Depends of where in the US, Peace. But yes, probably you would have been given some sort of treatment, at least in the places I'm familiar with. If kept overnight you might not have had a private room, a phone, and a television though.

I just had an eye exam, which I've had annually since I was about seven years old. I have very low grade cataracts, the barest beginnings of macular degeneration in my left eye, and I need new glasses. I'll get the new glasses (Vision Insurance will pay for part of it, as it will with the eye exam). I'm lucky(?) to have diabetes II, because now most of the exam is covered by Blue Cross.

On July 18 I'm braving the Veterans' Administration hospital system and having an audiology test done at the hospital in Salt Lake City (yes, I need hearing aids and I have constant tinnitus). I filed a VA claim in January for hearing loss and possible AO exposure, so here we go...finally.

For this I will give up about a day and a half of sick time from work and drive approximately 350 miles total. Mind you, the VA will reimburse me...US $0.11 per mile, a rate that hasn't changed since 1978. That's US $38.50, enough to cover the costs of gasoline. Of course, since the appointment is at 9 a.m. I'll have to spend the night down there, and THAT isn't covered...and neither are any meals I eat....

Once all things are decided and if my claims are found to be just, I'll be able to pop over to the local University's audiology department and get the hearing aids, have the local University's medical studies department monitor my diabetes.... That will be a drive of about 10 minutes.

Ah, yes. Good ol' US healthcare.... I'm glad I'm working, and frankly, I can't see any chance of retirement anytime soon.