RM> I am not going to say that Gov't healthcare is perfect, and as costs
RM> go up due to an aging population it's getting worse - not helped at
RM> all by those who refuse vaccines so that currently many hospitals
RM> are housing more than double the number of patients they are built
RM> to accomodate simply due to the Flu..

SD>I can't take the flu shot as my systenm can't handle it very well but I am no
  >exposed to the direct public a lot except at the VA hospital (how I caugfht
  >COVID the first time in 2020).

I am pretty much alone where I am all winter long, and most of the
rest of the year too, although I get relatives in for a few days at
a time several times through the summer. But my contact with the
public is very limited as well. I only see other people one day
every 2 weeks when I do my shopping and plan any other appointments.

SD>It is a federal law in the US that no one can be refused care at
  >an enmergency room but guess who picks up the tab?

Well, common or not, we do keep hearing about people in the USA
who show up in the wrong hospital (non-state/public) and are
'treated', and then sent off.. and die in the parking lot.

SD>When my stepdad was hit by a drunk driver in 2003, he ran up a $1,500,000 bil
  >and his health insurance provided tried to come after him for the cost yet a
  >month later, the entire amount was forgiven and we still don't know how that
  >happened.

Wow.. I suppose they must have found out they didn't have a case
to go after him after all. I've heard that many insurance companies
have a standard policy to refuse all claims when they come in, often
up to the first 3 times, and then finally pay them if the customer
persists, even if they were definitely entitled to coverage right
from the start.. Apparently enough people walk away from it that
they come out way ahead doing this.

Likely gov't insurance is a little more reliable since they have
no share holders to keep happy, just tax payers, who are never
happy..     B)

---
 * SLMR Rob  * Look out for #1... And don't step in #2
 * Origin: Capitol City Online (618:250/1)