Comments on: ER Overcrowded With Whom? http://health.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/11/04/er-overcrowded-with-who/ The latest from the FOX News Health team. Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:13:29 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Faith Smith http://health.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/11/04/er-overcrowded-with-who/#comment-16907 Faith Smith Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:09:56 +0000 http://foxnewshealth.wordpress.com/?p=1475#comment-16907 I work with welfare-to-work clients. If a person is on welfare (cash assistance) or they are getting medical assistance only, they are getting a medical card and do not need to pay for medical services anywhere. I have seen my clients get braces and gastric bypass surgery. All paid for by us- the hardworking taxpayers!! God Bless America!!! I work with welfare-to-work clients. If a person is on welfare (cash assistance) or they are getting medical assistance only, they are getting a medical card and do not need to pay for medical services anywhere. I have seen my clients get braces and gastric bypass surgery. All paid for by us- the hardworking taxpayers!! God Bless America!!!

]]> By: Philip http://health.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/11/04/er-overcrowded-with-who/#comment-16905 Philip Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:12:56 +0000 http://foxnewshealth.wordpress.com/?p=1475#comment-16905 In my place of work, the largest abusers of the ER are the medicaid patient. This is essentially single payer insurance at its worse. With decreasing payouts to primary care providers and ER's shutting their doors, the ED crowding issue will only get worse. In my place of work, the largest abusers of the ER are the medicaid patient. This is essentially single payer insurance at its worse. With decreasing payouts to primary care providers and ER’s shutting their doors, the ED crowding issue will only get worse.

]]> By: Linda McPherson http://health.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/11/04/er-overcrowded-with-who/#comment-16846 Linda McPherson Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:38:45 +0000 http://foxnewshealth.wordpress.com/?p=1475#comment-16846 Emergency room care since 1950 has changed drastically, in part due to the changes in Insurance and the general population. Perhaps it is true that the ER's are not crowded with the uninsured, but it is crowded with the welfare recipients that are unable to find a doctor that will accept these patients, as the frustrated grandmother of the previous post made. Living in California, and other border states, such as Arizona, New Mexico and Texas sure gives a different picture than one would get in most other states. Our ERs are crowded with illegal aliens that cannot be turned away, their children who need treatment for the normal ailments that would normally be taken care of in a doctors office, It is not unusual to walk into an ER and see many scared parents with a sick child that have nowhere else to turn. Some have welfare, some do not, but their effect on the ER is profound. The ones that do not have insurance, more than likely, if they end up paying their bill, will include administrative fees just trying to collect, and losses when they cannot collect. The payment from Medicaid for seniors or welfare for under 65 is woefully low. Many ERs are closing, hospitals are closing and as a result the crowding in existing ERs becomes overwhelming to staff and patient alike. I pay $9,000 a year for health insurance for just myself, since I must stay with a group retiree plan in order to get insurance. I can assure you the only time I go to the ER is in dire emergency, and I do not have a deductible. "May" encourage hypochondria? That is a loose statement. How about the elderly population that are crowding our emergency rooms and health care facilities because medical research forgot to factor in quality of life? LMc Emergency room care since 1950 has changed drastically, in part due to the changes in Insurance and the general population. Perhaps it is true that the ER’s are not crowded with the uninsured, but it is crowded with the welfare recipients that are unable to find a doctor that will accept these patients, as the frustrated grandmother of the previous post made.

Living in California, and other border states, such as Arizona, New Mexico and Texas sure gives a different picture than one would get in most other states. Our ERs are crowded with illegal aliens that cannot be turned away, their children who need treatment for the normal ailments that would normally be taken care of in a doctors office, It is not unusual to walk into an ER and see many scared parents with a sick child that have nowhere else to turn. Some have welfare, some do not, but their effect on the ER is profound.

The ones that do not have insurance, more than likely, if they end up paying their bill, will include administrative fees just trying to collect, and losses when they cannot collect. The payment from Medicaid for seniors or welfare for under 65 is woefully low. Many ERs are closing, hospitals are closing and as a result the crowding in existing ERs becomes overwhelming to staff and patient alike.

I pay $9,000 a year for health insurance for just myself, since I must stay with a group retiree plan in order to get insurance. I can assure you the only time I go to the ER is in dire emergency, and I do not have a deductible. “May” encourage hypochondria? That is a loose statement.

How about the elderly population that are crowding our emergency rooms and health care facilities because medical research forgot to factor in quality of life?

LMc

]]> By: Diane http://health.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/11/04/er-overcrowded-with-who/#comment-16756 Diane Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:10:16 +0000 http://foxnewshealth.wordpress.com/?p=1475#comment-16756 You do not address the number of Medicaid patients who turn to the ER. I had guardianship of my grandson who was covered by Medicaid. It was a real eye-opener. It was difficult to find a decent dr. who accepted it. We were constantly told by the dr. office to take him to the ER. I spent so many hours in the ER waiting for him to be seen for things like ear infections. What a nightmare! But of course, we were not billed for the treatment. I have insurance for myself with a heftly co-pay and deductable and I only use the ER for myself if I am desperately sick. As a taxpayer it always made me furious to have to use the ER for the baby, but I had no other choice. You do not address the number of Medicaid patients who turn to the ER. I had guardianship of my grandson who was covered by Medicaid. It was a real eye-opener. It was difficult to find a decent dr. who accepted it. We were constantly told by the dr. office to take him to the ER. I spent so many hours in the ER waiting for him to be seen for things like ear infections. What a nightmare! But of course, we were not billed for the treatment. I have insurance for myself with a heftly co-pay and deductable and I only use the ER for myself if I am desperately sick. As a taxpayer it always made me furious to have to use the ER for the baby, but I had no other choice.

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