Just a quick vent ... another entry in the Perception is Everything book.
The other day an ER patient (not my patient) with chief complaint of SOB x 1 week was diagnosed with bronchitis and discharged. Not my patient, but I had the patient in the next curtained area and I was in there for quite a while, so I no choice but to hear how the other patient's ER visit played out.
Patient (young adult, no other significant PMH), had fever @ 101 F, was medicated with antipyretics and abx. CXR was clear. No respiratory distress, able to speak in complete sentences and ambulate without difficulty. Discharged with Rx for continued abx and instructions for rest, fluids and OTC Tylenol/Motrin. Also advised of worsening s/s which could indicate need for return to ER. MD and RN leave, patient is getting dressed and makes a phone call to significant other:
Patient: "Well, they say I have bronchitis and they don't want me to stay because I don't have insurance."
Significant other must have questioned this, because he repeated it twice more.
WHAT????? :trout:
I'll be the first to admit that the uninsured face enormous difficulties in getting primary care, but I wonder how common this is -- the perception that the patient is somehow being short-changed in not getting a "million dollar workup" and inpatient admission when in reality ... it's just not medically required.
How can you read that stuff? I'd just be p***ed off all the time! I pay over $200 month for full family coverage(not bad), but I get so sick/tired of medicaid/medicare dollars being spent on futile care for a gomer, as well as money spent for the uninsured. What is the answer to this? Why can persons that are at the end of their lives continue to receive care on my tax dollars? Why do persons without medical coverage scream that they are being refused care/admission because they have no way to pay. It makes me furious!!!!!:devil:
I don't know. I'm off work now because of cancer. I'm in remission now and hope to be well enough to return to work soon. I'm paying close to $400.00 a month for COBRA. Everyone keeps telling me to just apply for Medicaid.
Also, have been on me to apply for SSI disability. I'm not permanently disabled. I think it would be an abuse of the system and no one gets that.
So my family keep telling me THEY"RE tired of worrying about my financial situation and I should apply for benefits.
I don't know. I'm off work now because of cancer. I'm in remission now and hope to be well enough to return to work soon. I'm paying close to $400.00 a month for COBRA. Everyone keeps telling me to just apply for Medicaid.
Also, have been on me to apply for SSI disability. I'm not permanently disabled. I think it would be an abuse of the system and no one gets that.
So my family keep telling me THEY"RE tired of worrying about my financial situation and I should apply for benefits.
SIGH!
To be honest.....you should apply for benefits. My mother, 58 multiple issues and a 30 plus year RN, too had COBRA for roughly $600 monthly! Her income had dwindled as well due to her medical issues, I don't see how she could afford it. If you need SSI etc. it takes months to be approved, you need to apply now. Good Luck with your treatments. People do survive, I too was a CA pt (childhood), and I am coming up on my 28th year since diagnosis. :cheers:
StacieRN, RN
78 Posts
I don't know. I'm off work now because of cancer. I'm in remission now and hope to be well enough to return to work soon. I'm paying close to $400.00 a month for COBRA. Everyone keeps telling me to just apply for Medicaid.
Also, have been on me to apply for SSI disability. I'm not permanently disabled. I think it would be an abuse of the system and no one gets that.
So my family keep telling me THEY"RE tired of worrying about my financial situation and I should apply for benefits.
SIGH!