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The author's father, Bill, around age 76, never paid taxes while living for decades in the UK, but was still treated, and died there. The author assumes he woul
by newbie12 14y ago
The author's father, Bill, around age 76, never paid taxes while living for decades in the UK, but was still treated, and died there. The author assumes he wouldn't have had care in the U.S. That's wrong. Even though he never held a recognized job (and probably was a tax cheat), as a senior citizen he would probably receive Medicare and as a poor person he would also potentially be supported by Medicaid for any shortfall. Further, his situation is hardly a model for national policy-- why should someone who never worked, yet apparently has well-off, internationally traveling family, be completely subsidized by taxpayers? Why shouldn't Bill or his family face some of the costs for his care?
- 27182818284 14y ago>or his family For the same reason that you don't go to jail just because your brother robs a bank? Hey it is nice when family helps out, but they shouldn't have the legal obligation.
- newbie12 14y agoThey should if he leaves them an inheritance.
- 27182818284 14y agoThat's an interesting idea. Directly I'd still say no, they shouldn't, but indirectly via an inheritance tax I'm OK with as I'm OK with inheritance tax in general.
- aplusbi 14y agoI think the author's point was that his father wouldn't have bothered to fill out the paperwork required by Medicare so the fact that the NHS is automatic allowed his father to have coverage.
- VLM 14y ago"his father wouldn't have bothered to fill out the paperwork required by Medicare" Having gone thru something kind of similar yet different with my own older relatives, the hospital has a blindingly obvious financial motivation to "help" elderly / senile patients with the paperwork, and therefore there are people on staff walking the halls doing precisely that. Seen it with my own eyes, this is not theoretical. As long as the dollars you can haul in from properly filled out medicare forms exceed the cost of hiring a ombudsman or coordinator or advocate or whatever the job title was...