by William Altgeld

Created on: January 02, 2007   Last Updated: April 18, 2007

There is compelling evidence that suggests that individuals with no insurance get better healthcare screening than those who have none!

I've worked in the healthcare field for over 30 years and I've seen the full spectrum of the evolution of Healthcare in the United States. And, I can tell you, without a doubt, people who have no insurance have access to better healthcare than individuals who have insurance.

The reasons for this are multiple! First, there are the Insurance Companies who provide Healthcare coverage. They are in business to make a profit, period. If they don't make a profit, they don't stay in business. Bottom line, they set up all kind of "hoops" you have to jump through in order to get heath related expenses paid. You have ever increasing co-pays! ( I now pay more in co-pays than I paid for the entire cost of the office visit or prescription 20 years ago!) You have ever growing "out of pocket" fees before your health insurance even kicks in. {At present, I have to spend $5000.00 in each calendar year before my major medical coverage takes over!) You have limitations on emergency care. Basically, if you show up in the Emergency Room for anything less than chest pain or needing sutures, you pay for the visit out of your own pocket. In other words, if it is not a true emergency, they don't pay!

Another reason is that doctors today are trained to practice "defensive medicine!" This is especially true in the Emergency Room. People without insurance can walk into any Emergency Room for any reason and be seen by a doctor. Because the doctor does not have any previous history on these patients, they have to basically "work them up" to make sure that they don't miss some underlying problem for which they could be sued. If a person comes in complaining of abdominal pain, they will have a complete blood count and basic metabolic panel plus an x-ray of their abdomen. If their white blood count comes back elevated they will probably receive a CT scan of the abdomen with oral contrast to rule out appendicitis. If the CT scan is negative they might have an EKG, because sometimes a Heart Attack can present with only nausea as the symptom.

Come to the Emergency Room with Chest Pain and you will have a full blood panel plus cardiac enzymes, an EKG, a chest x-ray. You will probably have an IV and be monitored and be given several different medications. Often, you will stay long enough to have a second set of cardiac enzymes drawn which means you will occupy an ER

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>