Pol, med
Ways expensive healthcare kills people:
I currently don't feel the best. In particular, I might have the flu. But when I woke up this morning, my neck felt kinda fucky and I experience a few waves of nausea that nearly made me throw up. Yep, I was concerned about meningitis. But we can't afford an urgent care or ER visit, so, as it stands, we're basically stuck praying it's either flu or a very mild viral meningitis that goes away on its own. 1/
Pol, med
This is far from the first time cost has put me off preventative diagnostics. I once had a concussion. I tried to get a walk-in with my uni's (free) clinic, but couldn't because they were closing. I was told to go to urgent care. In the end, because of cost, I basically just hoped it'd be fine. But I still remember leaving my apartment unlocked in case they came for cleaning inspections and I'd died in my sleep. 3/
Pol, med
Sometimes, nothing's wrong. That concussion turned out to not be that bad. This whole thing could just be a mild flu or something. Allergies and weather, even. But it'd be better if I could see a doctor and confirm that, instead of having to pray it's going to be fine. So, yeah. Another way expensive healthcare kills: pricing you out of catching things before they get bad.
4/EOT
Pol, med
Incidentally, don't worry about me. I think the neck fuckery was just from how I slept and nothing has cropped up thus far to suggest my concerns were valid. I'm keeping an eye on it, but thus far, if it is meningitis, as I said, it's a mild viral case that'll resolve itself as viral cases tend to. But, depending on how I'm feeling tomorrow, I may be a little more forceful about seeking care. We'll see, but I should be fine.
5/5
Pol, med
If it is something worse, though, by the time we'd be able to justify those costs, I'd be in a pretty bad shape. So if it isn't something that resolves itself... this delay could kill me. 2/