$14,000 ~~ nearly $15,000!

[Hepburn]

I got the bill that ~~ thank gawd ~~ my insurance covered 100% for my trip to the ER last September. I was never admitted, but kept overnight in an "observation" area because of some concerns about my health.

About 18 months ago, I threw some blood clots into my lungs and nearly died. So, I ended up in the ER last September when there was a concern that I might be doing this again. Nothing wrong with me after all ~~ thank gawd again ~~ but THAT kind of money for less than 24 hours in the hospital ER???

Holy shit! I was absolutely stunned when I saw the bill. :wow:

[Idealism]

1. Welcome to free market capitalism

Where greedy pigs can charge you whatever they want for goods and services, and the government won't step in to help the consumer who drives growth.

[Hepburn]

3. You are absolutely correct, IMO!

What the hell is going on when sitting in an ER being observed costs that kind of money!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Something is very wrong with this.

[Idealism]

8. There are many reasons why the French call it 'savage capitalism' n/t

[Hepburn]

9. Perfect descriptive phrase for this situation.

I could not believe the amount of that bill!

[merh]

19. I'd have watched you for $7,500.00

:hi:

[Wapsie B]

2. Sounds like they were soaking you because you do have insurance.

ERs are notorious for bleeding red ink for hospitals so I'm sure they attempt to make it up wherever and however they can.

edit: It simply amazes me that people against single-payer insurance in this country do not see that we are already paying for everyone's healthcare. It's just that the uninsured end up going to ERs to get care and people with health insurance get charged more to make up the difference. Anything to avoid levying a tax. But in essence health insurance is a private tax assessed by a private company instead of the evil government.

[Hepburn]

6. Wow....

...they sure made their profit on me for that day!

Unbelievable ~~ and I swear they billed for billing!

[NNN0LHI]

11. Thats doubtful as patients with no insurance are usually charged more

At least thats been my experience.

Don

[jsamuel]

20. yes, because they are negotiated with the insurance companies, but the hospital knows it will get

the money from a company, so sometimes they can hold a patient and do a lot of cheep tests, but charge for the room, which is very expensive?

[Wilms]

4. Hey, you're worth it!

The medical system, perhaps not. But you? You're worth every penny.

Let's hear it for testing negative for dying. :toast: (Been there. :scared: )

[Hepburn]

5. Thank you for bringing a HUGE smile to my face!

:hug: What a totally terrific comment!

[Wilms]

7. On the house, Hep. n/t

:D

:hi:

[XOKCowboy]

10. Think about those that have lost their employee health insurance...

Worrying if at any time that a trip to the ER will bankrupt them and their families. There are right now millions of such families out there and the number is growing every day.

Having insurance companies in charge of our health care is ludicrous. Time for a change.

[Hepburn]

12. After I scooped my jaw from the floor, I thought about a few things like that.

There has never been a doubt in my mind that we MUST HAVE health care for everyone. That bill ~~ if possible ~~ reinforced my belief about this. And not just for medical ~~ but dental, vision and hearing as well.

WTF is WRONG with a nation that has the wealth we do and it does NOT provide the basics for a healthy society???

Immoral in my book.

[XOKCowboy]

13. Immoral is a good word...

Not to mention that it would put our manufacturers on an more even keel with most of the world. For the US to be in the bottom 5th in the world for child mortality rate (mostly due to egregious insurance company practices) is criminal.

[Hepburn]

17. No excuse IMO for a nation as wealthy as we are for the lack of health care...

...it is just criminal.

[Bonhomme Richard]

14. Gee, think of where you could have stayed for 15K/night. n/t

[Hepburn]

16. Ummmmmm....Blair House....assuming Bush had not booked it for someone else?

:evilgrin:

[lies and propaganda]

15. just paid 1700 for 6 stitches

and a tetanus shot. Fuck the insurance companies who own this country and screw all of us over who cant afford it.

[Hepburn]

18. Holy shit....

...that is a hell of a lot for what you got!

Health care expenses ~~ truly, truly something needs to be done!

[leftofthedial]

21. nothing wrong with OUR health insurance system

you're lucky they didn't kill you.

[SoCalDem]

22. In 1979, we got a hospital bill that said "Past Due"..Insurance DENIED

The bill asked us to please remit at once..

The amount?

$274,600.00

After I calmed down,I called the insurance company and discovered that someone in accounting had transposed a few numbers in my husband's social security number.. They paid it..