8k ER bill

My family has a history of heart problems. One day, after a long and strenuous hike, I started having stabbing pains in my chest and numbness on the left side of my body.

Against my pleas, my friends convinced me to get in the car so they could take me to the hospital. I dont blame them at all for being worried, they did the right thing "Just in case".

I go through the part where nurses ask your symptoms, pain level etc... and they quickly swoop me to a room, shoot me up with God knows what (guessing a benzo because I immediately calmed down).

They started ordering tests. Blood, chest x-ray and CT scan. I was so messed up from whatever they gave me that I could barely speak. Let alone know what was going on.

Now I owe the bassturds 8,000$ mother freakin dollars? I was there for an hour. Unbelievable.

And yeah, diagnoses: severe anxiety attack. Doc says other than being overweight im "healthy as a horse". F* you hospital. I'll pay that bill when I'm dead.

a reply to: seaswine

Phew! Just be glad they didn't wheel you to the operating table for a total cashectomy.

a reply to: seaswine

$8000 dollars for treating a panic attack!?

The Irony.

At least you got some free toilet paper (the bill)

Damn, feel for you. Chin up

a reply to: seaswine

My family has a history of heart problems.

One day about 15 years ago, I was doing nothing more strenuous than my weekly laundry. I had just packed my duffel bag into the car and was driving out of the laundromat when I got, what I thought was a bout of indigestion.

Naturally I drove home, climbed the three flights of stairs to my apartment, and ignored the burning in my chest.

Just gas I thought.

Four hours later, after throwing up twice and having no relief, I figured I had a case of full-blown food poisoning.

Called a friend to take me to the ER (wasn’t going puke in MY car).

Described my symptoms to the intake nurse, who put two and two together much better than I did, and rushed me to the front of the line.

Found out two days later, after all but twisting the cardiologist’s arm off, that what I though was just gas, or at worst a bad fast food burrito, was actually a MASSIVE heart attack.

And that, by his experienced estimate, I was maybe 15 minutes from death when I arrived in the ER.

This time, you got lucky.

This time it only cost you $8K to keep living.

This time you get to rant and bit*h, because you didn’t have a fatal heart attack.

My once around the drain end of this mortal coil cost my health insurance more than $80,000.

Worth every precious penny I have, and continue to pay, in premiums,

Because I am still alive to be able to pay them.

And life is wonderful.

a reply to: seaswine

Vote for someone that is fighting to change how our medical systems work.

Vote for someone that wants to raise wages.


Your options are limited.

I'm lucky I have the aca.

I cut off my toe and had to have it reattached a few months ago.

Total cost to me. $100.

a reply to: seaswine

Maybe adenosine if your heart rate was elevated. Makes your whole body feel like a waterbed mattress temporarily. You might want to understand what prompted the tests. If there was no medical basis perhaps you could fight them on being out of protocol. 8k does seem high. 3 or 4k I could understand. But even with a CT... i basically get one of those for free each time I fly so I cannot understand why they are so expensive.

originally posted by: XXXN3O
a reply to: seaswine

$8000 dollars for treating a panic attack!?

The Irony.

At least you got some free toilet paper (the bill)

Damn, feel for you. Chin up

The irony is so in my face that all I can do is laugh.

I opened the bill, gave it a quick glance, then handed it to my cousin/roommate and asked "is that amount real?". She let out an audible "oof".

We're now sitting here drinking troeganator and eating Ben&Jerry's. Sometimes it's the small things that get you by in this world.

a reply to: drewlander

Yeah I need to inquire further on what exactly I was given. The "pharmacy" part totals about 500$.

I felt similarly to how you describe. My heart was beating out of my chest when they got me onto the bed. I don't remember them hooking up the IV but I do know that a few minutes after I was laid down, i felt like I was floating and sinking simultaneously.

a reply to: seaswine

Damn, that was some high dollar drugs lol

I know people bash social, but after undergoing 3 operations (which if I didnt have I would be dead) and walking out having already covered my bill and the only money laid down was £7.20 for a 1 month subscription of meds...

Dont get me wrong, every system has major flaws but I would rather be part of one that (currently) doesn't hand you a massive bill at the end of treatment

originally posted by: ArchangelOger
a reply to: seaswine

Damn, that was some high dollar drugs lol

No kidding.

Yeah, I felt good, but for 500$ I'd rather hit up the corner man.

originally posted by: thekaboose
I know people bash social, but after undergoing 3 operations (which if I didnt have I would be dead) and walking out having already covered my bill and the only money laid down was £7.20 for a 1 month subscription of meds...

Dont get me wrong, every system has major flaws but I would rather be part of one that (currently) doesn't hand you a massive bill at the end of treatment

How much did the other folks pay for your 3 operations and medications ?
I am sure that the money just did not magically appear...

Dang , I am known as the "Million Dollar Man".
And some miracles thrown in.
The only reason I can post here today.

originally posted by: Gothmog
Dang , I am known as the "Million Dollar Man".
And some miracles thrown in.
The only reason I can post here today.

Might I borrow some dollars from your millions?

I super duper promise to pay you back. Did I mention I'm an Ethiopian Prince?

a reply to: seaswine

Man, that bill is enough to bring on another attack.

We’re blessed being in the UK.

I’ve had my fair share of time in Hospital 4 days a week for 3 years as support not a Patient and cannot fault the NHS.

A Colleage was taken Ill a couple of years ago with acute chest pain. Within 10 minutes a first responder arrived and stabilised him shortly before the ambulance arrived. Said Colleague was now coming around and apologising for wasting the Paramedic’s time to which cane the reply “Mr. B I’m happy to be here because 1) you’re now stable and 2) I’m on overtime so I can overpay you bast8rds on my mortgage this month.”

Ambulance Crew arrive and while sorting Collegaue out one commented that his soon to be Wife worked in the same building. By the following morning she had the fastest PC, oodles of RAM and a huge new monitor on her desk.

A bit of a thread drift I know but that was one of those things that sticks with you forever.

I’ll keep my amusing panic attack story for another day.

a reply to: seaswine

Too many free loaders in this country taxing everyone else who play by the rules.

originally posted by: Gothmog

originally posted by: thekaboose
I know people bash social, but after undergoing 3 operations (which if I didnt have I would be dead) and walking out having already covered my bill and the only money laid down was £7.20 for a 1 month subscription of meds...

Dont get me wrong, every system has major flaws but I would rather be part of one that (currently) doesn't hand you a massive bill at the end of treatment

How much did the other folks pay for your 3 operations and medications ?
I am sure that the money just did not magically appear...

Well, if they were earning the same as me at the time then they would have paid in the same as me. People earning much less would pay in less to the system. This means if someone who comes from a poor family needs life saving care and medication which in America would cost $100,000 - $500,000 for example, they dont get shafted.

Feel free to rag on the system all you want, at least a parent of a dead child wont be paying for their death years after the passing in the UK

originally posted by: seaswine

originally posted by: Gothmog
Dang , I am known as the "Million Dollar Man".
And some miracles thrown in.
The only reason I can post here today.

Might I borrow some dollars from your millions?


I super duper promise to pay you back. Did I mention I'm an Ethiopian Prince?

No , that is the bill I racked up over the 5 years...

a reply to: Gothmog

Sure hope you paid for your own fire department.
And for your own street.
And for your own military, protecting only you.


See where I go with this? Sometimes, costs distributed are the fair solution. Social, not socialistic.