Medical Debt Erasure

It doesn’t come from your taxes. Hospitals make up the difference by increasing overall fees, which are mostly covered by insurance companies, who then increase the cost their premiums … to the individuals. i.e. you.

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They drive better cars and live in better houses too. That’s how it works.

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And I’m a taxpayer.

Should hospitals be able to refuse emergency medical care if one cannot pay or doesn’t have insurance?

Yes they should be able to increase costs. I have never said otherwise.

Care to answer my question?

That’s not the point. You tax money is not paying for your health insurance, but your health insurance is paying for those unpaid bills because the cost of that unreimbursed service being passed onto you through higher fees.

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And they do.

No.

In the case of this OP. Taxpayers are paying the bill. Bankruptcy also costs the taxpayer. Rising medical bills also impact Medicare… which is funded by my tax dollars.

Should hospitals be able to refuse medical care if the person in need doesn’t have the ability to pay or insurance?

And debt forgiveness costs the taxpayer. It sucks to be a taxpayer. Perhaps that’s one reason half the people don’t pay taxes.

And why are you still asking me a question that I very directly told you that I did not care to answer? Do you actually expect to wear me down? :smile:

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Your non answer is telling enough. Which makes sense given your recent posts. Thank you.

My non answer doesn’t tell you a ■■■■■■■ thing other than that I’m not going to let you drag me off into the weeds.

This isn’t my first rodeo with you.

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It’s not into the weeds. It’s in relation to the OP.

The OP is talking about paying off medical collection debt. Debt that was accrued by patients who did not have the money or insurance to pay for emergency services.

Asking if someone who opposes helping clear the debt, also think hospitals should be able to refuse services is completely relevant.

Lots of people have answered, no they shouldn’t. I agree with that. What about you?

I’m not a lot if people. Surely by now you should know that.

Oh I know. The fact that you won’t answer this simple question speaks volumes.

I don’t think someone should be denied emergency medical care and die, just because they lack the means to pay.

One more troll cast won’t catch a fish. You may as well pack up your gear and go home. :smile:

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Glad to see this idea is catching on with policymakers. There is a huge gap between the size of these debts and the market value of these debts.

This is great news. As someone that pays out a crap ton in medical expenses I do not begrudge anyone getting assistance with medical debt.

I am fortunate that I can pay my medical debt. When I have to go down the payment plan route, I set up payments to go directly out of my HSA and increase my HSA contribution by the agreed amount via payroll deduction. That way the bill gets paid and I benefit by reducing my tax liability on my pay. Win-win.

The real life hack if you’re broke is to send in one dollar a month on your bill. As long as you are making an attempt to pay, they cannot put it on your credit report nor take you to the magistrate. Then you just wait out the seven years.

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Is that a real thing or an urban myth?

I think it’s adorable that people think the price of medical services has anything to do with actual costs. It’s all a big scam they work with the insurance companies. Unless you think a bag of saltwater costs $140

You know how bad they’re ripping you off? When I finally settled in court after I got run over, I had a hundred grand in medical bills and the hospital settled for five cents on the dollar without blinking, first time asked, no negotiation.

In America it’s a real thing. When I was first a medic it wasn’t unusual for EMT-Basics especially not to be able to afford health insurance at all and they taught me that.

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