Sickened at hospital charges

[Magpie]

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.

ITA. We moved to Canada from the US when I was ten. My mother had said many times that she'd be dead now if we hadn't moved to Canada. The health care she had in the US was appalling.

The Canadian system isn't perfect, but I owe my family's health and financial security to it. I wouldn't give it up for anything!

 

[janets]

I guess I'm lucky that I have decent insurance through work. I have $10 deductibles when I go to the dr, no cost for bloodwork as long as I go to the appropriate lab, $50 ER co pay.

I had arthroscopic shoulder surgery back in August 2008. My surgeon used a surgical center rather than the hospital. It was a new center and therefore, it was not approved by the insurance company, making it technically out of network. I found this out just before the surgery and stood there at the counter saying, I need to be sure you're going to accept the assignment as full payment or I'm leaving. She told me they would, and even went and spoke with the anesthesiologist to be sure. I saw the bills after the fact and it was in the 5 figures. Some of these were paid off at a fraction of what they billed. But they wanted to bring in the drs so they took what they got.

I had a conversation with my ob/gyn recently. I love her, would lay down my life for her. She delivered both of my boys. She's one of the best. She told me that her practice is having difficulty making payroll, that payments from insurance are way down, and for medicare, she told me that they pay something like $500 for a hysterectomy. That's outrageous. Here is a woman with 4 years of medical school, several years of residency and at least 16 or more years of practice and they pay her a pittance for major surgery? No wonder she's having difficulty.

So some of these drs are not making bundles of money. They are struggling as well. I don't think we need health care reform, we need health insurance reform.

The more I read of this thread, the more thankful I am for the insurance my company provides.

 

[SaraJayne]

OP, I feel your pain. I ended up in the ER at 4am a couple weeks ago in excruciating pain that turned out to be cellulitis...and it earned me a two day stay in the hospital ~ along with a blood draw and doctor's appts for the next five days in a row.

Even though we've met our deductible and only have to pay 20% of the bill, I'm still not looking forward to getting it.

And here I was apologizing to the doctor and US tech for getting them out of bed at 4am to take care of me.

 

[mhsjax]

ITA. We moved to Canada from the US when I was ten. My mother had said many times that she'd be dead now if we hadn't moved to Canada. The health care she had in the US was appalling.

The Canadian system isn't perfect, but I owe my family's health and financial security to it. I wouldn't give it up for anything!

I have heard the same things, only it was someone moving FROM Canada to here. She had a brain tumor and was told she had to wait for about 6-8 weeks for a Cat Scan.

I am sorry, but we may have a messed up system as far as the cost, but you can't beat the US health care system as far as care goes.

 

[auntie]

Just be careful...even those that think they have great coverage. Oh..those co-pays and deductibles for well visits, or the trip to the dr. for a cold or your arthritis might be fine. Only..you'll find out how limited your health care coverage is when something catastrophic happens.
My cousins husband was in a car accident a week before Christmas. He has what we all thought was terrific coverage through his job. He's a correction officer. Low co-pays, his scripts were always at affordable prices. He is
to retire after 20 years on job this August.
Anyway, while driving to work early one morning, a
kid ran a red light and hit him broad side.
Not a scratch on him. Only..his brain suffered such a severe blow that he was in a coma for four months. The last two months two months, they say he is not technically in a coma any longer. (although he doesn't open his eyes). He's slowly responding to stimuli, and to those around him. It's a VERY slow process. Well, guess what..that great coverage through his job. It gives you 90 days of what's considered "long term care". After that..you're paying for it yourself..out of pocket, at some $1500.00 a day!
Oh, and the kid that hit him..limited insurance policy and even though they plan to sue..you can't get blood from a stone. In the meatime..they need money NOW. We had a fundraiser and they have a good many friends and relatives who are willing to help him to recover by volunterring their services. She can't go to medicaid...(let the governent pay) because then she would loose his pay check (which his job is paying him for up to a year) and she'd also loose his pension, as Medicaid will take that. You are only allowed some $2700. month income, if Medicaid steps in and pays.
The taxes on her house are over $10,000.00 a year, let alone the mortgage. She can't live on $2,700 a month. Talk about being between a rock and a hard place...through no fault of your own. Just driving to work minding your own business and life as you know it changes forever. This was bad enough..but to have his care based on money...or lack of it..its disgusting.

 

[mhsjax]

Just be careful...even those that think they have great coverage. Oh..those co-pays and deductibles for well visits, or the trip to the dr. for a cold or your arthritis might be fine. Only..you'll find out how limited your health care coverage is when something catastrophic happens.
My cousins husband was in a car accident a week before Christmas. He has what we all thought was terrific coverage through his job. He's a correction officer. Low co-pays, his scripts were always at affordable prices. He is
to retire after 20 years on job this August.
Anyway, while driving to work early one morning, a
kid ran a red light and hit him broad side.
Not a scratch on him. Only..his brain suffered such a severe blow that he was in a coma for four months. The last two months two months, they say he is not technically in a coma any longer. (although he doesn't open his eyes). He's slowly responding to stimuli, and to those around him. It's a VERY slow process. Well, guess what..that great coverage through his job. It gives you 90 days of what's considered "long term care". After that..you're paying for it yourself..out of pocket, at some $1500.00 a day!
Oh, and the kid that hit him..limited insurance policy and even though they plan to sue..you can't get blood from a stone. In the meatime..they need money NOW. We had a fundraiser and they have a good many friends and relatives who are willing to help him to recover by volunterring their services. She can't go to medicaid...(let the governent pay) because then she would loose his pay check (which his job is paying him for up to a year) and she'd also loose his pension, as Medicaid will take that. You are only allowed some $2700. month income, if Medicaid steps in and pays.
The taxes on her house are over $10,000.00 a year, let alone the mortgage. She can't live on $2,700 a month. Talk about being between a rock and a hard place...through no fault of your own. Just driving to work minding your own business and life as you know it changes forever. This was bad enough..but to have his care based on money...or lack of it..its disgusting.

That is a sad situation. Something needs to be done. I don't know what, if I knew that I would run the country.

I did some reading, apparently, things aren't much better in Canada at least for seniors. The articles I saw are written in Canada not the US, so I don't think that they were biased. Regardless of where you live, there needs to be something in place for situations like this.

 

[disfan07]

Ah yes...medical expenses.

We spent $12,000 OOP last year IN ADDITION to our $250 deductable and the $8000 OOP. So about $20,000.

I am having brain surgery June 22nd and we scheduled it for the end of june on purpose so that we don't have to pay. I am covered 100% until July 1st when the new insurance year statrs for us.

I am sorry, but we may have a messed up system as far as the cost, but you can't beat the US health care system as far as care goes

We might have good care but it is only for the people who can afford it. If you can't afford to pay or you don't have insurance you are SOL.
We have excellent insurance (premium PPO plan) and I have amazing care but we still pay $20,000 a year WITH insurance. I'm sorry, but our health care system in the US is absolutely and completely unacceptable.

 

[auntie]

Oh forgot to mention he's only 52 years old. So they hadn't even thought yet about looking into a long term care policy in addition to his regular health insurance coverage through his job.

This situation is much more common that any of us are aware.
90 days of long term care may sound like a lot to a healthy person. That's okay if you break your leg or need some type of surgery, and a short time in a rehab,..but if you need long term rehabilitative care..that's going to last more than the typical 90 days in most policies..you're screwed.

 

[BabyTigger99]

How is this for an unnecessary test? When I was about 4 months pregnant with my first, we were in Florida visiting my in-laws. I had horrible morning sickness, and had already been put in the hospital 4 times for dehydration. I could feel myself getting sick, and told DH we needed to go to the hospital to get some fluids. Got there, I told them what was wrong with me, and after waiting for 4 hours, was finally seen by the doctor. They did my vitals, had to pee in a cup, they gave me fluids and an anti-nausea shot. I was getting ready to be discharged, and the nurse, who I had told I was pregnant, which was the reason for my visit, told me, "We ran a pregnancy test on you. It came back positive." Um, really???

And as far as the person that said only the rich can afford good health care, that is not true. I pay $120 a month for family medical insurance. It cost me $50 to have my baby in January. When I was dealing with cancer a few years back, my services cost approximately $200,000. Of that, I ended up paying maybe $1500 out of pocket. I am not rich by any means. I just work for a complany that offers very good health insurance at a very reasonable price (and still hear people at my work complain about it!!).

 

[dzorn]

It is always best to go to your primary physican unless it is a true medical emergency.

ERs have a lot of overhead to cover as well as covering for patients that cannot pay.

I would never expect to get out of an ER without a bill for a few thousand.

Denise in MI

 

[Magpie]

I have heard the same things, only it was someone moving FROM Canada to here. She had a brain tumor and was told she had to wait for about 6-8 weeks for a Cat Scan.

I am sorry, but we may have a messed up system as far as the cost, but you can't beat the US health care system as far as care goes.

Only if you have the money to pay for it!

Yes, you're a much bigger country. And you've got some pretty fancy specialist doctors, which is great if you're rich or lucky enough to have good insurance (until the company dumps you because you got sick one time too many).

Here, everyone's treated the same. They won't refuse you medical treatment just because you happen to be poor and don't have insurance. And you don't get stuck in an ambulance and shipped across town instead of treated, because your insurance doesn't happen to cover the specific hospital you're at and too bad if you die on the way. You don't lose your house, just because you got sick.

Our infant mortality rate is lower, and we live longer, healthier lives than you do. In the CIA's World Factbook's ranking of life expectancy, we're number 8. You're number 50, beat out by places like Portugal and South Korea!

World class doctors aren't much good, if they aren't keeping your citizens healthy.

 

[Planogirl]

DH had heart pains and needed some stents put in. A blockage broke lose from somewhere a week later and he had a mild heart attack.

I was floored at the charges. He had also just lost his job but luckily I carried the insurance. Our part was still astronomical and took forever to pay off.

I won't get into the discussion about government run healthcare except to say that my Dutch relatives always had good care without having to wait. I understand that the Dutch have been trying a new system though and the waiting times have grown.

 

[DizBelle]

Only if you have the money to pay for it!

Yes, you're a much bigger country. And you've got some pretty fancy specialist doctors, which is great if you're rich or lucky enough to have good insurance (until the company dumps you because you got sick one time too many).

Here, everyone's treated the same. They won't refuse you medical treatment just because you happen to be poor and don't have insurance. And you don't get stuck in an ambulance and shipped across town instead of treated, because your insurance doesn't happen to cover the specific hospital you're at and too bad if you die on the way. You don't lose your house, just because you got sick.

Our infant mortality rate is lower, and we live longer, healthier lives than you do. In the CIA's World Factbook's ranking of life expectancy, we're number 8. You're number 50, beat out by places like Portugal and South Korea!

World class doctors aren't much good, if they aren't keeping your citizens healthy.

I just had to say that the primary responsibility for keeping a citizen healthy is the citizen. If you live dangerously, wrecklessly, and don't take care of yourself, that isn't any doctor's fault.

 

[disfan07]

And as far as the person that said only the rich can afford good health care, that is not true. I pay $120 a month for family medical insurance. It cost me $50 to have my baby in January. When I was dealing with cancer a few years back, my services cost approximately $200,000. Of that, I ended up paying maybe $1500 out of pocket. I am not rich by any means. I just work for a complany that offers very good health insurance at a very reasonable price (and still hear people at my work complain about it!!).

Lucky for you. Unfortunately, not everyone is that lucky. Companies are not required to prived reasonable health insurance. and private insurance is expensive. My health teacher at my community college had 2 options for her family. HMO for free or the PPO for $1800/month for a family of 5. Her husband is a cancer survivor so there was no way that she would go for an HMO. So they pay about $20,000 a year for insurance plus teh deductable, plus OOP plus co pays etc. So yes, if you are not lucky enough to get good insurance through your job, or you are unemployed, you can't affor teh health care.

 

[teskak]

Come to Australia - out of our taxes DH & I pay about $2k for medical expenses which will cover us for treatment in hospitals, just with no choice of doctor, but if you are in a car accident or severe burns etc the best possible treatment is given with no surcharges.

Dr visits have a copay of about $40, but DD is free.
Medicines are basically subsidised so they are $25 per rx - but free if you are on a pension or very low income. There is also a very wide range of medicines including the chemo drugs etc

We pay another $3200 to get treatment in a private hospital in a private room with $50 copay for first 7 days. Some out of pocket expenses may happen for some procedures, but when I had my daughters tonsils removed and grommets installed, there was no waiting for surgery, overnight stay and minimal costs

 

[mhsjax]

Only if you have the money to pay for it!

Yes, you're a much bigger country. And you've got some pretty fancy specialist doctors, which is great if you're rich or lucky enough to have good insurance (until the company dumps you because you got sick one time too many).

Here, everyone's treated the same. They won't refuse you medical treatment just because you happen to be poor and don't have insurance. And you don't get stuck in an ambulance and shipped across town instead of treated, because your insurance doesn't happen to cover the specific hospital you're at and too bad if you die on the way. You don't lose your house, just because you got sick.

Our infant mortality rate is lower, and we live longer, healthier lives than you do. In the CIA's World Factbook's ranking of life expectancy, we're number 8. You're number 50, beat out by places like Portugal and South Korea!

World class doctors aren't much good, if they aren't keeping your citizens healthy.

Drs told my friend that if she had waited to have the CT on her brain it would have been too late. So I guess it wouldn't have mattered that no one in Canada get health care refused, she would have been dead. Oh but she kwoldn't have lost her house now would she have. I know plenty of other people kllthat say they would much rather come here for care. I guess to each there own.

Also on the infant mortalitiy rate, I read an article puclished there in Canada that stated your birth rate was on the decline and was way under ours, so sure your mortality rate would be better.
This is why the pp who said something about Canada was trying to turn this into a political debate. Canada should have never been brought up, it has nothing to do with the OP situation.

 

[princessmom29]

Only if you have the money to pay for it!

Yes, you're a much bigger country. And you've got some pretty fancy specialist doctors, which is great if you're rich or lucky enough to have good insurance (until the company dumps you because you got sick one time too many).

Here, everyone's treated the same. They won't refuse you medical treatment just because you happen to be poor and don't have insurance. And you don't get stuck in an ambulance and shipped across town instead of treated, because your insurance doesn't happen to cover the specific hospital you're at and too bad if you die on the way. You don't lose your house, just because you got sick.

Our infant mortality rate is lower, and we live longer, healthier lives than you do. In the CIA's World Factbook's ranking of life expectancy, we're number 8. You're number 50, beat out by places like Portugal and South Korea!

World class doctors aren't much good, if they aren't keeping your citizens healthy.

Let's get right down to it and behonest about the primary issue everyone is skirting here.
Quality of medical care, is a part of life expectancy, not the whole picture. It is really mostly about individual choices in this country. People choose not to lead a healthy lifestyle. People choose not to work to porvide thier family with the things they need to be healthy, including health insurance. Sure there are those who do work but have a crappy plan, but there are many many more who are career welfare recipients who will never even attempt to porvide for their own care. The difference is that in a Universal care state those that choose not to care are treated the same as those who choose to eat right, exercise, and work for a living. It drags the standard of care down for those that care so that the patient with a brain tumor who has met thier obligations to porvide for themselves and their family waits 6-8 weeks for an MRI because the system has to porvide for those who don't. Everyone being treated the same sound like a noble ideal on paper, but it is an open invitation to do nothing and reap the benefits of those who are working to pay for your care.

 

[clarabelle]

I think it is hard for us as Americans to hear about other nation's health systems. It is hard for us to take criticism. Even if it is true or partly true.

I always assumed that if we weren't healthy -it was because we were obese and smoked. And because we have choices to make regarding health care -and many people choose not to buy insurance -but to put their money in other things. Other people simply can't afford it.

One big factor in our health care costs -we are a for profit system.
So hospitals want to make money, physicians want to make money, allied services (PT, respiratory, home health ect...) are all trying to make a profit for the most part (there are some not -for profits)

 

[HamTown]

The debate about waiting for CT scans or MRIs is very region specific. I worked at a teaching hospital in the rheumatology clinic. Six week waits for an MRI were routine. Granted, we weren't dealing with life threatening conditions, but in high volume hospitals, everyone waits.

Hospitals that deal with lower income/non-insured patients have very high wait times. When my daughter needed tubes in her ears I contacted the children's hospital. They scheduled an evaluation for about 12 weeks out. I then contacted a pediatric ENT affiliated with a smaller local hospital. DD had her surgery 3 weeks before she could have been seen for the eval at Children's. I have pretty decent insurance so I had a choice.

If you have good private insurance you have access to pretty decent healthcare. Those uninsured or underinsured (that includes Medicare these days) often have long waits.

 

[mjkacmom]

Our infant mortality rate is lower, and we live longer, healthier lives than you do. In the CIA's World Factbook's ranking of life expectancy, we're number 8. You're number 50, beat out by places like Portugal and South Korea!

World class doctors aren't much good, if they aren't keeping your citizens healthy.

Our infant mortality rate is low because our doctors will try to save severely premature or disabled babies, when other countries won't. I'm not saying that's right, but our doctors tend to have a God complex, and will do anything and everything to have the patient live. We have the technology others don't.