I am taking my 30 year old non-insured nephew to the dentist today.

[Contrary1]

He needs; at the very least, all his upper teeth pulled. (Talking major decay to the gum line here.)

He has made some bad decisions in his life, but he has always been willing to accept the least paying jobs to earn money. Unfortunately, after he pays child support, his car payment, rent and food, there is little money left over for luxuries, such as regular doctor and dentist visits.

I have found a low-cost dentist that will pull his teeth and provide him with an upper denture for around $1,000. That may go up if there are problem extractions.

To be clear, he did not ask for our help. I caught a glimpse of him trying to eat at a recent family gathering, and decided right then, I could not allow him to suffer like that.

I worked with a man several years ago, who had a persistent cough. It was winter, and he figured it was a cold. The weeks passed, the cough became worse. He finally went to the doctor, who ordered an xray. A mass was found on his lung. The next day he told me that he wished he had never gone to the doctor. No insurance to follow up on whatever the mass was. He figured that at least he would still have the money the doctor had cost him.

What happens to all these folks out there who have nobody? How can people turn a blind eye to anyone who needs assistance? I truly do not understand.

Without giving it a second thought, the whores in Washington will bestow the taxpayers' money to bail out the wealthiest among us. The poor, elderly, veterans, and uninsured will continue to do without.

I find myself enraged as these shit-for-brains grandstand for the cameras in DC. They don't give a damn about anyone but themselves.

Beer :rant:

[Withywindle]

1. Thank you for this timely reminder of who we're fighting for and why.

And thank you for helping someone. :hug:

[FedUpWithIt All]

2. Thank you for being there for someone.

It really is what life is all about IMHO.

[2Design]

3. having no health insurance is tough - getting it is expensive

and if you get sick and can't work and pay it - they drop you - so you wasted your money - insurance outside a company is horrendously expensive for minimal coverage - the best thing is to just go and do the checkups and other things like the dentist before it gets bad - which is easier said then done - this is why many feel they need to go live in another country that is supportive of its citizens - to not have to worry about losing a house because of an illness is a blessing

[Fumesucker]

4. The mother of one of my wife's co workers has MS..

She has problems even in the summer keeping her feet warm in the winter cold feet are an agony sometimes.

A set of electric heated socks for around $150 would help her immensely.

They don't have the money

I'm about to get my daughter to organize some local people to get this lady the socks, she knows about half the county it seems..

[Norrin Radd]

5. kr

[Usrename]

6. k&r

:(

[jody]

7. The world has more goats than sheep. See Matthew 25:31-46 .

You're among the sheep.



Just for you,

Jody

[Hekate]

8. Gods willing we will have national single payer health coverage in our lifetimes.

For you, auntie :hug:

Hekate

[Greyhound]

9. This is what we will not talk about.

There is a large and growing population of people working full-time at subsistence level, far more than we are lead to believe.

Just look at what we've allowed to happen.:grr:


WAKE UP AMERICA!

[Raine]

10. You're a very special person

to offer help to your nephew, he's lucky that he has such a caring person there for him. :hug:

[Liberty Belle]

11. Here's a really callous insurance story - read it and weep.

A friend was just diagnosed with ovarian cancer that's spread throughout her abdomen. It is inoperable and her only hope is chemotherapy.

Minutes after getting this diagnosis, while walking back to her car, she got a call from the insurance company. They just wanted to be sure she knew that her chemo treatments had a $600-per treatment deductible - and that she'd have to bring cash in advance! She needs a minimum of 8 treatments to determine if chemo can give her a chance to live for a few more years (the diagnosis is terminal, but some quality of life improvements are possible).

If she can't pay, she dies.

This is Amerika under the Bush regime.

[salguine]

23. This started way, way, WAY before Bush.

[snappyturtle]

12. Compassion. You have just given your nephew a new lease on life!.

I don't EVER want to hear from gov't types that healthcare is just too expensive after these bailout plans to reward people who didn't and never will give a damn about their citizen brothers. Unfortunately, I think healthcare has heard the death knell.

[Truth2Tell]

13. K&R Post of the day! nt

[OakCliffDem]

14. Kicked and Recommended

[OneGrassRoot]

15. I can empathize. With no insurance, I...

do my best to stay healthy -- prevention is certainly a key word for those of us who are uninsured, and that's a very positive thing. However, I have no desire to have a physical or any tests because -- as the young man said above -- if they found something, I couldn't do anything about it.

In this instance I suppose I'm like a freeper: ignorance is bliss.

:)

[RayOfHope]

16. You are wonderful for helping, and you're right. ITs shameful.

I teach, and I see kids all the time with painful rotted teeth. Its horrible for them.

Basic medical and dental should not be luxury items. I am 36, and for the first time in my adult life my family has dental insurance starting on Oct 1. Unbelievable.

[Vinca]

17. The system is so broken - it makes no sense at all.

I had a bout of Lyme Disease this summer which puts me among the "uninsurables" (if I could ever afford health insurance in the first place). Your poor nephew is lucky he has you.

[1776Forever]

18. To those of you on DU that have not had to face this - THANK God!

My 38 year-old son developed Progressive MS 4 years ago and we helped him out for a year and a half and lost most of all we had saved up because he needed a roof over his head and care that he couldn't get because he had no minor children (none for that matter) and was never married so Adult and Children's Services in FL would not give us any help for him. He has had medical issue's all his life because when he was a baby he had a terrible fever that almost took his life but back in the late 60's I could not take him into a hospital because we had no insurance. It hasn't gotten any better! I wish this on no one! I do thank the University of South Florida Specialists for giving my son his life back! If it hadn't been for them he would not be here.

Thank you Contrary1 for helping your nephew! We got no help from my rich sister and brother and it really hurt to know we were alone. It wasn't just money that we spent, my health suffered through this terrible time when my son almost lost his life because of inadequate care. Maybe you should find out if the University Dental Community in your area might help you out in getting the care your nephew needs.

Blessings to you and your nephew!

:hug:

[salguine]

19. I keep saying it, but—Paris, 1789...

[raccoon]

20. Kudos to you for your kindness to your nephew. nt

[TuxedoKat]

21. Thank you

and God bless you for helping your nephew. Dental problems are so expensive too. Someone mentioned university dental school care might be a good option if you have a dental school near you. They do great work at a much lower rate and the students' work is always checked thoroughly by their professors. Also, we don't have dental insurance so my dentist always give our family a 10% professional discount, so you might check into something like that as well. Good luck to your nephew. Some studies show that CoQ10 supplements may be helpful for gum health too.

[SammyWinstonJack]

22. Well a lot of people in this Country, non wealthy people, do not want

the government messing with their health care and will fight it. Makes no sense to me. I guess they don't realize that the same people trying real hard to convince them that government health care is bad for them, are the same people who have government health care paid for, by them. :dunce:

[undeterred]

24. Do you think these assholes with golden parachutes

ever help anyone? Ever realize how many people suffer and die because they can't afford routine care? What you are calling a "luxury" should be something no one has to go without. Everyone should have enough teeth to eat a meal without feeling pain.

[chill_wind]

25. Thank you. But the bipartisan political theatre and game-manship

for the cameras is what is uppermost.

"Without giving it a second thought, the whores in Washington will bestow the taxpayers' money to bail out the wealthiest among us. The poor, elderly, veterans, and uninsured will continue to do without."

That's ok. As long as we're all doing it, but we can make the Republicans look worse than even us for it.

:sarcasm:

There are no heroes in this bailout. If I see the words "brilliant game-manship" or "hero" and "Congress" in the same sentence one more time, I'm going to vomit.

[nolabels]

26. Good luck

I have been going to the same dentist for years but my employer changed the plan. The new dentist i had to get was going to want to get over $5,000 for my deductible part. I went to another on the plan who gave an even higher estimate. Went back to my old dentist to see whats up and he partly sided with the other dentists. I was figuring what's up :shrug:

They are just like us all, they just see money to be made and your concerns are secondary as long as they can get you into the chair agreeing on the payment plan.

I told the new dentist office that they will have to work with me. So this round i will pay about 1,500. in deductibles and the insurance is picking up about 2,000 to get the most needed work done

[QueenOfCalifornia]

27. You are doing a kind deed

thank you!

[Suspicious]

28. If we all start

looking out and caring for eachother like you are looking out and caring for your nephew, the world will change more quickly than we probably realize. I can't remember where I read it, but I've tried to live by it since: "Always give more than you think you can afford."

"Without giving it a second thought, the whores in Washington will bestow the taxpayers' money to bail out the wealthiest among us. The poor, elderly, veterans, and uninsured will continue to do without.

I find myself enraged as these shit-for-brains grandstand for the cameras in DC. They don't give a damn about anyone but themselves."

I am SO with you on this. Eventually, however, I have to believe that their kind will be "phased out" through the evolutional process! :)

[leftyladyfrommo]

29. Do you have a dental school in town? That's where I go because

it costs about a third of a regular dentist - and they do really good work. Takes longer.

[Morning Dew]

30. they do good work.

You do need to set aside a bunch of time, though. One time it took eight hours over three appointments for them to clean my dad's teeth. I'm guessing they start the new students on cleanings.

[leftyladyfrommo]

42. duplicate - deleted

[leftyladyfrommo]

43. You have to be patient.

But I neede expensive stuff done - I had to have one tooth extracted and two implants. Would have probably cost me 8-10 thousand at a regular dentist.

The extract was about $70. The implants were $579 each. And I have to wait for the implants to heal for 3-4 months and then I will have caps put on - about
$350 each.

Its really a lot cheaper.

[kineneb]

31. thank you, and my story...

I am in a low-income public health care program, and the only major dental work it covers is extraction...molar cracks- crowns are not covered- pull it...need a root canal- not covered- pull it... It is no wonder I see so many of the poor with missing teeth.

So... several weeks ago, the glue on my one crown let go and the crown popped off. I called around and discovered that everyone wanted $75 up front, before they would even look in my mouth. I gave up on a proper appointment and decided to ask a dentist who is a fellow Rotarian (who knows about my financial situation) if he could just glue it back in. I got an appointment, and within 15 min, he glued the crown back in and I was ready to go. Blessings upon him...he did it for no charge. So now I have a real back molar again.

Thank you for caring.

[undergroundpanther]

35. and the stereotypes

>I am in a low-income public health care program, and the only major >dental work it covers is extraction...molar cracks- crowns are not >covered- pull it...need a root canal- not covered- pull it... It is >no wonder I see so many of the poor with missing teeth.

I am beginning to lose my teeth.Had one pulled because MA will only yank as long as the tooth does not crack and complicate the extraction MA pays. I had half a tooth that was filled break off. It's a molar.I need it to chew. I am going to put it off as long as I can because of course they'll pull it out.

And...I hate it when people that have never had to have a tooth pulled and have a gap left make fun of poor people calling them hillbillies and trailer trash.Stupid assholes go on yammering on about their lack of teeth as if it is because they are too stupid or uneducated to take care of their teeth.Usually it is a comedian and I bet he isn't on MA.Where every tooth problem is solved by pulling it out.
I brush several times a day. It hasn't saved my teeth from facing extractions when a crown would have left me able to chew on both sides instead of one side..poor bashing assholes never stop to think their 'funny' is really fucking cruel.

[undergroundpanther]

32. I have MA

but for the most part I am alone.I deal with the shit that hits alone. It's killing me this isolation this feeling that I am abandoned.I have a fucked up back I can get painkillers but I fear for those who CAN'T get them.
I have an ovarian cyst 5.7 centimeters big. But the MA won't let the doctor take it out unless it is 6 centimeters. It has been there nearly a year now. I wonder is it malignant or not? Who knows? I won't know until it is 6 centimeters big.Why Because MA cuts corners as much as possible.That cyst is not important,because Mr.parasite golden Parachute over there has chipped a fingernail and he needs our money to feed his insatiable greed and image.

Because I am not rich, pretty, young enough,or working,or whatever else gets you accepted, I know mean nothing to the well off, nothing to those who have.
Most people in this country are expendable to the have-it-alls.

And I DO hate rich people.I resent them.

So many people are suffering because of the greed of a few spoiled self absorbed narcissistic assholes,who have more money than any of us could spend in a lifetime..don't want to share ANY of it.But they demand we give up more and more and suffer for THEM?

Fuck the rich,they deserve to suffer for once.Let the rich go without luxury.So that all of us can get health care , go to dentists,and have heating oil/or even better, solar heat, and healthy food, GOOD public transportation and time off to rest,time to form friendships,learn and be with our families,friends and pets and build our happiness and live the kind of lives that mean something to US.
The Rich get to have healthy lives of joy,adventure,good schools,treated with respect,finding meaning and fufillment..So,WHY Can't WE???

I wish one rich asshole, just one would help your nephew it would be to the asshole with 50 million dollars,like blowing a penny to ease years of pain.And those $150 socks one piggy person getting 30 million it would be like spending a nickle to them.
And just imagine what 70 BILLION dollars could do twords helping the millions that suffer and go without.

No that money goes to rich people rewarding them for being failures.

I hate them.I hate every rich fucker in Washington that gives the rich and evil, OUR money.as if stupid scamming rich people deserve more money even when they have too much already and have no decency,and these criminal pigs will never suffer a mouthful of bad teeth,worry about a cyst,or go without warming socks..Noo they get pampered like show poodles.While we hurt.

I wish it was legal to go silver spooner huntin' and shoot me a fat pig with too much and take it all away, and bring home the bacon,and give it to everyone,who needs it,for once I could help!
The rich have so much.Too much..too much to have to bother to care who suffers so that they never get pinched by life's bitter suffering.

[nadinbrzezinski]

33. Why we need single payer health care like a bad dream

[Contrary1]

34. Update on the dental visit:

First, I want to thank everyone for their kind words. I was in one of my moods when I posted this, and probably should have waited until I was a little bit less angry. Ok...a lot. :)

Things did not go as I had hoped today, My nephew had told me that he had only 10 upper teeth left, and that his lower teeth were not causing too much trouble.

Turns out, he has 16 uppers. Six of them had broken down completely to the gum line. The gums then grew over them. His lower teeth are just as bad it seems. Every tooth in his mouth, with the exception of the two front, are abscessed or infected. I saw the xrays, so I know they aren't trying to pull a fast one.

The bottom line is that he needs about $3,700. worth of work done, with most of the cost due to the complicated extraction. They require payment at the time of service. He was prescribed antibiotics and a strong oral rinse, which should help some with his discomfort.

We can afford to help him to a point, but aren't able to foot the whole bill for him. I am going to check with the university dental school, but even if it is cheaper there, my nephew may not be able to get the days off that he would need.

So we will be going to Plan B, just as soon as I can come up with it.

Thanks again for all the support. I really appreciate that I can come to DU and pound out my frustrations in the middle of the night, knowing that kindred spirits are out there who understand.

:pals:

[undergroundpanther]

37. If I was a dentist..

I could not sleep at night knowing how bad your nephews teeth are. I would not charge so much. Fuck profit the guy is in pain and he needs help.

If I were a dentist I would charge the rich a shit load,so I could treat some of the poor for cheap or even free.

How can this dentist just send him home with antibiotics and mouth rinse and not feel ashamed of himself?

[Liberal_in_LA]

39. Are they able to start some of the work, based on the bit you are chipping in?

I hate the idea of people having tooth pain.

[Greyhound]

41. Thanks for the update, I'm outraged at the state of our nation and really

pissed that we tolerate this. We have regressed so far it is just shocking and nearly everybody just pretends things aren't that bad.

:grr:

:kick:

[SeattleGirl]

36. You are a good and decent person, Contrary

And you are right; the folks in DC overall don't give a damn about anyone but themselves.

[undergroundpanther]

38. Why do the folks in DC

get to control whether we can afford a dentist or not? Who gave them that power to rob us of our health?

Why do people obey the assholes in DC and not march down there and beat the tar out of them and ditto for all the rich in other places the rich hide?
Why do we tolerate this shit?
It makes NO sense.

[Eurobabe]

40. Very sad, luckily this young man has you

I cannot believe that things like this happen in what is supposed to be a civilized country. Unreal.