The following is a post from one of the many listserves I participate in. The names have been withheld to protect the innocent.
If you don't have any compassion for this person, then you have no heart or soul, and aren't human.
K writes:
Just wondering for those of you who have to pay 20 percent like me [medicare only pays 80%], how you do it. Expecially after [stem cell] transplant. I just added up all my 30 different bills and so far 10,000 dollars. More to come because im still getting bloodwork and ct's etc. Probably will never end. What gets me is the 20 different places i owe all want the money at once. I negotiated with a few and they wont hardly budge down. I tried sending each bil 5 or 10 a month and they still turn me over to collection. Some are nice and except. When you draw a social security check and have to pay your household bills you dont have much left. Im single also. Im wondering if bankruptcy is the way to go but im worried my [oncologist] wont see me anymore if i put them in bankruptcy. They are the biggest chunck of my debt to. A bout 4800 dollars.
Im stressing over bills. Even if i make arrangements with everyone for 10 dollars i still dont have enough money left for food and gas. What are some of you doing about this.
This is what's at stake in this health care debate. There are actually human beings in this country, who despite their best efforts, are suffering.
If we can't [won't] take care of the less fortunate in this country, then we don't deserve our status in the world, and it's no wonder we are held in such contempt around the world.
Those aren't the principles this country was founded up.