The thing is, if you're in an emergency room, for the most part, you're there because of a medical emergency. (I know this isn't universally true, etc.)
If you're bleeding, and someone hands you a price quote, what are you going to do?
Or if you're unconscious, they can't even hand you a price quote. (I guess they could shove it in your pocket.)
I know the one time I needed to go to the ER, for emergency surgery, I'd have done it if they'd said it was a million billion dollars, because my life was literally on the line. I wasn't going to go shopping around, because leaving that ER would've meant death.
What's a price quote supposed to do in those situations?
We just need universal coverage, whether single payer or actually universal insurance.
Your text is grey and you may be getting downvoted and I'm not sure why. You are absolutely right and anyone who has ever been to ER will agree. I was in ER a couple of months ago, and it wasn't even a life-threatening issue, but I felt terrible. I went to the closest hospital with ER department (thankfully, it was in-network), and I was going to get their treatment no matter what price quote they hand me (not that I asked). When you're deeply, physically unwell, nothing else matters to your mind.
I think you may be getting downvoted for your last sentence, but the points you're making are very real.
If you're bleeding, and someone hands you a price quote, what are you going to do?
Or if you're unconscious, they can't even hand you a price quote. (I guess they could shove it in your pocket.)
I know the one time I needed to go to the ER, for emergency surgery, I'd have done it if they'd said it was a million billion dollars, because my life was literally on the line. I wasn't going to go shopping around, because leaving that ER would've meant death.
What's a price quote supposed to do in those situations?
We just need universal coverage, whether single payer or actually universal insurance.