The Insanity Of Medical Costs

[Oaktree]

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

Worse than that, often times there's only one supplier for a given drug. When the patent is close to expiration they'll tweak the formula just enough to be able to re-patent it and keep it from becoming a generic.

We're fortunate in that neither my wife nor I have any ailments that require those expensive drugs.

 

[Diggin It]

This is what they're billing the insurance company for the first ER visit for my hand.


The $10 wrap is a piece of gauze bandage I can get at most stores for a buck. The other two are basically Saline solution and cleansers. Note the fee for the Tetnus shot and the separate fee to 'administer'.

I can't really debate the X-ray fees.


The fee on the bottom is supposedly for the doctor, who wasn't a doctor at all, just a PA.

So, with them billing each item, what's the top fee for? They didn't use or consume anything else but cot space for an hour, some sheets and towels, and ... ??? Oh yeah, phone calls to find where to send me because they were unable to do anything and some paper with the driving directions.


Yeah, they didn't DO anything. Examined briefly, irrigated, shot, x-ray, wrap and say 'Thataway>>>'. Zero real treatment.

 

[CADplans]

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 have Social Security, but, I have an Advantage Plan,, which is ZERO cost to me for the plan

Doctor visits in 2019 are $5,,, next year, (2020) doctor visits are ZERO,, no cost at all,,,

Emergency room visits are $50,, all inclusive,, I have used it twice, my doctor said they did over $10,000 in tests because I had chest pains,, zero cost to me,

Meds, two prescriptions are free,, one costs $13 per month,,

I think my health costs are lower than what my grandmother paid in 1968,,,

 

[CADplans]

AND, I forgot to mention,, transportation to and from doctor visits are included, ZERO cost,,
I am close to 20 miles each way to the doctor,, we called, yep, free,,

I do not use it because I do other things when I have gone that far,,
I doubt that the free ride would stop at Tractor Supply for 20 minutes?

 

[Diggin It]

I have Social Security, but, I have an Advantage Plan,, which is ZERO cost to me for the plan

How does that work?

 

[CADplans]

How does that work?

I get bombarded with Advantage Plan offers EVERY fall,, we use AARP United Healthcare,,
you just tell them you want added, they administer your Medicare,, and GIVE you all these adders for free,,

I think the Advantage Plan companys get BIG money from the government,,
so, they gotta give you the better than the other guy deal to keep you with them,,

I could switch EVERY year, but, we are happy with the one we have.

Heck, we even get the "Free Steak Dinner" offers to get us to consider other Advantage plans,,,

 

[Travelover]

How does that work?

He is confusing Social Security with Medicare. He has evidently chosen an Advantage plan which is like an HMO paid for with Medicare funds as opposed to Traditional Medicare Part B with a supplement plan to pay the other 20% that Medicare Part B does not cover.

 

[Diggin It]

Yeah, that's what I'm trying to figure out.

 

[fishheadbob]

I believe Medicare coughs up round $11,000, maybe more, for every enrollee in an Advantage plan. Now you know why you're bombarded with junk mail, telemarketers, steak dinners, and so on. The health insurance companies like to make money. Do they really make much? Depends on how many healthy people they can get. One "crock' can eat up a lot of profits from all the healthy people they really want. This thread has mentioned persons with eye popping bills; it takes a lot of healthy people to cover the costs of one very expensive patient. They cannot discriminate, and I don't think they can use the pre-existing clause out like with younger people.
Me? I'm in an Advantage plan; I always use a not for profit plan as I'm lucky to have a couple of highly rated non-profits in my area.

 

[Diggin It]

^^^ See, that's the thing though. I'm otherwise healthy. Eat better than many, am somewhat physically active, have never really had health or illness issues, have been getting checkups in recent years with no 'defects' noted. Them ... Wham. And mine was very, very minor, no broken bones, no lengthy hospital stay, all outpatient, no long term prescriptions and full recovery expected.

But the very same fall could had led to all of that and possibly long term disability.