Zoe
Member
It should be, but depending on the size of the company, don't be surprised if they can put 2+2 together.
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Dying Daughter's Health Insurance Cut By Wells Fargo
- Thread starter Measley
- Start date
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It should be, but depending on the size of the company, don't be surprised if they can put 2+2 together.
Majima Everywhere System
Member
Chump change for 1 life saving surgery, even if they still had deductibles to meet and coinsurances to pay. Sucks that this bro didn't take a more active role in his families well-being by following up on COBRA, but he could probably have stood to have been notified by his shitty employer.
dark_chris
Gold Member
Hey, I made a thread a year ago about being fired for clocking in wrong on accident.
Shit people who dont like you can fire you for any reason.
The bigger concern is the fucking hospital. WTF is wrong with them?! I woulda sued them too. This system is completely fucked up and needs to be fixed PRONTO.
I´m a bit confused: Why would it take 90 days waiting for information for this COBRA thing? Couldn´t he just sign up for it himself? Make a bunch of calls etc? Get someone on the case asap? I don´t understand how there could be such a gap between insurances suddenly either, he fit the requirements to have this COBRA thing, so shouldn´t it be working right away from the moment he lost the other one (paperwork fixed or not)?
Also, isn´t it true that hospitals/docters have to help you? Insurance or not?
Also, isn´t it true that hospitals/docters have to help you? Insurance or not?
Zoe
Member
The COBRA thing is pretty odd. That should be an automatic process coming from the administrator. I've always gotten the info within one, no more than two, weeks.
As for the duty to treat, that applies to emergencies.
StickSoldier
Member
Evil ass people man
Can't really blame Wells here if he was using the wrong times. Like the bank I work for, Wells Fargo is an "at will" employer, meaning you can leave them for any reason, and they can terminate you, for any reason deemed necessary.
Plenty of my fellow employees have been fired for not correctly putting in the correct time. We kinda go by the honor system with times, and your supervisor is the one responsible for making sure the time is sent to payroll. If there is an inconsistency, or you are caught giving yourself more time than allowed, you're fired.
Unfortunately, his daughter's health was a sore coincidence, i'm guessing.
Plenty of my fellow employees have been fired for not correctly putting in the correct time. We kinda go by the honor system with times, and your supervisor is the one responsible for making sure the time is sent to payroll. If there is an inconsistency, or you are caught giving yourself more time than allowed, you're fired.
Unfortunately, his daughter's health was a sore coincidence, i'm guessing.
Messypandas
Member
I don't care who was at fault, an innocent child died because no-one could foot the bill. What a fucked up situation
It's all about freedomz.
Seriously it's a fucking joke. I know 'Obamacare' isn't as good as the NHS, but it's a step in the right direction.
Actually, even as a visitor to the US, you stand the chance to really fuck yourself over if you don't pick up medical travel insurance.
Zoe
Member
Ah, i see. Thanks for clearing that up
Actually, reading up more on the notice issue:
http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq-consumer-cobra.html
maniac-kun
Member
Sorry but your health system is pretty fucked up US GAF.
Pai Pai Master
Banned
Fixed. Someone could have. Bottom line was more important.
planar1280
Banned
All it comes down to . Cost cost cost
Fix the cost and you can never even need insurance
Fix the cost and you can never even need insurance
The article has almost no actual details, and I'm saying what was almost certainly the reason for his firing. I've seen it happen before. Supervisors typically don't keep close track of people's schedules, and typically do sign off on any plausible time sheet. When you have an erratic schedule, it makes it easier to pad your hours by lying.
It refutes the claim that I was responding to, that "it's BS every time it's done" (referring to firing someone for lying about their hours).
Duane Cunningham
Member
Shame on us and our greedy disgusting need to make a buck on literally everything. Capitalism is appropriate for cars and tvs. It's not appropriate for healthcare, because when financial concerns are at odds with a human being, the former will win every time. We need our own NHS. Let these fucking monsters selling life go sell cars instead. Life shouldn't be for sale.
Complex Shadow
Cudi Lame
i am just wondering. couldn't the guy just some how pay for treatment by credit or something while he waited for insurance or something? how much was the treatment?
Bitmap Frogs
Mr. Community
My brother's job did the same thing to him before one of his surgeries.
The lapse in coverage allowed the cancer to grow rampant in his liver
Oh god.
I'm so sorry. These stories are heartbreaking.
This is america dude and it's cancer. It probably would've been hundreds of thousands.
This is the bill from my kids MRI, and that's just an MRI.
Granted that's what they billed my insurance, but still the whole thing ended up costing me around 3k out of pocket when it was all said and done WITH insurance.
Cancer? Surgery? No insurance? Dude probably couldn't get a credit card big enough to charge it to.
AgentP
Thinks mods influence posters politics. Promoted to QAnon Editor.
Yes, yes it is and I'm a natural born US citizen with good insurance. But I know that if I lose my job myself, my wife and three kids are @#$% until I get another job. It is a broken stupid system. Thanks right wing morons who care more about fetuses than people.
Bitmap Frogs
Mr. Community
This is america dude and it's cancer. It probably would've been hundreds of thousands.
This is the bill from my kids MRI, and that's just an MRI.
Granted that's what they billed my insurance, but still the whole thing ended up costing me around 3k out of pocket when it was all said and done WITH insurance.
Cancer? Surgery? No insurance? Dude probably couldn't get a credit card big enough to charge it to.
It is insane.
Over here a CAT scan + diagnostics costs 800. Of course national health will perform them for free, but if you are willing to pay them for yourself you can go to a private medical institution and that's the bill.
I mean Jesus, I can understand certain distrust towards what France or Sweden does, but England? Your anglosaxon cousins?
This is america dude and it's cancer. It probably would've been hundreds of thousands.
This is the bill from my kids MRI, and that's just an MRI.
Granted that's what they billed my insurance, but still the whole thing ended up costing me around 3k out of pocket when it was all said and done WITH insurance.
Cancer? Surgery? No insurance? Dude probably couldn't get a credit card big enough to charge it to.
Wow. Related, I had to have a CT scan done in China. I know a CT machine is different from an MRI machine but as a foreigner in China, the bill for the CT scan was less than 200 dollars. I am Canadian so the idea of paying for stuff like that is foreign to me and I was a little bummed about the 150 bucks but to have to pay 3k with insurance would be a nightmare for me.
This is america dude and it's cancer. It probably would've been hundreds of thousands.
This is the bill from my kids MRI, and that's just an MRI.
Granted that's what they billed my insurance, but still the whole thing ended up costing me around 3k out of pocket when it was all said and done WITH insurance.
Cancer? Surgery? No insurance? Dude probably couldn't get a credit card big enough to charge it to.
Yea, the costs are unbelievable. I've had an ultrasound, a CT Scan, and 4 MRI's in the past two years, and fortunately, only had to pay 150 dollars out of pocket, due to my military benefits.
If I were not a veteran, I'd be fucked right now.
Bitmap Frogs
Mr. Community
Honest to god, I can't understand how you guys can live knowing the first serious health trouble you get will also bankrupt you.
I don't know how they do it either. It is why I always hate the ignorance when I hear Americans go on about the land of the free and that they are the only country with freedom. It is complete brain washing.
Well this year I think I'll end up making less then I spend and healthcare is gonna be a large part of that.
The Technomancer
card-carrying scientician
I don't think most people realize how bad things are. I want to say there were either statistics or a collection of anecdotes posted a while back showing how people's perception of America's "greatest healthcare in the world" and their opinions on healthcare reform change after they actually have to use the system.
Duane Cunningham
Member
I don't know how we live with it either, but it's true. I personally have decent insurance through work, but the premiums are expensive as hell to cover my wife and son. When I was in my early 20's and didn't have a good job with good(ish) benefits, I needed my appendix out, which just wrecked my credit for many years and cost me unbelievable amounts of money. And I'm one of the few who actually dug my way out of the hole. Most people just go bankrupt.
Pagusas
Elden Member
A lot of us have insurance that covers all this, when I was moving along in my career one of my requirements when picking where I wanted to work was the health benifits, I would not work with a company who did not provide good coverage. And even when unemployed I always maintain private coverage, paying for it out of savings if I have to. I feel really bad for people who are in tough situations and lack insurance though, thats why I was for Obama care and hope they push it forward even more, and also why I will not vote for Mitt when he claims the first thing he will do is have it torn apart.
gutter_trash
Banned
another case that proves why access to healthcare should not be dictated by for profit companies.
healthcare should be a public service
healthcare should be a public service
Bitmap Frogs
Mr. Community
But are those "good coverages" good when push comes to shove?
Health care in this country is so fucked up. My mom worked for one of the biggest insurance companies in the country and her health care was fucking horrible. Was pretty ironic considering I worked for a telecom and my health care plan beat hers 10 fold.
Really wish it was all free and we all just paid for it through tax's or something. But omg socialism right? I'd rather be called a nazi if it means my family can afford to see the doctor if something really serious happens versus going bankrupt.
Really wish it was all free and we all just paid for it through tax's or something. But omg socialism right? I'd rather be called a nazi if it means my family can afford to see the doctor if something really serious happens versus going bankrupt.
Duane Cunningham
Member
Exactly. I'm lucky enough to be in your boat myself, but most Americans have "jobs" instead of "careers" and nothing in savings. They're just screwed.
It's such a ridiculous system. Health care shouldn't be tied to work at all, for one thing, and beyond that, it shouldn't be provided by a for-profit industry trying to please shareholders like they were fucking Microsoft or something. It really sucks.
And there's that. All these insurance companies are eager to work with you when they're setting up your automatic premium deduction, but when it's their turn to pay you back, it's all cryptic terminology, labyrinthine phone systems, and god help you if you screwed something up on paper somewhere.
Bitmap Frogs
Mr. Community
Sicko makes a good point on that: police are socialized, firefighters are socialized, defense is socialized...
It's kind of sick that the biggest medical association in the country (the AMA) supports the current system.
Speedymanic
Banned
This is america dude and it's cancer. It probably would've been hundreds of thousands.
This is the bill from my kids MRI, and that's just an MRI.
Granted that's what they billed my insurance, but still the whole thing ended up costing me around 3k out of pocket when it was all said and done WITH insurance.
Cancer? Surgery? No insurance? Dude probably couldn't get a credit card big enough to charge it to.
Jesus Christ. 2k just for lab work? What the fuck. O_O
And what's the misc charge for? nearly 8k and they don't even detail the charge beyond a vague 'misc'.
Fuck. The US healthcare is beyond repair at this point. I can't even see Obamacare sorting this out. It needs to torn down completely and built from the ground up using a similar foundation as the NHS.
Duane Cunningham
Member
Yeah, I'd go an NHS route in a heartbeat. I don't know what the tax would cost, but I bet it would be cheaper than my current premiums, and there'd be less bullshit to wade through.
Tread softly with this, as there is actually a sizable sect in this country that would rather most public services be privatized (or rather, pay as you use).
Duane Cunningham
Member
That's crazy. Who in their right mind would want the fire department and the police to work like the health care industry?? And road crews, too? What, would I just pay to have the road re-paved in front of my house and nowhere else?
Are you aware that in rural areas fire is not socialized? My mom does not pay the fire department in her area and they routinely call her and tell her if her house is on fire they will not help. That they will watch it burn and protect her neighbors.
Girlfriend's dad's insurance is trying to weasel out of paying for a knee replacement because there's "no proof when the damage happened." His knee was fine until he got t-boned by some fuck on his phone and he had to get a metal plate in it. Not so much now. Our system is fucked and anyone who defends it is either A) making money on it or B)brainless.
DietRob
i've been begging for over 5 years.
Agreed it perplexes me to no end why a government would not want to keep their people alive and paying taxes as long as humanly possible.
All the folks making money off the current system, do not want to stop making money. It's really simple, just pure greed.
Then they tell the idiotic public through politicians that this would be socialism and un american. I think everyone helping each other is about as american as it gets .... this entire "I get mine, so fuck everyone else" attitude is really one of the biggest problems with our current culture.
Blue Submarine No. 6
Member
This is america dude and it's cancer. It probably would've been hundreds of thousands.
This is the bill from my kids MRI, and that's just an MRI.
Granted that's what they billed my insurance, but still the whole thing ended up costing me around 3k out of pocket when it was all said and done WITH insurance.
Cancer? Surgery? No insurance? Dude probably couldn't get a credit card big enough to charge it to.
That's simply insane. My wife needed an MRI a couple years ago for a torn up shoulder (muscles or tendons or something)... Our family doctor wrote up the request and she got an appointment the next day to have it done in about 6 weeks... but she was in a lot of discomfort and wanted it done faster than that, so we went to the "private" clinic across the river the next day and got it done for $800... And when my daughter was 13 and an XRay revealed an unknown mass in her skull, she was in the MRI in 30 minutes flat, and subsequently spent six weeks in hospital - much of it in intensive care - and the only bill I had at the end of it all was something like $120 for hospital parking for both our vehicles. If I'd been in the US, I'd have been bankrupt several times over (and - as in the OP - my daughter may not have survived)
You know, I genuinely feel terrible for the kid and her family in the OP, but after watching Americans all over the US supporting the political shenanigans that eviscerated Obama's attempt to reform their health care system, I'm all out of sympathy for the average US citizen and the fact they are at the mercy of grotesque corporate greed and merciless insurance companies. From here it seems the Republicans just have to imply that taxes may go up for something and everyone in the country goes completely apeshit! I honestly don't understand their vehemence against taxes down there - they act like taxes are a bad thing; ime, as a Canadian, taxes pay for much of the security and comfort I enjoy in my life (a nice city, great roads, good schools, health care, policing, fire and paramedic services, etc etc). Taxes - well spent by good government - are the very cornerstone of a decent civilization.
As an aside, if you want to know what a reasonable price for any given medical service might be, find out the cost of that service on a dog or cat at the Veterinarian Hospital. If they can provide an XRay or MRI or lab work for $x for your dog, it should not cost any more for a person, or at least not be an increase by a factor of 10!!
Duane Cunningham
Member
That's crazy. We're the most developed, first world country of all in most respects, but if you really squint your eyes and look closely, there are little ways where we're third world as fuck.
Actually, on the health care issue, I guess you don't have to look very closely.
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