The Insanity Of Medical Costs

[kenmac]

The reason I think it's so expensive is those of that have insurance has to make up for those that get treated and don't have insurance.
The gang bangers shoot up each other, go to the level 1 trauma center, get patched back up stays in the hospital a few days, gets out and the process starts all over again.

Now imagine having several of these non payers every night. Someone has to foot the bill as no one can be turned down for their ability to pay.
, us with insurance,or the ability to pay get stuck with high cost to cover those types.

Same with these pregnant women that have no insurance. They go to the ER when the're ready to have the baby. No money to pay,, no problem come on in we'll take care of it all and any check up you need. We'll make those that have insurance foot the bill by increasing cost to them.

When my children were younger and got hurt and needed to go to the ER. We would be in there with all these people bring their kids in with colds to be seen because they didn't have insurance and knew they wouldn't be turned away.
If they go to a private DR. office and don't have the money. That's tough, we not seeing you. So, the no insurance people always go to the ER for treatment, or any other issues that require payment and you don't want to pay.

 

[Dftodd]

It was around $5500 for my wife's last visit to the ER. All they did was press on her belly, tell her it wasn't her appendix, she was having a gallbladder attack and offered some morphine that was declined.

 

[dlctcg]

The Insurance industry & Medical system as a whole are more corrupt than our government... (& that is saying a lot) we pay $1400+ per month for two of us (no children)... have a $6400 deductible (so $23,200 per yr) insurance cost; which we hit ever year. This does not even come close to the $8500 - $10,000 per year we spend out of pocket for my wife's chronic Lyme that is not even covered by insurance (due to our corrupt system & lobbyists). I'm self-employed & she can no longer work due to her illness.... but what we pay ($30K per yr) & we still can not get her the care she needs is ridiculous...

 

[fishheadbob]

The reason I think it's so expensive is those of that have insurance has to make up for those that get treated and don't have insurance.

I have a Medicare Advantage plan. Twice a year I have routine bloodwork done, the lab bills my insurance company $250 for the tests. The insurance company has negotiated a reimbursement with the lab for $40. Insurance pays $30, I have a co-pay of $10, and that's it.
If I didn't have insurance and their negotiated rate I would be on the hook for the entire $250. Crazy. That is a difference of $210 the lab doesn't get and they are happily making money at the $40 rate. Some things defy logic.

 

[Ken]

To show the difference of medical costs. 1960 our daughter was born in Hosp. and the total charge was very little over $100 bucks.
2 years later again son was born in Hosp. and an additional day for a health problem. Down payment $100 and received 30 bucks back

A Doctor bill was $10 bucks whenever in need of health care.

My father was having a heart attack and went to the emergency room . told the lady in the window of his problem .immedadly nurses took him into the room and started to check his problem. About and hour later Doctor came out and said he was recovering and It would be nice if they knew his name. filled out the 1 sheet of informatkion. and about 10 days later the bill was around $1000.00

Several years later his health again was heart problems and the charges were unbelievable. after he passed the Dr. and Hosp sent us the charges. his Soc. Security paid some but we paid it off on around 2 years of payment.
I believe if the Government got out of health care it would return to a sensible amount again. But the Horse has left the barn.
ken

 

[3Ts]

A friend of mine is a pharmacist and is licensed to do compounding. He can make the pills that you take, with the condition that he's not allowed to make ones in the "standard" dosages. e.g. if a pill comes in the 5 and 10 mg dosages, he can make 7.5 mg or any dosage other than the 5 and 10 mg. He told me that he can make a 7.5 mg dosage for a common pill for $0.30 and make money, but the pharmaceutical companies charge $5.00. So, then we got into the discussion about the research and development costs of new drugs, he doesn't buy that either.

 

[Jstpssng]

It's just Capitalism at it's finest, charging the highest prices which the market will bear.

 

[Agvg]

Last time I was at the hospital it costed me ca 25$, no paperwork or anything, if I need to see a doctor or take a test it's 20$, and still no paperwork. But of course I live in a socialist **** in Europe

 

[oosik]

My wife passed away ten years ago. If it weren't for our insurance coverage - I'd still be an ex-pat somewhere in Mexico. Her total bill was a tad short of $1.6 million. The VERY FIRST thing the hospital did when she hit the emergency room - check to see that we had insurance coverage and that she would, in fact, be covered. She was in/out of the hospital for four months. I still have the itemized bill - typed, single space - 167 pages.

 

[kenmac]

My wife passed away ten years ago. If it weren't for our insurance coverage - I'd still be an ex-pat somewhere in Mexico. Her total bill was a tad short of $1.6 million. The VERY FIRST thing the hospital did when she hit the emergency room - check to see that we had insurance coverage and that she would, in fact, be covered. She was in/out of the hospital for four months. I still have the itemized bill - typed, single space - 167 pages.

insurance or not. they would have had to taken care of her.
I know a guy that has drank all his life . Many health problems associated with his drinking. He has spent most of his life in and out of hospitals. Always did odd jobs for a living. Anyway, he has never paid a hospital bill. He says they are are always sending him bills. He just throws them in the trash