Red Cross charges military for blood

[snopes]

Comment: I have heard that the Red Cross charges the US Military money for
every unit of blood they need from them. Is this true? It would greatly
change where I donate my blood if it were to be true.

[Eddylizard]

Are there a range of other organisations accepting blood that might end up in soldiers?

There is a vast range of companies that charge the military for providing things. McDonnell-Douglas, Marconi avionics, Boeing, and just about everyone else that supplies anything the military wants or needs, including medical supplies.

Do the Red Cross charge civilian hospitals for blood? If so then it's not an issue really.

[snopes]

Originally Posted by Eddylizard

There is a vast range of companies that charge the military for providing things. McDonnell-Douglas, Marconi avionics, Boeing, and just about everyone else that supplies anything the military wants or needs, including medical supplies.

True, but those companies are generally buying raw materials and using them to manufacture the goods they sell to the military. Although there is a good deal of processing involved in the collection and distribution of blood, the Red Cross is neither manufacturing it nor buying the raw materials it's made from -- they're obtaining it from people who are providing it free of charge as a public service.

Hence, if the Red Cross were truly "selling" blood, it's not hard to see why people might be disgruntled with them.

- snopes

Doesn't everyone pay for blood? I mean, if I go to the hospital and need 5 units, won't that go on the bill?

-Tim

[Eddylizard]

As snopes pointed out, the hospitals are not charged for the blood as such, but they are charged for the cost of processing and distribution. Some of that is fixed cost, possibly averaged out per unit but some of it is a per-unt cost (one collection kit per unit.) It's a fine distinction though.

[snopes]

Originally Posted by Rehcsif

Doesn't everyone pay for blood?

I don't think vampires do.

- snopes

[diddy]

Originally Posted by snopes

I don't think vampires do.

- snopes

A situation that truly sucks *rimshot* Hey!

*Ducks to avoid objects being thrown*

[gopher]

Originally Posted by snopes

I don't think vampires do.

- snopes

They do, just not in the normal ways.

"A monster I am, unless a monster I become"

Originally Posted by Eddylizard

As snopes pointed out, the hospitals are not charged for the blood as such, but they are charged for the cost of processing and distribution. Some of that is fixed cost, possibly averaged out per unit but some of it is a per-unt cost (one collection kit per unit.) It's a fine distinction though.

Understood, but back to the OP, are they saying the military pays for processing AND blood, and the rest of us just pay for processing?

-Tim "or maybe I should just go watch Lost Boys..."