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Massachusetts Makes Health Insurance Mandatory
Iron Condor writes "Massachusetts is the first state to require its residents to secure health insurance, a plan designed to get as close as practically possible to statewide universal health care. Presidential hopeful and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney originally introduced the idea in 2004. Effective July 1, 2007, the law, which uses federal and state tax dollars, is aimed at making health insurance affordable to all residents of the state, including low-income populations. Those who fall below the federal poverty line may be eligible for health care at no cost."
I live in the UK and I think it's interesting to read your experience and contrast it with mine where there is a nationalised health service.
I was drunk one night walking home from the pub and decided to investigate the railway near my house a little more closely. Whilst climbing back over the fence to the road I lost my balance and fell off. On the way down I grabbed the top of the fence and unfortunately put the palm of my hand onto a rusty nail embedded in the fence. The nail ripped a large gash from the palm of my hand to just before the base of my middle fingers.
Since it was around 3AM in the morning I went to the A&E department at the local hospital ( 5mins in a car ). First of all a doctor examined the wound and picked out bits of fence and rust and then a nurse put in 15 or so stitches. I was seen by the doctor immediately and was back at my house around 40mins later. I also had a tetnus injection.
The next day I went back to the hospital where I saw another doctor ( 15min wait for that ) who checked for any nerve damage or other problems with the gash and I think an X-Ray as well and they gave me a load of bandages.
A week later I went to my local doctor to get a sick note for work ( it was my right hand ) and also saw her nurse to check it was all healing and decide when the stitches should come out and a while after that I went back to have the stitches out.
All of this cost me nothing ( except 3 weeks paid holiday from work ) and I think I got a very efficient and effective service. This is the first time I've ever been to hospital and the 2nd time I've ever seen my doctor in 30 years ( the other was for a yellow fever injection before I went on holiday somewhere ) so I really doubt I'd have been bothered to get any medical insurance if I didn't have the NHS to look after me.