Want Free Health Care? Commit a Crime
Every time I finish my office hours at the hospital, I am exhausted by all the hoops I have to jump through in order to get some of the procedures, medications or counseling that I feel are necessary for my patients. Insurance companies have created a very difficult screen to get some legitimate work done when patients need it.
For instance, I may have a diabetic patient whom I want to see a nutritionist and most insurance companies won’t pay for a nutritionist. Or I may have a patient with chronic back pain who I feel should be getting physical therapy, which may also not be covered by insurance. And it’s not the patient’s fault. Many patients choose insurance companies out of economic needs, or sometimes they don’t even realize the limitations in their choice of health care insurance provider.
As I researched this topic to try and find solutions to our health care dilemma, I was shocked to find the only people in this country who have a constitutional right to health care services are prison inmates.
Now, I agree that prison inmates are people too, and they need the necessary medical services to make sure their health is protected, but on the other hand, I have read several articles where unnecessary and elective procedures that are performed on these inmates without checks and balances, and certainly, all at the expense of the taxpayer.
One particular case that I thought was just incredible was the case of a rapist who was sent to prison after molesting an 8-year-old girl. While in prison, a psychiatrist diagnosed him with “gender identity disorder,” a diagnosis that made him eligible for treatments to help change his sex ― and you guessed it ― on the backs of working Americans.
As I said before, this madness has to stop. Yes, we need to focus on preventative health care, less ordering of unnecessary tests and increasing the number of primary care doctors in this country ― BUT, what is going on today is not a step in the right direction.
Tags: Dr. Manny Alvarez, free health care, health care, inmates, prison, rapist, sex change
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You forgot one other category of patient that gets free health care.
Those on welfare, the majority of which are to lazy to go out and find a job. So they continue to pop out baby after baby in order to get their annual raise in benefits.
Chances are the new mother of the litter of 8 is probably included in this category.
This is far more outrageous than prison inmates.
Not only do those on welfare get free medical care, they also get free, if not subsidized pharmaceuticals. Want to know the number one drug class for those on welfare? You guessed it. SSRI’s, or anti-pressants.
What a great scam! You don’t have to work, you get free health care, and a free high!
Maybe I should retire.
Several years ago, I had a friend who worked for the state prison system. One of the prisoners was 76 years old. His wife had been diagnosed with cancer and their insurance would not cover it because the treatment at the time was experimental for her type of cancer and did not cure, only gave more time. He wanted to buy time for her to get to know her grandchildren and enjoy them. He started embezzling money from his company. She got her treatment, lived an extra five years, and he got jail time. He said the ironic thing was that while he was in prison, he was diagnosed with a heart condition and the state gave him the best care available, expensive surgeries, etc. What a system!
It may be free but I would argue that is it is “good” healthcare. I have worked for a physician staffing firm and the best doctors never did correctional medicine. In fact, many of the doctors that went into correctional medicine didn’t qualify for work elsewhere.
What I see going on may be different because in my area, the jails charge for healthcare. It is added onto the fines they must pay when released or they are put back into jail. The care is also inadequate at best. A man recently died in one in my community when he wasn’t taken to the emergency room over a brain anuerysim. He was allowed to die in the drunk tank. A woman was also left to lay in pain all night over a tubal pregnancy about to burst. Also was left in a solid concrete cell. Also, adults on welfare don’t get free medical. It is for their children. A woman can only be on welfare medical if she is pregnant or six weeks postpartum, then the benefits stop. The medical is for her unborn baby, and since there’s no way to separate the two, she mooches along for the ride. The kids STILL get free medical. Which is strange since they are the group least likely to need it.
I think a better use of taxpayer money is to offer inmates a choice: Allow experimental drugs to be tested on you. If they work, you may go free. If they don’t work or have adverse side effects, then you have still manage to contribute something beneficial and informative to society, for once. Note: The go free choice might not be the best for EVERY inmate involved, but you get the picture.
Yes, we definitely need to focus more on preventative health care, with fast efficient diagnosing. Working in the Mortuary Science field and this peanut butter scare got me to think of this… Every time I have gone to my doctor for a high fever, throwing up, diarrhea, etc. I never get diagnosed by my doctor saying you have Influenza A and should take this, or you have Salmonella and should take this. They talk with me about my symptoms and say you should take this, or rest and drink liquids. Every time I have been on an antibiotic I was never truly diagnosed with something, they just give it an educated guess as to what ails me. Well I have had some some serious stomach issues this winter and again was not truly diagnosed. My doctor listened to my symptoms and put me on the probiotic Align which does seam to be helping. With the peanut butter scare I have come across articles where people have died and after death they find Salmonella in them, and now wondering if that contributed to their death. Point is we will spend whatever during the autopsy to figure out what’s wrong with you, but prior to that is dependant on your health care provider, insurance, finances, etc. We need to cut out the red tape and rigmarole in our health care system so everybody can benefit from good health care with prevention being key. Not just if your in prison, or a diagnosis after death by autopsy.
Perhaps most of you have overlooked the fact that if Obama reloactes the Guantanomo inmates to the US, American tax payers will be paying for the best medical care in the world to be given to inmates who care of nothing more than the death of our country. And yet, Obama would argue it is their right while those who were born in this country struggle to afford the most basic medical services.
I work in corrections and we Officers are always pissed at the amount of entitlements that inmates get. I wish I could afford some of the procedures that the inmates get, but my insurance doesn’t cover it!!
By the way, you can thank your US Supreme Court for the ruling that gave the inmates free care.
HEALTH CARE IN AMERICA IS A JOKE. AND INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE NOTHING MORE THAN LEGALIZED BOOKIES IN MY VIEW. WHEN YOU FINALLY GET HEALTH INSURANCE AND GO TO A DOCTOR THEY QUESTION YOU ON WHY ARE YOU IN HERE GETTING TESTS. OR MAKE YOU WAIT IN THE ROOM FOR HOURS THEN FORGET YOUR IN THERE. DOCTORS HAVE AS MUCH BED SIDE MANNER AS A NAIL ON NON RUNFLAT TIRES. IF YOU QUESTION A DOCTOR ON A CONDTION THEY LOOK AT YOU LIKE WHY IS DUMB SOB LIKE YOU QUESTIONING ME.I WAS HOPING THAT A VOTE FOR OBAMA WOULD ALLOW ME TO BUY THE SAME INSURANCE THAT CONGRESS HAS. I SEE THAT THE WAY THINGS ARE SHAPING UP IN CONGRESS THESE DAYS ANY HEALTH CARE BILL PASSED WILL BENEFIT THE INSURANCE COMPANIES NOT THE CONSUMER. ALL THE WHILE AMERICA IS GETTING OLDER, FATTER AND SICKER. SO FOR ALL YOU CONGRESS MEN AND WOMEN COMPLAINING ABOUT HELPING AMERICANS COPE WITH HIGH HEALTH CARE COSTS QUIT TAKING MONEY FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANIES. MY COMPANY DID FINALLY OFFER HEALTH INSURANCE FOR 382 PER MONTH SINGLE PERSON CHEAP PLAN AND 432 PER MONTH FOR THE CADILLAC PLAN. CANT AFFORD IT AT THEM PRICES, I WORK ONLY PART TIME THESE DAYS. SO I KEEP PRAYING MY GOOD HEALTH HOLD UPS TILL I CAN GET MEDICARE. WHICH IS A WAYS OFF.
HEALTH CARE IN AMERICA IS A JOKE. AND INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE NOTHING MORE THAN LEGALIZED BOOKIES IN MY VIEW. WHEN YOU FINALLY GET HEALTH INSURANCE AND GO TO A DOCTOR THEY QUESTION YOU ON WHY ARE YOU IN HERE GETTING TESTS. OR MAKE YOU WAIT IN THE ROOM FOR HOURS THEN FORGET YOUR IN THERE. DOCTORS HAVE AS MUCH BED SIDE MANNER AS A NAIL ON NON RUNFLAT TIRES. IF YOU QUESTION A DOCTOR ON A CONDTION THEY LOOK AT YOU LIKE WHY IS DUMB SOB LIKE YOU QUESTIONING ME.I WAS HOPING THAT A VOTE FOR OBAMA WOULD ALLOW ME TO BUY THE SAME INSURANCE THAT CONGRESS HAS. I SEE THAT THE WAY THINGS ARE SHAPING UP IN CONGRESS THESE DAYS ANY HEALTH CARE BILL PASSED WILL BENEFIT THE INSURANCE COMPANIES NOT THE CONSUMER. ALL THE WHILE AMERICA IS GETTING OLDER, FATTER AND SICKER. SO FOR ALL YOU CONGRESS MEN AND WOMEN COMPLAINING ABOUT HELPING AMERICANS COPE WITH HIGH HEALTH CARE COSTS QUIT TAKING MONEY FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANIES. MY COMPANY DID FINALLY OFFER HEALTH INSURANCE FOR 382 PER MONTH SINGLE PERSON CHEAP PLAN AND 432 PER MONTH FOR THE CADILLAC PLAN. CANT AFFORD IT AT THEM PRICES, I WORK ONLY PART TIME THESE DAYS. SO I KEEP PRAYING MY GOOD HEALTH HOLDS UP TILL I CAN GET MEDICARE. WHICH IS A WAYS OFF.
Manny, you’re just now finding out that there’s no constitutional right to health care services? In fact, I’d be surprised to find mention in the U.S. Constitution of healthcare for prisoners.
People who believe healthcare is a right should work to add such an amendment to the Constitution. At that point, you could force – at gunpoint if necessary – the following to work for free: physicians, nurses, physical therapists, chiropractors, podiatrists, hospitals, clinics, Big Pharma, pharmacies, etc. Or you could pay them whatever you – not the free market – decide they are worth. But you would not let the provider opt out because the consumer has a right to healthcare and, therefore, a claim on the services and goods of healthcare providers.
You have a right to emergency healthcare in the U.S. Just go to an emergency room and you will get it.
You also have a right to as much healthcare as you can pay for.
-Steve
PS: If a prisoner has financial assets, why shouldn’t they pay for their own healthcare? They’d be paying for it if they weren’t in the hoosegow.
Though inmates may get healthcare, and most doctors are actually really good, it’s not always free. The families of the inmates themselves pay towards medications and procedures that are beyond the basic 6 month exam. I’m not sure if this is different per state but i know some families where I live that go through this and trust me, being an inmate is not cheap.
No wonder they keep going back to prison, the criminals know they got it made there. Free room and board, showers, food, and yes the best medical care anywhere. Don’t forget the dental care too.
I just don’t understand why this goes on in this country. It’s like if you are lazy or sorry you get everything handed to you, you don’t have to work for anything. It’s time for a change. I think you commit the crime you should do HARD time, not sitting around watching tv, playing games, working out, and all this other nonsense. Put them to work, make them earn their healthcare. That’s why I think the prisons are so crowded now, people know they will have a roof over their head, food to eat and much much more. Wake up!!
No wonder they keep going back to prison, they got it made there and they know it. Free housing,food,showers,clothes to wear and health care and don’t forget the dental plan.
We need to make prison not a nice place you want to be in. Make it a undesirable place to be and watch them not wanting to came back. We make it almost like a country club and we are to concern about the prisoners rights.——-Hello folks have you forgotton their victums rights, they didn’t have any remember, the prisoner was their Judge, jury, and in some cases executioner all roll into one and immediatly carry out at that very moment, while their victims pleaded for their lives. Let’s try and remember that folks while you scream for the prisoner rights.The lives they ruin, the property damage they left behind, while trying to run from the law. Cars stolen, damaging cars they run into while running from the law, people being sent to the hospitals because of their activity. RIGHTS, the criminals have no rights when they hurt others on purpose. I show no compassion to people who hurt others on purpose for whatever reason.——NONE
As a primary care doctor, I see plenty of people on disability, almost always because of some “psychiatric” diagnosis and everything is free for them. They don’t work, because if they did, they would lose their benefits…such a wonderful incentive the Government offers. Of course, they never improve, so the government provides for these people for as long as they live and for the kids they have, they get more money. Single mothers in particular are eligible for benefits that married women who work cannot have…such as free tuition to nursing school, among other things. The media spends a lot of time talking about one or two CEOs with money, but they don’t mention all of this. This is where the majority of taxpayer money is squandered.
I have read about how inmates of our federal and state corrections agencies get the best health care tax dollars can buy. I have also read in reputable magazines about how inmates who are candidates for heart and organ transplants can be placed at the top of donor lists, becasue they are considered property of the state or union. So inotherwords, a patient whose heart is no longer viable and needs neccessary heart transplant is placed second to a prison inmate who suffers the same condition, simply do to the inmate’s…well…inmate status. There ya go. How does that make people feel about the use of our tax dollars being used to exploit the structure of our donor lists in this country.
On another note…in response to Dr. Tom Taliaferro’s remarks about people who recieve free healthcare: I think that there is a remarkable percentage of people who use the free healthcare system and foodshare/foodstamp program for what it was intended for. I am an EMT and a lab instructor for our EMS Dept here at our college in Wisconsin, and I am still looking for more work on top of those two jobs. I do not make enough money right now to afford health insurance for my 8-month old son and wife, who also works part time in data entry, and we are trying very hard. I think that there alot of people out there like my family and I, are going through some hard times. Please don’t cast dispersions on us because so many people give these beneficial programs a tremendous black eye. Thanks.
I am a Dental Assistant in the state of Florida. I have worked with the Department of Corrections for 4 years . I have worked in many different Dental clinics within the state and I have seen first hand the great medical care that the inmates have recieved and continue to recieve. However i do not agree with the money part. As for Dental, if the inmate would like to have a cleaning, fillings and/or complete dentures the inmate only pays $4.00. If the inmate does not have the money in his inmate account, there is a lean on his account. If the inmate has a life sentence or an extended sentence he will never have to pay for his work. As for medical care, the physician’s that we have at the Instiution that i work at are very careing and intelligent. Although i do not like the fact that murders, rapists, child molesters and drug dealers recieve such exellent care, all of us in the Health Care field have a job to do. We might not agree with the system, but it is our responsibilty to give our patients the best care possible.
THIS IS WHAT I’VE ALWAYS SAID – THIS WORLD IS AN INSANE ASYLUM RUN BY THE INMATES!!
My 16 year old grand-daughter has severe migraines and stomach pain, lots of doubling over and throwing up.
Her head hurts so bad she can’t stand it. She had a bleeding brain injury 5 years ago and that is where her pain is. The specialists and neurologists won’t see her because she has no insurance. I have talked to so many people to just get a run around. My husband and I are on a low fixed medical income so we have no help to give. Maybe if she robbed a bank, they could help her??