Ever look at your medical bills...

MadMan118 · #1 08-20-2010, 03:49 AM

Especially us Americans. Sweet religious figure. I decided to go running into a steel beam and knock myself out and managed to rack up almost 20k in ambulance rides, scans and the like. Luckily my insurance will cover all but a few hundred of it. But I feel like a really dodged a bullet. If I didn't have insurance what would of happened to me. It would be like buying a new car, something i cant even think about affording. Anyway just food for thought. FWIW, i'm fine minus a concussion and a chipped tooth. The doctors wanted to make sure my brain wasn't oozing blood and i really didn't feel like risking my life by declining treatment.

Skeletomania · #2 08-20-2010, 04:00 AM

My sister's friend got into a car accident once. When she heard how much the ambulance ride was; she refused the ride, and took herself to the hospital.

bmc · #3 08-20-2010, 04:47 AM

It's well known that your medical system is one of the most expensive in the world.

I wish Canadians saw the true cost of medical services. They would scream if they were given a bill to reimburse to an insurance provider. They would also think twice about going to emergency with a sore throat.

Hookus · #4 08-20-2010, 06:09 AM

I just don't pay them. Nice thing about a crappy credit score.

The Bassmonkey · #5 08-20-2010, 06:23 AM

Wooooo!

As a lucky englishman i pay National Insurance and therefore benefit from the tired old NHS.

Now everyone complains they are slow, problematic etc....Funnily enough they dont moan when an ambulance comes to get them, plasters/casts/scans/save your life and what do you have to pay...Nothin.

Now i agree it could be better, but im accident prone and judging by the OP I would have racked up billions if i were over the pond!!!

**Eric Perry** · #6 08-20-2010, 06:31 AM

It's disgusting.

MJ5150 · #7 08-20-2010, 08:13 AM

$3,200 for my wife to go in to the emergency room two weeks ago. She had a reaction to an antibiotic that caused stomach cramping. Insurance saved us. We only had to pay $85.

-Mike

EBodious · #8 08-20-2010, 09:29 AM

my son was born with a ureter problem. it nearly killed him before he turned one. he spent a week in intensive care. we went in thru the emergency room. as a result, i only paid $50. when i got the bill, it had the whole cost on it, over $35,000.

i was paying for individual insurance at the time. it was ridiculously expensive, but i still got my money's worth! thanks, son.

to the OP: watch out for those steel things, man. that stuff can kill ya.

**Eric Perry** · #9 08-20-2010, 10:39 AM

I was in the ER because of my car accident a few weeks ago. So I had the ER visit, the ride in the ambulance, and probably 10 or so X-rays. I didn't see the bill, as it went right to my auto insurance, but I'm sure it was ridiculously overpriced.

ryco · #10 08-20-2010, 10:54 AM

My wife went in for an emergency brain tumor surgery in '05.
The bill (ER, 100+ ambulance ride, another ER, 2 day ICU, 2 day recovery room, tests & whatnot) came to over $85k.
Fortunately, had private health insurance with $3k deductible, so that's what we paid.

This year my insurance went over $1,000/mo. "Up"ed the deductible to 5k to keep monthly cost down.

mongo2 · #11 08-20-2010, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadMan118

I decided to go running into a steel beam and knock myself out and managed to rack up almost 20k in ambulance rides, scans and the like. Luckily my insurance will cover all but a few hundred of it. But I feel like a really dodged a bullet.

Would've been better if you dodged the steel beam.

Din Of Win · #12 08-20-2010, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hookus

I just don't pay them. Nice thing about a crappy credit score.

Hahaha same here!

I have chronic kidney stones and no insurance (thanks, job, for keeping me a temp for the last 2 years

)... so when i go, i pretty much ignore all the bills that come afterwards.

UP THE PUNX!

blendermassacre · #13 08-20-2010, 11:41 AM

The worst is that at least insurance companies have the pull to "negotiate" their actual costs with the providers. Say a hospital "charges" $1000 for a procedure. The insurance companies say "well, we've got 10 patients who are needing the same procedure, so we'll pay you $6000 for all of them", whereas a single, self pay patient has to pay the whole cost to offset the insurance companies negotiations. When my mom had a heart attack a few years back, the hospital charged her insurance ~$40k. They actually paid ~$20. It's all just ********.

sloasdaylight · #14 08-20-2010, 12:02 PM

It cost my dad $850 for 2 MRIs and 9 hours in the ER.

Also blender I've heard it works the opposite of what you're talking about, by people who work in the medical field.

knumbskull · #15 08-20-2010, 12:05 PM

nope, god bless the NHS.

particularly when i needed various parts of my face stitched back on following an altercation with a taxi windscreen.

knumbskull · #16 08-20-2010, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Din Of Win

I have chronic kidney stones and no insurance (thanks, job, for keeping me a temp for the last 2 years

)... so when i go, i pretty much ignore all the bills that come afterwards.

ouch, bad luck. i had those once, it was not fun.

Din Of Win · #17 08-20-2010, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knumbskull

ouch, bad luck. i had those once, it was not fun.

I'm 27... 'since i was 19, i've passed 11 of them... they never get easier

knumbskull · #18 08-20-2010, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Din Of Win

I'm 27... 'since i was 19, i've passed 11 of them... they never get easier

yikes!

**Staccato** · #19 08-20-2010, 12:25 PM

Knockin' on wood, here.

I'm the worst example of keeping doctors & hospitals in business. Over 50, and one trip to the emergency room as a kid & received 3 stitches after the ride in the family vehicle, one surgery as an adult-with no overnight stay, and don't recall taking any prescription (meds) that required a refill.

However, I'm not getting any younger...

DigMe · #20 08-20-2010, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blendermassacre

The worst is that at least insurance companies have the pull to "negotiate" their actual costs with the providers. Say a hospital "charges" $1000 for a procedure. The insurance companies say "well, we've got 10 patients who are needing the same procedure, so we'll pay you $6000 for all of them", whereas a single, self pay patient has to pay the whole cost to offset the insurance companies negotiations. When my mom had a heart attack a few years back, the hospital charged her insurance ~$40k. They actually paid ~$20. It's all just ********.

This is part of why medical bills are so inflated...because they know that the insurors are not going to pay 100%. FWIW at some clinics and hospitals an ininsured person actually can negotiate a lower self-pay amout.

bc