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

reply to post by gncnew


Yep because they can't just fly to the UK, who also pioneer progressive treatments for a variety of serious conditions? The US is not the only country on the cusp of advanced medicine you know! We also have private healthcare here at a fraction of the US's cost.

Move to sweden.. It's not hard to become a citicen here either.. Here it's almost for free..

I am a retired US federal employee and I have medical insurance as part of my retirement package where I can select from several plans and then must pay a monthly fee for the insurance, the amount of that fee depending upon which plan I select. I must continue in the healthcare plan and not let it lapse or I am not able to opt back in once I opt out. For this coming year all plans' fees made a large jump, the largest I have ever seen in the several decades I have been part of the plan either as an employee or retired. I suspect that has something to do with the new US healthcare system meant to bring affordable healthcare to all its citizens - those who have always paid will now pay more, and hopefully for those as yourself who cannot pay it will be provided.

I no longer live in the US and pay my healthcare expenses out-of-pocket as the costs as so little they are always less than my insurance deductibles. I am a healthy person so my medical costs are routine, not only less than my deductibles but my entire year's costs are less than I pay for one month of my insurance plan. Some day I may need the insurance, or if I move back to the US (very unlikely) I understand I will be required to have medical insurance.

Many countries that were previously open to American retirees no longer permit them to live there, Canada is one example. The reason for this, ostensibly, is due to healthcare costs and the fact that there is no reciprocal agreement in the two countries that would cover Canadians in the US. As many countries now have some national healthcare system their doors are closed or are closing to Americans for any reason other than tourism.

I now live in Mexico which has some national healthcare systems for their residents to subscribe to at very low and reasonable cost, and as a Mexican resident those plans are open to me as well, though I have health insurance that will pay for perhaps more comfortable private hospital services if or when I may need them.

In Mexico there are many large generic pharmacy chains and most have doctors on-duty for consultations and examinations whose price runs around $2 - $3 US dollars per visit. They are plentiful and I have seldom ever had to wait to see the doctor and was able to walk right in. Despite the very low cost I am always amazed at the very personal care I receive there and the direct time I get to spend with the physician and the thoroughness of their examinations. Often I am given a prescription for two or three medications and the bill for both the medications and visit cost under $10. The one time I needed emergency service, I was attacked by a dog and severely bitten on the arm, my fee to the ER was around $4 which included examination, cleaning of the wounds, stitches and so on. The medicines I was prescribed, which included those used in the ER, cost under $10. Other Americans I have spoken to that required hospitalization and surgery have all remarked about outstanding care, comfortable hospital provisions, and very reasonable costs - some having no insurance and paid out-of-pocket for the service.

Latin-American physicians are by no means wealthy but being professionals they do enjoy a higher standard of living and salary than many non-professionals here. They become doctors because it is the profession they have chosen because of a desire to provide care and aid and not for financial gain or prestige as their motivator.

There is definately something wrong with the US healthcare system. The costs are superficially high and the OP tells how arbitrary those costs can be. If you believe US medical costs are the highest in the world because the US offers the best care in the world, think again. That belief is plain wrong.

TO THE OP AND ALL THOSE IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS IN THE USA, PLEASE RESEARCH:

I was told by family members in the nursing industry that there are laws to protect citizens from being harassed by hospital bills (at least in CA). In essence, every hospital bill comes pre-installed with a debt repayment plan. And that is an amazing... $1 per month!

If you have a large hospital bill, there is no obligation to pay anything more than $1 per month to keep the financial "dogs" at bay.

Please look into this, many do not know about it.

Duplicate post, sorry. My intent was to edit to correct typo but it reposted.

Originally posted by endtimer
reply to post by groingrinder

 

I'm not sure what the point is.

Her point is, health care should be free. Thank Christ that I live in Australia.

reply to post by groingrinder


Thats sucks hope your feeling better and everything is ok. What is the minimum amount you can pay per month? I would cut them a check or money order for $1-$5 a month and not worry to much about it not like you can do much otherwise. The only downside to this is they might not want to treat you again if you have an outstanding balance.

Originally posted by NWOnoworldorder
reply to post by groingrinder

 

might i suggest immigrating to the uk?...wether you work or not u will get FREE HEALTHCARE....if i was to have all that treatment it would have cost me....nothing....free!!

free med care, free house for life, dont worry you dont even have to look for a job, you can hang out with your neighbors waiting for the next free check to come in! long live the UK!

I just wanted to point out that healthcare is not free in the UK, It is a service that has been paid for by taxation. It is free at the point of delivery, whether that be a visit to your local General Practioner or in my case 2 craniotomies Chemo and radiotherapy, free prescriptions, counseling services and support groups.

Originally posted by Dreamwatcher
I see many of you do not understand how the U.S health insurance / Medical Service scam works in realtion to cash paying and insured customers.

If the OP had insurance, the insurance company would pay around $800-$1000 of that $11,000 bill. The hospital would consider that payment in full as is required by the contract with the insurance company.

That explains why they were able to easily knock off $8000.00 because with insurance they would probably receive much less than that.

Do you really think the insurance company actually pays $300.00 for a Tylenol PM?..Of course not, but if you were a cash paying customer they do expect it.

Another example from personal experience. I have a condition that requires me to have a blood test every six months.
Cash Price: $142.50
Insurance price: $12.00

Check your EOB's from your insurance companies closely sometime, you will see the same thing. What the Hospital charges Vs. what the insurance actually pays and the Hospital considers paid in full.

I wonder if a group of people could get together and create a new health insurance company that only charge their customers the same amount as a health insurance company would pay for items. I am sure there are too many roadblocks and laws in place to prevent this.

reply to post by MessOnTheFED!



hmm so health care should be free ...you want the doctors and nurses to work for free? How do they then pay thier bills and feed their families? Maybe they should also buy the medicine and give it to you? Get real. Nothing in life is free. If its free for you then you are simply stealing from someone else.

reply to post by Erongaricuaro


I agree, got much better health care outside the US, and for a lot less money. The ccost is high in the US for several reasons ..the seperation of payer and cost ...most people who have insurance never even see those bills so the buyer has no real choice power to effect the market. Second the risk to the medical staff to get sued ..they pay huge insurance. OH and a third, the huge bills they owe when they finish school - but thats whole nother subject.

Originally posted by MessOnTheFED!

I guess your one of the folks who dont really give a rats ass about anyone but yourself? If you dont see the total scheme going on all around you, you must be. Health care should be free PERIOD.

MOTF!

I guess you are the sort of person who sees anyone who can think even if just a bit "doesn't give a rats ass about anyone else"...

Tell us Sherlock, how do you plan to pay for all the free medications, free specialised equipment. How will you feed nurses, and doctors and other healthcare providers?

BTW, I also think I should be entitled to a free house, and a free car, so go ahead and send me all your money since you don't care at all about yourself...

Let me ask you something, what do you have against "affordable healthcare"?....

ALL of the countries with socialised healthcare are either bankrupt, or at the precipice because they can't pay for their so called "socialised/free healthcare."

I do agree that the prices for everything that is healthcare is too expensive, but instead of asking for "free" perhaps you should be asking for affordable so you, and others like you, don't completely bankrupt the nation even more...

Anyways, again, since you obviously care nothing about yourseld please send me all your money. I will really appreciate it...

Originally posted by Crutchley29
reply to post by gncnew

 

Yep because they can't just fly to the UK, who also pioneer progressive treatments for a variety of serious conditions? The US is not the only country on the cusp of advanced medicine you know! We also have private healthcare here at a fraction of the US's cost.

Haha, indeed.

In fact, the UK is a leading nation when it comes to cutting edge medical treatment and for all the bad press, the NHS has exactly the same problems that even fancy "private" hospitals face, namely superbug infections, operations gone wrong, mis diagnosed illnesses etc.

Given that the NHS deals with the entire nation of 60 million people and we really only hear about a couple of "horror stories" a year, it does a damn fine job. Good enough for the PM to have his baby in and to treat members of the Royal family, in fact.

reply to post by groingrinder


First off, welcome to America I guess, it's been like this for quite some time. 2nd, when your credit check is being run they dont give a # about your medical debt, almost every single person in america has medical debt. Now I knew a family that was over a million dollars in medical debt and they had to file bankruptcy because of it, but that is way further then a few thousand dollars, I owe more then that in medical debt. And 3rd, I am seriously tired of people posting CR4P like this. What happened to ATS? This place use to be cool to go to and now its turning into an emo crying, irrelevant, post that is not alternative news people should know about. Instead it sounds like some people just want some attention. I mean look at this one, this dude went to the hospital knowing he didn't have insurance and knowing they would charge a lot, comes home gets a bill later on and then post about it like he had no idea this was coming? Gimme a break dude!!! And also, how can you afford internet with 50 bucks a month? Or did you just go out of your way to write this at the library with your shaky hands because your sooooooo pissed about the bill. Keep us posted about this, we care a lot

Originally posted by Chett
reply to post by MessOnTheFED!

 

hmm so health care should be free ...you want the doctors and nurses to work for free? How do they then pay thier bills and feed their families? Maybe they should also buy the medicine and give it to you? Get real. Nothing in life is free. If its free for you then you are simply stealing from someone else.

I guess its a matter of perspective. see I dont feel like i have stolen anything, Citizens in the UK agree to pay tax in return they receive services, one of these services is the NHS. It means that if ever something goes wrong with your health, you know health life/death? Then you will be able to see someone when you like. If you end up in ER, you may suffer a wait in the waiting room, but you will be seen, treated and sent on your way. But, the beauty is as a tax paying citizen, you wont be charged a thing for any of the services you receive. I know it must sound a horrible prospect for many Americans, you know the ones who think health care is one step from Communism.

Originally posted by ElectricUniverse
I guess you are the sort of person who sees anyone who can think even if just a bit "doesn't give a rats ass about anyone else"...

Tell us Sherlock, how do you plan to pay for all the free medications, free specialised equipment. How will you feed nurses, and doctors and other healthcare providers?

They still get salaries, equipment is still bought and drugs are paid for at reasonable rates, rather than extortionate rates. Not quite sure how you imagine something like the NHS as not paying their doctors or not having the best kit.

Originally posted by ElectricUniverse
ALL of the countries with socialised healthcare are either bankrupt, or at the precipice because they can't pay for their so called "socialised/free healthcare."

All of the countries? Are they really? And what countries would these be? Canada? Australia? France? Germany? Sweden? Norway? UK?.. None are bankrupt or even at the "precipice". In fact, the countries with "socialised" healthcare all top the league tables for standards of living and happiness. Go figure.

reply to post by Erongaricuaro


A lot of people are going to mexico to get all their dental done these days. Even with the cost of a plane ticket and hotel, it is thousands cheaper. If I had the money all at once, I would have done that, I been going in and getting my teeth fixed tooth by tooth for 5 years now. Costs on average $300 per tooth, i think the price goes up for the front teeth because they claim it is cosmetic, haven't gotten there yet. About halfway finished.

reply to post by groingrinder


Nothing exsist in this prison camp (soon to be) we now call a nation. Health care will soon either not be available for most (already is) and only a select few will receive it. THIS IS A PRISON called the United States of Corruption. These evil (creeps with no hearts) will eventually control most of the world (NWO) and I suspect 2011 is going to become a day to day (extremely noticable) stress out .... f**k-up year. Fat, stupid zombies full of chemicals having rooms full of furniture that (most likely) will see few visitors. Not much left except deception, lies, greed, hatred and love of power. Many will pay dearly starting with those who believe their on bullsh*t .....