I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again….

1. There has actually been quite a few rumblings about First Premier and Sanford creating a medical loan company.

2. When the kid was born, they make a point of having a special meeting with a financial person, just to make sure you are aware that you owe them an assload of money. Why not have the financial discussion include a credit application with FP if you don’t happen to have an extra $1000 laying around? I would never even consider it, but do you have any idea how many poor stupid people are having kids or catching the cancer? Enough to make it worth while.

3. Their goal is make us all wage slaves.

   Next up (after the adoption of the medical credit scheme) is to tap your home equity, sign over a security interest in your vehicles, etc. We need national health care now – the same health congress gives itself. My health is not some insurance or hospital company’s profit.

4. ‘Wage Slaves’

   You said it brother!

5. I have said from day one that Sanford’s “donation” was really a tax-free investment. Within days that clearly became the case as his company took over collection. And they are ruthless MF-ers.

   A few weeks ago, my son took a tumble on his bike and ended up in the emergency room. They took his insurance info as the norm, but due to a slight mixup (a form was supposedly sent that he never received), our provider mistakenly turned down his claim. Tuesday he received a $1100 bill from them, which should have been cleared up after we called our provider. Even though the incident was re-opened by our provider, my kid has received a bill EVERY single day since then.

6. “do you have any idea how many poor stupid people are having kids or catching the cancer? Enough to make it worth while.”

   I certainly do…I have over a dozen garnishments to deal with every time I do payroll for our company.

7. Scott says:
   July 12th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
   I have said from day one that Sanford’s “donation” was really a tax-free investment. Within days that clearly became the case as his company took over collection. And they are ruthless MF-ers.

   A few weeks ago, my son took a tumble on his bike and ended up in the emergency room. They took his insurance info as the norm, but due to a slight mixup (a form was supposedly sent that he never received), our provider mistakenly turned down his claim. Tuesday he received a $1100 bill from them, which should have been cleared up after we called our provider. Even though the incident was re-opened by our provider, my kid has received a bill EVERY single day since then.
   **************

   Do Sanfords goons do the collection end of it? I would really like to know. A couple years ago one of my kids was diagnosed with a life threatening cancer. To say the least, our family was devastated. Within a few days the tumor was surgically removed and after recovery from that, the cancer was still present. Chemo started 5 days a week for 3 months. A good insurance policy defrayed a good percentage of expenses. But with a team of doctors, and appointments most every day, co-pays add up in a hurry. That and certain drugs used in the chemo treatment are not covered by insurance. Couple that with nearly a years lost wages and money was tight. Today it is just quarterly cat scans, blood draws, and appointments, and things look OK….cancer wise.

   The nightmare now is wading through the billing process and the all too often time lapse between when Sanford Hospital expects payment and when the insurance provider makes that payment. A collection agency, Sanfords I guess, now makes harassing phone calls day and night over payments as small as $10 co-pays.

   Surviving cancer is one thing. Surviving Sanfords goons is another.

8. T. Denny’s bank handles collections.

   My sister had a similar situation after a hospital visit by her child. While the insurance company was sorting it out, they threated to garnish her wages for what would eventually by a $200 co-pay.

9. Where’s Captain (11) Eleven when you need him???

   Take Care
   Ben

10. I quit private health care 4 years ago. It’s rigged. Add your deductables and copays. It’s what you should pay. I paid for private care once but waited 3 hours and paid for an office visit without any result. It is the ultimate con, endorsed and legal. It evolved without anyone realizing it was happening. Sanford and the system live in fear of nationalized health care. They’d still make money at half revenue but then it’s not their 200% profit. My insurance was 20K/year when I quit. I now use the VA, it’s wonderful. If there is a good mold for subsidized health care it should be the VA model. Presently, 25% of the population is without health care. That will become 75% with the present structure. Drop out (somehow). You’ll have to become bankrupt every 6 years but immediate treatment is required. In this society, be poor or rich but not in between. Push money overseas and deal in barter or cash. This is how it has become.

11. I have a Canadian friend who resided in the US for about ten years. She recently returned to her country, and we’ve had some long talks about their health care system. She says to not believe the cliched hype about six month waits and the like. In fact, the only problem she has in making appointments is that there’s not always people answering the phones at her clinic. This is the case because a typical clinic is only a doctor and nurse or two. They don’t have full staffs of people who are on the pyaroll only to fill out all of the paperwork our country’s system requires for billing, insurance, medicare, etc. or making the calls to ok any treatment. She even generally gets in on the day that she calls for an appointment.

12. Scott says:
    July 12th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
    I have a Canadian friend who resided in the US for about ten years. She recently returned to her country, and we’ve had some long talks about their health care system. She says to not believe the cliched hype about six month waits and the like. In fact, the only problem she has in making appointments is that there’s not always people answering the phones at her clinic.
    *************

    A while back “Sicko” was playin On Demand thru Showtime. I watched it same as I watched Faerenheit 911 and Columbine. Now I know Michael Moore has been accused of taking things out of context in his documentaries. But there are things that are as plain as day in or out of context. And Moore’s depiction of healthcare in this country is one of them. I decided after I watched it, I would invite a friend I know who has a career in the healthcre industry watch it with me and hit the halt button anywhere along the way to spell out for me where Moore was full of BullShit in his cutting and pasting. The BS flag was raised a couple of times, but overall this friend watched in the same amazement I did the first time I seen it.

13. Warren, your son’s case proves that socialized medicine is needed in this country.

14. Canada has restricted US citizens from applying for citizenship. Perhaps, because uninsured people could flood country. Lack of health care has made us the new ‘Wetbacks’. Canada still welcomes transplants from around the world including Iraqes, Iranians, and North Koreans.

15. More like ‘Drybacks’ since we don’t have to cross a river to get into Canada. I’m just saying.

16. Unless you happen to live in Detroit…in which case it gets even more confusing since you actually need to swim South across the Detroit River to sneak into Canada.

17. In Buffalo NY, you have to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel.

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