21% of Americans scramble to pay medical, drug bills

[friendz4evr]

More food for thought on the health care debate that sometime goes on here.

Denise Prosser, 39, has battled cancer since she was a toddler.
Yet Prosser can't afford her next cancer treatment — a radioactive therapy that she's supposed to receive once a year — because she and her husband lost their jobs in December. Without insurance, she has postponed the radiation indefinitely and is taking only half of her asthma medications — sacrifices that often leave her gasping for air and could allow her cancer to come surging back.

"I can't walk more than 100 feet without sounding like I just ran a marathon," says Prosser, of Galloway, N.J.

Prosser is among millions of Americans who struggled last year to pay for health care or medications, the largest poll ever conducted by Gallup shows.

From: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-03-10-gallup-medical-bills_N.htm?POE=click-refer

 

[danmand]

Know anyone that has had surgery in Ontario...I have and I do....and guess what???...GREAT care and NOT 1 penny out of my pocket except for parking at the hospital!!

Those that complain about our medical care in Ontario obviously have never been out of the province or to another country!!!

We''ve got it made here....many many Americans go bankrupt because of their medical bills!!!!

First, I am strongly in favour of government health service for everybody.

BUT, the system in Canada sucks.

I had to go to the US to get timely treatment for
a cancer.

Two days ago, I took my friend to the emergency room with strong pains.
It took 2.5 hours to see the triage nurse, and another 2.5 hours before she
was seemy friend was seen by a doctor, for a total 5 hour wait in unbearable
pain.

I have been to doctors and emergency rooms in Cuba, denmark and Africa.
All these countries, someof which have severe problems, have health services
superior to Canada.

 

[jwmorrice]

First, I am strongly in favour of government health service for everybody.

BUT, the system in Canada sucks.

I had to go to the US to get timely treatment for
a cancer.

Two days ago, I took my friend to the emergency room with strong pains.
It took 2.5 hours to see the triage nurse, and another 2.5 hours before she
was seemy friend was seen by a doctor, for a total 5 hour wait in unbearable
pain.

I have been to doctors and emergency rooms in Cuba, denmark and Africa.
All these countries, someof which have severe problems, have health services
superior to Canada.

2.5 hours to see the triage nurse?! Holy moley, that's insane. That must have been in the boonies of all boonies.

jwm

 

[enduser1]

This is what I have been warning about: What happens when suddenly fourty million Americans can no longer afford Xanax or Prozac?

EU

 

[jwmorrice]

This is what I have been warning about: What happens when suddenly fourty million Americans can no longer afford Xanax or Prozac?

EU

You've got a point. By the way, I was amused at the mantra suggested by the PR flack in the article below. Yeah, that shit'll help.

jwm

Economic woes take toll on workers' mental health
By Ellen Wulfhorst Ellen Wulfhorst Thu Mar 12, 8:03 am ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) – One in five U.S. workers say the recession is causing them mental health problems, as they battle anxiety and fear over the potential loss of their jobs, new research shows.

Among 1,068 employed adults surveyed, 215 said the economic situation has had a negative impact on their mental health, while another 359 workers said their on-the-job stress level has increased. The survey was conducted online for employment agency Adecco USA from February 25-27.

"There's certainly been a pretty severe increase in stress, and stress is a precursor to anxiety and panic," said Dr. Elisha Goldstein, a Los Angeles-based psychologist who specializes in stress issues.

Workers are distracted as well, worrying about keeping their jobs, when layoffs might come or the fate of colleagues who already lost their jobs, he said.

"Companies start to become less effective. It starts to become a downward spiral, where an economic recession starts to become more of an emotional and mental recession," Goldstein said.

With job losses growing, company coffers shrinking and budgets tight, it's no wonder workers' mental health is taking a hit, public relations executive and lecturer Terrie Williams said.

WORRIED SICK

"What's really difficult and very isolating about this experience is that people are walking around with that stuff inside of them. It's pretending that you're fine when you're really worried sick," said Williams, who suffered from depression and wrote about it in her book "Black Pain."

She suggested workers repeat the following mantra to themselves -- "Everybody else is losing their job, but I'm not that one. That's for somebody else. I'm not going to be that one."

Employees can handle workplace anxiety better if a company is frank about how it is faring and if managers are visible, said Bernadette Kenny, chief career officer at Adecco USA, which commissioned the mental health survey.

Canadian motivational speaker Mike Moore had some advice for employers: Be appreciative of employees.

"The thing I hear most is that nobody ever thanks us," he said. "People will walk over miles of razor blades in bare feet for you if they know you appreciate them and tell them."

Business etiquette expert Barbara Pachter cautioned that tempers can wear thin in a workplace filled with stressed-out, anxious employees.

"The important thing to remember when you are harassed or attacked by someone is not to react in a way you will regret later," she said.

"Though it may feel good to say, 'Well, what do you know, you idiot?' it's not going to build your credibility or accomplish anything," she said.

 

[viking1965]

First, I am strongly in favour of government health service for everybody.

BUT, the system in Canada sucks.

I had to go to the US to get timely treatment for
a cancer.

Two days ago, I took my friend to the emergency room with strong pains.
It took 2.5 hours to see the triage nurse, and another 2.5 hours before she
was seemy friend was seen by a doctor, for a total 5 hour wait in unbearable
pain.

I have been to doctors and emergency rooms in Cuba, denmark and Africa.
All these countries, someof which have severe problems, have health services
superior to Canada.

This is also a VERY common occurence here in the US, where we pay $10K to $15K a year (Insurance Premiums) plus "Co-Pays" of $15 - $20 per visit ($100 for Emergency Room) for the "privilege".

 

[enduser1]

You've got a point. By the way, I was amused at the mantra suggested by the PR flack in the article below. Yeah, that shit'll help.

jwm

Economic woes take toll on workers' mental health
By Ellen Wulfhorst Ellen Wulfhorst Thu Mar 12, 8:03 am ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) – One in five U.S. workers say the recession is causing them mental health problems, as they battle anxiety and fear over the potential loss of their jobs, new research shows.

Among 1,068 employed adults surveyed, 215 said the economic situation has had a negative impact on their mental health, while another 359 workers said their on-the-job stress level has increased. The survey was conducted online for employment agency Adecco USA from February 25-27.

"There's certainly been a pretty severe increase in stress, and stress is a precursor to anxiety and panic," said Dr. Elisha Goldstein, a Los Angeles-based psychologist who specializes in stress issues.

Workers are distracted as well, worrying about keeping their jobs, when layoffs might come or the fate of colleagues who already lost their jobs, he said.

"Companies start to become less effective. It starts to become a downward spiral, where an economic recession starts to become more of an emotional and mental recession," Goldstein said.

With job losses growing, company coffers shrinking and budgets tight, it's no wonder workers' mental health is taking a hit, public relations executive and lecturer Terrie Williams said.

WORRIED SICK

"What's really difficult and very isolating about this experience is that people are walking around with that stuff inside of them. It's pretending that you're fine when you're really worried sick," said Williams, who suffered from depression and wrote about it in her book "Black Pain."

She suggested workers repeat the following mantra to themselves -- "Everybody else is losing their job, but I'm not that one. That's for somebody else. I'm not going to be that one."

Employees can handle workplace anxiety better if a company is frank about how it is faring and if managers are visible, said Bernadette Kenny, chief career officer at Adecco USA, which commissioned the mental health survey.

Canadian motivational speaker Mike Moore had some advice for employers: Be appreciative of employees.

"The thing I hear most is that nobody ever thanks us," he said. "People will walk over miles of razor blades in bare feet for you if they know you appreciate them and tell them."

Business etiquette expert Barbara Pachter cautioned that tempers can wear thin in a workplace filled with stressed-out, anxious employees.

"The important thing to remember when you are harassed or attacked by someone is not to react in a way you will regret later," she said.

"Though it may feel good to say, 'Well, what do you know, you idiot?' it's not going to build your credibility or accomplish anything," she said.

That article is loaded with goodies. The mantra is hilarious.

As is the old school yard admonishment "take your beatings" repeated and rephrased by Barbara Patcher as "The important thing to remember when you are harassed or attacked by someone is not to react in a way you will regret later," she said. "Though it may feel good to say, 'Well, what do you know, you idiot?' it's not going to build your credibility or accomplish anything,"

 

[Dark Chimera]

Know anyone that has had surgery in Ontario...I have and I do....and guess what???...GREAT care and NOT 1 penny out of my pocket except for parking at the hospital!!

Those that complain about our medical care in Ontario obviously have never been out of the province or to another country!!!

We''ve got it made here....many many Americans go bankrupt because of their medical bills!!!!

In the film "Sicko" Bush the first said if you think government health care is so great why do not you ask a Canadian?

Our waiting times are not that long when you consider everyone has access to it, not just the few.

Question - what happens in the USA when you are dying at the front of a hospital with no insurance? Do they let you die?

 

[wetnose]

First, I am strongly in favour of government health service for everybody.

BUT, the system in Canada sucks.

I had to go to the US to get timely treatment for
a cancer.

Two days ago, I took my friend to the emergency room with strong pains.
It took 2.5 hours to see the triage nurse, and another 2.5 hours before she
was seemy friend was seen by a doctor, for a total 5 hour wait in unbearable
pain.

Next time that happens, kick a fuss and tell the triage nurse it's a 10/10 on a pain scale. I had mild 4/10 chest pains and I was seen by a doctor within 30 minutes at a busy downtown hospital. If they're still deaf to you, LEAVE and go to another hospital.

2.5 hours - geez that's way too long.

 

[danmand]

Next time that happens, kick a fuss and tell the triage nurse it's a 10/10 on a pain scale.

I did, and I asked them, if they could send my friend to another hospital, answer: no. I asked, if I should call 911 on my cellphone. Answer: you will be in the same queue. I asked, if they could give my friend some painkillers. answer: not before a doctor sees her. (When the doctor saw her, after 5 hours, he immidiately put her on a morphine drip.)

Another young women was also waiting for the triage nurse same as my friend. She actually collapsed and fell unconcious to the floor. A nurse came and put her in a chair, after which she waited like all of us.

I had mild 4/10 chest pains and I was seen by a doctor within 30 minutes at a busy downtown hospital. If they're still deaf to you, LEAVE and go to another hospital.

That is the ticket to service: chest pains will get you in there asap.

 

[Don]

In the film "Sicko" Bush the first said if you think government health care is so great why do not you ask a Canadian?

Our waiting times are not that long when you consider everyone has access to it, not just the few.

Question - what happens in the USA when you are dying at the front of a hospital with no insurance? Do they let you die?

If our health care was so great, then there would be no such thing as health care tourism by Canadians going to the US for care. For cities like Houston and Rochester (Minn) it is big business that generates millions in revenue.

In short, US care is better if you have the $$$ (or good coverage). Typical... given the capitalist mentality.

 

[danmand]

If our health care was so great, then there would be no such thing as health care tourism by Canadians going to the US for care. For cities like Houston and Rochester (Minn) it is big business that generates millions in revenue.

In short, US care is better if you have the $$$ (or good coverage). Typical... given the capitalist mentality.

I find it irrational, that Canada does not allow private pay-for-service hospitals, in addition to the public health care system. Most other countries have such a two-tired health system, and it would keep the fees and the jobs in Canada instead of in the US. Canada effectively has a two-tired system, the second tier being the US.