A trip to the emergency room… without insurance.

I was CERTAIN my husband would be healthy and accident free until he received healthcare from his employer. He started work in mid-January and was promised coverage by February 1st. I was finally starting to feel at ease about his healthcare issue.

When my husband called me from work on Friday to let me know he had injured his eye and needed urgent care he mentioned…he had no healthcare coverage.

His employer had failed to send the application.

We panicked. Goodbye tax refund. Possibly goodbye house…goodbye car… goodbye right arm.

Thanks to some quick thinking on my husband’s part, his was rerouted to the hospital at his school rather than to the local emergency room.

A few hours later he was bandaged, drugged, and… bill free. Because he is an active student, he is given certain medical care for free. Whew!

For those of you who attend, or have children who attend, large universities, consider researching the medical options available. It could save you a bundle.

Posted by Beks on February 8, 2010 at 9:32 PM in health | 13 Comments »
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Jono responded:
Posted: February 8th, 2010 at 11:25 pm
Jesus. Being in a country with free healthcare, I can’t say I have ever been in your position so I can’t relate, but I hope I am never in the position where financial concerns are a factor in urgent medical treatment. It’s the sort of thing people have nightmares about.
Claire in CA, USA responded:
Posted: February 8th, 2010 at 11:36 pm
Wow, so glad that turned out okay! I sure hope his employer puts the application in now. Duh.
Iloveshoes responded:
Posted: February 9th, 2010 at 12:27 am
Wow! I’m so glad everything turned out okay and you avoided a huge medical bill.
Mike responded:
Posted: February 9th, 2010 at 7:28 am
Since he was hurt at work it should have been covered by worker’s comp.
Brandi responded:
Posted: February 9th, 2010 at 7:56 am
I loved the care I got at my school doctor offices. It was excellent. I got a mole removed for $14! ($7 for the removal and $7 for a checkup).
First Step responded:
Posted: February 9th, 2010 at 9:28 am
If he was injured at work, that is a Worker’s Compensation claim. He shouldn’t have to pay anything for the medical care he received. His employer should have arrangements with an ED or urgent care that employees are required to go to when there is an on-the-job injury. If his employer doesn’t have this type of insurance, your husband needs to look for a new job. Injuries are so common in the construction industry. I would want to be sure that your husband (and you) would be taken care of in the event of a more serious injury.
Jen responded:
Posted: February 9th, 2010 at 9:33 am
Yikes!! Great quick thinking by your husband! And time to get on his employer to send in the health insurance forms!!!
Lynn responded:
Posted: February 9th, 2010 at 10:19 am
Uh, yeah no question that that should have been a workers comp claim. Doesn’t matter if he was on lunch break or even doing something personal, it would be covered by workers comp.
Lizzie responded:
Posted: February 9th, 2010 at 11:41 am
That is so awesome he was able to receive that care…extra tuition “fees” comes in handy every once in a while!
Dawn responded:
Posted: February 9th, 2010 at 2:09 pm
Thank God all worked out ok financially for you. I hope your husband heals quickly.
Beks responded:
Posted: February 9th, 2010 at 10:23 pm
Sorry! I should have been more clear. The accident happened before work. He didn’t realize the how severe it was until after he got to work and could no longer see and had extreme pain.
calshana responded:
Posted: February 9th, 2010 at 11:04 pm
Even if the employer fails to send the application on the correct day, the coverage is retroactive to the first day of eligibility. In this case it appears to be 2/1. Once the application is processed, remember to go back and submit the expenses to the insurance company.
Henrietta responded:
Posted: February 12th, 2010 at 7:17 am
To live in a society where there isn’t universal free medical care is unthinkable! Everybody I know, young, rich, old, poor uses the National Health service (NHS) in the UK. Unlike Spain (who also boasts a free health care service) people do not even have to hand in ID to be treated. Everybody who enters a UK hospital will be treated regardless of their status. It is one of the very few things that the UK can be proud of.