Current Events > American hospital systems are so weird

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You go and have no way of knowing what will be billed or wont. Whats covered and whats not. Then you get bills trickling in over months and sometimes years. I once got burned going to an in network place and getting a big bill for the anesthesiologist who wasnt in network.

I spent all day trying to get ahead of it yesterday by getting estimates from two local hospitals for giving birth. Then they tell me that the cost of the doctor and anesthesiologist (for epidural) arent covered. They bill separately. Never thought of the epidural at all. Doctor estimate was easy to get but I had to also call the anesthesiologists offices to find out if theyre in network and then called my insurance to ask if epidurals are covered under my plan.

Got it all done and know what to roughly expect (can all change if I need a c section though). But who knows what else they will charge. Why must it be so complicated?

its a gamble, and the prize is bankruptcy.

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Its complicated so insurances can make the most money.

monkmith posted...

its a gamble, and the prize is bankruptcy.

Im grateful to have very good insurance but can still get burned by some of the sneak attack bills.

I cant imagine someone needing care and no insurance (or shit insurance). Youre just at the mercy of the hospital. Its so predatory.

BroodRyu posted...

Its complicated so insurances can make the most money.

Its sad. Just calling places and getting estimates was a battle in itself. Calling and getting transferred multiple times with long hold times. Id talk to 3-4 people before they sent me to the right one. The first hospital warned me about the anesthesiologist cost but the second didnt so another person might never know. It seriously took me most of the day and not everyone has time for that shit.

Also apparently if my daughter needs care then they bill her and not me. Wtf.

Cleo_II posted...

Im grateful to have very good insurance but can still get burned by some of the sneak attack bills.

I cant imagine someone needing care and no insurance (or shit insurance). Youre just at the mercy of the hospital. Its so predatory.

Even with insurance it is so stupid when compared to the rest of the developed world. Was listening to a podcast talking about their insurance. Paid for the best he could get. When he went to the doctor he got prescribed 90 days of pills. Went to the pharmacy and they gave him 30 days worth of pills. When he asked why, they said talk to his insurance, talked to his insurance and they said he would need a doctor's note to get the full 90 days worth of pills. Is a prescription not a doctor's note?!

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Cleo_II posted...

Im grateful to have very good insurance

i faced something similar by out of network provider problem. went to the in town hospital... think the emergency room wasn't covered had to nearly pay 1500$ for a sprained ankle visit.

if i waited till morning and went to urgent care instead probably wouldn't of lost too much.

here's the story: i sprained my ankle after walking into a pothole with grocery's in hand, had to walk nearly a whole mile home limping, in pain and my foot swelling the whole time (it happened 2 days after my birthday last year).
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They should have a picture menu like McDonalds

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