8k ER bill

If you don't pay it they'll send the goon squad to run you life.

God forbid you actually hurt yourself- my bills came to about 22k and they sent me home with a sling.

originally posted by: ManFromEurope
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.

Good thing I have a great insurance policy , huh ?

Its stories like this that remind me how crazy it is that some of you guys still get upset about socialised healthcare.

$8k for a panic attack!

I mean I can see where the cost is coming form kind of, they do x-rays, CT, drugs, the cost of the bed cost of staff...I can see how it could be costed out and become quite expensive when you add in a percentage for profit. Its strange to me though as a brit who works in health care because I see patients all the time who present with your symptoms, sometimes sever times a week each, yet the same treatment and head home with out having to worry about paying for it.

I don't personally buy this argument that other people are having to pay for it because I don't think there is anyone in the UK who will grudge having to pay taxes to fund the NHS.

Shocking that this is going on in what is supposed to be the most developed country in the world.

If you are dehydrated, you can get those weird pains. A glass of water will bring up your blood volume and it will subside some times. I learned that long ago. It might have something to do with stomach based enzymes getting to high, or even stomach acid. I really do not know, but a good guzzle of water helps. At least four to six ounces, a sip does nothing.

It does pay to go have things checked out if some common sense things do not work. Dehydration can cause some weird symptoms, I bet the ER stuck an IV in you and gave you some salt water.

originally posted by: OtherSideOfTheCoin
Its stories like this that remind me how crazy it is that some of you guys still get upset about socialised healthcare.

$8k for a panic attack!

I mean I can see where the cost is coming form kind of, they do x-rays, CT, drugs, the cost of the bed cost of staff...I can see how it could be costed out and become quite expensive when you add in a percentage for profit. Its strange to me though as a brit who works in health care because I see patients all the time who present with your symptoms, sometimes sever times a week each, yet the same treatment and head home with out having to worry about paying for it.

I don't personally buy this argument that other people are having to pay for it because I don't think there is anyone in the UK who will grudge having to pay taxes to fund the NHS.

Shocking that this is going on in what is supposed to be the most developed country in the world.

We'll never see socialized healthcare- we'll get tax-funded healthcare, which means they'll start taking another 20% of my paycheck to pay that guys $8k medical bills.
Health insurance broke our medical industry to the point where it's accepted as normal for a doctors office to charge 1000% more than they should, and then when the insurance company only pays 80% of that bill people are thankful that they're only paying double what they should, ON TOP of the insane price of the coverage.
I'm upset over the idea of paying for this insanity for myself- I'd be doubly upset if I had to pay for it for everyone else, too.

Fix the insane cost of healthcare, don't just mandate paying for it.

a reply to: seaswine

Glad you are okay.
And it sucks the way our health system is all about profits for healthcare and the patient be damned!!!!!

BUT.....I too had an issue a few years back, thought I might be having a heart attack.
I had unACA...and a high deductible....but better safe than dead.
So, I went and made sure....and it cost me over a grand....my $6000 deductible had not been met.
Still glad I went and had it checked out.

a reply to: OtherSideOfTheCoin
Dear OSOTC, You are on a losing steak to try and explain to the Yanks about our NHS and how it's funded. They can't understand that everybody pays a small amount(not 20% extra taxes) covers the costs. If they got rid of the insurance companies, who take the lions share of money for actually nothing. Force the hospitals (that includes doctors, nurses, drugs and procedures) to charge a fair price, Not what they can screw out of the insurance companies and the patient. And above all put a stop to the gold mine that is the Military/Industrial complex. Instead use the trillions THEY spend on their people.

a reply to: OtherSideOfTheCoin

This was a huge wake-up call. I suppose I'm libertarian so, taxes bad. But as long as I'm paying them anyways, I'd much rather they circle around back to us, the people instead of turning middle eastern cities 5000 miles away into rubble.

This is the one thing I can agree with the leftists about. There is so much money in this country, and no reason anyone should have to pay for any medical services (except unnecessary cosmetic surgery).

a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

Thanks, I'm glad you're ok as well!

Not sure peace of mind was worth 8k, though....

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...

You don't seem to understand that that is how insurance works. Everyone pays a premium so they can pay it out to SOME people. In the end they make a profit, because if profit dips they charge EVERYONE a higher premium.

You don't seem to grasp the very basic operations of insurance industry.

Private insurance is almost identical to socialized medicine, only in the former one very few stand to profit.

a reply to: seaswine

Ask them for a bill and see whether they followed standard care. What did the bloodwork show? I assume they wanted troponin levels. What benzo did they give you at what dose? If they were thinking heart attack why did they use a benzo? Normally morphine, oxygen, nitroglycerin, and aspirin are used. Benzos and opiates can lead to respiratory depression and or over sedation and possible death.

You have every right to get information on treatment and challenge it.

originally posted by: Duderino

Private insurance is almost identical to socialized medicine, only in the former one very few stand to profit.

Actually they are completely different. I think you mean single payer insurance, which is not at all what socialized medicine is where the government also controls healthcare itself.

In the UK nurses make about $21k a year because the government controls healthcare and controls wages. You tell nurses they are taking that pay cut in America and see how many are left working.

a reply to: seaswine

There is no such thing as free medical care. You will either pay for insurance or you will pay for the ER bill. In the UK they pay on average a little over $3k a year in taxes.

originally posted by: Duderino

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...

You don't seem to understand that that is how insurance works. Everyone pays a premium so they can pay it out to SOME people. In the end they make a profit, because if profit dips they charge EVERYONE a higher premium.

You don't seem to grasp the very basic operations of insurance industry.

Private insurance is almost identical to socialized medicine, only in the former one very few stand to profit.

I would recommend you looking into insurance policies one more time.
What first happens to the money one pays in ?
There really is a difference.
You just haven't seen it yet.

a reply to: seaswine

Yeah, I would be devastated if I got such a bill!!!!

a reply to: OccamsRazor04

Like I said, I'm guessing it was a benzo just on the way I felt. Could've been something else, I'm not sure.

I took your advice and called to ask for an itemized bill. They refused to tell me over the phone what was done? But were willing to send it through mail. I dont get it, makes zero sense.

a reply to: seaswine

Doing it over the phone isn't going to happen. Getting it in the mail is much better so you can sit down and see. When you get it feel free to message me with any questions you have, if I can help I will.

Remember your medical records are just that, yours.