I spent 3 hours in the ER on the 15th. I just got my $11,000.00 bill in the mail.

Originally posted by woodwardjnr
I think there is a statistic to show that the US actually pays a greater percentage of it's GDP towards health care than the UK, which i could never really understand.

Really? Then they are being fleeced, pure and simple, because there isn't really any difference in the level of care.

Originally posted by woodwardjnr
I was also under the care of St Thomas's for a few years. I know the place too well. I had both chemo and radiotherapy at Thomies, they also provided support groups and counseling. I have since moved back to Oxford and now at the Churchill, which is an amazing new hospital. I am so thankful when i walk around the building for the work the NHS does

Indeed, as am I! If it wasn't for the NHS, both my kids may well have died in Childbirth, and had they not I would have to come up with the thousands needed for the emergency C-sections and aftercare required.

It seems the crtics of the NHS will use a few bad examples (which can be found anywhere the world over) as a reason that the NHS is full of dirty hopsitals, crap doctors and sub-standard equipment. It is nothing of the sort.

Originally posted by LarryLove

I would contest capitalism is the culprit. However, the American medical system is killing people both financially and physically and every American deserves an equal right to health care irrespective of their income.

Can not agree more with what is stated here. Tax everyone and extend coverage to all. Hell, we already pay out of our paychecks for such services, what is the difference if it comes out of your paycheck and goes to a company or the government? From what we are seeing of the banking industry fiasco, surely the government running or overseeing a health system cannot be any worse than what we currently have in place.

reply to post by groingrinder


Um.... well it certainly ain't cheap!

Perhaps a job would help?!?

what happen to this country?? now it seems everyone wants everything handed to them. It's plain to see what side of the fence everyone on ATS is on.

reply to post by BiggyMcBigPants


Exactly, it isn't 'Socialist' (as some might say here) to create a nationalised medical system through taxation. You are still paying for it, but without the insanity of needing insurance. We are all equal at the hands of a doctor and the level of care should not dictate how we are treated.

reply to post by stumason


It seems America in fact spends more of its GDP on Healthcare than most western nations. America spends 13.9% where as the UK spends 7.5%.

maybe an American can explain, why they spend more of their GDP on healthcare yet still dont provide a similar service to the rest of the western world.

www.nationmaster.com...

Originally posted by BiggyMcBigPants

Originally posted by LarryLove

I would contest capitalism is the culprit. However, the American medical system is killing people both financially and physically and every American deserves an equal right to health care irrespective of their income.

Can not agree more with what is stated here. Tax everyone and extend coverage to all. Hell, we already pay out of our paychecks for such services, what is the difference if it comes out of your paycheck and goes to a company or the government? From what we are seeing of the banking industry fiasco, surely the government running or overseeing a health system cannot be any worse than what we currently have in place.

I already pay enough taxes why should i pay more for people that don't give a rats azz about me?

reply to post by Ancient Champion


How is it being handed to people if the taxes you pay fund the medical system.

My country works like this and the last time I looked we weren't being governed by Communists.

reply to post by Ancient Champion


maybe you should be demanding better services for the tax you pay, you should demand less tax spent on foreign wars missiles and smart bombs and more on the health of your fellow citizens

reply to post by woodwardjnr


uh, Maybe because we have millions more then the UK does. More people = bigger cost on health care!

Originally posted by Ancient Champion
what happen to this country?? now it seems everyone wants everything handed to them. It's plain to see what side of the fence everyone on ATS is on.

This isn't about having things "handed to you", but an expectation that you get something in return for your money. You pay taxes but from what I hear, US transport infrastructure is lacking investment, the power grid is aging fast, you don't have an NHS, your school system is a joke (amongst Americans it seems!).

What are you paying taxes for? I think something is wrong in a country where you get taxed and don't get much in return, as opposed to being taxed and actually getting services from your Government.

There I was thinking the US was the beacon of freedom, with a Government for the people..How exactly is it if you all hate it, don't trust it and won't allow it to do things for you? Do you not think that, maybe, your whole system is buggered in that case?

Originally posted by LarryLove
reply to post by Ancient Champion

 

How is it being handed to people if the taxes you pay fund the medical system.

My country works like this and the last time I looked we weren't being governed by Communists.

Like i said, I already pay enough taxes i shouldn't have to pay more for people that i don't know. I'm already having a hard time paying my own bills, i can't pay your bill too.

reply to post by xBWOMPx


but you are not providing the free point of delivery health care are you, thats the difference, yet spending more than those countries who are provide such a service

Originally posted by xBWOMPx
reply to post by woodwardjnr

 

uh, Maybe because we have millions more then the UK does. More people = bigger cost on health care!

As a % of GDP, you plonker! So it's all relative. Of course it spends more, but as a % of GDP you can compare like for like.

reply to post by woodwardjnr


With a defence budget at nearly a trillion dollars, the US could deploy one hell of a medical system with the same money. But, I guess what makes more money? War or health care?

Originally posted by Ancient Champion

Originally posted by LarryLove
reply to post by Ancient Champion

 

How is it being handed to people if the taxes you pay fund the medical system.

My country works like this and the last time I looked we weren't being governed by Communists.

Like i said, I already pay enough taxes i shouldn't have to pay more for people that i don't know. I'm already having a hard time paying my own bills, i can't pay your bill too.

Would you rather those tax dollars were paying for the military industrial complex or a nationalised health service for the improvement of all americans lives.

Originally posted by Ancient Champion
Like i said, I already pay enough taxes i shouldn't have to pay more for people that i don't know. I'm already having a hard time paying my own bills, i can't pay your bill too.

You don't want to pay "for people that i don't know"? Do you want to think about that for a second?

Who pays the Government workers (local, state and national) salaries?

Who pays the Military salaries?

Who paid for the bailout of the banks?

Who pays for the billions spent on overseas aid?

I assume you know all these people, so don't mind....

I had something similar happen to me a few months ago, but luckily I do have a job (without any type of health benefits). When I started experiencing severe pain in my side that wouldn't go away, I ended up in the emergency room at 2:00AM. It was kidney stones, one of the more painful things a person can experience. I didn't expect to get treatment for free, I had no problem with paying for the services I would receive (because good work should be rewarded) but I was hoping that the treatment would be reasonably priced. I expressed to the nurses and doctor that I don't have a lot of extra income coming in, and I wanted them to give me only the treatment that was absolutely necessary. I also asked them prior to treatment whether I would be able to make monthly payments instead of paying one lump sum. They assured me I could take care of that through their financial office.

Turns out they couldn't really do anything for me anyway except to hook me up to pain killers. That didn't stop them from offering blood tests and a CAT scan. I took the blood test, but said no to the CAT scan. While I was sky high on pain killers, barely remaining conscious, they had me sign a couple of forms. I can't even remember what they were. The doctor saw me for literally 5-8 minutes. It took about three hours to make my pain go away. I wanted to get unhooked and get the hell out of there, but wouldn't you know it, I couldn't find a nurse that would take two minutes to get me unhooked. As a result I spent nearly nine hours taking up a hospital bed! The nurse said she didn't want to let me go until my pain was at 1 out of 10, even though I told her I feel fine enough to leave. Let me say that they took good care of me and they were very polite, but they seemed to ignore my request to keep the cost (and therefore time spent in the hospital bed) as low as possible.

When my bill came a couple of weeks later, I couldn't believe the amount. It was going to cost me nearly $4,000.00 for the ER, and the doctor who spent 5-8 minutes with me sent me a bill for nearly $400.00. When I called the doctor's billing services and asked how it was possible that the doctor could charge me so much for 5-8 minutes of his time, the person on the other side explained to me that it's because he had to carry my chart the whole time. What does that even mean? He charged me for carrying my chart around? I wasn't happy. Wouldn't you know it, the billing person decided she would knock off about $150.00 off my bill.
Seeing your $11,000.00 bill has really put a perspective on my 9 hour ER bill vs. your 3 hour bill! The tests you took must have been very, very expensive.

When I talked to the ER financial office, they said they could adjust the bill if I sent in my tax return from last year. It took them several months to do so. In the meantime I was receiving false bills from the hospital which requested that I pay immediately or I would be sent to collections. I called a couple of times to find out what that meant. They told me I should ignore these bills and wait for them to send me the adjusted bill. I was O.K. with that, but it was a little scary receiving these types of letters every month. Finally I received my adjusted bill and I absolutely couldn't believe the outcome. They had deducted about 80% off the bill! I felt the final sum was a reasonable request, but couldn't believe how much debt they knocked off the original bill. Did taxpayers (like myself) foot my bill, or was this the actual amount their services were worth? I have no idea.

Fortunately I had a happy ending, but I couldn't imagine if I didn't have a job and was hit with your bill. I guess all you can do is keep fighting it. Talk to them, keep explaining your situation to them, and hopefully you get some financial help. It's not easy being out of a job and getting sick. The hospital wants their money. They'd rather get some of it than not get any of it at all. They might work with you if you keep pushing them.

reply to post by stumason


Ok let me try this again....

Populations for each country

UK 13.5 million
Canada 33.7 million
Australia 22.5 million
America 300+ million + greedy doctors + corrupted government = Hard as F#$% to get free health care!!!!!!!

Originally posted by LarryLove
reply to post by woodwardjnr

 

With a defence budget at nearly a trillion dollars, the US could deploy one hell of a medical system with the same money. But, I guess what makes more money? War or health care?

Well, we know that WAR makes money for the Banksters, so forget about accessing any of those funds for the lowly citizen's basic health care. Banksters no longer say, "Let them eat cake.". Now it is, "Let them lick the plate that the cake used to be in, for a fee."
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