Uninsured Aurora Victim Could Face $2 Million In Medical Bills

[kpete]

Source: Think Progress

Uninsured Aurora Victim Could Face $2 Million In Medical Bills
By Guest Blogger on Jul 24, 2012 at 10:37 am

Aurora victim Caleb Medley

Caleb Medley was shot in the eye in the Aurora movie theater shooting and remains in the intensive care unit in an induced coma. Medley sustained the terrible injuries only days before his wife Katie was due to give birth to a baby boy they plan to name Hugo. She now joins him in the same hospital — just one floor away — where she was set to be induced.

But even if Caleb makes a full recovery and meets his son, what happened late Friday evening at the movie theater could ruin the young family’s finances. Caleb doesn’t have health insurance, and his medical bills could amount to $2 million, according to his family.

Longtime friend Michael West has created a website to raise money for Caleb, who has been an aspiring stand-up comedian since the eighth grade. “He needs to get better because he needs to be a dad,” West said.
According to the website, Caleb performed in Denver’s biggest stand-up contest at the Comedy Works on July 18, advancing to the next round. The next night, Caleb and Katie decided to treat themselves to the midnight movie before the couple “officially” became parents.

Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/07/24/573441/uninsured-aurora-2-million-medical-bill/

[enough]

1. Gun owners should be required to carry insurance, just a car owners do, for this very reason. (nt)

[Schema Thing]

2. I like this idea.

[permatex]

5. I do

It's a rider on my homeowners insurance.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

26. Does it cover you for intentional acts like murder?

[permatex]

27. Why the hell would I intentionally murder someone?

Of course it doesn't.

[JDPriestly]

39. Good. Thanks for taking care of others.

[enough]

67. Hi permatex, is that insurance for damage, destruction or disappearance of your guns,

or insurance for damage the guns might cause? Or both?

[permatex]

68. Both.

[hack89]

20. I do. nt

[samsingh]

23. that's an excellent idea

they should show a sense of responsibility

[JDPriestly]

38. Yes.

[Tumbulu]

64. Yes, this absolutely needs to be the case

or there needs to universal health care. One or the other.

[freshwest]

69. That's logical. Like doctors, builders, home owners, etc. That would do a lot to help.

That being said, I don't think criminal offenders would buy insurance. It would be useful in cases where a person gets shot at home or by a neighbor. Part of licensing could be insurance for damage, just like cars. I don't think a responsible gun owner would object to this being part of their homeowners insurance, for example. However, I doubt it would be enacted as long as the NRA and ALEC hold sway in the political process.

[calimary]

80. I like this!

[LynneSin]

3. From what I've read, the people who made the movie plan to donate a ton of money to the victims

So although it is tragic how much this man has gone thru and how much it will cost, I suspect his bill will be paid for by the folks that created the movie.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31749_162-57478518-10391698/warner-bros-plans-donation-to-colorado-shooting-victims/

Warner Bros. plans donation to Colorado shooting victims


CBS News) Warner Bros. is working on a giving a lump sum contribution to various charities supporting victims of the Aurora, Colo., shooting rampage, according to The Hollywood Reporter.


The studio behind "The Dark Knight Rises" has been in talks with Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper's office, insiders say. Although an official announcement hasn't been made, reports say it plans to donate funds through GivingFirst.org, a program of Colorado's Community First Foundation.


Pictures: "The Dark Knight Rises"

It's unclear how much the studio will give to charity, but sources tell THR that the amount is "substantial."

[ProgressiveEconomist]

21. Sounds like baby's first clothes will be a wee Batman suit

Can you think of a better conceivable photo op for Warner?

IMO this family's financial worries for the next couple of years are over, but they'd much rather have their lives back the way they were before the move premiere.

[LynneSin]

22. Very true that last statement

[Atman]

4. Well, isn't that the Republican plan?

Just make everyone else do fund raisers and sell brownies in front of the grocery store, rather than providing health care insurance. That will cover it, right? Now, excuse me while I figure out the math for brownie sales to make up $2 million...

[samsingh]

24. and give people guns so they need health care

[backwoodsbob]

79. sooo

people who don't own guns don't need healthcare?

[alarimer]

71. In a just world, no one would have to pay these medical bills.

No one, no matter the circumstances of their injuries. We should have an NHS, like Britain or socialized medicine like Canada.
Single payer for all would mean there would not have to be any fundraisers for victims of crimes, accidents or disease.

I have a co-worker whose daughter was badly injured in a boating accident and she will have huge expenses, from the medical bills to the time lost from work and travel to and from the hospital. The medical bills at least should result in zero expenses. The rest will probably still happen.

[Shadowflash]

6. That's a LOT of cupcakes!

Republicans suck.

[Enrique]

7. everyone should plan to be victim of a famous tragedy

rather than a non-famous one. Non-famous tragedies will not generate the funds needed to stay alive.

[Bluzmann57]

8. Maybe the NRA should pay his bills

But somehow, I don't think it's going to happen.

[area51]

13. Maybe instead

we should have health care as a basic human right in this country, not a bullshit republican plan to force everyone to buy crappy, lightly-regulated insurance that only pays parts of bills, denies claims, and bankrupts people.

The majority of medical bankruptcies are of people with health insurance.

[leftyohiolib]

15. yes we should and how do you suggest that happen. unless/until you rmv republicans from

office you'll get nothing

[permatex]

30. Why should the NRA pay for his bills?

They had absolutely nothing to do with this massacre.

[NJCher]

42. absolutely right

Nothing aside from funding and maintaining one of the most successful propaganda efforts in history. Nothing aside from buying off every member of Congress that they can. Nothing aside from scaring the daylights out of people so they'll buy guns. Nope, other than that, they had absolutely nothing at all to do with this massacre.


Cher

[permatex]

43. Once again

The NRA had absolutely nothing to do with his injuries, why should they be responsible? The Theater is more responsible for not providing the proper security.
Saying that the NRA should pay for his injuries is like saying that Ford should pay for accident victims if the other driver was driving a Ford.
Ridiculous.

[DrDan]

51. agree - as much blood on their hands as anyone else

at least the theater had the sense to post signs prohibiting weapons

[Tumbulu]

65. Excellent (nt)

[Overseas]

73. They spend millions on lobbying to pretend lethal weapons should not be regulated.

They should spend millions taking care of the injuries that result. Smooth things over.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

9. Start putting tin cans out at convenience stores....

....that's the GOP's way of solving those sort of health issues.

[kestrel91316]

10. Somebody needs to file a claim with the theater's insurance company.

That's why big businesses like that have insurance.

[obamanut2012]

35. That's what I was thinking

[progressoid]

77. Why?

[Elliemama]

11. Uninsured

Does the theater company not have liability insurance, or whatever is necessary to cover customers
who patronize their theater?

Seems the responsibility is there, not with the victims.

[AtheistCrusader]

40. What the fuck did the theater do wrong?

How the hell would they be liable for any of this?

[miyazaki]

46. the propped door will be a big point of contention. n/t

[AtheistCrusader]

50. In what way?

[miyazaki]

70. Well one can imagine what the

bloodsuckers are discussing about the door. They
will argue since the door was propped it wasn't functioning properly. Bam!
They'll argue the door should have been alarmed in some way to indicate
it wasn't shut. Bam! They'll argue that the door wasn't checked to see if it
was secured. Bam! Etc.

Ya protocols will change in theaters across this nation.

[AtheistCrusader]

74. Most theaters allow patrons to exit via the fire exits at the end of the show.

So alarming the door wouldn't make much sense.

The door might have been forced open from the outside with a crowbar, or he may have simply knocked, and someone opened it for him, unknowingly.

I suppose it will depend though. Now that you mention it, I can see a couple scenarios where they might apportion some percentage of a multi-million dollar award for the blame, to the theater...

[joshcryer]

75. You could have a soft alarm which theater workers could check.

If it's lit up during a movie then something is amiss.

They already check theaters before and after movies to make sure the theater is empty and people aren't doing a double showing.

[JDPriestly]

41. The theater's insurance might not cover the intentional act of a patron

unless somehow the theater was negligent or responsible. I emphasize might not. Did the theater do anything careless or wrong? It had a policy prohibiting guns. Did it have security guards? There is only so much a theater can do to prevent this unless you want ticket prices to rise a lot.

[OnyxCollie]

12. But Obama signed the Affordable Care Act!

Everything should be peachy now.

[leftyohiolib]

14. what a stupid thing to say

[OnyxCollie]

16. What's stupid

was thinking the ACA would actually help people like Caleb.

Pragmatic, but stupid.

On edit: Even if he was "lucky" enough to have insurance, an 80/20 copay is still a crushing debt on a $2 million dollar bill.

[leftyohiolib]

49. thinking that the aca will fix everything for everybody it wont the republicans saw to that,. your

sarcasm or snark implyed the aca isnt a good thing b/c it wont help him. you're overlooking the 30 million it will help

[OnyxCollie]

58. "... the republicans saw to to that..."

It was Max Baucus, alleged Democrat, who had single-payer advocates arrested:

Baucus’s Raucous Caucus: Doctors, Nurses and Activists Arrested Again for Protesting Exclusion of Single-Payer Advocates at Senate Hearing on Healthcare
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/5/13/baucus_raucus_caucus_doctors_nurses_and

SEN. MAX BAUCUS: Come to order. Committee will recess until order can be restored.
JERRY CALL: —- and 60 percent of the physicians want a single-payer system. Why do you insist on spending more money, when the single payer would give it to us at the price we’re spending now? Sixty percent! Why not 60 percent of the people in front of you representing single payer? Sixty percent of the people want single payer. This is a sham! All you’ve got is special interest groups up there.
SEN. MAX BAUCUS: This committee will recess until the police can restore order. I’ll ask for the police, please come more expeditiously.
DR. JUDY DASOVICH: Why aren’t single-payer advocates at the table? Healthcare should be for patients, not for profit.

[FiveGoodMen]

72. The povery of so many Americans is also a good thing

...because of the many rich people it's helping.

Right?

[Tx4obama]

61. Perhaps you should go read up on the ACA so you'll know what you're trying to talk about.

The whole thing hasn't gone into effect yet.

The exchanges will not even be finished being set up until next year.

[go west young man]

17. So sad to read this.

The American dream is not what it used to be. Republicans need to wake up and realize that fact. This man's American dream is ruined partly because of the NRA's lobbying.

[samsingh]

25. the American Dream was destroyed with the second amendment

what's going to happen when guns become more powerful as well as bullets. bullets that can travel for a mile or more and go through dense material. everyone will have one.

[Beaverhausen]

18. Link to site to make contributions to victims and their families

http://www.givingfirst.org

(a program of the Community First Foundation).

Please click on the link and then on the box “Support Victims of the Aurora shooting.” From there, you can choose “Community First Foundation - Aurora Victim Relief Fund” to make your contribution.

[radhika]

19. The NRA spends way more than $2 million each year...

lobbying, buying our Congress and stifling even the most reasonable gun control debate. But we the citizens are left paying the cost of uninsured care for gun victims and police work.

They should be forced to pay for uninsured care for gun victims.

[permatex]

31. Why?

What did the NRA have to do with his injuries?

[radhika]

33. Play it as you wish, but I think everyone else gets the point....

[permatex]

34. You didn't answer the question

why should an org., that had nothing to do with his injuries, have to pay his medical bills?
That's like saying Ford should have to pay for an accident victims bills because they the other driver was driving a Ford.
Seems kinda ridiculous to me.

[magical thyme]

45. the purpose of a ford is to transport people, not to kill

there is only one purpose for a gun, and that is to kill.

When ford promotes its cars, it is promoting them as transportation, not as weapons.

When the nra promotes all guns, without regulations and controls, the nra is promoting killing.

Oh, and by the way, driving cars requires tests, licensing with renewals, and insurance. Including fords.

[permatex]

48. And yet, cars kill more people every year than guns

These girls would beg to differ with you about guns only kill


I just got done going to the NRA website and I just can't seem to find where they promote all guns without regulations and controls, I also couldn't find where they're promoting killing, perhaps you can post the link to that.

You don't need a license, registration, or insurance if the vehicle is not driven on public roads, most farm vehicles are not registered or insured, and drivers license is not a right, it's a priviledge, unlike the RKBA.

[magical thyme]

53. Betcha there are far more driving hours, annually, than shooting hours

just because the nra doesn't directly advertise "go kill with guns" does not mean they are not promoting use of a tool intended to kill.

The fact that they seem to show up to fight any regulation that shows up suggests they do intend to end regulation.

[permatex]

60. And yet they helped write the Brady Background Check law.

Along with other gun laws, how does that fit into your agenda?

So you admit that you can't prove what you claim?
Thanks, thats all I wanted to know.
BTW, I don't belong to or even like the NRA, I'm more of an SAF guy and I also belong to this club
http://www.theliberalgunclub.com/

[magical thyme]

63. that doesn't impress me any more than the oil tycoons writing our energy policy

or the banksters writing financial regulations would.

[permatex]

66. So in other words, you've got nothing

Thanks for playing.

[Vinca]

28. They should try to get him into the pre-existing condition pool.

It's either that or bankruptcy. What a country.

[Odin2005]

29. Make the NRA pay the bills.

[permatex]

32. Why?

What did the NRA have to do with his injuries?

[Arugula Latte]

36. This guy is experiencing the worst of this country in a double blow.

[Comrade_McKenzie]

37. All guns should be banned until we have universal health care...

So as not to put a strain on the health insurance companies our legislators also love to protect.

[lobodons]

47. No, we the tax payers will pay the bill

We the tax payers will end up paying the bill. We pay by higher insurance premiums due to write offs of non paid medical bills and/or the eventual bankruptcy that will be filed.

[HereSince1628]

54. I've heard the memes but I don't know if they are completely true

People with insurance get huge discounts on their bills. Recently on DU someone reported a 90% discount on their medical bills simply because their insurance company got a discount.

Since there are no free lunches, the question is how is the difference made up to make such discounting possible?

I find it incredible to think that increased volume can make up the sort of difference that is created by 70-80-or 90 percent discounts on fairly valued services.

[Sgent]

81. "fairly valued services"

there's your problem -- they aren't fairly valued.

Hospitals charge insane amounts because *some* insurance companies pay them, or because they are paid a discount off of the rack charges (say 50%). They most certainly are receiving more than the cost of care from private insurance contracts -- in part to make up for Medicaid, uninsured, and in some cases Medicare patients.

[HereSince1628]

82. If they are recieving MORE than cost from highy discounted private insurance

then the face value of a medical bill is truly deceptive. This sort of pricing is common in car dealerships and private colleges where they hope to get your business by making the buyer feel like they've been given a terrific deal.

I hear and read the assertion about medicare and medicaid, but it's not at all clear to me that those funders are actually paying an unfair price. The reimbursement schedule for medicaid and medicare may actually be closer to fair pricing.

[Lionessa]

52. He won't have to pay those bills. It's the theater's liability insurance that will

I'm sure there's a reason to donate to these folks, but medical bills shouldn't be one. I have no doubt the theater has liability insurance for injuries sustained on its properties.

[tru]

55. I have a hard time believing liability insurance covers this. n/t

[Lionessa]

57. It should. Liability is for injuries on the property not caused by the injured party.

Or so it seems in most homeowners' property suits. If someone falls in your yard and breaks their arm, hits their head, whatever, they can sue you, and heaven forbid if there was a loose paving stone or whatever. This place had unsecure doors. They may not have needed security guards, but some sort of alert so they knew a door was ajar/opened that shouldn't have been and therefore brought security or even mgmt or usher to properly shut the door, that's a reasonable consideration.

[OnyxCollie]

59. There is likely an exemption for terrorism.

Check the fine print of your own car/home insurance.

[Safetykitten]

56. Oh dear, the irony. This is a one sick fucking society.

Person has right to have a gun and shoot innocent people.

Person shot has no right to healthcare.

[go west young man]

62. You pretty much summed it up.

We are a broken morally bankrupt bunch. I think the rest of the world has caught on these days. We suck as a country.

[Zoeisright]

76. What a country, huh?

Guns overrunning the country, and no way to pay for the carnage.

[Sirveri]

78. I thought the state had a fund set up for crime victims for stuff like this.

If they don't it doesn't sound like he's sitting on a pile of money since he's an aspiring stand-up comic, just declare bankruptcy and pick up the pieces a few years down the line.