Current Events > I got a surprise bill from the ER

(+) Yeah! (+)

Apparently the hospital billed me for ER services then also some random doctor also billed me as another, separate entity.

So on top of the first $1450 bill not covered by insurance I owe some doctor I may have spoke to for 10 minutes another $410 (would have been 800 but my insurance plan discount took out half).

I hate this awful fucking country and its awful fucking healthcare. America is a shithole.

The worst part are all the stupid fucking assholes that think single payer healthcare is a bad thing. No, a bad thing is going to the ER out of necessity and potentially not being covered and getting absolutely fucked by bills you don't even expect. I just don't fucking get it. I'm happy I'm financially responsible enough to pay these bills vut how is the average American able to survive? They don't even have savings.

Why did you go to the ER?
---

Sajo posted...

Why did you go to the ER?

I was convulsing with a high fever, it was pneumonia.

Wow that's fucked. Hope you're feeling better.
---

Yeah, I had this same thing happen a few years ago. I woke up from a nap and couldn't breathe. I had to lay in bed for a few minutes and try to force breaths in. I'm not sure if what happened, but after about 10 minutes or so (felt like forever) of taking gradually deeper breaths, I was able to breathe almost normally.

Went to the ER and they couldn't figure out what was wrong at all. They kept me overnight for monitoring. A doctor came in the next day and basically told me that all the tests came back normal and they didn't know what happened. He said they didn't want to prescribe any medicine because they didn't know what to treat. They released me a few hours later.

The bill was like $20k and another $500 or so on a separate charge for that doctor telling me that. I had to fight with my insurance company because they didn't understand that the "doctor visit" was from the same hospital visit. They refused to pay at first because the doctor wasn't in network. Like I had a choice of what doctor walked into my hospital room or something.
---

What kind of plan do you have?

If it's a high deductible HSA plan then this is basically what you pay for.

If it's a premium plan then you probably would have hit your deductible for the year by now.
---

Get pneumonia, pay $1.8k or die. With insurance. God bless America.

I simply dont have insurance and dont go to the doctor anymore
---

Thanks Obama
---

Yep health care in this country is a big time fucking joke. But nothing will be done about it because the people don't care enough.

Glad you're okay though man.
---

Shits ridiculous. My gf is currently paying down a 20k ER bill. Had to have emergency surgery
---

Insurance really is evil. They should not get to deny coverage for emergency services. They should always pay the majority of the bill.

This is one of many reasons why we need single payer. Be sure to thank Obama for all that free health care he gave you.
---

Stories like this make me happy that I live in the Toronto area.
---

Sorry buddy. I live in a normal country where we all pay a little bit more in taxes and no-one ever needs to worry about medical costs.

CableZL posted...

The bill was like $20k and another $500 or so on a separate charge for that doctor telling me that. I had to fight with my insurance company because they didn't understand that the "doctor visit" was from the same hospital visit. They refused to pay at first because the doctor wasn't in network. Like I had a choice of what doctor walked into my hospital room or something.

I'm reading that this is a common scam for hospitals. They'll have doctors they contract and they all get to bill you, you don't know who is or isn't in your network.

No other service intentionally conceals the price and uses scams to squeeze money out of you when you're most vulnerable

clearaflagrantj posted...

CableZL posted...

The bill was like $20k and another $500 or so on a separate charge for that doctor telling me that. I had to fight with my insurance company because they didn't understand that the "doctor visit" was from the same hospital visit. They refused to pay at first because the doctor wasn't in network. Like I had a choice of what doctor walked into my hospital room or something.

I'm reading that this is a common scam for hospitals. They'll have doctors they contract and they all get to bill you, you don't know who is or isn't in your network.

No other service intentionally conceals the price and uses scams to squeeze money out of you when you're most vulnerable

>potentially life and death situation
>doesn't want to go to hospital for fear of financial ruin

America
---

Another fucking topic about this? Reminder that TC makes like $85,000 a year and has a pretty good net worth for his age group. Paying $2000 for a one time visit to the emergency room because he selected a high-deductible plan for lower monthly payments isn't breaking his bank at all.

Simple solution: Hospitals and doctors need to advertise their costs and pay the price they advertise.
---

clearaflagrantj posted...

CableZL posted...

The bill was like $20k and another $500 or so on a separate charge for that doctor telling me that. I had to fight with my insurance company because they didn't understand that the "doctor visit" was from the same hospital visit. They refused to pay at first because the doctor wasn't in network. Like I had a choice of what doctor walked into my hospital room or something.

I'm reading that this is a common scam for hospitals. They'll have doctors they contract and they all get to bill you, you don't know who is or isn't in your network.

No other service intentionally conceals the price and uses scams to squeeze money out of you when you're most vulnerable

Doctors aren't involved in the billing process in nearly any way other than being the ones who make the diagnosis.
---

FLUFFYGERM posted...

Another fucking topic about this? Reminder that TC makes like $85,000 a year and has a pretty good net worth for his age group. Paying $2000 for a one time visit to the emergency room because he selected a high-deductible plan for lower monthly payments isn't breaking his bank at all.

Simple solution: Hospitals and doctors need to advertise their costs and pay the price they advertise.

Doctors don't have "costs".

Hospital costs are nebulous because nearly every cost in US health care is nebulous and constantly in flux thanks to a combination of insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies and discount contracts.
---

My sister was in the hospital for a four days last December, including time in the emergency room twice, because of a dangerous infection from abroad.

Her bill was close to $20,000 for the medicine, room, emergency treatment, and multiple doctors. Since she has no insurance and a low income, the hospital waived all the fees thanks to existing programs to handle this.
---

illness is a sign of moral failure

if TC had just attended church more often he wouldn't have needed to go to the ER
---

don't get pneumonia then
---

i am always surprised to discover that ER copay is not a thing with most insurers

that time i cut off an inch of my left index finger cost me 75 bucks
---

FLUFFYGERM posted...

Another fucking topic about this? Reminder that TC makes like $85,000 a year and has a pretty good net worth for his age group. Paying $2000 for a one time visit to the emergency room because he selected a high-deductible plan for lower monthly payments isn't breaking his bank at all.

Shut the fuck up
---

Muffinz0rz posted...

FLUFFYGERM posted...

Another fucking topic about this? Reminder that TC makes like $85,000 a year and has a pretty good net worth for his age group. Paying $2000 for a one time visit to the emergency room because he selected a high-deductible plan for lower monthly payments isn't breaking his bank at all.

Shut the fuck up

yikes that's a melty
---

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zr2HcyDL9Mg" data-time="
---

Yeah, this is apparently pretty normal.

I got an ER bill for service from the hospital, then another 200 dollar bill from the doctor himself through some sort of group he is a part of.

It's real bullshit.
---

FLUFFYGERM posted...

Another fucking topic about this? Reminder that TC makes like $85,000 a year and has a pretty good net worth for his age group. Paying $2000 for a one time visit to the emergency room because he selected a high-deductible plan for lower monthly payments isn't breaking his bank at all.

Simple solution: Hospitals and doctors need to advertise their costs and pay the price they advertise.

"He can afford it, that means the system isnt broken!"
I cant hear you over my 100%free canadian ERs.
---

Doctors: I just saved your life. You'd be dead if it wasn't for me. Money please!!! I'm also prescribing you these pills. Take them if you want to continue living. MONEY PLEASE!!!
---

meestermj posted...

FLUFFYGERM posted...

Another fucking topic about this? Reminder that TC makes like $85,000 a year and has a pretty good net worth for his age group. Paying $2000 for a one time visit to the emergency room because he selected a high-deductible plan for lower monthly payments isn't breaking his bank at all.

Simple solution: Hospitals and doctors need to advertise their costs and pay the price they advertise.

"He can afford it, that means the system isnt broken!"
I cant hear you over my 100%free canadian ERs.

Well, I mean, not really

Still better than USA tho
---

meestermj posted...

FLUFFYGERM posted...

Another fucking topic about this? Reminder that TC makes like $85,000 a year and has a pretty good net worth for his age group. Paying $2000 for a one time visit to the emergency room because he selected a high-deductible plan for lower monthly payments isn't breaking his bank at all.

Simple solution: Hospitals and doctors need to advertise their costs and pay the price they advertise.

"He can afford it, that means the system isnt broken!"
I cant hear you over my 100%free canadian ERs.

"Hur dur year long wait times, death panels!"

Muffinz0rz posted...

meestermj posted...

FLUFFYGERM posted...

Another fucking topic about this? Reminder that TC makes like $85,000 a year and has a pretty good net worth for his age group. Paying $2000 for a one time visit to the emergency room because he selected a high-deductible plan for lower monthly payments isn't breaking his bank at all.

Simple solution: Hospitals and doctors need to advertise their costs and pay the price they advertise.

"He can afford it, that means the system isnt broken!"
I cant hear you over my 100%free canadian ERs.

Well, I mean

When I go to the ER, I pay nothing. Zip. Zilch. Nada.
Doctors appointment? Nada. Nothing.
Prescriptions? I pay less then 20%.
I also live in the province with the lowest taxes in Canada proper.

clearaflagrantj posted...

meestermj posted...

FLUFFYGERM posted...

Another fucking topic about this? Reminder that TC makes like $85,000 a year and has a pretty good net worth for his age group. Paying $2000 for a one time visit to the emergency room because he selected a high-deductible plan for lower monthly payments isn't breaking his bank at all.

Simple solution: Hospitals and doctors need to advertise their costs and pay the price they advertise.

"He can afford it, that means the system isnt broken!"
I cant hear you over my 100%free canadian ERs.

"Hur dur year long wait times, death panels!"

My wait times have always been under an hour, and I live in a Capitol city.
---

meestermj posted...

When I go to the ER, I pay nothing. Zip. Zilch. Nada.
Doctors appointment? Nada. Nothing.

I mean

Taxes

Still better than USA tho
---

Muffinz0rz posted...

meestermj posted...

When I go to the ER, I pay nothing. Zip. Zilch. Nada.
Doctors appointment? Nada. Nothing.

I mean

Taxes

Still better than USA tho

"I also live in the province with the lowest taxes in Canada proper."

Skipped that part eh? My income tax is under 5% of my monthly pay.
---

CableZL posted...

Yeah, I had this same thing happen a few years ago. I woke up from a nap and couldn't breathe. I had to lay in bed for a few minutes and try to force breaths in. I'm not sure if what happened, but after about 10 minutes or so (felt like forever) of taking gradually deeper breaths, I was able to breathe almost normally.

Went to the ER and they couldn't figure out what was wrong at all. They kept me overnight for monitoring. A doctor came in the next day and basically told me that all the tests came back normal and they didn't know what happened. He said they didn't want to prescribe any medicine because they didn't know what to treat. They released me a few hours later.

The bill was like $20k and another $500 or so on a separate charge for that doctor telling me that. I had to fight with my insurance company because they didn't understand that the "doctor visit" was from the same hospital visit. They refused to pay at first because the doctor wasn't in network. Like I had a choice of what doctor walked into my hospital room or something.

Could you move? I have sleep paralysis and sometimes wake unable to move or breathe. I have to consciously force in air until I can move again, and it takes a while to feel back to normal. I don't know if it's also sleep apnea or what, but it happens several times a month and is terrifying.

It's not especially serious, though. Hopefully yours was a one-off and won't happen again.

Panic attacks also can cause breathing to stop. Again, scary but not necessarily serious. It sucks that the doctors couldn't help you more.
---

Stay healthy if this is such a problem
---

NOM posted...

Yep health care in this country is a big time fucking joke. But nothing will be done about it because the people don't care enough.

Glad you're okay though man.

Not only that, they're penalizing people for not having insurance.
---

Well you do pay for it through taxes.

In the US you pay for it with the premiums so you can choose a higher deductible plan with lower annual premiums but you would owe more for an ER visit.

Or you can have a premium plan with a higher premium and lower costs for the ER.

Tbqh if you're a young adult with no medical issues the high deductible will save you money overtime as I doubt you are going to have ER visits frequently.
---

meestermj posted...

Muffinz0rz posted...

meestermj posted...

When I go to the ER, I pay nothing. Zip. Zilch. Nada.
Doctors appointment? Nada. Nothing.

I mean

Taxes

Still better than USA tho

"I also live in the province with the lowest taxes in Canada proper."

Skipped that part eh? My income tax is under 5% of my monthly pay.

Did you skip the part where I bolded the "100% free?"
---

JustMyOpinion posted...

Imagine actually thinking that an exorbitant hospital bill is fine.

In A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance (1957), Leon Festinger proposed that human beings strive for internal psychological consistency in order to mentally function in the real world. A person who experiences internal inconsistency tends to become psychologically uncomfortable, and is motivated to reduce the cognitive dissonance. This is done by making changes to justify their stressful behavior, either by adding new parts to the cognition causing the psychological dissonance, or by actively avoiding social situations and/or contradictory information likely to increase the magnitude of the cognitive dissonance.[1]

Proudclad just needs to conform to his neocapitalist rhetotic or else his entire world view will come crashing down around him.

Thank God for Medicaid
---

chetmanly posted...

Stay healthy if this is such a problem

My BMI and waist/height ratio are perfect, my diet is good, I lift four times a week and run five. I also consistently get 7-8 hours of sleep each night.

Accidents happen, injuries happen, bacterial pnuemonia happens, cancer, tumors, heart disease, it all happens.

If God calls your number you have to accept it. Cancer was caused by doctors trying to play God.
---

You're a 4 karma account
---