Adults Riding Without Medical Insurance

duke

Member
Oct 9, 1999
484
0
Recently I was asked to put some money in the "pot" to aid a vet rider who seriously injured themself while practicing at a local track. The gentleman has a stay at home wife and one child, yet no medical insurance. I cant tell you how many other similar situations come to the public attention. At what point and time does one do an assessment of their position as the lone bread winner and declare that maybe it would prudent to forestall their need in satisfying their "competitive urges" in order to prevent their family from being faced with such an economic calamity. Hey, I understand that one can be injured do most anything; simple house repairs, taking a bath, etc. But I think common sense has to enter into the equation too before venturing forth and participating in a potentially risky "hobby" without any type of back up plan in the event of a disabling injury. I make note of this all too common situation in the hopes that it will instill some reflection by fthose aced with a similar life style situation wherein their doesn't exist some type of a "safety net." The adage that we are responsible for our chosen actions and thus we must accept the price brought to bare by any unfortunate circumstances that may arise isn't applicable here. People, get medical insurance, have some money saved up for emergencies, know your riding limits! Whew, do I feel better now
 

rickyd

Hot Sauce
Oct 28, 2001
3,447
0
These people throw lawsuits at the track owners too pay their bills :|
 

slickpuss

Sponsoring Member
Jan 19, 2002
331
0
Even if you have medical coverage you may not be able to go back to work. So disablity insurance can be almost as important as the medical. Yea, your medical bills are paid, but now you lose your house because you run out of sick time or whatever.

I learned this valuable lesson a few years back when I thought I was covered and ended up having to live off of 60% of my normal income because of only having short term disability insurance instead of long term.

Responsibilities definitely have to come before fun. That doesnt mean you cant have fun, just be responsible.

Hind sight is 20/20 though. I do still feel bad for the poor guys that didnt realize all this ahead of time and are now strugling to make it.
 

xcracer72

Uhhh...
May 28, 2006
161
0
health insurance paid 18,000.00 of my 20,000.00 bill total last year when i had a tib fib fracture. as far as working........get a real job and that is not an issue
 

slickpuss

Sponsoring Member
Jan 19, 2002
331
0
Get a real job, what are you talking about??? Is working for a major oil company a real job??? Do you have any idea what coverage you have yourself? Most companies provide STD which includes your sick time. Some provide LTD and some offer LTD at a price. And the government is only gonna float your ass for a short time at a fraction of your normal wage.

Real job! that was only slightly offensive!
 

kdx200chick

Member
Mar 27, 2004
414
0
A kid (about 11 years old)crashed out at the track yesterday. Took a hard endo to the head. The dad goes running up to the kid along w/ me and several others. The kid is awake but in obvious pain. I suggest because it is an head related injury not to move him but the dad insists on taking this kids helmet off. The track owner wants to call an emt to check him out but the dad is pretty insistant that they don't need any professsional help. He'd be fine. Sure enough the kid gets up and the dad suits up to continue with "his" riding after leaving the kid in a lawnchair. An hour after the injury, this kid begins to complain of feeling nausious. He starts to throw up and is very tired. We have to get the dad off the track and insist he take this child to the ER... Finally, the dad gets a clue and we pack him up so they can be on their way. It's rediculous how people don't take an injury seriously. All the hemming and hawwing and skirting around the issue of having an ambulance come obviously indicated to us that he didn't have insurance (I must admit, none of us asked him if he did or didn't). The boy obviously had a concusion and was going to end up at the hospital aif he didn't have insurance, we, the public will end up paying the bill.
 

rickyd

Hot Sauce
Oct 28, 2001
3,447
0
Hi Petra,
Hopefully the kid is alright..

What would of happend if the track owner had called for an ambulance?? Reason i sak is a few years ago the Kid broke his collarbone out at Carnegie.. The rangers showed up looked him over, asked if i was taking him in.. I said yes, then they told me he was going by ambulance i had no choice.. Which was fine w/me..
Rick
 

trevor9a

Member
Oct 25, 2005
66
0
My company has LTD but the kicker is that if you're off for more than three months they cancel your insurance and force you onto COBRA which by that point you won't be able to afford.
 

yz250-effer

Member
Nov 4, 2000
304
0
Agree with the post - no arguements here. I have always had insurance and was glad I did when I had my legs busted a few years ago. Didn't pay 100% of course, but 7 grand is better than 80 plus.

"These people throw lawsuits at the track owners too pay their bills"

They can, but most in most states, it takes an extra-ordinary circumstance to get through a waiver. Lawsuits get alot of publicity but it takes alot more to win one than just filing it.

More than likely, lack of medical ins. will get re-distributed to the public via State health programs or bankruptcy.

The phrase "we are all responsible for our own actions" should be the case, unfortunately it never seems to happen that way all the time.
 

mtk

Member
Jun 9, 2004
1,409
0

True, but the costs of getting it dismissed are not insignificant to the track owner. Nor do they reflect well on future insurance rates.
 

robwbright

Member
Apr 8, 2005
2,283
0
yz250-effer said:
The phrase "we are all responsible for our own actions" should be the case. . .

I agree completely.

However . . . (Note: I'm not referring to anyone here in particular in this post).

I think it's ironic that as a country we're more than happy to spend 10s and 100s of billions of dollars to help people in other countries but then we whine about an American not having insurance and the taxpayers having to pay for their medical treatment.

It's a very inconsistent position to hold - if you hold it.

My view is that the government has no business or authority to redistribute taxpayer funds to ANYONE unless such distribution is explicitly authorized in the constitution.

Whether it be the government paying someone's insurance claim or spreading democracy or nation building, it's essentially socialism.

And yes, the costs of getting a lawsuit dismissed can be quite expensive. One of our clients is up to about $40,000.00 defending a case which has no merit in the law.
 

BadgerMan

Mi. Trail Riders
Jan 1, 2001
2,479
10
robwbright said:
I think it's ironic that as a country we're more than happy to spend 10s and 100s of billions of dollars to help people in other countries

Who's "more than happy" about that?

it's essentially socialism.

Very true, redistribution of wealth (without consent) IS socialism.
 

2strokerfun

Member
May 19, 2006
1,500
1
Every tax dollar spent on "privatized" industry is also a redistribution of wealth. Privatized prisons. Privatized everything lately it seems. The workers make less, but the owners, private or corp., make a killing. Alas, not the place to rant on this one, I suppose.
I have a good job and decent insurance and even co-pays and deductibles can be a hardship in the case or an expensive medical emergency.
 
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