he should be feeling much stronger.

[Fumesucker]

6. Medicaid is unvailable in many states for the able bodied no matter how poor they may be

[GladRagDahl]

8. Which ones?

I hadn't heard that before. What states?

[madokie]

7. All my working years I never had a job where they offered insurance

I was never worried as I paid forward for my healthcare years ago. After leaving the Navy I never seen a doctor, 'cept to do work for some, until my 54th birthday and at that point I was admitted to the VA hospital with a DVT.

[dballance]

3. Sorry to hear this.

Although it may be distasteful to your pride, perhaps you should try online fundraising. read here http://www.youcaring.com/blog/post/2013/05/06/Top-5-Online-Fundraising-Sites-For-2013.aspx for examples.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. Negotiate, negotiate, negotiate

and also see how many programs you qualify for, and go to wishadoo.