This is the reason Ron Paul > *

lew · 03-25-2007, 10:53 PM

During his medical career specializing in obstetrics/gynecology, he delivered more than 4,000 babies. He refused to accept payment by Medicare or Medicaid, preferring to not charge patients or to work out a cash payment.

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/ar...3paulfacts.htm

jimeigh · 03-26-2007, 02:49 AM

aaawwwweeeee that's adorable

nbiggershaft · 03-26-2007, 03:48 AM

Kinda awkward for mom and pop on medicare, but I guess the sentiment is in the right place.

6SpeedTA95 · 03-26-2007, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by nbiggershaft

Kinda awkward for mom and pop on medicare, but I guess the sentiment is in the right place.

why is that awkward?

Pro Street · 03-26-2007, 11:40 AM

many doctors do this... every single day

nbiggershaft · 03-26-2007, 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by 6SpeedTA95

why is that awkward?

Mom and dad go in to have baby delivered.

RP: So do you have insurance?
Dad: No, but we are covered under medicare don't worry.
RP: No that won't do, you'll have to pay cash.
Dad: But, I..... what? You won't accept the medicare?
RP: If you really can't pay now we can work out payments or I can do it pro bono if you really need.
Dad: Well I really wish you'd just take the medicare, I don't want to stiff you.
RP: Nope, nope, not taking it.

Like I said, his heart is in the right place, but it sounds like a shitty situation for mom and dad.

RMNIXON · 03-26-2007, 06:38 PM

Originally Posted by nbiggershaft

Kinda awkward for mom and pop on medicare, but I guess the sentiment is in the right place.

It depends on your priorities and available cash income. Obviously a lot of people made this choice and thought it was worth it.

6SpeedTA95 · 03-26-2007, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by nbiggershaft

Mom and dad go in to have baby delivered.

RP: So do you have insurance?
Dad: No, but we are covered under medicare don't worry.
RP: No that won't do, you'll have to pay cash.
Dad: But, I..... what? You won't accept the medicare?
RP: If you really can't pay now we can work out payments or I can do it pro bono if you really need.
Dad: Well I really wish you'd just take the medicare, I don't want to stiff you.
RP: Nope, nope, not taking it.

Like I said, his heart is in the right place, but it sounds like a shitty situation for mom and dad.

That makes no sense, the doctor performing it for free is a good thing IMO. It puts the responsibility on the individual, if the individual really can't pay I like hte fact the doctor isn't making ME pay for it.

Thorgrim · 03-26-2007, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by 6SpeedTA95

That makes no sense, the doctor performing it for free is a good thing IMO. It puts the responsibility on the individual, if the individual really can't pay I like hte fact the doctor isn't making ME pay for it.

Some of us don't like straight up handouts, infact some find them insulting

Imagine you had some CC mixup and brought an out of date CC instead of your current one...(i avoid checks and cash at all times)

You are at the grocery store, you go to the counter, get the cost and then when you swipe your card and there's a problem the manager comes over and goes "oh no I don't believe in CC anyway, here I'll buy your groceries" and insists that he'll just give you the groceries even though you have a valid means of payment

I'd walk right out without taking anything

I think what he did was pretty awful and made a lot of families either poorer or humiliated

"here is my valid insurance, itll cover this"
"no! you have cash, that way you're already struggling paying taxes for medicare and have to pay my medical bills ontop of that...haha sucks to be you...or you can accept my gracious charity money, here kiss my feet on the way out"

lew · 03-26-2007, 10:33 PM

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

Some of us don't like straight up handouts, infact some find them insulting

Imagine you had some CC mixup and brought an out of date CC instead of your current one...(i avoid checks and cash at all times)

You are at the grocery store, you go to the counter, get the cost and then when you swipe your card and there's a problem the manager comes over and goes "oh no I don't believe in CC anyway, here I'll buy your groceries" and insists that he'll just give you the groceries even though you have a valid means of payment

I'd walk right out without taking anything

I think what he did was pretty awful and made a lot of families either poorer or humiliated

"here is my valid insurance, itll cover this"
"no! you have cash, that way you're already struggling paying taxes for medicare and have to pay my medical bills ontop of that...haha sucks to be you...or you can accept my gracious charity money, here kiss my feet on the way out"

The extent to which you hate Republicans is amazing.

PS, those people paying with medicare / medicaid were paying with STAIGHT UP HANDOUTS.

6SpeedTA95 · 03-26-2007, 10:33 PM

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

Some of us don't like straight up handouts, infact some find them insulting

Imagine you had some CC mixup and brought an out of date CC instead of your current one...(i avoid checks and cash at all times)

You are at the grocery store, you go to the counter, get the cost and then when you swipe your card and there's a problem the manager comes over and goes "oh no I don't believe in CC anyway, here I'll buy your groceries" and insists that he'll just give you the groceries even though you have a valid means of payment

I'd walk right out without taking anything

I think what he did was pretty awful and made a lot of families either poorer or humiliated

"here is my valid insurance, itll cover this"
"no! you have cash, that way you're already struggling paying taxes for medicare and have to pay my medical bills ontop of that...haha sucks to be you...or you can accept my gracious charity money, here kiss my feet on the way out"

You're making a pretty hefty assumption in thinking the doctor was a cocky asshat about it. If he were then you definately have a legitimate point, if he wasn't then thats a broad and completely unfair assumption.

I do see your point though, however, again we do not know how the doctor approached this situation. My guess is this was done in a very respectful manner but I dont know.

Thorgrim · 03-26-2007, 11:08 PM

Whatever "manner" it was...I don't see how anyone, especially someone with conservative values, would think it was a pleasant experience to come in with medicare at an all old age, and have the doctor tell you he "won't accept it"

Confused, he tells you that you could work out a cash payment...very very uncomfortably you have to explain to him that you old now you live on a budget, your kids college and other financial messes have spent much of your savings, and then he tells you not to worry, he'll give you personal charity money

After someone who spent a lifetime paying in to taxes and expecting elderly medical care you were promised since youth as an excuse for taxes, it'd be frustating and insulting beyond belief to be forced to take charity money from a younger doctor you don't even know when you have a valid means to pay

I'm just shocked I really have to explain this out to you...

Pro Street · 03-26-2007, 11:17 PM

I don't follow this

let's say I had a kid on medicaid.

if he saw my child, he wouldn't accept the medicaid, but instead would make an arbitrary decision to either charge and take cash, or to not charge at all.

based on what?

I'm not against this, but I'm curious as to how he decided.

nbiggershaft · 03-26-2007, 11:19 PM

The thing is, if I was dad and the doctors first response was "oh you are on medicare, well I will do it for free". Then I would be very greatful. If his response was, "I don't believe in medicare", or "I don't take medicare", then I would feel like a piece of shit not paying him.

Diesel66 · 03-27-2007, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

Some of us don't like straight up handouts, infact some find them insulting

medicare is a straight up handout.

Pro Street · 03-27-2007, 12:37 PM

Originally Posted by Pro Street

I don't follow this

let's say I had a kid on medicaid.

if he saw my child, he wouldn't accept the medicaid, but instead would make an arbitrary decision to either charge and take cash, or to not charge at all.

based on what?

I'm not against this, but I'm curious as to how he decided.

anyone?

Thorgrim · 03-27-2007, 12:46 PM

most likely is that he conducted a humiliating interview to determine whether they were poor enough to afford his generosity

Diesel66 · 03-27-2007, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by Pro Street

anyone?

ask him
E-Communications with Rep. Paul

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

most likely is that he conducted a humiliating interview to determine whether they were poor enough to afford his generosity

hmm medicare check. no private insurance check.

and what is the difference between them accepting handouts from the govt verses handouts from the doctor treating them ?

nbiggershaft · 03-27-2007, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by Diesel66

and what is the difference between them accepting handouts from the govt verses handouts from the doctor treating them ?

Everyone accepts handouts from the government everyday if you can call medicare a handout. What government program wouldn't parallel this?

Diesel66 · 03-27-2007, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by nbiggershaft

Everyone accepts handouts from the government everyday if you can call medicare a handout.

the few handouts most people get are usually ones where the govt is the only one providing the service or we have no choice. Medicare competes with private insurance.

What government program wouldn't parallel this?

?