-
It's that time of year again - our ISP is asking for money. If you have some spare change, please click the Donate link... Thanks!
- About Us
- Search
- Need Help?
- Donate
- Login/Register
Latest Entries
Actions Menu
Blog Roll
- 4F Facebook Page
- Turn Up The Night with Kenny Pick
- Stephanie Miller Show
- The Tim Corrimal Show
- The Rachel Maddow Show
- Angry Americans with Paul Rieckhoff
- Thom Hartmann Program
- Turnips! Fans of Turn Up the Night Facebook Page
- Snopes.com
- Factcheck.org
- Official White House Page, if you must.
- The Brad Blog / Green News Report
- The Poorly Written Political Blog (Joe Santorsa)
Murder, Mayhem, and Medical Costs
Author: BobR
Date: 07/27/2012 12:15:11
A week ago, a guman entered an Aurora, CO movie theatre at midnight and unleashed a barrage of death and injury upon the packed room. For most of America, the shock and horror was felt over the next few days. For the approximately 70 people injured, however, their nightmare is only beginning. It is also a perfect example of why the ACA (aka "Obamacare") is so vitally important.
The most contested provision of the ACA is the "mandate" that everyone carry insurance. The idea is to cut costs by reducing the amount of "free care" (paid for by tax dollars) that is provided in emergency rooms across the country. Why? Because emergency room care is very expensive. The mandate is there to encourage people who are young and healthy to maintain insurance, and collect a tax penalty to help cover the costs of emergency room care for those that don't.
The mandate has not yet gone into effect, which is why a lot of the young people in that theatre that night didn't have insurance. They are young, healthy, doing "all the right things", so they figure it's more cost effective to just pay the doctor out of pocket on those rare occassions they get sick. They didn't think they were doing anything unsafe, so they weren't worried about trauma care.
Trauma, however, is exactly the sort of thing insurance is for. It's good for health maintenance, true - the insurance companies have a vested interest in keeping you healthy. But really - it's mainly for those big ticket items.
Sadly, some of the victims of the Aurora shooting are learning that lesson too late. One uninsured shooting victim is facing $2,000,000 in medical costs as a result of his injuries:
Some of the hospitals are forgiving the costs to the victims:
Even if the trauma care costs are forgiven, numerous victims will require therapy, or may be permanently disabled:
To be fair - health insurance isn't cheap, which at the root is part of the problem. This is why the "Medicare for All" option has been touted by me and others on the Left. The Republicans squawk about "freedom" and "liberty" when it comes to the ACA, and apparently they mean the freedom to be let the taxpayers cover their medical expenses when they don't have insurance. That taxpayer-covered bill can be pretty large when a madman unleashes his inner demons via the barrel of a gun.
It's bad enough we have a society that allows mass murderers to amass an arsenal that allows them to create this kind of carnage. Are we also going to ruin people's lives financially by making health care so cost-prohibitive? This should be Exhibit "A" for the unintended consequences of not having health insurance. The next big story is why 1/3 of the residents have no health insurance. The answer to that will point to where health care reform needs to go next.
The most contested provision of the ACA is the "mandate" that everyone carry insurance. The idea is to cut costs by reducing the amount of "free care" (paid for by tax dollars) that is provided in emergency rooms across the country. Why? Because emergency room care is very expensive. The mandate is there to encourage people who are young and healthy to maintain insurance, and collect a tax penalty to help cover the costs of emergency room care for those that don't.
The mandate has not yet gone into effect, which is why a lot of the young people in that theatre that night didn't have insurance. They are young, healthy, doing "all the right things", so they figure it's more cost effective to just pay the doctor out of pocket on those rare occassions they get sick. They didn't think they were doing anything unsafe, so they weren't worried about trauma care.
Trauma, however, is exactly the sort of thing insurance is for. It's good for health maintenance, true - the insurance companies have a vested interest in keeping you healthy. But really - it's mainly for those big ticket items.
Sadly, some of the victims of the Aurora shooting are learning that lesson too late. One uninsured shooting victim is facing $2,000,000 in medical costs as a result of his injuries:
The family of Caleb Medley has been told that his medical bills could cost up to $2 million if he fully recovers, CBS News reports (h/t ThinkProgress). Medley, who lacks health insurance, is currently in an induced coma after he was shot in the eye during Friday's Colorado tragedy. His wife, Katie, gave birth to their son in the same hospital Tuesday.
[..]
Friends of Caleb Medley have set up a website to raise money to help pay for his medical care. The website has raised $70,000 so far, according to the Associated Press. Caleb was pursuing a career in stand-up comedy at the time of the shooting, according to the website set up by his friends.
Some of the hospitals are forgiving the costs to the victims:
Some of the victims fighting for their lives after being wounded in the movie theater shooting rampage may face another challenge when they get out of the hospital: enormous medical bills without the benefit of health insurance.
[..]
And three of the five hospitals that treated victims said Wednesday they will limit or completely wipe out medical bills.
Even if the trauma care costs are forgiven, numerous victims will require therapy, or may be permanently disabled:
Some of the victims, however, still face a long recovery ahead and the associated medical costs — without health insurance. There's no exact count of how many of them don't have insurance but statistics suggest many of them might not be covered.
To be fair - health insurance isn't cheap, which at the root is part of the problem. This is why the "Medicare for All" option has been touted by me and others on the Left. The Republicans squawk about "freedom" and "liberty" when it comes to the ACA, and apparently they mean the freedom to be let the taxpayers cover their medical expenses when they don't have insurance. That taxpayer-covered bill can be pretty large when a madman unleashes his inner demons via the barrel of a gun.
It's bad enough we have a society that allows mass murderers to amass an arsenal that allows them to create this kind of carnage. Are we also going to ruin people's lives financially by making health care so cost-prohibitive? This should be Exhibit "A" for the unintended consequences of not having health insurance. The next big story is why 1/3 of the residents have no health insurance. The answer to that will point to where health care reform needs to go next.
Comments:
Order comments Newest to Oldest Refresh Comments
Comment by 
Raine on 07/27/2012 12:45:39
Excellent post Bobber.
Raine on 07/27/2012 12:45:39
Excellent post Bobber.
Comment by 
Mondobubba on 07/27/2012 12:52:48
Mondobubba on 07/27/2012 12:52:48
Bravo Bobber!
Comment by Mondobubba on 07/27/2012 13:21:25
Mondobubba on 07/27/2012 13:21:25
Happy 72nd birthday Mr. B, Bunny.
Comment by Raine on 07/27/2012 13:24:18
Raine on 07/27/2012 13:24:18
:( Rebekeh's last day...
Comment by 
TriSec on 07/27/2012 13:41:26
TriSec on 07/27/2012 13:41:26
Ladies and gentlemen....I would be dead if this had all happened a year ago.
When I got laid off from athena in February of 2009, I lost my insurance. (We had a good one, BCBSMA with all the bells and whistles.) I temped and contracted for two years before landing a permanent position....with completely unaffordable health insurance. (would have easily sucked up 1/3 of my pay for family coverage.)
During this time, we did qualify for Masshealth (Medicaid)...first with a reduced premium, and then as we sank further into insolvency, finally freecare. Javi and Mrs. TriSec, both with long-running issues had the coverage; I never followed through for myself and was indeed uninsured from March 1 2009 - March 1 2012.
It was purely luck of the draw that this happened when it did. Had this been last summer....well, I know how I am. I would have tried over-the-counter remedies until my appendix burst, and who knows what the hell would have happened then?
Now as a cancer patient, the pre-existing condition clause in the ACA becomes huge. Should I change jobs or coverage from Fallon, well they can't deny me now. (And Javi has asthma, and Mrs. TriSec has some internal issues that are also now pre-existing.)
Nevermind that the Medicaid part of the business is booming. I work for a mid-sized healthplan in a small state, but we've been hiring about 40 people a month just to keep up with the business.
Of course, the ACA was a regulation-heavy, job crushing excursion into government overreach, but what do I know?
When I got laid off from athena in February of 2009, I lost my insurance. (We had a good one, BCBSMA with all the bells and whistles.) I temped and contracted for two years before landing a permanent position....with completely unaffordable health insurance. (would have easily sucked up 1/3 of my pay for family coverage.)
During this time, we did qualify for Masshealth (Medicaid)...first with a reduced premium, and then as we sank further into insolvency, finally freecare. Javi and Mrs. TriSec, both with long-running issues had the coverage; I never followed through for myself and was indeed uninsured from March 1 2009 - March 1 2012.
It was purely luck of the draw that this happened when it did. Had this been last summer....well, I know how I am. I would have tried over-the-counter remedies until my appendix burst, and who knows what the hell would have happened then?
Now as a cancer patient, the pre-existing condition clause in the ACA becomes huge. Should I change jobs or coverage from Fallon, well they can't deny me now. (And Javi has asthma, and Mrs. TriSec has some internal issues that are also now pre-existing.)
Nevermind that the Medicaid part of the business is booming. I work for a mid-sized healthplan in a small state, but we've been hiring about 40 people a month just to keep up with the business.
Of course, the ACA was a regulation-heavy, job crushing excursion into government overreach, but what do I know?
Comment by 
Scoopster on 07/27/2012 13:45:16
Scoopster on 07/27/2012 13:45:16
Mornin' all & Happy Fridee! 
Think I'm gonna try something I haven't done in a while today - tuning into SMS!
Think I'm gonna try something I haven't done in a while today - tuning into SMS!
Comment by Raine on 07/27/2012 13:54:06
This is worthy of a blog post all on its own.
Raine on 07/27/2012 13:54:06
Quote by TriSec:
Ladies and gentlemen....I would be dead if this had all happened a year ago.
When I got laid off from athena in February of 2009, I lost my insurance. (We had a good one, BCBSMA with all the bells and whistles.) I temped and contracted for two years before landing a permanent position....with completely unaffordable health insurance. (would have easily sucked up 1/3 of my pay for family coverage.)
During this time, we did qualify for Masshealth (Medicaid)...first with a reduced premium, and then as we sank further into insolvency, finally freecare. Javi and Mrs. TriSec, both with long-running issues had the coverage; I never followed through for myself and was indeed uninsured from March 1 2009 - March 1 2012.
It was purely luck of the draw that this happened when it did. Had this been last summer....well, I know how I am. I would have tried over-the-counter remedies until my appendix burst, and who knows what the hell would have happened then?
Now as a cancer patient, the pre-existing condition clause in the ACA becomes huge. Should I change jobs or coverage from Fallon, well they can't deny me now. (And Javi has asthma, and Mrs. TriSec has some internal issues that are also now pre-existing.)
Nevermind that the Medicaid part of the business is booming. I work for a mid-sized healthplan in a small state, but we've been hiring about 40 people a month just to keep up with the business.
Of course, the ACA was a regulation-heavy, job crushing excursion into government overreach, but what do I know?
Comment by Raine on 07/27/2012 13:54:47
Wow!
Raine on 07/27/2012 13:54:47
Quote by Scoopster:
Mornin' all & Happy Fridee!
Think I'm gonna try something I haven't done in a while today - tuning into SMS!
Comment by Raine on 07/27/2012 14:27:16
Raine on 07/27/2012 14:27:16
Can we officially say that the Government bailed Mitt Romney and the Olympics out? WE BAILED MITT OUT.
By Romney's account, the government spent about $600 million helping the Salt Lake Olympic Committee. An additional $1.1 billion was planned for projects like roads and bridges, infrastructure improvement projects that the government probably would have paid for eventually, though the timing of the Games may have sped up the construction.
Romney has made himself the very public face of the effort, claiming that he personally cut millions from the budget, wooed major companies and won sponsorships himself and pulled the whole endeavour back from the brink of failure. His record in Salt Lake was the cornerstone of his run for governor in Massachusetts, a campaign he announced in March 2002, just weeks after the Games concluded.
Romney, who promises to slash federal spending if elected president, rarely acknowledges the federal support for the 2002 Games on the campaign trail. His aides say much of it was for increased security costs after the 2001 terrorist attacks, which occurred about five months earlier.
But Romney doesn't mention the commitments the government had already made to cover costs associated with the Games — or elaborate on his role in persuading congressional appropriators and critics to give the Games more money.
Comment by Mondobubba on 07/27/2012 14:45:07
Mitt likes to claim he single handedly saved the Olympic movement. Mind you, the movement prior to Mittens showing up, survived two world wars just fine thank you very much. His claim is much overblown. Almost every Olympic games has had issues with something.
Mondobubba on 07/27/2012 14:45:07
Quote by Raine:
Can we officially say that the Government bailed Mitt Romney and the Olympics out?WE BAILED MITT OUT.By Romney's account, the government spent about $600 million helping the Salt Lake Olympic Committee. An additional $1.1 billion was planned for projects like roads and bridges, infrastructure improvement projects that the government probably would have paid for eventually, though the timing of the Games may have sped up the construction.
Romney has made himself the very public face of the effort, claiming that he personally cut millions from the budget, wooed major companies and won sponsorships himself and pulled the whole endeavour back from the brink of failure. His record in Salt Lake was the cornerstone of his run for governor in Massachusetts, a campaign he announced in March 2002, just weeks after the Games concluded.
Romney, who promises to slash federal spending if elected president, rarely acknowledges the federal support for the 2002 Games on the campaign trail. His aides say much of it was for increased security costs after the 2001 terrorist attacks, which occurred about five months earlier.
But Romney doesn't mention the commitments the government had already made to cover costs associated with the Games — or elaborate on his role in persuading congressional appropriators and critics to give the Games more money.
Mitt likes to claim he single handedly saved the Olympic movement. Mind you, the movement prior to Mittens showing up, survived two world wars just fine thank you very much. His claim is much overblown. Almost every Olympic games has had issues with something.
Comment by Raine on 07/27/2012 15:20:47
Raine on 07/27/2012 15:20:47
So, I really want to see Mitt's Tax returns.
Comment by TriSec on 07/27/2012 15:27:02
TriSec on 07/27/2012 15:27:02
So gang, since the chemo is going to wreak havoc with my immune system, one of the dietary suggestions is no raw or undercooked meats of any sort.
So, I'm headed out for sushi this afternoon with a dear friend. (my almost-sister, in fact.) It's going to be a long 6 months, I think.
But, it's better than the alternative, I'd wager.
So, I'm headed out for sushi this afternoon with a dear friend. (my almost-sister, in fact.) It's going to be a long 6 months, I think.
But, it's better than the alternative, I'd wager.
Comment by 
Will in Chicago on 07/27/2012 15:30:29
Will in Chicago on 07/27/2012 15:30:29
Good morning, bloggers!!
BobR, thanks for a great blog. I find it amusing that the calls for freedom and liberty by the conservatives seem to involve the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness being limited. Access to health care is a right -- we have signed and endorsed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which in turn draws from FDR's Four Freedoms speech for inspiration and some of its language.
As for Mitt Romney, I have to give him some credit: he constantly sinks to new depths of disappointment, misstatements, lies, and arrogance.
BobR, thanks for a great blog. I find it amusing that the calls for freedom and liberty by the conservatives seem to involve the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness being limited. Access to health care is a right -- we have signed and endorsed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which in turn draws from FDR's Four Freedoms speech for inspiration and some of its language.
As for Mitt Romney, I have to give him some credit: he constantly sinks to new depths of disappointment, misstatements, lies, and arrogance.
Comment by Scoopster on 07/27/2012 15:38:48
Scoopster on 07/27/2012 15:38:48
Oh. my. gawd. The Twitter is blowing up with snarky comments about Romney..
Follow the action at #RomneyShambles and #AmericanBorat
Barracks O'Bama â€@P0TUS
RT @brx0: Next up: Driving around London with the queen's corgis on the roof.
ProChoiceGrandma â€@ProChoiceGramma
Brace yourselves - tomorrow Mitt Romney visits Israel. Suggest he use Palin technique: mini-skirt & wave, ans no qns.
Chet Wydrzynski â€@realchet
Breaking news - Romney to present Benjamin Netanyahu with pulled pork sandwich #RomneyShambles #AmericanBorat
Occupy Ventura â€@OccupyV
RT @daveweigel: Unless Romney brings bacon-wrapped shrimp to the Wailing Wall, I guess this'll be the worst day of the trip.
Follow the action at #RomneyShambles and #AmericanBorat
Comment by Mondobubba on 07/27/2012 16:04:40
Mondobubba on 07/27/2012 16:04:40
Quote by Scoopster:
Oh. my. gawd. The Twitter is blowing up with snarky comments about Romney..Barracks O'Bama â€Â@P0TUS
RT @brx0: Next up: Driving around London with the queen's corgis on the roof.
ProChoiceGrandma â€Â@ProChoiceGramma
Brace yourselves - tomorrow Mitt Romney visits Israel. Suggest he use Palin technique: mini-skirt & wave, ans no qns.
Chet Wydrzynski â€Â@realchet
Breaking news - Romney to present Benjamin Netanyahu with pulled pork sandwich #RomneyShambles #AmericanBorat
Occupy Ventura â€Â@OccupyV
RT @daveweigel: Unless Romney brings bacon-wrapped shrimp to the Wailing Wall, I guess this'll be the worst day of the trip.
Follow the action at #RomneyShambles and #AmericanBorat
Comment by 
livingonli on 07/27/2012 16:13:09
livingonli on 07/27/2012 16:13:09
Good day, everybody. I bet Romney wishes we would just go back to talking about the dog tied to the roof on his car as each revelation becomes more embarrasing.
Comment by Mondobubba on 07/27/2012 17:19:44
Mondobubba on 07/27/2012 17:19:44
Nerdsch everywhere are schelibrating Gary Gygax's birthday. : wipes Cheeto stained finger on napkin of cleanliness +4:
Comment by Mondobubba on 07/27/2012 17:57:06
Mondobubba on 07/27/2012 17:57:06
Nerds killed the blog? Really? Really?
Comment by 
trojanrabbit on 07/27/2012 18:12:16
trojanrabbit on 07/27/2012 18:12:16
Walked away from my chamber for a few minutes to help out a colleague. When I came back the screen on my indispensable $$$ test receiver was dark. Fortunately it still works with an external monitor attached so I'm not totally up a creek but it's going to be a royal pain to get a rental in here while this is getting repaired. Seems like the only people who rent out this receiver are in Europe (receiver is of German manufacture).
Last time I sent out an analyzer to get its internal monitor replaced it cost $4K. What a racket....
I'm waiting for Goehmert to say that the movie theater is at fault for all the medical bills since they don't allow guns in the theater.
And Romneybot may suffer a hardware crash if anyone asks him what he thinks about the uninsured victims and how ObamneyCare would help them.
Last time I sent out an analyzer to get its internal monitor replaced it cost $4K. What a racket....
I'm waiting for Goehmert to say that the movie theater is at fault for all the medical bills since they don't allow guns in the theater.
And Romneybot may suffer a hardware crash if anyone asks him what he thinks about the uninsured victims and how ObamneyCare would help them.
Comment by Mondobubba on 07/27/2012 18:41:58
Oh I would love to see the Romneybot totally crash as well that would be a hoot and half to watch them try to fix the mandroid in the field.
Mondobubba on 07/27/2012 18:41:58
Quote by trojanrabbit:
Walked away from my chamber for a few minutes to help out a colleague. When I came back the screen on my indispensable $$$ test receiver was dark. Fortunately it still works with an external monitor attached so I'm not totally up a creek but it's going to be a royal pain to get a rental in here while this is getting repaired. Seems like the only people who rent out this receiver are in Europe (receiver is of German manufacture).
Last time I sent out an analyzer to get its internal monitor replaced it cost $4K. What a racket....
I'm waiting for Goehmert to say that the movie theater is at fault for all the medical bills since they don't allow guns in the theater.
And Romneybot may suffer a hardware crash if anyone asks him what he thinks about the uninsured victims and how ObamneyCare would help them.
Oh I would love to see the Romneybot totally crash as well that would be a hoot and half to watch them try to fix the mandroid in the field.
Comment by trojanrabbit on 07/27/2012 19:10:05
FAULTY! FAULTY! ERRRRORRRRR! ERRRRRORRRR!
trojanrabbit on 07/27/2012 19:10:05
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by trojanrabbit:
Walked away from my chamber for a few minutes to help out a colleague. When I came back the screen on my indispensable $$$ test receiver was dark. Fortunately it still works with an external monitor attached so I'm not totally up a creek but it's going to be a royal pain to get a rental in here while this is getting repaired. Seems like the only people who rent out this receiver are in Europe (receiver is of German manufacture).
Last time I sent out an analyzer to get its internal monitor replaced it cost $4K. What a racket....
I'm waiting for Goehmert to say that the movie theater is at fault for all the medical bills since they don't allow guns in the theater.
And Romneybot may suffer a hardware crash if anyone asks him what he thinks about the uninsured victims and how ObamneyCare would help them.
Oh I would love to see the Romneybot totally crash as well that would be a hoot and half to watch them try to fix the mandroid in the field.
FAULTY! FAULTY! ERRRRORRRRR! ERRRRRORRRR!
Comment by Scoopster on 07/27/2012 19:16:34
Scoopster on 07/27/2012 19:16:34
Oh dear.. someone stole the Red Sox mascot, Wally the Green Monster. 
Comment by livingonli on 07/27/2012 19:19:13
He explodes!
livingonli on 07/27/2012 19:19:13
Quote by trojanrabbit:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by trojanrabbit:
Walked away from my chamber for a few minutes to help out a colleague. When I came back the screen on my indispensable $$$ test receiver was dark. Fortunately it still works with an external monitor attached so I'm not totally up a creek but it's going to be a royal pain to get a rental in here while this is getting repaired. Seems like the only people who rent out this receiver are in Europe (receiver is of German manufacture).
Last time I sent out an analyzer to get its internal monitor replaced it cost $4K. What a racket....
I'm waiting for Goehmert to say that the movie theater is at fault for all the medical bills since they don't allow guns in the theater.
And Romneybot may suffer a hardware crash if anyone asks him what he thinks about the uninsured victims and how ObamneyCare would help them.
Oh I would love to see the Romneybot totally crash as well that would be a hoot and half to watch them try to fix the mandroid in the field.
FAULTY! FAULTY! ERRRRORRRRR! ERRRRRORRRR!
He explodes!
Comment by Scoopster on 07/27/2012 19:23:43
Scoopster on 07/27/2012 19:23:43
Rick Santorum defends Penn State scumbags in radio interview
Ya know, this doesn't surprise me one fucking bit. Birds of a feather, et al..
Ya know, this doesn't surprise me one fucking bit. Birds of a feather, et al..
Comment by trojanrabbit on 07/27/2012 19:39:57
trojanrabbit on 07/27/2012 19:39:57
Mittbot 3.0 with new stereo / both-sides-of-his-mouth option
Comment by Mondobubba on 07/27/2012 20:53:15
That is really odd when you look at for more than a couple seconds.
Mondobubba on 07/27/2012 20:53:15
Quote by trojanrabbit:
Mittbot 3.0 with new stereo / both-sides-of-his-mouth option
That is really odd when you look at for more than a couple seconds.