[randomacct44]

What the?

"When I was discharged from the hospital late the next day, the cabdriver asked me, “Where do I take you?” I couldn’t remember the name of my street. I handed him the discharge paperwork with my address on it, arrived home and slept for a long while."

How does someone who just had a stroke get discharged from hospital the next day, to a taxi?

[tluyben2]

I felt invincible at that age and I did not feel the need to have insurance really; in NL insurance is mandatory but I had the cheapest of the cheapest. After a major event like a stroke, you usually cannot move, ever, from your insurance (at least not 'up'). Also, you cannot get income protection insurance after that, which, of course, now you will see the use of.

I wish I had forked out the cash for international health insurance, the largest package, before I had a stroke, but I did not as I felt nothing would happen to me. Now that I live in another country and I travel a lot, I get bitten by that naivity a lot. I would recommend, if you are healthy and have enough $ to take an international health insurance package as you will never know what happens.

[Xiol]

I found this line particularly shocking.

When my mum suffered a stroke, she was hospitalised for 7 months and had a team of occupational/speech/physiotherapists around here helping her recover as much as possible (which wasn't much, to be fair).

But socialised medicine is evil, and the NHS death panels could've taken her.

[gozur88]

Not all strokes are equal. For a minor ischemic stroke it's normal to be discharged after three days or so. There isn't any reason to stay longer, really, since they'll treat it with medication.

Your mother probably had a hemorrhagic stroke, which is much more serious. She probably had surgery, too?

I'm not really sure why he was discharged the next day, but it might not be unreasonable depending on the exact diagnosis. Or maybe he refused to stay - some people do that.

[nkozyra]

Exactly my thoughts. I've heard of a week or less stay discharged to family, but not throwing someone in a cab the _day after a stroke_.

[callmeal]

Welcome to America.

[mhurron]

So many people need to have something like this personally slap them in the face before they realize how bad the healthcare system is in the US. Maybe some can learn from this instead.

[kajjffkk]

Well isnt the alternative is to stay in the hospital longer and increase the costs? Granted I have no idea what the conversation or recommendations from the medical staff were.

[esaym]

Don't know the status with the author, but my general experience is that the better the insurance you have, the longer they will keep you. If you are self pay and they can't milk you for money, then they'll get you out of there pretty quick.

[copperx]

Actually, if you get hospitalized in America you are assigned a Social Worker who makes sure you will be OK at home and helps make arrangements if necessary.

[alxndr]

Has this happened to you?

[copperx]

Yes, to my mother. The social workers ask any family members to step outside the room so they can speak to the patient (to check if there's abuse/mistreatment at home). They also check that you have all necessary equipment (wheelchair/shower chair/a way to go up and down in a multi-story home). They check if there are any assistance programs you can apply to.

[digi_owl]

Not having the life insurance to cover a long term stay?

[justinlardinois]

I think you're confusing life and medical insurance.

[digi_owl]

Yes indeed. Dunno why i typed that.