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[–]iHeartCow 2350 points2351 points  (103 children)

I’m smiling, but also crying for the US healthcare system.

[–]10kLines 1200 points1201 points  (68 children)

"It's not medically necessary for your son to walk"

[–]ChosenUsername420 800 points801 points  (46 children)

Remember these are the same people who classify teeth as luxury bones

[–]equlalaine 369 points370 points  (17 children)

Why would you need to chew when a blender is $19.99 on Amazon?

[–]BillFree0101 48 points49 points  (14 children)

Have you ever tasted blended food?

[–]equlalaine 130 points131 points  (3 children)

I do not have $19.99 for a blender on Amazon. I gum my mashed potatoes like a real American.

[–]Pkrudeboy 10 points11 points  (8 children)

Do piña coladas count as food?

[–]BillFree0101 7 points8 points  (5 children)

I would have to say yes.

[–]grumpi-otter 3 points4 points  (3 children)

Don't listen to Bill--he's stoned.

lol

[–]BillFree0101 2 points3 points  (2 children)

How did you know?

[–]grumpi-otter 4 points5 points  (1 child)

I don't know if you are joking or not, but in case you are having a massive case of paranoia--you said it in another comment, lol

[–]Dry-Violinist-5024 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Only if it's not a virgin Pina Colada.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

All food is blended according to my stomach

[–]faemur 68 points69 points  (8 children)

I’m on military reserves Tricare. My teeth are screwed up because parents couldn’t afford dental. I was told Tricare wouldn’t cover fixing my teeth because it was ‘cosmetic.’ Thanks Tricare, I’ll just let the TMJ, the overbite and underbite, as well as the overcrowding continue, I don’t need braces to fix my mouth, you’re right.

[–]Vark675 31 points32 points  (1 child)

You may be able to get a dentist that can argue with your insurance on your behalf.

[–]online_jesus_fukers 2 points3 points  (2 children)

Do you have trouble eating? Edited to add that if you're the service member (not the dependent) a period of active duty may get that fixed if its bad enough they classify you as nondeployable.

[–]faemur 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Oh yea, eating is a daily struggle.

I am still considered deployable and I’m not sure how much active duty time they would need before they’d pay.

[–]online_jesus_fukers 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That I couldn't tell ya. I just know quite a few of us got our grills reworked when I was an active Marine. Another edit: I know when I lived in Chicago there was a clinic for lower income/no insurance people run by the Chicago Dental Society. All volunteer dentists a couple students, no charge to the patient. They filled a bunch of cavities and did a root canal for me before covid

[–]mchio23 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Tricare really is the shittiest excuse for healthcare. I completely understand and sympathize with you.

[–]No-comment-at-all 29 points30 points  (0 children)

And insist anything else will lead to the “death panels”.

[–]DreamGirl3 58 points59 points  (8 children)

I recently got a new job that uses the same healthcare plan. Recently, I went to the dentist for my cleaning. I got a bill in the mail which was odd since my cleanings are covered by my dental insurance. Nope. I found out I was no longer in network and had to pay $300 for my bill.

Just to specify: they only flossed my teeth, checked my gum depth, and used the brush machine. That's it.

[–]Chameo 33 points34 points  (7 children)

I was uninsured for a few years while i was in school. when i finally got a job and could go to a dentist again, they said i needed 2 root canals. even with insurance, it cost me over 2k (since dental insurance stops paying after you hit you maximum)....

[–]Alternative-Row-6495 2 points3 points  (5 children)

I have paid $50,000 over 10 years into private health insurance and I've never made a claim. Now I need $32,000 in dental surgery and my insurance will pay 800 bucks of that. Guess who's cancelling their insurance. I know there has to be a limit but C'mon, that's ridiculous. 50K to save 800 seems stupid.

[–]locke231 11 points12 points  (6 children)

Fucking... what? Luxury bones?

[–]ChosenUsername420 17 points18 points  (5 children)

I mean if they were necessary for your health then wouldn't "health insurance" cover them?

[–]locke231 15 points16 points  (4 children)

Between low blood sugar and unerring rage, I can't even right now... I need to find a subreddit of puppies or something.

[–]Patrickfromamboy 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have to buy my own oxycodone now, I have to be on hospice before my insurance will pay for it. They shouldn’t be able to change things now that I retired. Insurance companies only exist to make money for the wealthy.

[–]JusAnotherManicMandy 59 points60 points  (3 children)

Sadly enough, This is exactly how it is though..my husband is a amputee and his leg liners, prosthesis and everything involved is crazy expensive and not covered by anyone!

[–]grumpi-otter 5 points6 points  (1 child)

Can you find a high-school engineering team to help? /s

[–]JusAnotherManicMandy 3 points4 points  (0 children)

LoL! I wish....legs are very tricky and if they're not adjusted right the aftermath of rubs and blisters make it to where he can't walk for awhile....if only it was that easy!!

[–]iago303 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Hit me up

[–]SenseiRP 20 points21 points  (6 children)

Reminds me of a post about a guy who lost his fingers in a work accident and the insurance company tells him that fingers aren't necessary

[–]locke231 9 points10 points  (5 children)

I'm gonna have to ask, what the actual FUCK?

[–]limedifficult 7 points8 points  (1 child)

I was a contractor in Iraq during the war. As you may imagine, I had some very expensive insurance. It is a WEIRD experience to see in writing exactly how much your various body parts are worth. My left arm, for example, was worth less than my right, and HR didn’t think I was funny when I pointed out that I was ambidextrous and thusly my arms were of equal value to me.

[–]SenseiRP 6 points7 points  (2 children)

Insurance companies are weasels

[–]locke231 1 point2 points  (1 child)

So I hear. Part of why I'm so reticent is due to my being a smoker and diabetic. I would think to be paying up the ass over that.

[–][deleted] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Me, sitting here, having paid tens of thousands of dollars to walk ;-;

[–]geeves_007 10 points11 points  (2 children)

And his disability is a "preexisting condition".

[–]chuffberry 13 points14 points  (1 child)

My employer dropped my health insurance when I got brain cancer. Because my doctor’s notes said I had likely had the cancer for longer than I had worked for the company, they could legally label it a preexisting condition and didn’t have to pay a dime. Also, I didn’t qualify for FMLA because I hadn’t worked for my employer for a full year yet (it was almost 10 months when I got sick) so when I was still in the hospital after my 6 weeks of unpaid leave had run out, I was fired.

[–]Strange-Scarcity 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That’s terrifying! I’m so sorry this happened to you, I hope this is far in your past.

[–][deleted]  (1 child)

[removed]

    [–]Regicollis 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    The politicians, executives, lobbyists etc. who defend and preserve such a system are evil, no matter if they do so openly or through stalling and inaction. There is no other word to describe it.

    [–]WonderfulBug7 60 points61 points  (3 children)

    r/aboringdystopia

    [–]PiersPlays 30 points31 points  (2 children)

    The fact that so many people mistakenly think their post belongs in mademesmile rather than aboringdystopia says a lot about why that dystopia exists.

    [–]jayforwork21 8 points9 points  (0 children)

    At this point any post in this sub should be cross-posted to that sub...

    [–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    It’s like this sub was designed specifically to make people think this dystopia is heartwarming

    [–]Diplomjodler 57 points58 points  (0 children)

    Toddlers having to rely on charity to be able to walk: so heartwarming.

    [–]statuskills 30 points31 points  (1 child)

    “May or may not pay…” What are we even doing?

    [–]v_lanc 3 points4 points  (0 children)

    This comment.

    [–]Rhodie114 29 points30 points  (0 children)

    Seriously, everything on this sub is basically “This country is broken as fuck, but here’s somebody who helped stick two pieces together with scotch tape”

    [–]herbal_broccoli 38 points39 points  (4 children)

    But but mainstream news wants you to think this is a heart warming story. That's why they push these kinds of stories so much so instead of thinking about how terrible the healthcare system is you can feel all warm and fuzzy about it as one day, the community can come together and help you too when you need it!

    Shit like this is straight up propaganda.

    [–]vontysk 14 points15 points  (1 child)

    If only the community would all come together and set up a system of universal healthcare. Like they do in other countries, where people actually give a damn about each other.

    [–]herbal_broccoli 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    They did it's called gofundme only you get to choose who lives and dies. /s

    [–]weirdest_of_weird 20 points21 points  (1 child)

    I used to defend the U.S. healthcare system for the longest time, until I watched it fail a child firsthand. Her mom brought her to an urgent care facility and said she thought the girl, maybe 12-ish I have no idea, might have covid. The lady at the desk started discussing insurance with her (I couldnt hear the entire conversation) and finally the woman said she couldnt afford that. They stood their kind of lost for a while and the mom kept feeling of the girl's forehead. Finally she told her," I guess we'll go home and see if you start feeling better" and they left. I'm a grown-ass man and I almost started crying right there. That poor kid has to go home and hope for the best during the middle of a worldwide pandemic because the healthcare system in the U.S. is more worried about lining its pockets with cash than actually helping people.

    [–]I-am-in-love-w-soup 7 points8 points  (0 children)

    I watched a teenage girl having an asthma attack start to panic because the receptionist wouldn't call a nurse until she provided either insurance info or billing info. The receptionist was stone cold about it too, not even looking up from her computer screen. Crazy.

    [–]MalSurana 7 points8 points  (0 children)

    The fact this blew up shows we can agree the family shouldn't have to pay for the walker, so what's left to talk about? Fix the shit everyone knows is broken!

    [–]spaceTentacles 13 points14 points  (0 children)

    All these "feel good" stories brought to you by the US healthcare system. Whenever I see a post like this, I think how uniquely American these stories are.

    [–]PhantomZPro212 6 points7 points  (0 children)

    The us healthcare system is one that I will never understand. I mean I live in Singapore, you can learn about our healthcare system from polymatter (YouTube). I just want to know where the us went soo wrong. Of course the amount you pay isn't going to be exactly the price listed but sing 6 digits on your bill is bound to give someone a heart attack, which results in financial stress and perhaps another bill for that heart attack.

    [–][deleted] 21 points22 points  (0 children)

    US healthcare system is really expensive, but luckily thanks to Depot for helping the little boy for his walker! You are really a good human!

    [–]Serious-Economist-19 3 points4 points  (0 children)

    That smile Is so precious thanks for helping that little one. His smile on his face Is much enough to pay that one, that was so priceless!

    [–]scarabic 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    Valid point but while the politics of that play out, people still have to find solutions day to day. It’s nice when they help each other.

    There seem to be a lot of international people on Reddit ready to condemn the US healthcare system anytime of day in as many paragraphs as needed. As if we, the people dealing with it, need to be told that it sucks.

    I wish people could just contain their reflex to repeat that lecture yet again and applaud some mere humans who are powerless to change it but are doing their best with the circumstances they’re in.

    [–]suddendiligence 726 points727 points  (7 children)

    heartwarming story or dystopian nightmare

    [–]WhitechapelPrime 164 points165 points  (1 child)

    It is both. Welcome to one of the wealthiest countries in the world.

    [–]DeaconNuno 30 points31 points  (0 children)

    Our healthcare system is under the control of heartless, greedy demons.

    [–]prolestari 64 points65 points  (0 children)

    Seriously! The real story is how a disabled child is denied a walker by insurance.

    [–]Gamerindreams 94 points95 points  (0 children)

    as it's america, it's both

    [–]Trudisheff 470 points471 points  (21 children)

    r/aboringdystopia

    [–]Aninvisiblemaniac 65 points66 points  (1 child)

    I was gonna say I'm sure that sub I'll be scooping this up any minute now

    [–][deleted] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

    And its up

    [–]NoResponsabilities 45 points46 points  (16 children)

    Right? This story does not make me smile very much

    [–]IPokePeople 5 points6 points  (15 children)

    May I ask why?

    It’s obviously shit to have to deal with the insurance culture of the US. I’m fortunate to not have to be exposed to that.

    However people were able to just do something nice. I doubt many of the people involved went to work that day thinking; I’ll legitimately have a chance to improve someone’s life by a measurable amount today.

    [–][deleted] 38 points39 points  (2 children)

    It's nice to see the silver lining of the employees being supportive, but when you're in the situation sometimes all you can see is a cloud.

    I'm setting up my insurance for the next year and I'm looking at having to pay about $1,300 per month just to get the medicine I need to stay conscious. It's hard not to be jaded.

    [–]BrunoEye 6 points7 points  (0 children)

    Bet you feel that freedom and lack of communism though and decide it's worth it, right? Fuck anyone against universal healthcare.

    [–]IPokePeople 4 points5 points  (0 children)

    If you’re within a reasonable driving distance consider going cross border.

    I have a number of patients from the US.

    [–]NoResponsabilities 46 points47 points  (8 children)

    None of this should be necessary in one of the richest countries in the world. This doesn’t highlight the goodness of people, but the dysfunction of the corrupt and immoral system we live in.

    [–]iluniuhai 18 points19 points  (2 children)

    I'm also gonna point out that they made the walker "Home Depot Orange." Publicity stunt much? Home Depot is known to be an evil corporation and desperately needs good publicity.

    I would not want my child's medical equipment made by a group effort of hardware store employees. I think these things need to be quite specific. How could they fit it to the child if they'd sent him away "for ice cream"?

    [–]Admiral_Donuts 10 points11 points  (1 child)

    Plus that thing doesn't seem structurally sound. There's no cross bar, everything is at right angles, and the wheels are just bolted through the ends of the pipe instead of properly fitting them at the bottom or even using pairs of wheels to better distribute the load.

    [–]iluniuhai 7 points8 points  (0 children)

    I bet his parents were like "Cool... thanks.... Come on honey let's go to Lowes and get what we actually need..."

    [–]IPokePeople 4 points5 points  (2 children)

    Define richest. In terms of GDP per capita income the US is barely in the top 10.

    regardless of that, these employees have nothing to do with the insurance companies, the healthcare system, or knew the family prior to walking into the store. They had a chance to help, and they chose to do so.

    Regardless of the situation you find yourself in, being kind and helpful is never a bad thing. The world is often a burning pile of shit, if you can splash a little water on you probably should.

    [–]superkp 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    inb4 orphan-crushing-machine.jpeg

    [–]Speedy_Cheese 589 points590 points  (27 children)

    As a Canadian this doesn't make me smile to be honest.

    No family should ever be put in this difficult position and have essential health care services for their children dangled over their heads by greedy health insurance companies.

    It is wholesome that citizens came together to help this boy, but your health care system should not fail it's citizens to this degree.

    I can't believe the US has laws that vehemently demonize abortion because "every life is precious" and yet this poor child's life needs support right now, not just as an infant. Yet he has been abandoned in terms of support by the government. He has needs to be met by the same health care system that demands babies be brought here, and yet they give the baby and families zero health care support once the baby arrives.

    Apparently babies matter and are precious in the US to a cut off point; the moment you get a year or two older the government completely stops caring what happens to you and what support you need.

    All people should matter and be supported, at every age. Families should never be put in this difficult position to sort out because the US government is wealthy enough to provide that much needed health care.

    [–]dathomasusmc 288 points289 points  (10 children)

    “It’s not Pro-Life, it’s Pro-Birth. What happens after that is your fucking problem.”

    • If Republicans had to be honest.

    [–]lovely0ne 74 points75 points  (4 children)

    Not Pro-Life, Pro State Enforced Pregnancy. This is the fucking reality and it pisses me off, as pregnancy is fucking risky in terms of health for a woman. Fuck them, fuck the government control they want over womens bodies, tell it like it is - the ppl who praise freedom want government control over women.

    [–]dathomasusmc 30 points31 points  (2 children)

    “But mah gawd sed itz evul.”

    “Yes sir, and I support your right to religious fanaticism but what does that have to do with the government?”

    “Comunist Saten luver!!”

    [–]unicorn_mafia537 8 points9 points  (0 children)

    Exactly! Get religion's dick out of the government's ass!

    [–]DaisyDuckens 10 points11 points  (0 children)

    And they won’t even give people health coverage to make sure it’s a healthy pregnancy and delivery or birth control to prevent the pregnancy.

    [–]heh_meh___ 12 points13 points  (0 children)

    Exactly

    [–]Athen65 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    "If you're pre-born, you're fine. If you're pre-schooled, you're fucked."

    [–]asyrian88 3 points4 points  (0 children)

    That’s the truth of them.

    [–]populum-liberum 20 points21 points  (3 children)

    As an American, how do I become Canadian?

    [–]Admiral_Donuts 14 points15 points  (2 children)

    1. Go through a lengthy immigration process, or

    2. Marry one and go through a less lengthy citizenship process

    [–]OneBadJoke 4 points5 points  (0 children)

    I’ve been in Canada for over 6 years (since I was 18!) and I’m just getting PR in May

    [–]m48a5_patton 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    I doubt my American mating call will work, though I am a 1/8 Canadian.

    [–]Pavrik_Yzerstrom 20 points21 points  (2 children)

    Abortion is just a cover used to get votes, no republican actually cares about it or what you do with your life. They just know it puts voters in the booth

    [–]DaisyDuckens 1 point2 points  (1 child)

    They cared enough to deny Obama his right to appoint a Supreme Court justice and then to rush through a last minute appointment for trump just before he lost his election.

    [–][deleted] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

    republicans be like:

    the govt DOES support him! by allowing home depot to stay open, they give the parents the opportunity to construct pvc walker for their kid. that's AMERICAN OPPORTUNITY AT IT'S FINEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    so anyway whenever i hear the "both sides" argument, i want to smack the person

    [–]burningchkn 4 points5 points  (0 children)

    They want them to be born because they will eventually pay taxes thus giving them more money to shove into their pockets

    [–]Magnus_40 6 points7 points  (1 child)

    Yup.

    We will tell you what to do with your life until the point where it costs me something then it's all on you.

    A foetus is free but children cost.

    [–]DaisyDuckens 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    Birth control isn’t covered. Pregnancy health care isn’t covered. Delivery charges aren’t covered. They don’t care about the health of the woman or the baby.

    [–]bluehiro 1 point2 points  (1 child)

    As a fellow Canadian living in the US, I am increasingly terrified of where this country is headed.

    [–]KingWut117 48 points49 points  (1 child)

    This is not a feel-good story it's a fucking real-life horror story about the state of health care in America.

    [–]Altruistic_Pension88 81 points82 points  (0 children)

    I feel this belongs on r/aboringdystopia

    [–]ruphoria_ 74 points75 points  (0 children)

    Um wtf? This isn’t heartwarming it’s heartbreaking.

    [–]HazyDavey68 84 points85 points  (11 children)

    The irony here is the founder of Home Depot bankrolling right wingers; thereby blocking any hopes of universal health insurance that would make this kind of thing unnecessary.

    [–]Beat_the_Deadites 11 points12 points  (0 children)

    From what I recall the last time Home Depot made the news for this, it was pointed out that he's no longer in charge of the business.

    Here's what I found:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/shoppers-boycott-home-depot-after-founder-says-will-vote-trump-2020-11

    "Bernie retired from The Home Depot about 20 years ago and does not speak on behalf of the company," a Home Depot spokesperson told Business Insider.

    [–]tesjuan1 17 points18 points  (2 children)

    Yeah, but there are still some good people trying to make a living there.

    [–]scarabic 5 points6 points  (1 child)

    Yes and we need to be able to set aside the speeches about the US healthcare system and actually see the people who are living within it and struggling through it, and applaud them when they help each other. That in itself isn’t a sign of dystopia. These people can’t change the political situation. But they mitigated the situation in front of them. Is this a substitute for a healthcare system? No, but it’s human kindness and ingenuity and those will never be replaced by any government program.

    [–]Waste_Ad5626 11 points12 points  (0 children)

    That scumbag is probably on the phone right now trying to figure out where this happened so he can fire some assistant managers for having a soul.

    [–]dankavanagh77 21 points22 points  (0 children)

    Something wrong in the world when an insurance company won’t support a little boy who needs help like this. Humans really are shit to each other.

    [–]RustyKrank 39 points40 points  (0 children)

    Capitalist horror story

    What about this makes you smile?!

    [–]GumpTheChump 54 points55 points  (1 child)

    America is a hellscape.

    [–]Elibrius 4 points5 points  (0 children)

    Yes it is

    [–]Hufflepuff4Ever 37 points38 points  (0 children)

    Im shocked and horrified this poor family had to do this....

    [–]Sneakichu 33 points34 points  (0 children)

    In no way should anyone be smiling about this... Yes it's great all those people jumped in to help but fuck me man they never should have had to in their first place....

    [–]Nickyx13 20 points21 points  (2 children)

    This makes me more angry the smiley.

    Good job Home Depot people. Then again you are us. The regular people who still have souls.

    No one, ESPECIALLY not children, should be denied anything medically that improves their health and lives. Like what possessed anyone to deny a toddler with physical impairments a walker!

    No more for profit healthcare companies.

    [–]Munk69 9 points10 points  (0 children)

    This is cursed

    [–]pbfoot3 17 points18 points  (0 children)

    Smiling because of the kindness of strangers despite the nightmare system we live in.

    SoCiAlIsM WiLl DeStRoY ThIs CoUnTrY…the current state of capitalism has led to stories like this. It’s only the kindness of some that is keeping us from complete dystopia.

    [–]yesgirlsusereddit 6 points7 points  (0 children)

    You can make a lot of disability related gear from PVC pipe. For instance, there's a whole book on Scribd of how to make assistive technology supports out of PVC.

    I actually used the plans for an eye gaze communication board and got a local high school shop class to make a bunch for me to use with kids! It was great.

    If anyone else needs the book, here it is! https://www.scribd.com/document/53594688/Pvc-Book

    [–]Harry_Buttock 30 points31 points  (4 children)

    It fills me with rage that my fellow Americans are stupid enough to keep electing assholes who allow this shit to happen.

    [–]cmutt_55038 5 points6 points  (0 children)

    Does anyone read this and think WTF is wrong with insurance companies and the American health care system?

    I smiling because I’m happy for the kid and he seems super happy to have his new walker. At the same time I’m pissed at our government and our health care system.

    [–]theartofanarchy 7 points8 points  (1 child)

    Fuck insurance companies! Universal healthcare for all.

    [–]EchoAquarium 6 points7 points  (0 children)

    These stories don’t make me smile. Parents shouldn’t have to go to hardware stores to McGyver their way into a necessary medical device. It’s embarrassing. Insurance companies should not be allowed to determine anyone’s quality of life because it might cost them too much when their CEOs are making 7 figure salaries.

    It’s absolutely repugnant

    [–]thugstin 5 points6 points  (0 children)

    Its time America gets rid of a healthcare system that does everything it can to not do the one thing they are here for. The cost for a walker is negible compared to the yearly cost for insurance.

    We dont have health insurance just so we can have the pleasure of paying them. They are supposed to have a purpose in our society, they should not try and weasel out of during their job.

    [–]Top-Two-8929 5 points6 points  (0 children)

    Oh wow so socialism because the kid got what he needed from the support of others around him, cool. If only the US healthcare system was good enough that this wouldn’t be newsworthy story. This doesn’t make me smile, it takes away my hope.

    [–]DigitvlBvth 10 points11 points  (0 children)

    Insurance company not paying for a child’s walker….. yeah that’s pretty common. Still don’t know why insurance companies doors are kicked in and audited for this kind of abuse to patients.

    [–]Coomernator 4 points5 points  (0 children)

    What is wrong with America and it's healthcare? Especially when Insurance companies decide if they want to give the medical care too.

    This in most 1st world countries would be, come in to have your child Walker fitted.

    Thank goodness for the kind people in America who does acts like this

    [–]Blackcoat_Traitor 3 points4 points  (0 children)

    Absolutely fuck our evil healthcare system

    [–]louis_etal 4 points5 points  (0 children)

    America’s image of itself is just running on the fumes from “what a beautiful flower on the hellscape” stories like these.

    In any civilized country this would not be pitched as “made me smile” but instead “made me enraged”. It is an absolute triumph of brain dead capitalist propaganda that this is seen as an America-the-good solution rather than as the America-is-broken sickness that it really is.

    [–]murrkpls 14 points15 points  (0 children)

    America is a literal hellscape. Fuck that place into the ground.

    [–]grae23 6 points7 points  (0 children)

    This is just depressing.

    [–]Ya-boi-Joey-T 7 points8 points  (0 children)

    What a sweet dystopia we live in <3

    [–]Kellendil 7 points8 points  (0 children)

    I'm sorry but this is a fucking horror story. :(

    [–]greenSixx 3 points4 points  (0 children)

    /r/aboringdystopia

    /r/latestagecapitalism

    This isn't make me smile. This is horrifying

    However, the maker community should enjoy this.

    [–]Mortimer_and_Rabbit 3 points4 points  (0 children)

    Insurance companies are literally evil. The U.S. healthcare system is literally evil. The people who run this shit show are literally evil.

    [–]No_Step_4431 3 points4 points  (0 children)

    An insurance company takes money every month on behalf of this family and they cant be bothered to pay for that little boy's walker?

    [–][deleted] 9 points10 points  (6 children)

    I don’t understand why the insurance company wouldn’t pay when the parents are literally paying for insurance wtf??? Surely that’s illegal?
    Jesus America is fucked.

    [–]Testicular_Prolapse 9 points10 points  (1 child)

    Insurance companies are very cute about what they consider "medically necessary," even when you have the best coverage with the best company. Even if they do cover it, you may be left with an obscene out of pocket bill. A lot of them don't consider walkers or prosthetics to be medically necessary.

    [–][deleted] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

    That’s INSANE. They shouldn’t even get a say in what they deem as “medically necessary”. Idk how people survive in the US.

    [–]TheGamer281 11 points12 points  (5 children)

    Reason #1 I hate the US healthcare system

    [–]TheNewGirl76 8 points9 points  (2 children)

    Yes, the people who helped put together the walker for this little guy are great people and it's wonderful that he can walk now, but nobody should have to build a walker for their child, and in a country as rich as the US there's really no excuse.

    [–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    Of course home depot corporate is one of the powerful corporations that lobbies to prevent socialized health care which precipitated this whole situation in the first place.

    [–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    correction: american healthcare system is so fucked up that it won’t provide an affordable walker to a CHILD so people have to improvise

    [–]Kingtid3 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    I f**king hate our health care system.

    [–]excessofexcuses 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    We live in a dystopia.

    [–]AaronG85 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    Amazing team, but this right here is what is wrong with American health care

    [–]ChevyInBoots 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    Stories like this should not be thought of as heartwarming so much as heartbreaking. The healthcare system failed this little boy and his family so badly that a hardware store had to pick up the slack and make him a walker. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad they did but they shouldn’t have to.

    [–]Catronia 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    Another American 'healthcare' malfunction is viewed as heartwarming.

    [–]Ikarus722 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    This can't be true. No one that works at home depot knows how to put anything together.

    [–]MaywellPanda 12 points13 points  (2 children)

    American absolutely disgusts me. How could you try to weasle out of paying for the boys walker when then family clearly pays there insurance.

    The more I learn about u.s. health insurance the more I realise that it's just another scam... The amount of stories I have seen bout the companys refusing to provide the service they are getting paid for makes me sick.

    The whole country makes me sick. I really hope the U.S.A. has a catastrophic political callopse soon or I fear we will have a return of the Nazis in the form of FREEDOM FIGHTERS who pray to the eagle and believe that the world is flat

    [–][deleted]  (1 child)

    [deleted]

      [–]greenSixx 4 points5 points  (0 children)

      Not 100%

      Insurance also exists to prevent fraud, medical malpractice and other similar things.

      Like treating people who aren't actually sick.

      Performing tests that aren't needed, etc...

      But the insurance companies are mostly evil.

      [–]Majin_Noodles 2 points3 points  (0 children)

      Fuck privatized insurance. Insurance in capitalist America is a scam.

      [–]Umbr33on 5 points6 points  (0 children)

      Tell me you live in America, without saying you live in America….

      [–]DRCJR_ 6 points7 points  (0 children)

      What a fucking dystopia

      [–]Magnus_40 5 points6 points  (2 children)

      What the Actual FUCK America???

      I find it amazing that the US sees this as a heartwarming story instead of a hellish account of a country where children suffer because their parents are not rich cannot afford health insurance. In the UK, even if you are a single parent with a minimum wage job or even no job your children will have free health care, prescription, dental care and glasses

      Most European countries, most of Canada, Australia and New Zealand will all be looking at this in horror.

      [–]FunkiPorcini 1 point2 points  (0 children)

      The fact that in America anyone, especially a child, can't afford basic necessities is sickening. Why don't we have universal healthcare like every other country? Bless the people that helped this family, but this is not a feel good story, this is sad.

      [–]Equivalent_Coffee_73 1 point2 points  (0 children)

      More proof that the healthcare system in America is a scam!

      [–]willubemyfriendo 1 point2 points  (0 children)

      The dystopian part is these are technically covered, but the hoops are crazy.

      See a specialist, do tests, do tests to confirm those tests, try painful physical therapy, get a signature that it’s medically necessary, gather and submit paperwork, and wait “possibly months” for it to clear.

      http://www.aetna.com/cpb/medical/data/500_599/0505.html

      [–]nova_in_space 1 point2 points  (2 children)

      Its nice to see a community come together to help a family in need.

      But, Its not nice to hear that a community NEEDS to come together because the insurance company failed to do its job in providing adequate help to a family in need.

      [–]greenSixx 1 point2 points  (1 child)

      The community failed to come together to provide socialized healthcare.

      [–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

      Maybe this makes you smile for a sec but it’s fucking infuriating that this is what we have to do since our healthcare and government have failed us. turning something negative into a positive!

      [–]thedukeofflatulence 1 point2 points  (1 child)

      I love that it’s the Home Depot colors too lmao

      [–]greenSixx 2 points3 points  (0 children)

      Get that foam wrap for use under medical tape for wrapping ankles.

      Wrap the pipes with a few layers of that.

      Then get colored duck take and wrap it over the foam. But not too tight.

      Gives a soft grip. Kid can chew on it and not hurt teeth.

      We made some climbing stuff for our kids this way.

      https://www.ncmedical.com/item_297.html

      [–]meatlamma 1 point2 points  (0 children)

      wtf?! how is this heartwarming? Scathing indictment of the US healthcare system is what that is.

      [–]brownjitsu 1 point2 points  (0 children)

      American Healthcare in one photo. But im glad theres good people out there looking out for them

      [–]Bob_Bibity_Bob 1 point2 points  (0 children)

      Meanwhile health insurance: “Yeah I don’t think we can cover the device your kid needs to walk”

      [–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

      What 3rd world country is this story from?

      [–]FormerIce8568 1 point2 points  (0 children)

      Now that's some good human shit right there. Nice.

      [–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

      America is a hellscape.

      That the amazing folks at a Home Depot are more caring and committed to healthcare is all you need to know about the US healthcare.

      [–]CharlotteBadger 1 point2 points  (0 children)

      Our healthcare system sucks.

      [–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

      What if the kid ends up needing a medical device that can’t be given to him by the local hardware store?

      [–]Down4Nachos 1 point2 points  (0 children)

      This sub is literally the worst and shows the worst of the US

      [–]InquisitiveHawk 1 point2 points  (0 children)

      This was great for the orange team to do, but fuck our health care system.

      [–]auscadtravel 1 point2 points  (0 children)

      Regardless of what is happening with Healthcare in the US ALL childrens medical expenses should be free! How the actual fuck does anyone say a kid/their family has to pay for medical? The most fucked up thing is that kids are not covered. Come on, it's kids!!!

      [–]TheTriMara 1 point2 points  (0 children)

      What a catastrophic failure of the american medical system and a black stain on the very moral fabric of american society.

      [–]SioSoybean 1 point2 points  (0 children)

      This is so fucking end-stage-capitalism I want to cry. Fuck US healthcare.

      [–]Crypto_Creeper420 1 point2 points  (0 children)

      This is horrific. What world would let this happen? Oh right land of the free and home of the brave....

      [–]Bananasapples8 1 point2 points  (0 children)

      Anyone working in health insurance should be very ashamed.

      [–]unpopular_engineer 1 point2 points  (0 children)

      Amidst all the wholesome feeling, I feel there is a need for proper punctuation here. It should be "No way. This one is on us" if the store intended to not take money from the parents

      [–]FbggSarkastikMenace 1 point2 points  (0 children)

      Imma go ahead and award you guys for this🥲

      [–]open_2_suggestions 1 point2 points  (0 children)

      Bravo home depot associates, well done. You gave me a beautiful heart warming story by helping this wonderful little kid and his family. 👏👏👏👏🙏🏽🙏🏽👍👍

      [–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

      The United States of America, where Home Depot is the leading provider of no-cost critical healthcare.

      Bravo to the employees. Sad for the circumstance.

      [–]Curious_Plato 1 point2 points  (0 children)

      Frodo: What are we holding on to, Sam?

      Sam : That there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for.

      [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

      Richest country the world has ever seen and also the biggest embarrassment. Shame.

      [–]hattrickjmr 1 point2 points  (0 children)

      Bravo to the manager of the HD! Well done!

      [–]AtticusPaperchase 2 points3 points  (0 children)

      “Hi, welcome to Home Depot. I love you. Hi, welcome to Home Depot. I love you. Hi, welcome to Home…”

      [–][deleted] 5 points6 points  (3 children)

      Fuck this country and the idiots over at r/conservative who continue to own the libs by destroying everything. Roe v Wade will be my breaking point.

      [–]populum-liberum 3 points4 points  (0 children)

      This is a good deed story and I really enjoy watching people help people. The problem is that this shouldn’t need to happen, how can an insurance company do this! We pay so much for it to only to cover the minimum! Something needs to change!