Pharmacist refused inhaler to woman having asthma attack... because she was $1.50 sho

• Cucurbita wrote on 2010-10-19 16:32
  TBH, it is in a sense the woman's fault for not having medical insurance.
  
  In canada, healthcare is just part of your taxes, and thus is mandatory and "free". In the united states, its optional whether you want to live or die.
• Manic wrote on 2010-10-20 10:57
  This is very sad. I would have paid the rest myself. It's $1.50!
• VitaminC wrote on 2010-10-20 17:15

  Quote from Osayidan;187705:

  Maybe in china they leave you outside but in the US they take you in until they check if you can pay or not then toss you out. Watch the documentary `Sicko`.
  Meanwhile in Canada, Cuba and most of Europe you can walk into a hospital without a wallet.
  
  There isn't any excuse, at all, for any developed country in this world to have anything less than free health care and inexpensive medication. There's no argument for it. The only almost-valid argument anyone in the US gives is that it's too expensive, but everyone else manages to do it, even communist Cuba that the US is supposed to be so much better than.

  
  
  Sorry, Capitalism can't hear you over the sound of how awesome it is.
  
  Cuba made a program for it to be mandatory for a certain number of people to be doctors, or at least specialized in medicine. Their enjoyed rate of good healthcare is the result of this.
  
  About the story, Woah guys and gals, are there no other would-be heroes abound? He's the 100 percent asshole because he is doing his job? Really? He's the only one in the entire place that's supposed to be "I got this" or he's a dbotd? Some other people had to see this. That said. I'd have been hard pressed to sleep at night if she died over $1.50. Kinda goes against the whole selling things to people that give them better health, y'know?
• Iyasenu wrote on 2010-10-20 17:33
  $1500 for an ambulance!?
  
  Gooooooood-daaaaaaamn
  
  Cost of Living went up when I wasn't aware, apparantly.
• RicochetOrange wrote on 2010-10-20 17:44

  Quote from Iyasenu;188952:

  $1500 for an ambulance!?
  
  Gooooooood-daaaaaaamn
  
  Cost of Living went up when I wasn't aware, apparantly.

  
  
  Self surgery yo!
  
  
  
  
  But in all seriousness, there wasn't anyone else in the store that could have paid that? Seems like everyone in the store was an ass.
• Cucurbita wrote on 2010-10-20 18:21

  Quote from Iyasenu;188952:

  $1500 for an ambulance!?
  
  Gooooooood-daaaaaaamn
  
  Cost of Living went up when I wasn't aware, apparantly.

  
  
  IN
  
  SUR
  
  ANCE
• Osayidan wrote on 2010-10-20 18:24

  Quote from Cucurbita;188986:

  IN
  
  SUR
  
  ANCE

  
  For some Americans it's either insurance or dinner.
• Cucurbita wrote on 2010-10-20 18:57

  Quote from Osayidan;188990:

  For some Americans it's either insurance or dinner.

  
  
  This is true. But you also need to realize that Canada's "free healthcare" is just an illusion in a sense, as it does happen to come out of your taxes. This does make it cheaper than optional healthcare, but overall you're still paying for it.
  
  The benefit of optional healthcare is that you get to chose how you're covered. You can get minimum coverage which might take care of emergencies such as calling for an ambulance. Its affordable on MOST family's budget. On the other hand, you can also get some very expensive coverage that gives you much more than Canada's free healthcare can offer, and faster.
  
  Now considered most families can't actually afford said optimal coverage, they're probably usually sticking to the minimum, or just enough so that they don't have to worry. But then you get the occasional hungry family that has to pick between food and health.
  
  Thats where Medicare and Medicaid comes in. Now as much as I dislike how America does a lot of things, I can tell you right now that one great thing about this nation is that if you're ever in a need of any kind, the government is almost always willing to lend a hand.
  
  If your income is so low (implied by the article about the mentioned couple), or you have some sort of disability (asthma, as mentioned by the article about the couple), you're more than qualified for Medicaid. These people could've had free minimum health care coverage, and they didn't.
  
  The sad thing is, there are tons of people who could use these systems but are too lazy to do it. It would've been one phone call, one form to sign, and they didn't do it. Now they had no insurance and was debating between risking her life or paying 1500 dollars for an ambulance.
  
  Yes, thats not the point of this article. The pharmacist should've given a helping hand. I agree completely.
  
  But its also the couple's fault for putting themselves in such a position in the first place.
• Osayidan wrote on 2010-10-20 19:10
  The canadian healthcare is pretty top notch. It's on our taxes, but everything is covered. Even medication you have to pay for you can declare on your tax forms at the end of the year and get the money back.
  My stepfather got 2 fingers cut off in a work accident and spent almost a month in the hospital, and had a heart attack from the stress while there, then spent months getting therapy to learn to use his 3 finger hand. If we were in the US, even with some high end insurance that would have cost a lot, and a family like mine wouldn't have been able to afford it anyways. Over here we haven't paid a dime for anything related to that, he pays for medications for his heart now but gets it all back at every tax refund. My grandparents also have lots of medications to pay for but they get it all back too.
• Tokiko wrote on 2010-10-20 21:09
  [Image: http://tv.spreadit.org/pics/alg_snl_paterson.jpg]

  
  Only in New Jersey.
• Time wrote on 2010-10-20 21:10
  Sucks to your ass-mar.
  
  Omg I hate lotf.
• Phanterz wrote on 2010-10-23 19:58
  The sad thing is...
  that is not a crime.
• Mentosftw wrote on 2010-10-23 20:10
  I'm glad I live in Canada. But seriously, it's more like time = money when you're talking about medical treatments. You litteraly have to book a 2 year appointment to get an MRI.
  
  :P Unless you have connections and are willing to pay up.
• Kazuni wrote on 2010-10-23 20:42

  Quote from Mentosftw;192019:

  I'm glad I live in Canada. But seriously, it's more like time = money when you're talking about medical treatments. You litteraly have to book a 2 year appointment to get an MRI.
  
  :P Unless you have connections and are willing to pay up.

  
  
  I had some problems with my hearing in my left ear ever since I was little (it's all blurry and louder), and the government got me an MRI within the month. It was a few years ago :I
• Taycat wrote on 2010-10-23 20:49
  Saw this on TV a long time ago.
  
  I was shocked.