4 ms·

The one where one trip to ER can leave you on the street and students have six digit debts?

WalterBright 7mo ago
Ironically, you picked two systems that are heavily interfered with by the government. Back in the Great Depression, my great grandmother got sick and was hospitalized, and they took care of her until she passed. My grandfather did not have enough to pay the bill. The hospital told him not to worry, just pay what he could. It took him a while, but he paid the bill in full.
- wiseowise 7mo ago
  > Back in Great Depression Why not civil war? > It took him a while, but he paid the bill in full. How long was “a while” specifically? And how much did it affect your grandfathers life?
  - WalterBright 7mo ago
    > Why not civil war? My great grandmother's brother, Frank Taylor, fought in the Union Army. He later became a bodyguard for Buffalo Bill. And that's all I know about him, and the personal side of the Civil War. Keep in mind that doctoring was pretty primitive in those days. A doctor could set your broken bones and sew up wounds, and that's about it. You got better or you died. Doctors were called "sawbones" in those days. > How long was “a while” specifically? If I recall correctly, it took him 3 years. I don't know much about his finances. I do know that his first job was shoveling coal in a steamship, which is a filthy, rotten job. https://walterbright.com/trip/chas.html https://walterbright.com/trip/chas.html
- Synthetic7346 7mo ago
  Heavily interfered how? Canada / UK / Australia have healthcare which is "heavily interfered" as you call it, and they're better off for it
  - WalterBright 7mo ago
    How? The government runs it, and/or heavily regulates it, and shifts costs. > and they're better off for it In the US, the cost of medical care rose in step with inflation until 1968. After that, it rose at a much steeper rate, and has not slowed down. 1968 was when the government got involved with health care. Countries with a heavily-interfered health care system are poorer as a result.
  - genthree 7mo ago
    Whoa now. Consider that getting the government out of healthcare would mean all the rural hospitals close. Consider who that would most-hurt, while saving you money, before you jump to the humanitarian position. Consider it in light of the 2024 election.
- razakel 7mo ago
  Was the hospital affiliated with a religious order?
  - WalterBright 7mo ago
    no

Ironically, you picked two systems that are heavily interfered with by the government. Back in the Great Depression, my great grandmother got sick and was hospitalized, and they took care of her until she passed. My grandfather did not have enough to pay the bill. The hospital told him not to worry, just pay what he could. It took him a while, but he paid the bill in full.

wiseowise 7mo ago
> Back in Great Depression Why not civil war? > It took him a while, but he paid the bill in full. How long was “a while” specifically? And how much did it affect your grandfathers life?
- WalterBright 7mo ago
  > Why not civil war? My great grandmother's brother, Frank Taylor, fought in the Union Army. He later became a bodyguard for Buffalo Bill. And that's all I know about him, and the personal side of the Civil War. Keep in mind that doctoring was pretty primitive in those days. A doctor could set your broken bones and sew up wounds, and that's about it. You got better or you died. Doctors were called "sawbones" in those days. > How long was “a while” specifically? If I recall correctly, it took him 3 years. I don't know much about his finances. I do know that his first job was shoveling coal in a steamship, which is a filthy, rotten job. https://walterbright.com/trip/chas.html https://walterbright.com/trip/chas.html
Synthetic7346 7mo ago
Heavily interfered how? Canada / UK / Australia have healthcare which is "heavily interfered" as you call it, and they're better off for it
- WalterBright 7mo ago
  How? The government runs it, and/or heavily regulates it, and shifts costs. > and they're better off for it In the US, the cost of medical care rose in step with inflation until 1968. After that, it rose at a much steeper rate, and has not slowed down. 1968 was when the government got involved with health care. Countries with a heavily-interfered health care system are poorer as a result.
- genthree 7mo ago
  Whoa now. Consider that getting the government out of healthcare would mean all the rural hospitals close. Consider who that would most-hurt, while saving you money, before you jump to the humanitarian position. Consider it in light of the 2024 election.
razakel 7mo ago
Was the hospital affiliated with a religious order?
- WalterBright 7mo ago
  no