Sort of, kind of. Health care institutions do routinely refuse to treat people - just not when there is an immediate threat to life and limb.
I have a friend (Canadian) who had an internship in the US. He got a major (and quite serious) bout of the flu, and although he was insured (by a Canadian company) absolutely refused to see him until he coughed up a hefty (multi-hundred) deposit - evidently they didn't find the Canadian firm trustworthy enough.
This is a pretty core issue in US healthcare - early-stage care is routinely denied to people, either economically before they walk through the door, or at the door itself. This pushes a lot of health issues to ERs where costs are high and effectiveness reduced.
I have a friend (Canadian) who had an internship in the US. He got a major (and quite serious) bout of the flu, and although he was insured (by a Canadian company) absolutely refused to see him until he coughed up a hefty (multi-hundred) deposit - evidently they didn't find the Canadian firm trustworthy enough.
This is a pretty core issue in US healthcare - early-stage care is routinely denied to people, either economically before they walk through the door, or at the door itself. This pushes a lot of health issues to ERs where costs are high and effectiveness reduced.