Sickened at hospital charges

[jerlove]

I often get upset when I look at all of the taxes I pay. But after reading all of these stories really makes me glad we have free health care here in Canada. Here are some of my procedures and that of my families over the past few years.

3 Days in hospital for a very bad case of Kidney Stones. My cost $0.00
Son who was having heart issues lots of tests............. My Cost $0.00
Wife gave birth to Son and all associated Dr.'s Appts.... My Cost $0.00
Father had a stroke................................................ His cost $0.00

Yes you get the point. Sure sometimes I may have to wait a few weeks to be able to get an MRI, or wait 4 hours to get to see an ER doctor. But it seems to be well worth it based on the amount of money I hear you all spending.

Maybe the reason we do have to wait a little longer for services is because our sick people are not afraid to go to the Doctors office for fear of the cost. I could imagine that if I had to pay that kind of money I would not be going to the hospital unless I thought I was about to die. And then when I got there almost hoping I did die so I would not have to pay the bill.

I could not imagine making it thru a heart attack only to get the bill and have it cause another one.

 

[vettechick99]

I agree that medical charges can be ridiculous.

However, I have to ask why you'd go to the ER for something like that instead of calling either your regular doc or OB/GYN?

I've never gone to the ER because I know how expensive it is. I'd go to Urgent Care if I couldn't get an appointment with my doctor.

I would have but it was a Sunday and no UCs were open. Still a small town even though they have a hospital.

It's really sad what we pay for health care in the US.

 

[Mermaid02]

ER's are very expensive. Those with insurance pay through the nose. Many folks use ER's as primary care because they are on medicaid- it drives the costs (and the wait times) up for everyone.

 

[MomRN]

I don't mean to laugh but this cracked me up...a rock AND mac and cheese?? How did he manage that?? I shouldn't talk though because I got a bb in my ear when I was 12 I just put it in there and my dad did everything he could think of to get it out but eventually took me to the ER...it fell out while I was waiting for the Dr and they said 'Oh just let us clean out her ear." My dad wouldn't let them b/c he said they would charge $500 for peroxide!

Oh it was a good time, a funny and cute story because it wasn't serious. The whole incident made for a funny facebook story, but long story short he owned up to putting the mac and cheese in there, but there was something I just couldn't get out. He even told the doctor that he had mac and cheese, doc saw mac and cheese, and ordered the flush. Out came a rock.. and he said "oh I forgot to tell you it was a rock then macaroni and cheese"

Anyway, he got a stern lecture about sticking objects in his ears, nose, and other orifices, but to everyone else it was a cute little story, typical of my 3 yr old son. Not so cute when I got the bill.

Next time, I'm pulling out the pressure washer and stealing sterile water from work.

 

[ORMom2Four]

Hospital bills are ridiculous! I had a baby in March who had a number of complications, was in Children's Hospital for seventeen days, and ultimately passed away. Anyway, my point is that is was $800, 000!!!! Luckily insurance covered that, but I paid for most of the $50,000 in doctor's appointments, ultrasounds, etc before that and that's only from January to March. November to January I paid a lot too, but I'm not sure how much.

I am so sorry for the loss of your baby

 

[kidzmom3]

Yes, I do. And I'm sure that's why the PA (not doctor) checked it anyway. But being that the fever was my only symptom, flu was unlikely. I just wonder if they see I have insurance and go to town ordering tests.

$45. Nice.

I am sorry to be rude, but this is ridiculous! I work in an ED and the doctors couldn't care less what you have for insurance. They are paid by the hospital per hour, not per patient or by procedure. They wouldn't even know if you have insurance. They would only ask if they were going to refer you to a specialist. Maybe all hospitals don't work the same way, but honestly Doctors are not the villains that people make them out to be.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I can't even remember the last time I visited the ER - I "should have" gone several times due to partial obstructions but waited it out until my GI office opened solely for financial reasons. ER costs are ridiculous. As are hospital costs, too. I'm so thankful the walk-in clinics are becoming more popular and have weekend hours. It's not a place I'd go on a regular basis but it sure is nice to have an option over the weekend when something comes up that needs attention ASAP.

I had a major surgery in February. I was in the hospital for 8 days following. The hospital bill just for my room (no drugs, surgery, labs, etc) was $48,000. And I was on an ice chip diet almost the entire time so it's not like I ate anything I know my insurance had agreed upon rates that they will pay so I know they didn't pay anywhere near $48,000 but if I was a private citizen without insurance that is what they would have been trying to get out of me. Ridiculous.

 

[mjkacmom]

I often get upset when I look at all of the taxes I pay. But after reading all of these stories really makes me glad we have free health care here in Canada. Here are some of my procedures and that of my families over the past few years.

3 Days in hospital for a very bad case of Kidney Stones. My cost $0.00
Son who was having heart issues lots of tests............. My Cost $0.00
Wife gave birth to Son and all associated Dr.'s Appts.... My Cost $0.00
Father had a stroke................................................ His cost $0.00

Yes you get the point. Sure sometimes I may have to wait a few weeks to be able to get an MRI, or wait 4 hours to get to see an ER doctor. But it seems to be well worth it based on the amount of money I hear you all spending.

Maybe the reason we do have to wait a little longer for services is because our sick people are not afraid to go to the Doctors office for fear of the cost. I could imagine that if I had to pay that kind of money I would not be going to the hospital unless I thought I was about to die. And then when I got there almost hoping I did die so I would not have to pay the bill.

I could not imagine making it thru a heart attack only to get the bill and have it cause another one.

It's not everyone. We have pretty decent health insurance, and I had 3 babies for free. Well visits and annual checkups cost me nothing. As for the sky high doctor/hospital bills, I know my insurance company pays a fraction of what they are billed (because I see the explaination of benefits). They'll bill my insurance company $400, my insurance company pays them $140.

 

[Stitchfans]

That really sucks. I think health care in the US has ruined many families financially. Your neighbours in Canada would have paid $0 because of public health care for all citizens being available.

You are absolutely right. We are one of them. We are in the process now of trying to sell our house to get out of medical debt. We are being hounded for the thousands and thousands of dollars which we do not have since DH lost his job due to being so ill and unable to return to his job. Neither one of us are working and we are living off of our savings and praying we can sell the house pay off our debts buy a smaller house someplace less expensive.

 

[mhsjax]

That really sucks. I think health care in the US has ruined many families financially. Your neighbours in Canada would have paid $0 because of public health care for all citizens being available.[/QUOTE

I thought there wasn't supposed to be anything political of these boards.

 

[JimmyPicker]

That really sucks. I think health care in the US has ruined many families financially. Your neighbours in Canada would have paid $0 because of public health care for all citizens being available.

I thought there wasn't supposed to be anything political of these boards.

That's not political. Those are statements of facts. Health care in the US is expensive and has ruined many families financially. And in Canada, the same experience would have cost nothing. Nothing political about it. Just the facts.

 

[mhsjax]

That's not political. Those are statements of facts. Health care in the US is expensive and has ruined many families financially. And in Canada, the same experience would have cost nothing. Nothing political about it. Just the facts.

Sorry, but I don't buy it. Not with what is going on in this country with all the health care reform. so many people have very different opinions on that. It is a very heated topic and any comment about it, only stirs up trouble.

 

[Nancy]

Insurance is very confusing to me. And I just got a new plan - UHC HRA. Which means they pay the first $1,500 (co-pays and drugs, etc) and then I pay the next $1,500. Which counts as my deductible I think. So I've already used up my $1500 this year and now they are paying $2400 of this $3000 and I've got to pay the rest. So I don't think UHC is kickin' in any more. I am just so annoyed that a 4-hr visit costs someone $3,000. It makes no sense. If I was UHC, I would be mad too.

I am having a baby at this hospital in August (c-section) so that's another $12,000. I guess I'll start sending them money and then maybe when that amount hits, I can negotiate a nice discount.

I work for UHC and deal with your type of plans all the time. You have a consumer driven health plan..and the HRA money did apply to the deductible. How much do you actually owe on this bill? Just the 600.00? If UHC is paying anything than you must have already paid out of pocket for things and met your deductible and are now in co insurance which sounds like it because with an 80/20 split your cost would be 600.00.

One thing to remember is CD health plans have an out of pocket max..once you hit that than UHC will pay at 100%.

And if UHC is paying on 3000.00 that is already a negotiated rate and the bill was probably much higher.

 

[princessmom29]

I often get upset when I look at all of the taxes I pay. But after reading all of these stories really makes me glad we have free health care here in Canada. Here are some of my procedures and that of my families over the past few years.

3 Days in hospital for a very bad case of Kidney Stones. My cost $0.00
Son who was having heart issues lots of tests............. My Cost $0.00
Wife gave birth to Son and all associated Dr.'s Appts.... My Cost $0.00
Father had a stroke................................................ His cost $0.00

Yes you get the point. Sure sometimes I may have to wait a few weeks to be able to get an MRI, or wait 4 hours to get to see an ER doctor. But it seems to be well worth it based on the amount of money I hear you all spending.

Maybe the reason we do have to wait a little longer for services is because our sick people are not afraid to go to the Doctors office for fear of the cost. I could imagine that if I had to pay that kind of money I would not be going to the hospital unless I thought I was about to die. And then when I got there almost hoping I did die so I would not have to pay the bill.

I could not imagine making it thru a heart attack only to get the bill and have it cause another one.

Waiting a few weeks for an MRI is not acceptable for me, AT ALL. If I need an MRI for an injury, the injury in question will have started the healing process well before I get it, and it is higly likely that scar tissue will have set in and will vastly complicate treatment. If I need an MRI for a c-spine issue I better get it immediately! You are likley waiting weeks for services because there are not enough specialists to see everyone. They can make 2-3 times what they would be paid by your government in a country without a socialized health care system. Why practice in Canada and make $50,000 a year when you can rake in $200,000 in the US? Health care costs in the US have gottten out of control and created fat pockets for doctors, so they practice here rather than somewhere with a cost controled system where their earnings have been capped by what the government is willing to pay.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

OP, I feel your pain honey! But I am so glad that you are better and the baby is well.

Several months ago, DH had an accident at home and injured his hand. We rushed to the ER and this all they did:

Soak it in an iodine bath
2 x-rays
IV with saline
1 antibiotic shot

That's it. Total cost? $1400. We literally were in the ER for no more than 1 1/2 hours. Ridiculous. And to top it off, I called the hospital to ask if we could make payments and they said sure, but if it's not paid off this month, it will go to collections and then will be assessed a 4% interest charge. Nice how they work with you, huh?

Anyhow, great news that you're feeling better. The pics of your little girl in your signature are beautiful!

 

[BEloveDisney]

I'm so sorry about your baby .

Thank you. Ultimately, it was for the best, but it sure does suck a lot.

 

[BEloveDisney]

I am so sorry for the loss of your baby

Thank you. He was pretty unwell...we knew it was a possibility, but it is still pretty awful.

 

[PatsGirl]

ORMom2Four ~ is it time to make it ORMom2Six? Those twin babies of yours are adorable, congratulations!

 

[CF'er]

Also what you are paying for in the ER is a higher degree of medical expertise such as trauma or cardiac care. An ER isn't designed to be used for routine needs hence the higher cost.

 

[lemondog]

My 8yo had to get stitches in January. The best was the $60 charge for the dab of neosporin they put on the cut when they were finished.

They also charged us a $245 "room" fee, however they were so busy she was stitched up right in the hallway!

Sorry....but hospital charges are so outlandish I just have to laugh.