hospital bill rant

[zinfamous]

Fear. Everyone's afraid of getting sued, and you can't get sued for bringing someone to the ER. Lawyers are terrorists.

despite what you have been conditioned to believe (by idiots), "fear of being sued" is not the first thing that reaches a physician's mind when they see a patient fainting outside the hospital.

that's the sleazy insurance rep's thought process.

 

[Fear No Evil]

because in the end that is all that matters

People need somewhere to lay while waiting months for that new knee.

 

[JulesMaximus]

A co-worker of mine had a procedure done on his heart (surgery to repair a valve or something) and he was in the hospital for about a week. Total for that was over $200,000.

 

[amdskip]

The outrage should not be who is going to pay the bill but why such a little amount of work costs so fucking much. This IS what is wrong with the health care system in the US. The government and insurance companies have royally screwed it up.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Fixing this is healthcare reform. Not the crap they are shoving down our throats now.

 

[soulcougher73]

Serious question: may much do you pay for taxes?

Also before you ask this you should figure up what your insurance premiums cost you as a % of your income as if it were a tax instead. That way you can compare apples to apples.

 

[StrangerGuy]

Couldn't have said it better myself. Fixing this is healthcare reform. Not the crap they are shoving down our throats now.

Obviously you aren't bootstrapping enough to pay for your healthcare.

 

[Macamus Prime]

i opened my mail tonight and i have a $2300.00 fucking bill from the hospital!!!!

Pay for it. You used the services of the hospital.

Unless Bonflis backs their offer.

 

[TheVrolok]

Also before you ask this you should figure up what your insurance premiums cost you as a % of your income as if it were a tax instead. That way you can compare apples to apples.

It's still not apples to apples because the service quality/quantity received is not the same.

 

[TheVrolok]

A co-worker of mine had a procedure done on his heart (surgery to repair a valve or something) and he was in the hospital for about a week. Total for that was over $200,000.

What should it cost?

 

[Locut0s]

What should it cost?

It SHOULD cost about the same as you are paying now in taxes, total (perhaps a few percent a little more). But nothing out of pocket for any one procedure.

 

[Red Squirrel]

You know we have private insurance right? my co-pay is $100 for ER visits and $0 if actually admitted for post ER treatment.

Did not know that, though, how much does said insurance cost? Probably end up paying more. Our taxes cover medical... if they didn't, we'd still have to pay taxes anyway, so to me, this makes our medical pretty much free.

 

[Spikesoldier]

update, OP?

 

[ch33kym0use]

Hospital bills can **** off and die in a fire.

 

[TheVrolok]

It SHOULD cost about the same as you are paying now in taxes, total (perhaps a few percent a little more). But nothing out of pocket for any one procedure.

Why?

 

[Locut0s]

Did not know that, though, how much does said insurance cost? Probably end up paying more. Our taxes cover medical... if they didn't, we'd still have to pay taxes anyway, so to me, this makes are medical pretty much free.

From what I understand in the US most good jobs provide you with insurance that covers most things. Usually they have a deductible though. And it costs the company employing you a LOT to offer these plans. Private insurance, where you guy your own insurance, not through your company, also exists in the states but it's really expensive from what I know.

 

[moshquerade]

Hospital bills can **** off and die in a fire.

this is a well thought out statement.

 

[TheVrolok]

Did not know that, though, how much does said insurance cost? Probably end up paying more. Our taxes cover medical... if they didn't, we'd still have to pay taxes anyway, so to me, this makes are medical pretty much free.

Personally, I pay 140/month for insurance and 0 dollars for office visit co-pays. All office visits and in-office procedures are covered, no out of pocket cost within my network (which comprises any specialty I would need).

 

[Locut0s]

Why?

Well if you have no sympathy at all for those who can't afford insurance and or those who are dumped by their insurers for frivolous reasons. If you have no sympathy for those who die under the US system who would not die under most medical systems in other westernized countries. Then... there is no reason.

 

[TheVrolok]

Well if you have no sympathy at all for those who can't afford insurance and or those who are dumped by their insurers for frivolous reasons. If you have no sympathy for those who die under the US system who would not die under most medical systems in other westernized countries. Then... there is no reason.

Of course I have sympathy for those who have no insurance, but it is not as if they actually receive 0 health care, unless they choose not to. And please, show me ANY evidence of your second statement. I would love to see a list of people dying in the US who would not be dying in other westernized countries. I ask this, because about 2 hours ago I was sitting around a kitchen table with a gentleman who just recently received a liver transplant ... after having also received two kidneys. And guess what? No insurance at the time, currently he's on Medicare care of the government.

The problem is, you have absolutely no idea how healthcare actually works in the US, you simply repeat the same standard UHC lines. Am I saying the US system isn't broken? Of course not. It is dying from a severe lack of reform. However, it's not quite the way some of you make it out to be.

 

[Locut0s]

And please, show me ANY evidence of your second statement. I would love to see a list of people dying in the US who would not be dying in other westernized countries.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/09/17/us-usa-healthcare-deaths-idUSTRE58G6W520090917
http://ajph.aphapublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/AJPH.2008.157685v1

 

[sourceninja]

Of course I have sympathy for those who have no insurance, but it is not as if they actually receive 0 health care, unless they choose not to. And please, show me ANY evidence of your second statement. I would love to see a list of people dying in the US who would not be dying in other westernized countries. I ask this, because about 2 hours ago I was sitting around a kitchen table with a gentleman who just recently received a liver transplant ... after having also received two kidneys. And guess what? No insurance at the time, currently he's on Medicare care of the government.

The problem is, you have absolutely no idea how healthcare actually works in the US, you simply repeat the same standard UHC lines. Am I saying the US system isn't broken? Of course not. It is dying from a severe lack of reform. However, it's not quite the way some of you make it out to be.

I have a friend who is epileptic, he has been unable to get private insurance due to cost and he makes too much for medical aid such as medicaid. His only option is to quit his job or die because he can't afford the $500.00 a month in medicine.

Recently, I had a kidney stone operation. They put a small plastic tube in my body to allow my urine to drain while they crushed the rocks. That plastic tube was about 18 inches long and basically the same consistency and material as a IV tube. Just the tube (not the procedure to put it in) was billed at $750.00. Luckily I have really good insurance (90% coverage). I walked away from 3 hospital visits and 2 surgeries with only $3000.00 in debt.

 

[TheVrolok]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/09/17/us-usa-healthcare-deaths-idUSTRE58G6W520090917

Doesn't say anything about the states of the people, their lifestyles, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. All that study is saying is that 45k people died because they had poor health care. Perhaps these were some very sick, high risk people that would have died just as easily anywhere else? The study absolute underlines the importance of getting care to those that are uninsured, but it does NOT state that these people would have been fine anywhere else. That is an assumption that you are making.

 

[TheVrolok]

I have a friend who is epileptic, he has been unable to get private insurance due to cost and he makes too much for medical aid such as medicaid. His only option is to quit his job or die because he can't afford the $500.00 a month in medicine.

I provided my anecdote, you've provided yours. I don't know anything about his situation aside from what you've said, but I too know epileptics who have their medical needs paid for privately, by their employers, etc. and some of them are blue collar. Perhaps he needs to get more information from a social worker/case manager? There are always going to be problems, the system absolutely needs to be reformed.

 

[Locut0s]

Doesn't say anything about the states of the people, their lifestyles, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. All that study is saying is that 45k people died because they had poor health care. Perhaps these were some very sick, high risk people that would have died just as easily anywhere else? The study absolute underlines the importance of getting care to those that are uninsured, but it does NOT state that these people would have been fine anywhere else. That is an assumption that you are making.

Let me change the topic slightly then. I'm assuming you would not support the US moving to some form of single payer UHC system. If I'm wrong I apologize.Since you ARE for health care reform, what are your reasons you are against a single payer UHC style system in the US?

 

[TheVrolok]

Let me change the topic slightly then. I'm assuming you would not support the US moving to some form of single payer UHC system. If I'm wrong I apologize.Since you ARE for health care reform, what are your reasons you are against a single payer UHC style system in the US?

I'm not entirely against a single payer system, but it just wouldn't work in the US due to social problems. Entitlement mentality, narcissism, etc. is too much a part of the culture right now in the US for the public to tolerate it. Some of the big reasons for UHC success like preventative medicine, lifestyle changes, etc, are other things that just don't jive well with US culture. It's absurd, but it's the way it is. I would be totally fine with a single payer UHC system that still allowed some room for privatization to exist where individuals could purchase private insurance and seek private services if so desired. The problem with the current US system is the current US people. "None of this is my fault, so I'll file a lawsuit." "I want to eat whatever I want, I'm a free citizen, I don't care about what could happen in the future." etc.. etc.. A single payer system wouldn't change any of that.