What exactly do you think would happen if they attracted zero tourism?
Hospitals in Jamaica
- Thread starter Doc8404
- Start date
What exactly do you think would happen if they attracted zero tourism?
Stop posting garbage.
"Tourism is a primary driver of Jamaica's economy, with estimates placing its direct contribution to GDP around 9.5% to over 30% when factoring in direct, indirect, and induced effects. The sector generates over 50% of the country's total foreign exchange earnings and supports about one-fourth of all jobs.
https://www.google.com/search?q=wha...j33i671l3.26079j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2024
- Messages
- 271
Anytime you leave the United States, it's on YOU. Now more than ever. If somebody doesn't get that, they should rethink leaving the country.
I have been to Jamaica four times. Two for work meetings-two because that's where the cruise ship docked. Outside of the resorts-it's not a great place. I would reccomend either Costa Rica or even Puerto Rico instead.
This isn’t exactly correct however, your point is well taken and I was wrong in the way I stated it
Nonprofit hospitals in exchange for their tax exempt status must provide free and/or heavily discounted care in the USA. This doesn’t apply only to emergency rooms.
“Hospital charity care is the provision of free or discounted services to low-income. Historically, a large part of the justification for nonprofit hospitals’ tax-exempt status rests on their provision of charity care to low-income patients”
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12230784/
I think we would have to have more details from the OP.
Why would a “mere elbow injury “ require a one hour ambulance trip?
Most of the money goes to the resorts, and most of the resorts are owned by international corps - like Sandals, for example.
Yes, they employ some Jamaican's - at peasant labor rates so tourists can party for cheap.
I am unsure how anyone legitimately can believe that Jamaica owes a tourist low cost medical care - like its some sort of right? Sort of funny given were supposedly the home of the free market. Actually explains much.
No one is saying they do.... But $30K and a $1K, 1 hour "ambulance ride" for a bum elbow? No, I don't think so. They could have taken a taxi for $30 bucks or less, and most likely gotten there quicker. This whole thing stinks on ice.
Well, required anesthesia, sounds like more than a bum elbow. If it required an overnight stay I would say $23K as mentioned is in the ballpark. We don't know what really happened without more details.
If she didn't want the service she could have declined ? Or made arrangements prior to travel - like buying travel health insurance.
That's not a big deal, so don't make it one. You get put under to get a tooth pulled..... And the bill isn't $30K when they're done.
I am not a doctor so I do not know.
Sounds like you feel the people of Jamaica owe her something. They do not.
If it was not a big deal she should have gotten on a plane and come home. Or when they asked for $19K up front got up and walked out.
Who actually gets "put under" to get a tooth pulled?
I know I don't, a little local being all that's needed.
In this case, I don't think we have the whole story as to the severity of the injury.
No, they don't "owe" her anything. They're simply overcharging her. And doing so because they know she's an American tourist with money. And yes, she could have simply walked out.
If that happened in an ER here she would have been treated immediately and billed accordingly with nothing, "up front". It sounds like you're making excuses for the crappy Jamaican healthcare system.
You know good and well if that happened to a Jamaican waiter or busboy at that same hotel, the bill would have been far less..... If anything. And no money forced up front. They just decided they were going to clean up on an American tourist with a few bucks, who got hurt in their country.
A Jamaican on vacation here would have been treated far differently, and better.
My wife did, just 6 months ago. It's common practice. Ask a dentist. I believe the total bill was around $550.00. I had to drive her because she couldn't drive home.
Well, not me. It isn't all that painful and I'll take a little brief discomfort over the risks involved in general anesthesia any day of the week.
Then she should have gotten up and walked out. If it was life threatening or close then $23K is reasonable. If it was " nothing " as you infer then she should have simply left. Neither of us know. Either way its on her.
Here people like me subsidize the system. They have no such income source in Jamaica - so again, the Jamaican people don't owe her anything. If she doesn't like it she should have made her own provisions up front, or not gone. These "all inclusives" in dump locations lure Americans who can't afford or are too cheap to go to the keys, want to go somewhere else and feel rich or important. So taking advantage of cheap local labor is no different than taking advantage of American tourist - IMHO. PIck your poison. Good for the goose, etc and so on.
Everyone claims to be capitalist until there not the one on the profit side of the transaction.
It depends on the tooth / teeth, and how bad it is. It's very common to be put under for Wisdom teeth removal. It's a complicated and painful procedure. And sometimes it's not your choice. It's made by the dentist doing the work, not you.
https://www.google.com/search?q=do+...0i512i650.12385j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Yeah, wisdom teeth can be difficult. Had mine done in my mid thirties and it wasn't that bad but not fun.
Anesthesia is always your choice and there is no shortage of oral surgeons capable of doing any extraction.
I'm not a doctor, so please explain to me how falling on your elbow can possible be "life threatening" enough to cost $23,000.00 dollars, after a $1,000.00 ambulance ride to the hospital?
Please explain to me why she got in the ambulance and paid $23K then?
Your reading what you want to in to it.
I have given you two options:
1) Either your analysis is correct, they were profiteering, and she should have gotten up and left.
2) It was more serios than you seem to think in which case $23K at the emergency room is comparatively small. If you have ever paid a US emergency room bill.
There is no door number 3.
Last edited:
