Garda shot on holiday in America faces $1,000,000 hospital bill

My name is URL

This bit in particular just sums up what an absolute ****hole the US can be at times

The popular local uniform garda - who had been on holiday with his father Brian Snr - spent over a week in Intensive Care and also underwent surgery. It is thought he had travel insurance but that this was not sufficient to meet the costs of his spiralling medical bills. After a week in hospital he moved into a hotel to cut down on costs.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/garda-shot-on-holiday-in-america-proclaims-im-a-lucky-man-662487.html

With that out of the way, what on earth was he thinking by refusing to hand over a measly $200 to the mugger? Fair enough if it happened on some quiet Irish street, but in perhaps the most dangerous area of one of America's most violent cities? Irresponsible or what like?! I'm pretty sure Gardai would be the first people to advise that you just hand the money over.

What happens if he just refuses to pay now? Would the hospital or state risk the embarrassment of extraditing an Irish police officer (who had travel insurance) after he was shot by one of their own scummers?

nullzero

What a country. Only in America

My name is URL

nullzero wrote: »

What a country. Only in America

But muh freedums!

suicide_circus

He must have selected the most basic cover on his travel insurance. I was in the states a few years ago and spent about 50euro on travel insurance and was covered for up to $6m hospital fees.

Desolation Of Smug

Dunno why, but I have a picture of Dr Evil in my mind, pinky in mouth, demanding the money.."One million Dollar...."


Nice round number, eh? 1 Million. I wonder do they get that for most patients they treat. Nice money. Someones cleaning up..

My name is URL

$53 charge for every pair of non-sterile disposable gloves used during your stay

http://www.rd.com/slideshows/wildly-overinflated-hospital-costs/#slide5=&slideshow=slide5

Sterile ones are more expensive apparently.

Seriously, fcuk that kip

moc moc a moc

Thanks, Obama

Dep!

Dont pay it. Simple.

There's not a judge that would or could enforce this as Im presuming he hasnt got a million dollars. He cant pay what he doesnt have.

The story does strike me as sensationalist however, the figure is a little too OTT and rounded up for my liking to take it seriously.

nxbyveromdwjpg

Did he not have travel insurance?

c_man

He should have foregone his travel insurance and used the cash to buy a holiday gun. Would have served him better.

Pew-pew!

Sheep Lover

Tell them the cheque is in the post and then fcuk off home.

Faith+1

nm wrote: »

Did he not have travel insurance?

He did! The amount far exceeded the policy he had. America what a complete sh*thole.

cloud493

Offer to pay them in cents.

creolebelle

Speaking as an american you'll get no arguments from me about our healthcare system

Littlekittylou

People go on about how diet is the important factor in life expectancy they fail to mention that countries like Japan and the Swiss have excellent health systems that allow all to have the care they need. It's crazy and so so wrong. Whatever your political leanings think you have agree everyone should have healthcare. Scary.

The_Valeyard

I'm really surprised at the travel insurance, I pay 28 a year, and it covers me for over 10 million?

DavidRamsay99

Why can't the animal who shot him pay the bill?

c_man

The_Valeyard wrote: »

I'm really surprised at the travel insurance, I pay 28 a year, and it covers me for over 10 million?

Does that cover paying out ransoms for any potential kidnapping? Now, why don't you just step into my car...

BorneTobyWilde

I don't see anything in that article that says that the US is demanding 1m . All I do see is an attempt here by garda to raise 1m that no doubt will go missing.

BorneTobyWilde

The guy is back in Ireland also, so this raised money is just an attempt to rinse people of money for a fictional cause.

My name is URL

BorneTobyWilde wrote: »

I don't see anything in that article that says that the US is demanding 1m . All I do see is an attempt here by garda to raise 1m that no doubt will go missing.

$1,000,000 just looks better on paper. It could be a bit less or a bit more, but a million for multiple gunshot wounds and surgeries is about right.

I'm the most cynical fcuker you could ever meet but even I don't think this is some kind of swindle. New Orleans Police Dept are even doing some fundraising to help pay for his healthcare bill.

He's just after arriving back in Ireland. Why would they be 'demanding' it yet? You have a while to pay up like. I hope he doesn't though. Let the money hungry fcuks try to extradite him. They'll be laughed out of any court it ends up in.

He still should have just handed over the $200 to the mugger though. Bit of an idiot for refusing to do so really.

The_Valeyard

c_man wrote: »

Does that cover paying out ransoms for any potential kidnapping? Now, why don't you just step into my car...

Oh no.....im not falling for that one again!!!!!!.......

Letree

Tell them to sue the black guy for it. He won't have it no doubt. But why should the Guard pay for it when he was a tourist there and some low life shot him.

barneystinson

creolebelle wrote: »

Speaking as an american you'll get no arguments from me about our healthcare system

Do you do any other accents?

Try it with a Chinese accent, g'wan...!

BorneTobyWilde

How do all the people who get shot there daily pay these bills? It's all bull if you ask me. No need to pay it. Actaully cost of treatment . 2000$ bill 1m $

fineso.mom

BorneTobyWilde wrote: »

I don't see anything in that article that says that the US is demanding 1m . All I do see is an attempt here by garda to raise 1m that no doubt will go missing.

Yeah, I bet you're right. Sure he probably planned the whole thing with the 'mugger'. Personally i would have got him to shoot me just in the leg and not risk paralyzing or killing me, but I suppose they wanted it to be believable.....so that they could raise more money which "will no doubt go missing".

(I wish I had a roll eyes option)

JaseBelleVie

Again,

Welcome To America! Come for the Freedom and Amusement Parks, stay for the $130,000 f*cking aspirin.

He shouldn't pay it. What are they going to do? To try and extradite and sue across jurisdictions is a major pain in the hole and the hospital would end up paying far in excess of that $1m to try and claw it out of him. Not a hope. He should send them a cheque made out to that amount and let it bounce and then just tell them "The money is resting in my account" and let them work that one out.

Nodin

BorneTobyWilde wrote: »

I don't see anything in that article that says that the US is demanding 1m . All I do see is an attempt here by garda to raise 1m that no doubt will go missing.

It has to be said, it takes some neck to accuse a man with a good name of fraud when all he's done is get shot in a foreign country.

michael999999

Nodin wrote: »

It has to be said, it takes some neck to accuse a man with a good name of fraud when all he's done is get shot in a foreign country.

Don't bite!

Greenmachine

My name is URL wrote: »

$1,000,000 just looks better on paper. It could be a bit less or a bit more, but a million for multiple gunshot wounds and surgeries is about right.

I'm the most cynical fcuker you could ever meet but even I don't think this is some kind of swindle. New Orleans Police Dept are even doing some fundraising to help pay for his healthcare bill.

He's just after arriving back in Ireland. Why would they be 'demanding' it yet? You have a while to pay up like. I hope he doesn't though. Let the money hungry fcuks try to extradite him. They'll be laughed out of any court it ends up in.

He still should have just handed over the $200 to the mugger though. Bit of an idiot for refusing to do so really.

Had the mugger got a gun? Would have thought a cop should be able to restrain someone, even if they had an knife.

coopdog85

Lovely, 3 pages in & I'm the first to say....

Ginger pubes.

Turtwig

suicide_circus wrote: »

He must have selected the most basic cover on his travel insurance. I was in the states a few years ago and spent about 50euro on travel insurance and was covered for up to $6m hospital fees.

Were you covered for these type of wounds and surgery though? Health Insurance is notoriously fickle. They'll cover some conditions and other circumstances will leave you with a 'please fck off and die/suffer'.

dissed doc

Desolation Of Smug wrote: »

Dunno why, but I have a picture of Dr Evil in my mind, pinky in mouth, demanding the money.."One million Dollar...."


Nice round number, eh? 1 Million. I wonder do they get that for most patients they treat. Nice money. Someones cleaning up..

it is a complete scam. The insurance companies that are charging the doctors massive malpractice premiums also bill the patients massive premiums. It is simply a multiple source money feeding system that by sheer accident still provides healthcare.

Username here

Greenmachine wrote: »

Had the mugger got a gun?

???

What else do you think he was shot with?

K4t

moc moc a moc wrote: »

Thanks, Obama

Obama is attempting to reform the US health system but he can only do so much; the republicans will only allow him to do so much.

Kop On

I smell bull**** in this story. The Garda Medical cover is one of the best around, how would that not have covered him?

My cousin was in the US a few years ago and spent two weeks in hospital, luckily he played GAA for a county team here and all his medical bills were covered under the County GAA medical scheme.

bjork

moc moc a moc wrote: »

Thanks, Obama

I don't think Obama is a suspect at this time. As far as I'm aware he has an alibi. You can't just point fingers at the first black guy you see.

My name is URL

Greenmachine wrote: »

Had the mugger got a gun? Would have thought a cop should be able to restrain someone, even if they had an knife.

The mugger had a gun, yes. That's how the garda was shot multiple times =p

He was drunk, in one of the most notoriously dangerous spots in New Orleans, at 5:30 AM.

I'm not one to cast aspersions, but you'd wonder what he was up to there at that time. Apparently some stranger told him he could get him 'drink'.

You can choose to believe that or not!

Have a google of it, read comments made by locals in the area. There are much easier and safer ways to get 'drink' in New Orleans at that time of night.

The guy was super irresponsible if nothing else, and frankly you'd expect better from a Garda, but he made his own choices and perhaps mistakes, and didn't deserve to be shot as a result.. or landed with a bill for a million dollars.

creolebelle

barneystinson wrote: »

Do you do any other accents?

Try it with a Chinese accent, g'wan...!

No chinese but I think I can do a realistic Canadian accent

suicide_circus

Turtwig wrote: »

Were you covered for these type of wounds and surgery though? Health Insurance is notoriously fickle. They'll cover some conditions and other circumstances will leave you with a 'please fck off and die/suffer'.

I must admit I didn't read the fine print to that level!

creolebelle

Here in the states we raise money all the time for injured cops and their families

El Weirdo

Letree wrote: »

Tell them to sue the black guy for it.

Obama?

JohnnyChimpo

creolebelle wrote: »

Here in the states we raise money all the time for injured cops and their families

In other countries, we just pay taxes that go towards healthcare.

creolebelle

JohnnyChimpo wrote: »

In other countries, we just pay taxes that go towards healthcare.

Burn

Xenji

Ended up in hospital over there a few years back and when they coped I had travel insurance, they gave me a CT and MRI scan along with other tests for what was just heat stroke in the end, nearly got a full medical for the cost of the insurance, the bill was over 10 grand in the end for not even a 4 hour stay.

shamrock55

Land of the free my arse!!

ancapailldorcha

I was under the impression that life-saving care was free in the US, ie injuries exactly like the above. Whatever about the guy not handing over the cash, noone deserves this. Perfectly exemplifies the vile nature of for-profit healthcare. I'm dreading what the Tories'll get upto if they win in May,

ancapailldorcha

shamrock55 wrote: »

Land of the free my arse!!

Land of the "free market" might be a more apt description.

Yamanoto

My name is URL wrote: »

The guy was super irresponsible if nothing else, and frankly you'd expect better from a Garda, but he made his own choices and perhaps mistakes, and didn't deserve to be shot as a result.. or landed with a bill for a million dollars.

Your right in that he made an extraordinarily foolhardy decision - quite staggering actually, given the mans profession.

Is it not the case though that folks are raising money for costs incurred over & above the $1 million mark - which was where his level of cover maxed out? Absolutely didn't deserve to be shot, but we all know the costs associated with medical treatment in the US are astronomical & I'd imagine the vast majority of Irish folks travelling there make provision accordingly.

I'm covered for medical treatment in the States for an amount up to €10m, which costs less than €50 p/a on a multi-trip basis.

My name is URL

shamrock55 wrote: »

Land of the free my arse!!

Hey.. come on now. Billionaires are free to fcuk everyone else over.

What more can people ask for?

The plebs can buy guns, shoot whoever annoys them and insurance companies can cash in on that!

What's not to love?!

Freedom comes at a price.. and that price is approximately $1 million per uneducated poor person that becomes a victim of crime =p

The Backwards Man

Just looked at the fine print on mine, I'm not covered for injuries sustained while partaking in hand to hand combat, professional clay pigeon shooting or the release of WMDs.

Shysters!