11 minute out-patient surgery = $2,798.58

[Contrary1]

Gee, I'm glad we don't have to pay for the uninsured. :eyes:

[snappyturtle]

1. I understand what you've said but I have a fact to remind you that

the uninsured who pay, pay more for the same procedure than the insured! Trust me, I know. You see, insurance companies set limits they pay for procedures and doctors, dentists charge roughly that. BUT, if one doesn't have insurance, I guess it's considered riskier, and the procedure costs more...the insurance company offers some protection. I call it price fixing but whatever. Please don't assume ALL the uninsured don't pay. imho

[Contrary1]

2. No, I do realize that many uninsured do pay...

I have some in my my extended family that fall into that category. What I meant, and probably did not say well, was that those who are moaning about the extra cost of a national health plan are already paying more, because we don't have it. Hopefully, that makes sense.

Anyway, the husband's surgery was for Morton's Neuroma. It involved a one and one-half inch incision in the top of his foot, The surgeon's bill was $650. The rest was for the use of the operating room (approx. 20 min.), pre-op (1/2 hour), post-op (20 minutes), and local anesthesia. We were in and out in under two hours.

[snappyturtle]

3. OH! That helps a lot! Sorry, I just didn't get your drift. It's an excellent

point...I woke up and couldn't sleep to of course I came to DU! Those medical costs are out of sight! Nobody ever seems to think that just maybe procedure costs etc. are way out of whack. Maybe getting rid of private inurance companies in our healthcare system would get rid of the middleman costs....well some of them anyway. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

[soothsayer]

5. sometimes they charge you less when you don't have insurance

i've seen it

[snappyturtle]

6. To me that makes sense...less paperwork but unfortunately, in my

case, it didn't work out that way.

[MrSlayer]

4. Awesome isn't it?

What a racket.