# I have a broken back and no insurance. What are my options? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 18, 2008, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-broken-back-and-no-insurance-what-are-my-options/468480 "2008-10-18T01:56:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-broken-back-and-no-insurance-what-are-my-options/468480/22 "2011-01-30T11:22:59Z")
> [@manila](#): > > As an aside I didn’t think that Americans even knew about Rugby let alone play it… league or Union? Zombie league. Although unionized zombies would be the shit. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-broken-back-and-no-insurance-what-are-my-options/468480/23 "2011-01-30T11:41:20Z")
If you were playing rugby, you should be insured by your club through the league’s insurance scheme. When I was playing (in the UK), if we weren’t insured, then we didn’t get a game. Obtaining insurance was as simple as filling out a form at the start of the season, and paying the subs for the season to the club. Broken necks and backs playing rugby are not unheard of, and every reputable league factors this in. Have you spoken to your club about this? ---
**Author:** ![manila](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@manila](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manila)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-broken-back-and-no-insurance-what-are-my-options/468480/24 "2011-01-30T12:15:31Z")
> [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](#): > > If you were playing rugby, you should be insured by your club through the league’s insurance scheme. When I was playing (in the UK), if we weren’t insured, then we didn’t get a game. Obtaining insurance was as simple as filling out a form at the start of the season, and paying the subs for the season to the club. > > Broken necks and backs playing rugby are not unheard of, and every reputable league factors this in. Have you spoken to your club about this? I second this! I (very) part time coach boys under 13’s and also ladies under 19 Rugby Union here in Manila and everyone is covered by insurance. Check this out.( ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-broken-back-and-no-insurance-what-are-my-options/468480/25 "2011-01-30T13:48:52Z")
I cut my hand and it later got infected, which resulted in a two night hospital stay getting IV antibiotics. I was uninsured and making slightly more than minimum wage at the time. After I got treatment (do this first, no matter what. Get help instead of putting it off!) I was given a card for the hospital’s social worker and I met with her. I was given paperwork for financial aid. I applied, I qualified, and the whole bill was paid for. Thousands of dollars. I was prepared to make small payments, but the whole thing was written off. I should add; this was the regular, local hospital. I didn’t go to a free clinic or anything. I had gone to the ER when I realized it was badly infected, and they admitted me immediately. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-broken-back-and-no-insurance-what-are-my-options/468480/26 "2011-01-30T13:54:18Z")
Also, many pharmaceutical companies have programs that lower or eliminate the cost of their drugs. It might be worth a call to those companies when you have a prescription. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-broken-back-and-no-insurance-what-are-my-options/468480/27 "2011-01-30T14:06:29Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > Google medical tourism Thailand. The gist is super-cheap (yet skill/licensed) health care - even for non-citizens. I know a guy online who was in a similar situation, bought a one-way ticket, got fixed up, and stayed there for cheap long-term medical care. The cost of the plane ticket + Thai health care is MUCH less than most domestic alternatives. Is his name Ron? If so, I know him too. I second this - a lot of private healthcare in urban areas in Thailand is excellent. Google around and see if you can get some quotes. Also you’ll have an awesome vacation as you recuperate. ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-broken-back-and-no-insurance-what-are-my-options/468480/28 "2011-01-30T18:09:08Z")
Hospitals very often have a charity foundation for people who can’t pay their bills. (This has been pretty much the only way I’ve been able to “pay” for my yearly CT scan.) If you can get what you need through a hospital, ask about charity care/financial aid options. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-broken-back-and-no-insurance-what-are-my-options/468480/29 "2011-01-31T03:56:06Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > Google medical tourism Thailand. The gist is super-cheap (yet skill/licensed) health care - even for non-citizens. I know a guy online who was in a similar situation, bought a one-way ticket, got fixed up, and stayed there for cheap long-term medical care. The cost of the plane ticket + Thai health care is MUCH less than most domestic alternatives. > [@jjimm](#): > > Is his name Ron? If so, I know him too. > > I second this - a lot of private healthcare in urban areas in Thailand is excellent. Google around and see if you can get some quotes. Also you’ll have an awesome vacation as you recuperate. Actually, if he’s going to come this far, he might want to check out India first. Although Thailand is still cheaper than the West, costs have risen dramatically in the past few years, and this country is simply not as good a deal as it once was. I always recommend India these days, as it looks poised to overtake Thailand in terms of medical tourism. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-broken-back-and-no-insurance-what-are-my-options/468480/30 "2011-01-31T04:05:21Z")
[Start here.](http://www.jchdonline.org/) ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-broken-back-and-no-insurance-what-are-my-options/468480/31 "2011-01-31T04:46:46Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Actually, if he’s going to come this far, he might want to check out India first. Although Thailand is still cheaper than the West, costs have risen dramatically in the past few years, and this country is simply not as good a deal as it once was. I always recommend India these days, as it looks poised to overtake Thailand in terms of medical tourism. Oh, and not only have the actual costs risen, but due to the weakening of the US dollar and/or strengthening of Thailand’s baht, you’re also getting much fewer baht these days. The local currency has appreciated about 25% in recent years. Just a few years ago, it was still 40 baht to the dollar, but now it’s hovering at 30-31. Although it’s weakened slightly after passing 30 a couple of months ago, hitting 29.50, it’s expected to be at 28 this year. I don’t know how the Indian rupee has been affected, if at all. I wouldn’t want to discourage people from visiting Thailand, but if it’s a question of medical costs and a tight budget, I’d advise seeking out cheaper but still high-quality alternatives. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-broken-back-and-no-insurance-what-are-my-options/468480/32 "2011-01-31T17:58:04Z")
> **[Homepage](https://www.211.org/)** > > Get help paying bills, finding food, and locating other resources near you. Call 211 now for confidential help from a caring expert. This is another good place to check out. It’s through the United Way, but they have lots of healthcare resources. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-broken-back-and-no-insurance-what-are-my-options/468480/33 "2011-01-31T20:06:37Z")
Hopefully you found some treatment and your back’s healed since this thread was first posted more than two years ago. ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-broken-back-and-no-insurance-what-are-my-options/468480/34 "2011-02-01T00:51:05Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Hopefully you found some treatment and your back’s healed since this thread was first posted more than two years ago. I’m imagining the OP still bedridden, counting down the days until Obamacare is fully implemented … ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-broken-back-and-no-insurance-what-are-my-options/468480/35 "2011-02-01T01:32:44Z")
Anyone else getting tired of all these zombie threads? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-broken-back-and-no-insurance-what-are-my-options/468480.md?page=1)