This post is mostly just to vent.
Tl/dr: a bill from our pediatrician’s office fell through the cracks. Within six months, we were served papers telling us we’re being sued for that amount plus “reasonable attorneys fees.” The amount owed is now over 800 dollars.
We just received new court documents advising a default judgement has been made. My wife has been a wreck all morning after opening the papers. For the record, I did try multiple times to help my wife navigate the situation, providing advice and such, but she kind of acted like I was over complicating things and didn’t want to hear what I had to say. She thought she had it all under control, which is understandable. She kept getting caught up on the fact that she meant to pay it, and was meaning to pay it any day now once her paychecks come in, but she’s a mom who recently gave birth and doesn’t have a lot of money (I’ve offered to help but money is tight from my end too) so it’s hard to keep everything straight (her words). She feels personally attacked that they actually went through suing her. “Salt on the wound” she keeps saying. From her perspective, we always paid all bills (100% true), live frugally in a tiny two bedroom house, have two cheap cars that we need to get to work, etc., and have paid countless medical bills so far, so she feels like she’s being unjustly punished for all of this (which I think is honestly a little valid). It’s been immensely frustrating and put strain on our relationship a little this morning. Plus, it wasn’t good having the kids see us fight like that. She’s the type that cries when getting a speeding ticket (for context)
Then I remember back when I was 17, as an exchange student in Germany, able to experience what it is like to live in a society where healthcare is seen as a right and provided basically free of charge…where being sued over healthcare costs/debt simply doesn’t exist, and the stresses that families and parents feel over medical costs simply doesn’t exist … and my blood boils!!! No I didn’t have to wait in line in Germany…I got in to see a doctor faster than ever in the U.S., within 10 minutes for an UNSCHEDULED visit…basically unheard of here in grand ol’ America, and it cost me like 20 euros as an American!
And still, all the Americans around me will defend the status quo of our shitty, overly expensive and inefficient healthcare system.
https://ift.tt/aYI5rFG Submitted November 26, 2023 at 01:52AM by whitewolf2727 https://ift.tt/UpjhyoC