Good news and a light at the end of the tunnel

[jediobiwan]

I haven't been here in more than a month because the thought of the podcast cruise was too depressing. Sounds weird? How about some backstory:

Back at the beginning of May I finally took the plunge and put a deposit down for the podcast cruise as a treat for my wife and myself. We are both civil engineering students and had to take classes all summer, so our summer without class is about two weeks long scattered throughout the summer, not even at one time. Also, December 21st will be our first anniversary!

Everything was going great. I went into uber-planning mode (not that any of you could relate ) Then, my wife had an accident and fractured her leg. Not just any broken leg though, she needed an ambulance, surgery, 13 screws and a plate, three days in a hospital, and so far, for the first month, weekly or more often doctors visits. All without insurance. So far I have gotten bills worth $42,000 and I know of at least a few that are still missing. As soon as it happened and I heard the word surgery, I was crestfallen for the prospects of our cruise that we would need more than ever as a break from school after having to deal with what has so far been a long recovery process that is not even halfway done. While I am still worried about all the bills, we are working on financial assistance for the hospital and a few other things. Although it will not be the best idea, we have decided to still go on the cruise and make minimal payments on the medical bills. Once we are out of college we will be in a much better position to pay them off fast than what an extra $2-3K will do for the bills now.

I really am glad that the budget can be worked out to let us go, right now it is kind of the light at the end of the tunnel of all this and a good motivator for getting through with school! Now I get to go back into planning mode!

 

[mdvlprof]

Hope your wife is doing okay.

You are still going with us? If vacation takes some stress off you and your situation, its not a bad idea.

 

[Brancaneve]

Enjoy your time together. You are blessed that all she had was a broken leg(still awful though)!

 

[jediobiwan]

Hope your wife is doing okay.

You are still going with us?

Yep

Things are generally getting better, we have some kind of minor setback every once and awhile but overall the trend towards healing is good. Now if the weather in Alabama would just be like December so I am not drenched after pushing a wheelchair across campus...

 

[mainegal]

There is a reason why it is called "personal finances". What you have chosen to do might not be what a another person would do. I hope your choice works out well for you.

Hope your wife's leg is healing well.
Best wishes for your college studies.

 

[Launchpad11B]

Good choice, going on the cruise. The hospital will get it's money eventually. Enjoy the cruise with your wife and build some life long memories.

 

[Cherinva]

First, let me say that I'm sorry to hear about the accident...and I hope she is healing well. Second, if you think you can work out the expenses of going on the cruise.....wonderful....the bills will always be there. The cruise will be an experience that you will remember for years to come...so with that said...get to planning and we'll see you and your wife in December.

 

[jediobiwan]

Thanks everyone for the well wishes and encouragement! Stellar news today: The hospital (and theoretically the anesthesiologist as well) completely wrote off the bill because of financial aid. That still leaves us with about $6000, but it is much better than $40,000!

 

[jeanigor]

Thanks everyone for the well wishes and encouragement! Stellar news today: The hospital (and theoretically the anesthesiologist as well) completely wrote off the bill because of financial aid. That still leaves us with about $6000, but it is much better than $40,000!

 

[Launchpad11B]

Thanks everyone for the well wishes and encouragement! Stellar news today: The hospital (and theoretically the anesthesiologist as well) completely wrote off the bill because of financial aid. That still leaves us with about $6000, but it is much better than $40,000!

See you on the ship!

 

[Renysmom]

Thanks everyone for the well wishes and encouragement! Stellar news today: The hospital (and theoretically the anesthesiologist as well) completely wrote off the bill because of financial aid. That still leaves us with about $6000, but it is much better than $40,000!

That is great news!

 

[mainegal]

That still leaves us with about $6000, but it is much better than $40,000!

Oh, that is SO fabulous!

I hope the hospital still gets the money they need to pay their expenses and staff, and I am so glad your bill has been significantly lowered.

See you on the cruise in total good health!

 

[jediobiwan]

Back in like 1990, this hospital wrote of like $24 million a year, apparently this is an ongoing part of their business practice for people with financial need and no insurance

 

[mainegal]

Back in like 1990, this hospital wrote of like $24 million a year, apparently this is an ongoing part of their business practice for people with financial need and no insurance

Wow! That is fabulous. My brother once has his bill lowered when my mother spoke on his behalf to the finance people at the hospital. Explained he had no insurance and would be paying on his own. They cut the bill almost in half.

Up here, I have a friend who works at a hospital library. She says they are having layoffs and money shortages because the hospital is not getting reibursed be medicare and other state programs.

Someone has to pay the bills. I just don't understand how the health care system works. There must be a better way to keep people healthy and bring people back to good health.

Enough on the county's health care system.

I like how Paul put it.

Concentrate on your studies knowing you will have a wonderful cruise in December.

See you on the ship!

 

[disneyfan19712006]

I haven't been here in more than a month because the thought of the podcast cruise was too depressing. Sounds weird? How about some backstory:

Back at the beginning of May I finally took the plunge and put a deposit down for the podcast cruise as a treat for my wife and myself. We are both civil engineering students and had to take classes all summer, so our summer without class is about two weeks long scattered throughout the summer, not even at one time. Also, December 21st will be our first anniversary!

Everything was going great. I went into uber-planning mode (not that any of you could relate ) Then, my wife had an accident and fractured her leg. Not just any broken leg though, she needed an ambulance, surgery, 13 screws and a plate, three days in a hospital, and so far, for the first month, weekly or more often doctors visits. All without insurance. So far I have gotten bills worth $42,000 and I know of at least a few that are still missing. As soon as it happened and I heard the word surgery, I was crestfallen for the prospects of our cruise that we would need more than ever as a break from school after having to deal with what has so far been a long recovery process that is not even halfway done. While I am still worried about all the bills, we are working on financial assistance for the hospital and a few other things. Although it will not be the best idea, we have decided to still go on the cruise and make minimal payments on the medical bills. Once we are out of college we will be in a much better position to pay them off fast than what an extra $2-3K will do for the bills now.

I really am glad that the budget can be worked out to let us go, right now it is kind of the light at the end of the tunnel of all this and a good motivator for getting through with school! Now I get to go back into planning mode!

Glad you are still coming. The cruise will be a welcome get away from daily hassles. Wishing your wife a speedy recovery.

 

[mdvlprof]

Thanks everyone for the well wishes and encouragement! Stellar news today: The hospital (and theoretically the anesthesiologist as well) completely wrote off the bill because of financial aid. That still leaves us with about $6000, but it is much better than $40,000!

Great. Some hospitals will do that. Have special fund/donors. Just have to be up-front with them.