Quote Originally Posted by ilima View Post
Something could happen where you're unconscious or not thinking straight, but you're not dead.

With regard to insurance--I would want the hospital to know that I am fully insured because--believe it or not, it's how the USA operates--the hospital will treat you differently if it knows it's going to get reimbursed.

Emergency rooms/hospitals are required by law to treat someone that presents him/herself. However, it's only bare minimal keep alive care that is required by law. An indigent isn't going to get aggressive treatment. That's the brutal reality right now.

This is completely untrue. I've been an ER doc for 25 years. We are REQUIRED BY LAW to treat everyone the same, regardless of ability to pay. We are NOT ALLOWED to ask about insurance until the person is triaged by a nurse. If you have a Blue Cross gold card or if you are homeless you get EXACTLY the same tests/treatment (or at least you should).

I wear a MedicAlert tag because of a medical condition, but I think the Road ID attached to your body is the best way to go. Something in your clothing, even your shoes, may get flung away from you (even shoes get knocked off). My preference would be a brightly colored wrist band. My MedicAlert tag that I wear when I run or ride is a bright purple sports band.