Reply #13: If it's serious, I'm sure they'll find the $500 somewhere.

[Xithras]

There's a big difference between, "I'm sick and need $500 to find out what's wrong" and "I have a brain tumor and need $500 to start treatment". Most people aren't going to sell off their cars and personal possessions over something that may just be allergies, but they will if they know their life is in danger.

My hope was really just that the clinic could diagnose him. If it's minor, great! If it's serious, at least he'll know and they will be able to make an informed decision about his care.

I'm not knocking insurance in general. I'm knocking the fact that modern American insurance is specifically designed to exclude the poor from treatment.