I can't believe I am reading about the smartest, brightest, the future of our healthcare talking about going on welfare while in medical school!
Didn't you KNOW you'd be without an income for several years? Why didn't you PREPARE for this? Why are some of you having children when you don't have an income????
Did you consider other schools where the cost of living is lower?? I get so sick and tired of hearing about my classmates living off the system. My husband and I SAVED for these years. I had no parents to help. I worked my butt off teaching high-school so I could afford this when the time came. Yeah, I take out loans for tuition. No, I don't borrow extra.
It's not society's job to help you live a little better while you are fortunate enough to be studying to become a physician! Most of these people are blue-collar, hard-working people who will NEVER make as much as you will...and probably don't make as much as you do now when you factor in all your loans. And, you expect them to give you handouts?? You are expecting aid from people who just make enough to NOT qualify for these benefits - but make too little to provide some necessities. You are expecting aid from people who can't even afford to save for their own children....but they can provide for you and yours? How can that be right?
I saw classmates who had 2, then three, then four children...while in school. Yeah, how else are those kids going to get healthcare? But, you know what? I saw those classmates come to class with their DVD/Laptops and watch DVD's in class every single day. Gee - how much does it cost for a DVD per day? I saw these people come in all the time with their new electronic gadgets.....Gee - where is MY palm??? I saw these people driving their great-big-ol SUV's (Hmmm...why not try to save a little on gas and insurance???). How much does it cost to go out for lunch every day? It made me sick. Oh, and I forgot about the cell phones! Wow - did you all know that a cell phone is a requirement to go to medical school? What gives you the right to live off of other people's hard work?
I feel strongly about this because my husband is self-employeed and works his butt off - only to be taxed more when he makes more. Yeah, we absolutely LOVE writing out those checks on April 15th. When we decided to have our daughter, it was because we were ready and because we could AFFORD it. Otherwise, we'd still be waiting. We've busted a$$ to save for these years, and now we are saving for if we have to move for residency. It's called RESPONSIBILITY.
Yes, you will pay back every cent - but you'll pay that back to another state unless you practice where you were receiving the aid. It's not right for you to move somewhere for medical school, take the taxpayer's money - then go out west/east/north/south and make a wad of money and it all goes to wherever you are living.
Another thing that chaps me is the docs who used public aid while in medical school...who complain about all their medicaid patients!
Think before you go on welfare. You may not think it matters - you are just one person/one family, whatever. But, there are really hard-working people out there who are barely making it. Why should YOU be the one to get this aid? Have a little pride.
