Is it Visa Fraud if ...

[Artegal 1]

... if my wife pretends to not have a valid visa--that is she pretends to be undocumented and go and "dar the luz" (give birth) to our baby in the Public County Hospital. I mean I am paying out the butt for Aetna healthcare with my employer--granted the 9,000 per year is deducted before taxes--but then I have to pay co-pays and deductibles--the prenatal vitamins are not covered so that is totally out of pocket. Anyway she is thinking of pretending not to have a Visa and wants to get free health care at the public clinic and hospital. Like also for later when the baby is born--she is thinking of the cost of immunizations---she even has thought of returning to her home country because vaccinations are so much cheaper there--and on top of that the 9,000 per year I pay in premiums will go up because I am adding another family member.

Man--2008 can't wait, we need something done in this country--immigration, banning of gays, terror wars, oil prices--just put those on the back burner and make health care less expensive. Its crazy that third world countries have better and less expensive medical care.

[aussiewench 9]

I feel for you Arte it sure wouldnt be easy with the cost of medical in the US. Here in Oz we get a choice if we want to use our private or go public under the free health care. Scares the hell out of me a little knowing that Im getting older and gawd knows what could start going wrong with this bod and US health care being like it is. I dont know what to suggest to you.......you do what you need to do for your family. All the best

Lorelle

[Jaylen Brit 1]

Arte have you looked into the services of Planned Parenthood? I believe they offer clincs / treatments at much reduced costs (or donations) for people on lower wages and / or who are uable to afford the full costs of un-insured health care.

Vaccinations you should be able to get via the Public health center (I think thats what its called) that does very low cost vaccinations for school age kids. I;m planning to use that one for my own child's remaining Hep B shots once we emigrate.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

-the prenatal vitamins are not covered so that is totally out of pocket.

There's a place where you can start saving some cash: Nani didn't do very well with the prescription vitamins (which I found out $15.00 worth a co-pay - for a bottle of 90 doses - too late). Doc said to go and try OTC vitamins. We tried the Kroger store brand OTC prenatal vitamins which are working very well for her. They came @ $9.99 for a bottle of 150 and were on "Buy One Get One Free" special when we purchased them. You can't beat 300 daily doses of prenatal vitamins for $9.99. Shop around! Edited June 11, 2006 by ET-US2004

[Tim and Bethanie 1]

Immunizations can be given at your local Health Dept, no matter what your income or even if you have insurance. Not sure what they charge now adays but it used to be only $1 a vaccine. I would think this would be a cheaper route considering you aren't buying a plane ticket to wherever. My family physician/pediatricians always sent me to the health dept for the childrens vaccines. Agree with previous post, prenatal vitamins are readily available over the counter. Seems to me lying could possibly cause some problems if it were found out.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Last year I was facing the prospect of a $20,000 medical bill for 'pre-existing condition' on a diagnostic surgery.

Its amazing to that the financial pressure of dealing with a healthcare provider actually puts people off getting treatment. Profit before patient care. Two completely different and divergent ideologies.

Edited June 11, 2006 by Fishdude

[Peggy 1]

I think its crazy what people have to pay for insurance in the USA.

I feel for the people that dont have any insurance.

I am not used to paying to go see a doctor. If you need to see a doctor, you should just be able to go, and not worry if you have the money to go or not.

The health care really needs to be addressed so its fair for everyone that needs medical treatment.

[Ban Hammer 14,028]

I think its crazy what people have to pay for insurance in the USA.

I feel for the people that dont have any insurance.

I am not used to paying to go see a doctor. If you need to see a doctor, you should just be able to go, and not worry if you have the money to go or not.

The health care really needs to be addressed so its fair for everyone that needs medical treatment.

socialist medicine, because crack addicts need health care too!

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I think you can pretty much expect her/your credit to be ruined if you tried this -- a public hospital will be forced to give your wife care, but they will send her/you a bill (I assume you are planning to be there for the birth). Whether or not they chose to pursue collections will be up to them.

[Aymerlu 3]

Health insurance here in the U.S sucks the big one. I have not had health insurance for 2 years now, not because I don't want it, but because I cannot afford it. I even bit the bullet and tried for medicaid when I broke my leg so badly last October and basically because I work.....I did not qualify. I was told I had to be off work for 3 months, then to reapply. HELLO....I'm a single mom of 2 kids....I can't just NOT WORK. What burns my butt is that I'm a nurse and I see 100's of patients a day. I see what they drive, what they wear and where they work. I know they are making a ton more money than me and they get medicaid. So not fair. OK....rant off. You can go to the health department for the immunizations, some are free and some they want a small donation. At first I was too proud to go, but then I thought....Hey....I am a tax payer, right? So now I don't have a problem with it. And is their really free health care at the hospital? I went to the county hospital when I bummed up my leg so bad in October. I owe them a nice $30,000 now which my great grandkids will probably still be paying on one day.

[MichelleandCraig 1]

Health insurance here in the U.S sucks the big one. I have not had health insurance for 2 years now, not because I don't want it, but because I cannot afford it. I even bit the bullet and tried for medicaid when I broke my leg so badly last October and basically because I work.....I did not qualify. I was told I had to be off work for 3 months, then to reapply. HELLO....I'm a single mom of 2 kids....I can't just NOT WORK. What burns my butt is that I'm a nurse and I see 100's of patients a day. I see what they drive, what they wear and where they work. I know they are making a ton more money than me and they get medicaid. So not fair. OK....rant off. You can go to the health department for the immunizations, some are free and some they want a small donation. At first I was too proud to go, but then I thought....Hey....I am a tax payer, right? So now I don't have a problem with it. And is their really free health care at the hospital? I went to the county hospital when I bummed up my leg so bad in October. I owe them a nice $30,000 now which my great grandkids will probably still be paying on one day.

Check to see if your hospital has any kind of plan to reduce your debt..write off part of it willingly,etc. Our hospital does...I found it out a few months ago when a friend told me just out of "just so you know" type of thing...I haven't used it, but only because I don't need to at this point...if I had a 30,000 bill(not your fault!! don't mean it that way..) I would sure check it out though. I guess it's a program they didn't advertise, but my friend came to know they had by someone else who used it...it's based on your income, and she said she(her friend, relative..whoever..don't rem. now) did have to do a ream of paperwork...but hey, we're used to that, right? Just something to ask about at the billing department...never know, it's worth a shot. Good luck; I feel for ya!! M.

Edited June 11, 2006 by MichelleandCraig

[Ban Hammer 14,028]

Health insurance here in the U.S sucks the big one. I have not had health insurance for 2 years now, not because I don't want it, but because I cannot afford it. I even bit the bullet and tried for medicaid when I broke my leg so badly last October and basically because I work.....I did not qualify. I was told I had to be off work for 3 months, then to reapply. HELLO....I'm a single mom of 2 kids....I can't just NOT WORK. What burns my butt is that I'm a nurse and I see 100's of patients a day. I see what they drive, what they wear and where they work. I know they are making a ton more money than me and they get medicaid. So not fair. OK....rant off. You can go to the health department for the immunizations, some are free and some they want a small donation. At first I was too proud to go, but then I thought....Hey....I am a tax payer, right? So now I don't have a problem with it. And is their really free health care at the hospital? I went to the county hospital when I bummed up my leg so bad in October. I owe them a nice $30,000 now which my great grandkids will probably still be paying on one day.

$30,000 for fixing a broken leg?

[MichelleandCraig 1]

She didn't say just broken Charles I could be anything...ACL surgery, etc etc etc....any type of surgery would run really high...who knows?? M.

[Aymerlu 3]

Health insurance here in the U.S sucks the big one. I have not had health insurance for 2 years now, not because I don't want it, but because I cannot afford it. I even bit the bullet and tried for medicaid when I broke my leg so badly last October and basically because I work.....I did not qualify. I was told I had to be off work for 3 months, then to reapply. HELLO....I'm a single mom of 2 kids....I can't just NOT WORK. What burns my butt is that I'm a nurse and I see 100's of patients a day. I see what they drive, what they wear and where they work. I know they are making a ton more money than me and they get medicaid. So not fair. OK....rant off. You can go to the health department for the immunizations, some are free and some they want a small donation. At first I was too proud to go, but then I thought....Hey....I am a tax payer, right? So now I don't have a problem with it. And is their really free health care at the hospital? I went to the county hospital when I bummed up my leg so bad in October. I owe them a nice $30,000 now which my great grandkids will probably still be paying on one day.

$30,000 for fixing a broken leg?

Uh...YES $30,000. Broke 4 bones...fibula, tibia, and lateral and medial malleolus (ankle bones). Had surgery with 10 screws, pins and plates and about 3 months after that I had to have surgery on a ligament in my foot that is totally shot so I can walk with a cute little limp now. So YES $30,000 I might add too that since this is a pre-existing condition, I am having even a harder time finding insurance.

Edited June 11, 2006 by Aymerlu

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I think its crazy what people have to pay for insurance in the USA.

I feel for the people that dont have any insurance.

I am not used to paying to go see a doctor. If you need to see a doctor, you should just be able to go, and not worry if you have the money to go or not.

The health care really needs to be addressed so its fair for everyone that needs medical treatment.

socialist medicine, because crack addicts need health care too!

Socialized healthcare. Not quite the same...

Uh...YES $30,000. Broke 4 bones...fibula, tibia, and lateral and medial malleolus (ankle bones). Had surgery with 10 screws, pins and plates and about 3 months after that I had to have surgery on a ligament in my foot that is totally shot so I can walk with a cute little limp now. So YES $30,000 I might add too that since this is a pre-existing condition, I am having even a harder time finding insurance.

There's also the problem of insurance companies interfering with your treatment, against the advice of doctors. My father in law has a heart condition that requires him to see a cardiologist once a month, in addition to taking a bunch of medication.

Thing is, his insurance company decided that since he hadn't had an 'episode' for a few months he didn't need to see the cardiologist. So they told him they weren't going to pay out for it, and he ended up having several angina attacks that landed him in hospital. Luckily he was ok, but he could have had a major heart attack - and all because some insurance agent figured he knew better than the doctor.