[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by SamIam

Well, my experience has been the opposite. I think one reason the uninsured don't seek help until the last minute is probably about fear of having yet another bill that they can't pay. Plus, a visit to the ER frankly sucks. Its often over-crowded, you get to see a doc for about 5 minutes after a 3 hour wait, there is no continuity of care, etc., etc. Its also hard to be compliant when you have little or no money. It costs a fortune to fill many prescriptions. But we are both speaking anectdotally here. I would like to see some actual numbers/studies.

I will look for some numbers for you.

It is my understanding that the Federal Government actually makes payments to hospitals to cover care for the uninsured. This is one reason hospitals are not as interested in universal coverage.

The feds make payments to the states. The states divi up the money to pay the hospitals. The states determine what they are going to pay individual hospitals for indigent care.

(Mass)I would be interested in seeing a source for this.

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ed...is_failing_us/

http://www.pnhp.org/news/2009/februa...tts_is_no_.php

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/iyah-r..._b_380718.html

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/oct...assachusetts17

http://www.lawlib.state.ma.us/subjec...insurance.html



This supports the changes but points out the issue of costs and costs to the patients in individual insurance.

http://healthcarereform.nejm.org/?p=2135