4 ms·

Got it. Thanks for expanding so I understand better what you're saying.

• munk-a 5y ago
  I'd also clarify that emergency room services being treat first, bill later is itself a form of insurance. A decent chunk of emergency room costs are never paid by patients and end up being paid by... actually I'm not certain, but either private hospital corporations or the government. However, that is only for the initial triaging treatment. If, for instance, you are stabbed in the belly and some emergency patch work is done to stop the majority of internal bleeding and some antibiotics are issued with a scheduled regimen over the next few months to prevent sepsis then there is a limited supply you've gotten by the grace of emergency treatment but if your supply runs and you're unable to afford more at the pharmacy out you'll need to return to the emergency room to secure more meds. Emergency rooms regularly serve as extremely expensive pharmacies, but they're pretty busy places and the care you're seeking could be delayed and that delay can result in a perfectly treatable infection developing to the point of a mortal wound. While everyone in America can receive emergency treatment no questions asked it isn't necessarily going to happen very quickly and can result in more health issues than being able to pursue medical care through more standard means.