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More sadness

PostPosted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 10:37 pm
by Mitera Nikkou
You know, I never knew that people get charged for having their lives saved by someone who does it for a job in certain organizations, government or otherwise. I just assumed that a person saved wouldn't have to have that tacked on to their troubles. I mean, I can understand someone being charged who were irresponsible/reckless, but why people that get caught up in something completely out of their control?

I mean, I can see why there's a need for money, what with the world being like it is... I guess I'm just bummed about there being less true heroes than I gave the world credit for. You just have to hope for someone acting under their own convictions instead of doing what their job merits. I just wonder how many would do it without doing it for fame and/or fortune. (And fame often comes with some amount of monetary or gift reward.)

PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 12:03 am
by Cow Belle
*sigh* Sounds like pure profit man stirkes gain. -_-;

No really it's sad. People are really crazy and evil.

PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 12:04 am
by Chibi MitchellTF
Huh? Charged for being saved?

PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 1:18 am
by Raijin
Are you saying like Fireman and Police officers ect ect?

Well I believe a great deal of them do it to save people and keep there own lifes on track.

That what you mean? o.o;

PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 1:38 am
by Mitera Nikkou
Edit: Just so the response doesn't look odd, I had been writing this before Raijin replied, so... It's in reply to Mitchell. But I think it explains to Raijin what I mean.

Yup. It's a very complicated matter... But there are insurances out there that cover (however much they actually cover) search and rescue efforts, or other things involved with saving your life (such as transport, manpower, tools and supplies used). You could be caught in a flood, and you may have flood insurance for your house, but you may not have insurance that covers helicopter rescue. And even if you did, the owner or organization of the helicopter may not be associated/partnered with your insurance company or plan, which makes you liable for a higher charge by said organization or owner of the helicopter and your insurance covers less of a percentage as well. And the worst part is that insurance companies are aware of this. See, when time is an issue, and you want your life saved, you're not going to wave your aid away, so either you accept the help that arrives or risk death. Calling for help when time is on your side is a different matter, so you can call the right services if you're aware of them in your insurance plan. Otherwise, you just have to hope that whoever gets involved in helping you is a part of your insurance company's "network" of partners. It can get as specific as the kind of hospital you go to, the doctor you see, or any lab that tests for results outside of the hospital. Either one of those can be outside of your insurance plan and thus the price could be raised and/or the coverage of it less. That's how I understand it, anyway... I could be wrong, what with having a brain like mine. :?

Of course, in the end, these things cost money. Usually there's a tax-funded or donation-funded budget for search and rescue and the like, but insurance companies and other organizations (I'm sure) have sunk their teeth into it so, rather than all of the donated/tax-funded money going toward the services and salaries, some of it actually finds it way to someone or some organization for profit.

PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 1:56 am
by Raijin
Ah yes I get what you mean, kind how i feel towards medical stuff, and yes the tornados in florida were FEMA isn't giving them trailors.

PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 1:19 pm
by Christina Anikari
But don't you understand Nikkou, it's freedom. Would you want a bunch of commies have the government just do it for you? Huh?

At least that is what a lot of people seem to think. In any case it is only in the US it is even an issue, the rest of the world considers getting saved that way a right. Sure it costs some taxes, but the returns are pretty obvious.

PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 2:07 pm
by Mitera Nikkou
It's a big mess in America. And least it seems that way to me... A lot of things seem to be redundantly complex and/or complicated. See, not only are things such as search and rescue taken care of on any number of multiple levels (such as county, state and federal), but insurance companies stick their nose in it too. I really don't know what decides how much of the tax/donation-funded services are used up, but I do know that people get charged as well despite the services already being covered. Heck, even an ambulance ride can be costly.

PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 3:22 pm
by Raijin
If it only worked like Star Trek huh? xD

PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 3:47 pm
by Mitera Nikkou
I might agree if I were familiar enough with Star Trek to know exactly what you were referring to. ;p But if you means pointing handheld instruments and sweeping them over he body... Yeah, I wish. But I bet it'd still cost an arm and a leg. ^_^;

PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 5:39 pm
by Christina Anikari
It works pretty well in Europe. Of course uninsured possessions are lost should a flood or fire ruin your house, but temporary housing and restoration of order and any medical services you need from it are free and handled by the government without you having to do any paperwork in any immediate sense. At least it works like that in most countries, with the German rebuilding after the entire Elb valley was washed away a few years ago. After a few weeks the cities there were liveable again, despite it almost being as large a flood as the one that happened with Katrina.

PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 6:19 pm
by Mitera Nikkou
Indeed. And New Orleans still needs a lot of work, even today. Although most of that work seems to be in displaced/homeless people. It seems like a disaster has to be an extreme case to warrant any government-funded help, and then, when it happens, it's very lacking.