so i just had my first experience with a US emergency room

[Yetra Flam]

I got bitten really badly by a dog on the job. I mostly feel shitty because it makes me feel like a bad dog handler, like i was doing something wrong, or i should have been able to stop it. The fucker totally punctured my hand in a few spots and it hurts like a bitch. And i got a script for vicodin - i thought that was a little extreme.
But anyway, i don't have to pay for it, so that's the best thing. I was freaking out, thinking that it'd cost me thousands and thousands.


Ow :(

[TAL]

Take the dog to court, you're in the US after all.

[Yetra Flam]

I wanted to punch it in the face

[TAL]

With your other hand?

[Yetra Flam]

ow :(

[beastieangel01]

ouch! did work cover it for you or how did you get that taken care of?

I am so very jealous of the vicodin. Right now anyway. If I could just eat one of those right now I would survive the rest of my day just fine.

Hope your hand gets better.

[Yetra Flam]

yeah i spoke to the boss, and she's paying my bills and for my prescriptions. huge fucking relief. i was almost in tears because i have no insurance and thought i was totally fucked. but it's an injury caused by work, so that means i get paid for the days i have to take off too, right?

[kll]

i think this thread was created to flaunt the vicodin at ba01.


yeah, depending on your state's worker's comp laws, you should be getting paid for time off the job. new york has weird laws though.

[beastieangel01]

oh yeah workers comp. Forgot about that.

Otherwise, you wouldn't be completely fucked. It would just suck a whole lot. The pills would have been out of pocket which is usually upwards of $50+ then the ER would have billed you. I don't know what it's like out there. But in DC I got charged around $400ish for an ER visit without insurance. Out here in CA I got charged $1500ish for one ER visit without insurance ;/

[Yetra Flam]

I got xrays as well, and i have to do a follow up visit, so i have a feeling it's gonna be pricey.
I'm just bored now. I can still type fine and everything, it just hurts to move it. I think it's gonna swell up really bad.

I feel stupid and like i could have stopped it from happening if i was more in control and a better handler :(

[kll]

what kind of dog (to reference the puncture sizes)?

[Yetra Flam]

only a shih tzu, but he bit down a few times, not just the once. i have a few holes :(
at least it wasn't a pitbull or something

[cookiepuss]

I got bitten really badly by a dog on the job. I mostly feel shitty because it makes me feel like a bad dog handler, like i was doing something wrong, or i should have been able to stop it.

Ow :(

nah. The longer you work with dogs the more likely it is that you will get bit by one eventually. that's just statistics. Don't be overly hard on yourself. every dog is different and it's hard to know what's going to set them off. All you can do is keep in mind that most animals are unpredictable and just treat them accordingly.

I hope that heals up quick. I know it really hurts.

[ericlee]

I had a little old dog bite me on my finger tip cause I was playing with it and it got pissed.

I totally went into shock after that. It was crazy, I heard choppers and got real dizzy and cold and shaky.

Hope your hand gets better, zorra.

[ms.peachy]

I'm sorry to hear you got bitten. In terms of expenses though, given the nature of the business I am sure your employer must have insurance that specifically covers this type of incident to operate legally. So enjoy that vicodin, chill out for a few days and watch some daytime telly, and don't blame yourself - it's an occupational hazard.

[russhie]

Is private health cover really that expensive in America?

[The Notorious LOL]

it depends. If it requires urgent care and you're without insurance its pretty tough. There are some reduced cost urgent care clinics but they are few and far between.

Aside from that, theres a fair amount of sliding scale clinics generally located in the poorer neighborhoods of most metropolitan areas. More for preventative maintenance type stuff but Ive used them when Ive been without insurance.

Health coverage/insurance varies. Mines like $40 a paycheck with no co-pay due and 100% coverage, which is overall the cheapest Ive ever had. Granted, I work for a very large company so theres that benefit.

[russhie]

Ah. I grew up with private health cover so to me it's a no brainer, the premiums are fairly affordable here, considering the kinds of stuff you can claim. Ambulance insurance is affordable, too.

My boyfreind, on the other hand, grew up without private health cover and is less keen to sign up for it - I suppose it's not so much of a big deal here?

[Kid Presentable]

I knew it wouldn't have been a dachshund.

[tracky]

a shih tzu!? hahah

sorry :(

i used to let harry the shih tzu big the shit out of me but he never managed to break the skin. maybe he just wasnt trying

hope it heals up. if it makes you feel better i have gout. apparently. i also bruised my foot so i think it's more that... blood test in a week or so will tell me.

no good pills for me tho, just voltaren

[Kid Presentable]

Bonnie the cat bites me a lot

[Randetica]

i used to chew off the hands of my barbie dolls

get better

[QueenAdrock]

Is private health cover really that expensive in America?

Depends. There was a time I didn't have a job and wasn't covered under my parents' plan anymore (only covered up until 22, and then kicked off regardless of student status), but was able to get the COBRA from their plan...which was $300 a month, $20 copays, $20 prescriptions. And that was for government insurance!

I later got a job for a contractor and paid $140 a month, $20 copays, $20 prescriptions/$10 generic, $50 emergency room. I've heard of people being able to get better (if you work for VERY large corporations, you can get good benefits), but if you work for a smaller office or anything like that, it gets very pricey.

You can get relatively cheap premiums for private insurance, like $50 a month, but the deductible is ridiculous, around $5,000. So if you ever break your leg, you have to pay that before the insurance starts paying, so it's a pretty shitty deal.

[hitmonlee]

Ah. I grew up with private health cover so to me it's a no brainer, the premiums are fairly affordable here, considering the kinds of stuff you can claim. Ambulance insurance is affordable, too.

My boyfreind, on the other hand, grew up without private health cover and is less keen to sign up for it - I suppose it's not so much of a big deal here?

yeah same, my parents had it for me so i just continued to have it. couldn't imagine not having it. it steals all my money though. but then i get a rebate and now that i use the glasses and dental, its not so bad.

[hardnox71]

About two weeks ago my boss passed out some bullshit insurance crap that said something about paying $500 a month.

I didn't even finish reading it. In the garbage it went.