I was admitted to the ER: here's how much it cost

a reply to: kaylaluv

Oh come on, pull your self up by the boot straps.

So what if you have zero money left after you pay monthly expenses.

So what if you now are going to be evicted because you were sick and have no sick pay at work.

So what if you are in a right to work state and they canned your ass for taking 4 days off "getting yourself in huge medical debt" being sick.

Just shut up and pay.?? Truly an uneducated stance, and one that has got us here.

a reply to: SlapMonkey

You're not even trying--thanks.

You're statement was made without knowing my complete story. I had not plans of writing a novel here today so I will highlight it instead.
Due to my disabilities I cannot work. However the US Gov. has decided that I have gotten better somehow and has stopped my disability payments. My health has only gotten worse not better like they claim. I'm fighting this to get my payments back and be able to get back on insurance to not be such a burden on society. With the help of a volunteer nurse I have been able to contact a non-profit organization to help with the bills as I have no means to pay such bills.

Have a good day.

a reply to: Ghost147

Toronto, Ontario here. My friend's five year old son broke his leg last Tuesday.

Total *out of pocket* cost for X-ray + Cast = $0.00

The *optional* tiny carbon fibre crutches were the only thing he had to pay for out of pocket. The wooden crutches were free.

You might find this list of medical cost interesting, my fellow Canuck:

The great thing about Canada's health care system is that most people can go to the hospital, get treated by a doctor and leave without ever seeing a bill. But this means Canadians often have no idea how much services cost.

The only thing we have ever paid for while being treated at the hospital or doctors is the cost of parking. Happy 150th Canada! I L.O.V.E You!

www.cbc.ca...

Ghost147

For a trip to the ER, an ambulance to another hospital, an overnight stay, and a specialist to talk to me for about 2 minutes ...I paid upwards of $6000.00. This does not include what my insurance paid.

And it was for a false diagnosis..but I still had to pay..the specialists 2 minute conversation with me was "I don't know why they sent you here...you should've been given some medication and sent home. There is nothing I can do for you" He was looking at the x-rays that they sent over with me from the other hospital.

anyhow, I guess I am still a bit bitter about it..lol.

So, over $6000 is what I paid in hospital bills.

Thanks,
blend57

originally posted by: Involutionist
The only thing we have ever paid for while being treated at the hospital or doctors is the cost of parking.

I don't know what it's like in Canada but in the UK they royally screw you for parking, upto 30 minutes is great, it's free but go 1 second over and it's anywhere from £3 to £10

I went to the er a few years a back BEFORE Obama made the crappy insurance I had non-compliant and it cost me $3000.

I had a x-ray and blood work, that's it.

a reply to: LookingForABetterLife

It's as if some people have a phobia for the word "socialist" and believe that anything involving communal pay and the betterment for all is somehow the detriment for society.

I hope the member is still part of this thread, because I would really like to know what they pay for income tax (or equivalent).

10% for all of the governments needs from my check seems pretty reasonable if 40k dollar medical bills are directed towards the government instead of me (via our collective taxes)

In my opinion, Medicare should be a human right, not the equivalent of a down payment for a house, or more.

Like, I can understand if the argument was that an individual was specifically placing themselves in danger, got hurt, ended up with a medical bill. Sure, at least that argument makes sense.

But honestly, if the scenario is something like one car accident that wasn't even your fault and you end up paying 100k? That's just ridiculous to defend

I think you guys go too often to doctors and hospital. I have insurance but I always try to search online my symptoms when I get sick and buy natural medicine.

a reply to: kaylaluv

So it's magically free? Tell me more

Wow.

I had a kidney stone (I passed it, luckily, so no surgery), but I had a scan done a few days before the surgery (I passed it the day after) and it cost me over $8,000 for a simple scan.

Wow. That's all I can muster to say. If you had lived in the States, you'd be looking st 10-15 grand at the least.

originally posted by: avgguy
a reply to: kaylaluv

So it's magically free? Tell me more

First! To perform the magic you must draw a summoning circle under the patient in question.

Second! You must chant, three times, "alrighty then, alrighty then, alrighty then".

Jim Carrey will appear before thee and pay your medical bills.

Be ware! For if you mess up the chant you will mistakenly summon The Beiber...

And he will take your youngest daughter, never to be seen again.

And then you'll have to pay the medical bill.

a reply to: Trueman

Are you saying that when I had the heart attack and could not breath very well on my own that I should have stayed home and researched online the best natural medicine to order. I was not in a situation where I could sit at home and wait six weeks for natural medicine to help my problem.

originally posted by: avgguy
a reply to: kaylaluv

So it's magically free? Tell me more

Well, here's how some other 1st world countries do it: money is put into the system in the form of taxes a little every payday, then when a big medical situation comes up, you aren't stuck with a $40,000 bill that's due, and you aren't turned away because you don't have $40,000 lying around.

originally posted by: Trueman
I think you guys go too often to doctors and hospital. I have insurance but I always try to search online my symptoms when I get sick and buy natural medicine.

I was injured, I went to a chiropractor and paid out of pocket due to it not being covered by our health care system. I chose a chiropractor instead of a hospital because I didn't feel it was necessary to go to one DESPITE IT BEING FREE

I was mildly functional for 4 days, then I collapsed due to the emmense pain, and couldn't breath. Then I went to the hospital.


How is that scenario an abuse of our hospitals exactly?

PS, I haven't been to a hospital in several years, last time was due to a severe allergic reaction in which I would have died if I didn't go 20 minutes later.

Please don't assume you know the whole story

originally posted by: slapjacks
Wow, Canada, here I come.

I had to go to the ER last year because of chest pains. Long story short, no heart problems other than arrhythmia (which I already knew I had. No meds or anything just some EKG work and one other test.

ER visit: $450
Time lost at work : $300
Knowing I wasn't having a heart attack : Priceless

No:
ER visit: $450 (because it wasn't life threatening) They did what needed doing and sent you on your way with a bill.
Time lost: That's on you.


As for Universal healthcare, well it ain't free. As OP said, it costs them up front in the form of taxes. So they pay for it rather they use it or not. It is the same as paying for insurance but more expensive for the most part.

originally posted by: JDeLattre89

originally posted by: slapjacks
Wow, Canada, here I come.

I had to go to the ER last year because of chest pains. Long story short, no heart problems other than arrhythmia (which I already knew I had. No meds or anything just some EKG work and one other test.

ER visit: $450
Time lost at work : $300
Knowing I wasn't having a heart attack : Priceless

No:
ER visit: $450 (because it wasn't life threatening) They did what needed doing and sent you on your way with a bill.
Time lost: That's on you.


As for Universal healthcare, well it ain't free. As OP said, it costs them up front in the form of taxes. So they pay for it rather they use it or not. It is the same as paying for insurance but more expensive for the most part.

Out of curiosity, and if you don't mind sharing, what percentage of your income Is directed towards taxes?

a reply to: Discotech

I don't know what it's like in Canada but in the UK they royally screw you for parking, upto 30 minutes is great, it's free but go 1 second over and it's anywhere from £3 to £10

Here too we get milked big time for hospital parking. However, most proceeds from parking go towards medical services and hospital infrastructure. Also, we can write it off come tax time as a deductible if we were there seeking medical attention for ourselves, or if one is a parent whose child is in long term care. Visitors (excluding the parents of sick children) don't get any tax exemption.

Btw, spent a lot of time across the pond having a grand ol' time—love you all! You are like us despite driving on the wrong side and speaking in that Brexit accent.

Glad to live in Australia, would hate to suffer under America's system. Only ever pay extra for certain scans like mri's, ct's. I have insurance for extras, dental, optical, covers some physio etc. depending on ammount of gap cover. Dental and extras are not covered by medicare and are expensive. Although we recieve free school dentestry, it maybe subsidised for unemployed nts.

a reply to: JDeLattre89

I guess in America it boils down to .....

Pay for insurance and make a lot of money for the elite investors in for profit health care and still get halfassed healthcare.

Or pay into a system where the patient is to be cared for and not just a means to make money for investors.

Take your pick...

I wonder why we can't have the same kind of health care our congressmen and representatives have? All paid for by the US taxpayers.

originally posted by: aliensanonymousAlthough we recieve free school

Does that include college and university?

I'm all for that as well, despite being out of school I'd much rather our school system be entirely free, post secondary and all. And I don't mind if they raise taxes to do it.

Education should also be a human right, in my opinion