Why the cost, of course.. I’ve attached on old article from 2008 for readers because this article, for me, hits home. I still remember the day this article came out, and how it affected me. (I have a new ad on BogotaSurgery.org that touches on this subject.)
This hospital [Carilion Medical Center] is one of the larger hospitals serving people where I live, and this is the hospital that is taking people’s’ homes.
Now, even before the economy went south, times were hard in the rural area where I live. Our largest industry (which had been the largest textile mill in the world) closed, putting thousands of people out of work, and series of related financial setbacks have continued to plague this beautiful, wonderful town full of decent, hard-working people.
“The Roanoke City General District Court devotes one morning a week to cases filed by Carilion. In its fiscal year ended Sept. 30, Carilion says it sued 9,888 patients, garnished the wages of 5,478 people and placed liens on 3,920 homes. Carilion says the people it takes to court have the means to pay their bills.
On a Thursday morning in June, a Carilion representative waited outside a courtroom to intercept the half-dozen patients who had responded to summonses to appear in court.
She took them to a side room to work out payment plans. A judge later called out names of close to 100 patients who didn’t show and, one-by-one, entered judgments against them.”
Unfortunately, it’s not just in my town, and it’s not just Virginia.. Medical bills are the number one cause of bankrupcy in the USA.
A USA Today article, dating back to September of last year says that 50.7 MILLION Americans don’t have health insurance. Now, I doubt it’s gotten better since then.
This is our reality, and the reality of millions and millions of people in our country.
Very truly said “Medical bills are the number one cause of bankrupcy in the USA.” Around 10 millions ppls are traveling abroad for medical treatment
Mike,
Medical Tourism Expert,