# Health care horror story #13848732 **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 26, 2009, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-care-horror-story-13848732/522612 "2009-12-26T08:01:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 39
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-care-horror-story-13848732/522612/761 "2010-02-15T14:14:44Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > Thank you for the great example of how you all “think”. Of course I never said anything about “murder” not happening, but you go right ahead and believe whatever fairy tale you want. It’s called an analogy. Christ, did you score 350 on the SATs?\* Here’s another analogy for you. A normal rational human being is to curlcoat as napkin sandwiches are to napkin sandwiches\*\* \*they give you 400 just for signing your name correctly. \*\* napkin sandwiches, like Chuck Norris, defies proper analogies.\*\*\* \*\*\* if a napkin sandwich and Chuck Norris fought, who would win? The answer is everybody. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-care-horror-story-13848732/522612/762 "2010-02-15T14:16:29Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > Thank you for the great example of how you all “think”. Of course I never said anything about “murder” not happening. I didn’t say you said that. And you have perfectly demonstrated your ‘power of not grasping analogies’. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-care-horror-story-13848732/522612/763 "2010-02-15T16:47:58Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > Do you really not notice that in both of your links, it was shown that what the insurance company did was illegal? Which is what I said? I thought you were saying no one offered proof that insurance companies are refusing to pay for coverage. What these cases tell you is ,yes they do. The reason they come to light is because they wound up in courts. Each and every transgression does not. It is their practice to search and find ways to deny coverage that has been paid for. What is the point that these may be illegal actions? I said before that insurance companies deny coverage. They get away with denying lots of coverage . Do you think each and every illegal denial goes to court and gets rectified? They cheat their customers to make more money. Are you comfortable with that? ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-care-horror-story-13848732/522612/764 "2010-02-15T19:14:09Z")
> [@Meyer6](#): > > Well, if you are desperately ill and hospitalized, or caring for a critically ill loved one, I doubt it feels like ‘sitting on your hands and whining’ when the insurance company decides to bone you. In any case, these things shouldn’t happen at all. Which is an example of just sitting around and whining. Why shouldn’t these things happen at all? We are talking humans, big business and a million details. Even if it were possible that one could have an entity of humans that was totally non-corrupt, shit would still happen, people who make mistakes try to cover up and everyone wants to hold on to their jobs. Expecting that a company or a government run entity will care if one person’s claims have been messed up is, what? Idealistic? Expecting that such shit would never happen is a bit unreal. > [@](#): > > Under UHC everyone gets any necessary medical care. Really? Is that why my friend in Canada is starting year three waiting for his kidney? > [@](#): > > You really don’t seem to understand how a UHC works. I’m not sure that you do either, since there is no such thing as one universal UHC. If the US sets up a UHC anything at all like they run Medicare or Medicaid, some services will be denied (which is only logical), some bills won’t be paid and some doctors are either not going to accept those under the UHC or will quit working, depending on how universal the coverage actually is, since those are the things that are already happening with Medicare and Medicaid. > [@](#): > > I really don’t understand why you keep accusing me of ‘deflecting’ - I’m addressing the points you are making. Not all of them. At times, none of them. > [@ntucker](#): > > What’s the relevance of whether or not they **publicly admit** to it? The problem is that they screw people and play games with denying claims and delaying payment because they can get away with it. The relevance is that if they get caught, they don’t “get away with it” so I kind of doubt any insurance company goes about advertising that they do their best to not pay claims. > [@](#): > > Even in your example where you called the insurance commissioner, what was the consequence to the insurance company? That they were forced to pay what they owed in the first place? Actually, unless they finally got the money back from the wrong dr, they ended up paying twice. Anyway, that example was about what to do - I wasn’t talking something big and horrible, such as the examples of retroactively canceling a policy or not paying for big dollar claims. Things like that, when reported to authorities instead of message boards, end up costing them big fines and maybe their license to sell insurance in that state. > [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > There are no negative consequences for violating that law. Why should insurance companies obey it? See above. ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-care-horror-story-13848732/522612/765 "2010-02-15T19:29:17Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > It’s called an analogy. Christ, did you score 350 on the SATs?\* and > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I didn’t say you said that. > > And you have perfectly demonstrated your ‘power of not grasping analogies’. The two of you have demonstrated your lack of ability to grasp a continuing analogy. Note that “murder” was in quotes. 😉 > [@gonzomax](#): > > I thought you were saying no one offered proof that insurance companies are refusing to pay for coverage. Please read what I actually write, as it clearly said that no one offered proof that insurance companies go about saying they are doing their best to not pay claims. I am well aware that they don’t pay at times, since it has happened to me, my friends, my family… > [@](#): > > It is their practice to search and find ways to deny coverage that has been paid for. _This_, right here, is what I want you to prove. Is that clear enough? I want you to prove that statement that you just made. That insurance companies do their best to illegally deny coverage. > [@](#): > > They cheat their customers to make more money. Are you comfortable with that? Are you comfortable with the fact that every company in the US does that? What is special about insurance companies? ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-care-horror-story-13848732/522612/766 "2010-02-15T19:45:57Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > Really? Is that why my friend in Canada is starting year three waiting for his kidney? The waiting time in the US varies from [1-6 years](http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1912880,00.html). Did you actually think you could walk into a hospital in the US and get a kidney transplant tomorrow? > [@](#): > > I’m not sure that you do either, since there is no such thing as one universal UHC. If the US sets up a UHC anything at all like they run Medicare or Medicaid, some services will be denied (which is only logical), some bills won’t be paid and some doctors are either not going to accept those under the UHC or will quit working, depending on how universal the coverage actually is, since those are the things that are already happening with Medicare and Medicaid. You know this based on what? The fact that there are no doctors working in Canada or Western Europe. They all quit? > [@](#): > > The relevance is that if they get caught, they don’t “get away with it” so I kind of doubt any insurance company goes about advertising that they do their best to not pay claims. They don’t get caught all the time. And if the fines are low for the times they do get caught and you aren’t allowed to sue them, then in my opinion the _do_ get away with it. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-care-horror-story-13848732/522612/767 "2010-02-15T19:49:09Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > Are you comfortable with the fact that every company in the US does that? What is special about insurance companies? Every company in the US cheats it’s customers to make money. Right. That’s a fact, is it? You may have just outdone yourself in stupidity. And that’s saying something. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-care-horror-story-13848732/522612/768 "2010-02-15T19:50:07Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > The two of you have demonstrated your lack of ability to grasp a continuing analogy. Note that “murder” was in quotes. 😉 ‘Murder’ being in quotes indicates that you were quoting what I said; not that you were using irony, or whatever it was you thought you were doing. You’re very good at pointing out your lack of communication skills. Also, you still don’t understand the concept of analogies. > [@curlcoat](#): > > Please read what I actually write, as it clearly said that no one offered proof that insurance companies go about saying they are doing their best to not pay claims. Well, _DUH!_ :rolleyes: _snort_ Do you really think that people or entities that engage in unethical behaviour routinely admit to it? And if you’d bother to actually read responses, you will see that yes, there is proof that insurance companies deny claims they are obligated to pay. > [@curlcoat](#): > > _This_, right here, is what I want you to prove. Is that clear enough? I want you to prove that statement that you just made. That insurance companies do their best to illegally deny coverage. Again, you have already been given proof. But you seem to have a problem with reading comprehension. Maybe you don’t make a habit of reading, so [here’s a video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwGLdYBm1bY). ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-care-horror-story-13848732/522612/769 "2010-02-15T20:05:48Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > and > > The two of you have demonstrated your lack of ability to grasp a continuing analogy. Note that “murder” was in quotes. 😉 > > Please read what I actually write, as it clearly said that no one offered proof that insurance companies go about saying they are doing their best to not pay claims. I am well aware that they don’t pay at times, since it has happened to me, my friends, my family… > > _This_, right here, is what I want you to prove. Is that clear enough? I want you to prove that statement that you just made. That insurance companies do their best to illegally deny coverage. > > Are you comfortable with the fact that every company in the US does that? What is special about insurance companies? What? Insurance companies are not going around saying they are going to rip off the customers therefore it is OK ? You require an announcement of intent to defraud before you can believe it actually happened.? You get more ridiculous all the time. If you were not in a coma during the house hearings, you would have heard insurance company employees say that is exactly what they were paid to do. Insurance company doctors were paid to find ways to deny legitimate claims. They were paid bonuses due to how good they could cheat their customers. Ex-execs said that policy was to deny claims. I don’t know why I bother. You are not able to admit you are dead wrong . You can not do it. ---
**Author:** ![Meyer6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@Meyer6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meyer6)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-care-horror-story-13848732/522612/770 "2010-02-15T20:29:19Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > Which is an example of just sitting around and whining. Why shouldn’t these things happen at all? We are talking humans, big business and a million details. Even if it were possible that one could have an entity of humans that was totally non-corrupt, shit would still happen, people who make mistakes try to cover up and everyone wants to hold on to their jobs. Expecting that a company or a government run entity will care if one person’s claims have been messed up is, what? Idealistic? Expecting that such shit would never happen is a bit unreal. Just sitting back and saying it’s fine for insurance companies to screw people is what’s unreal. Just because things happen a certain way now doesn’t mean that people shouldn’t try to improve it. As I said, it’s interesting that when you complain you claim you are just stating plain facts, but when others complain (legitimately, about corrupt and terrible business practices) it’s just whining. And under a true UHC (such as that in Canada or Britain) _there is no such thing as claims, bills,_ etc. They don’t exist to **be** messed up. > [@](#): > > Really? Is that why my friend in Canada is starting year three waiting for his kidney? As wonderful as Canadians are, they cannot just produce kidneys on demand. People die waiting on transplant lists all the time, all over the world, because demand far outstrips supply for organs. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-care-horror-story-13848732/522612/771 "2010-02-15T21:42:09Z")
> [@Meyer6](#): > > As wonderful as Canadians are, they cannot just produce kidneys on demand. People die waiting on transplant lists all the time, all over the world, because demand far outstrips supply for organs. Although some believe that you should be able to buy your way to the top of the transplant list. Because if you have money, you should be able to buy life. And if you don’t have money, you are worthless and deserve to die. ---
**Author:** ![Meyer6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@Meyer6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meyer6)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-care-horror-story-13848732/522612/772 "2010-02-15T22:37:40Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Although some believe that you should be able to buy your way to the top of the transplant list. Because if you have money, you should be able to buy life. And if you don’t have money, you are worthless and deserve to die. Ah yes, I forgot about this. Let’s call it 'The Curlcoat Principle". ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2010, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-care-horror-story-13848732/522612/773 "2010-02-16T03:41:28Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > It is also “maximally irritating” to be expected to live on less just because you are. Why am I responsible for raising your level of living to where ever you want it to be? Why should anyone other than you and your wife be responsible for it? This is one thing I really don’t get - why is it that when something happens, people automatically look to the outside for help, rather than to themselves? Where and when did Polycarp ask you or anyone else for anything? Post the quote. Right here. Otherwise, apologize, because that was a repugnant slap at someone who is going through a difficult time just to go back to your nonsense talking points about anyone who admits to having less money than you. Oh, and to answer your stupid question? A pension fund is, in fact, specifically invested for future payout to named beneficiaries. Social Security taxes are not and never have been. > [@curlcoat](#): > > So any time someone gets pregnant and says that the only choice they had was to go on welfare, the politically correct thing to say is “oh of course you poor thing”? No, you tactless, classless bint, the proper thing to do is to keep your uncouth thoughts to your damn self. It’s called being polite. It’s called having a moment’s thought about someone else’s feelings. When someone is going through a _temporary_ financial hard time, the only person who would suggest that they should have aborted or given away their beloved children? Is a fucking sociopath. She didn’t ask you how to improve her lot in life or for your opinions on what she did or didn’t do right. You took it upon yourself to pipe up with some loathsome and horrifyingly inappropriate bullshit and you’ve been called on it – repeatedly because you keep trying to defend it when it is indefensible – and it’s still not sinking through your thick skull. Sometimes **you can have an unexpressed thought** especially when it is a **useless** and **nasty** one. But then most of your thoughts are useless and nasty, so no doubt your internal editor, such that one exists, is clearly overworked. ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2010, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-care-horror-story-13848732/522612/774 "2010-02-16T04:57:58Z")
> [@sinjin](#): > > The waiting time in the US varies from [1-6 years](http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1912880,00.html). Did you actually think you could walk into a hospital in the US and get a kidney transplant tomorrow? You cite an article on illegal organ trafficking? Besides, that said it is a 1 - 6 year wait to get to the top of the list, and my friend in Canada has been on the top of the list for over two years. > [@](#): > > You know this based on what? The fact that there are no doctors working in Canada or Western Europe. They all quit? Did I say no doctors? No, I said that _if_ an all inclusive UHC was passed, _some_ doctors might quit - it’s even right there in the part of my post you quoted! > [@](#): > > They don’t get caught all the time. And if the fines are low for the times they do get caught and you aren’t allowed to sue them, then in my opinion the _do_ get away with it. You aren’t allowed to sue an insurance company for breach of contract? > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > ‘Murder’ being in quotes indicates that you were quoting what I said; not that you were using irony, or whatever it was you thought you were doing. If I was quoting you, I’d have put more than the one word in quotes. > [@](#): > > Do you really think that people or entities that engage in unethical behaviour routinely admit to it? You can’t read? No, I don’t believe that - I was responding to the person (whoever it was way back when) who claimed that insurance companies have as a routine practice to deny claims that are covered under their contracts, that their adjusters are trained to deny. I have yet to see any proof of that, particularly any that shows that it is being done above board as was claimed. Providing links of one case where an insurance company didn’t cover something is not proof of an ongoing standard practice of routine breach of contract. > [@gonzomax](#): > > If you were not in a coma during the house hearings, you would have heard insurance company employees say that is exactly what they were paid to do. Insurance company doctors were paid to find ways to deny legitimate claims. They were paid bonuses due to how good they could cheat their customers. Ex-execs said that policy was to deny claims. Well, look, there might actually be some proof out there, but **gonzomax** cannot be bothered to provide a cite other than “the house hearings”. As if the average person sits about watching house hearings all the time. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2010, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-care-horror-story-13848732/522612/775 "2010-02-16T05:51:56Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > You cite an article on illegal organ trafficking? Besides, that said it is a 1 - 6 year wait to get to the top of the list, and my friend in Canada has been on the top of the list for over two years. You’re a lying sack of shit. You say you have a “friend” in Canada who has been at the top of a list for a kidney transplant for 2 years. Bullshit. If they are at the **top** , of the list, and have not gotten a transplant, there must not have been **any** kidney transplants in Canada for 2 years then, hmmmm? What Province is your “friend” from, you lying pustule? I’ll then tell you what the waiting list is for kidney transplants. ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2010, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-care-horror-story-13848732/522612/776 "2010-02-16T06:20:07Z")
> [@Meyer6](#): > > Just sitting back and saying it’s fine for insurance companies to screw people is what’s unreal. Just because things happen a certain way now doesn’t mean that people shouldn’t try to improve it. You know what’s unreal? The way that you cannot or will not understand the simple things that I post. Nowhere did I say anything like “Just sitting back and saying it’s fine for insurance companies to screw people”. This is why I say that you deflect and don’t speak to the subject, when you come back with things that are nothing close to what I have said. It is obvious that I don’t think it’s fine for insurance companies, or any company, to screw people when I have posted things like contacting the insurance commissioner several times. > [@](#): > > And under a true UHC (such as that in Canada or Britain) _there is no such thing as claims, bills,_ etc. They don’t exist to **be** messed up. For one thing, you don’t know that is what we would end up with. For another, unless all the drs are merely employees of the government and are only drawing a salary, there will be claims to be paid, the only difference is that the patient isn’t responsible for them. > [@tumbleddown](#): > > Where and when did Polycarp ask you or anyone else for anything? Post the quote. Right here. Otherwise, apologize, because that was a repugnant slap at someone who is going through a difficult time just to go back to your nonsense talking points about anyone who admits to having less money than you. Not a lot of that made sense, but if you and **Polycarp** still want a taxpayer funded UHC here, then you are expecting people like me to pay for it. Not that I recall being asked for it… > [@](#): > > Oh, and to answer your stupid question? A pension fund is, in fact, specifically invested for future payout to named beneficiaries. Social Security taxes are not and never have been. Excuse me? Social Security is specifically removed from our paychecks for future payout to named beneficiaries. If you look [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Security_%28United_States%29) you will see, among other things “The term [Social Security], in everyday speech, is used to refer only to the benefits for retirement, disability, survivorship, and death, which are the four main benefits provided by traditional private-sector pension plans.” > [@](#): > > No, you tactless, classless bint, the proper thing to do is to keep your uncouth thoughts to your damn self. It’s called being polite. It’s called having a moment’s thought about someone else’s feelings. Honey, if you want to be concerned with the feelings of someone who has no problem living off the the taxpayer thru her own choices, that is your problem not mine. I assume you also worry about hurting the feelings of those who make racist remarks or who troll the internet looking for underage girls? Others are more concerned with the larger picture and the damage to society if no one speaks up about things like this. > [@](#): > > When someone is going through a _temporary_ financial hard time, And your definition of temporary is what? > [@](#): > > the only person who would suggest that they should have aborted or given away their beloved children? Which, again, isn’t what I said but I no longer expect that people like you are capable of honest debate. > [@](#): > > She didn’t ask you how to improve her lot in life or for your opinions on what she did or didn’t do right. No, she doesn’t ask, she expects. She expects that she can chose to do whatever she wants and society will pick up the tab for her. The fact that it had to do with children is the only reason why you are all heated up. ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2010, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-care-horror-story-13848732/522612/777 "2010-02-16T06:26:05Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > You’re a lying sack of shit. You say you have a “friend” in Canada who has been at the top of a list for a kidney transplant for 2 years. Bullshit. > > If they are at the **top** , of the list, and have not gotten a transplant, there must not have been **any** kidney transplants in Canada for 2 years then, hmmmm? > > What Province is your “friend” from, you lying pustule? I’ll then tell you what the waiting list is for kidney transplants. Not that I care whether you believe me or not, but you are showing that you don’t understand how these things work. A person cannot take just any old kidney, it has to fit his blood type. My friend happens to have a rare type, and the one kidney that he could have used in those 2+ years, he couldn’t get (I forget which) a surgeon or an OR in time, so someone in the States got that kidney (the kidney was in the States). However, if you wish to continue to look like a twit, he lives in Ontario, near Toronto. Let me know what you find out. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2010, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-care-horror-story-13848732/522612/778 "2010-02-16T08:18:12Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > Not that I care whether you believe me or not, but you are showing that you don’t understand how these things work. A person cannot take just any old kidney, it has to fit his blood type. My friend happens to have a rare type, and the one kidney that he could have used in those 2+ years, he couldn’t get (I forget which) a surgeon or an OR in time, so someone in the States got that kidney **(the kidney was in the States).** (MY BOLDING) I’m curious. Does Canada have a reciprocal organ-donation program happening with the US? Who pays for the organ harvest? Who pays for the transportation? Is it covered by a US based private health insurance company? I can see that a Canadian UHS will pay for costs of implantation once the kidney has arrived in Canada, but who foots the bill beforehand? Yes, yes, I KNOW that I promised not to post to this thread evah again, but little gems like this keep me intrigued. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2010, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-care-horror-story-13848732/522612/779 "2010-02-16T11:37:31Z")
Holy Christ, get a clue people./ SHE’S NOT GOING TO LISTEN TO YOU. SHE’S IS A FUCKING TROLL WHO WANTS THE LAST WORD AND WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE IT. ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2010, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-care-horror-story-13848732/522612/780 "2010-02-16T14:02:20Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > Holy Christ, get a clue people./ SHE’S NOT GOING TO LISTEN TO YOU. SHE’S IS A FUCKING TROLL WHO WANTS THE LAST WORD AND WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE IT. Gah, you are correct. I hereby pledge to never ever respond to a curlcoat post again. Thanks Idle.🆒 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-care-horror-story-13848732/522612.md?page=38) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-care-horror-story-13848732/522612.md?page=40)