Crappy day @ the ER Saturday

[mroper]

The bills and costs are so inflated so when they write down the Charity care they must give out it shows as a very large number. We provided $15 Million of charity care to the community.

 

[BRD@66]

Hope you are doing better and the problem can be found and corrected.

Very frustrating.

......

^This. Also, hang in there. If it's still in existence, Medicare will kick in in about 10 years & you'll be covered maybe.

 

[TJjerry]

A sham indeed, but at least you got some tests. In Socialized medicine you typically see a PA instead of a real Doctor. Because specialist are reduced as well as available equipment, xray, MRI, CT scanners, etc., here ae some of the average wait times in Canada that they are so proud of. People actually do die waiting for a test. Sixty five days for a Cardiac Bypass? Almost a year in a wheelchair waiting on a knee?

We need improvements, but not these kinds. Hope you fine the cause and correct it.

 

[baboon]

^This. Also, hang in there. If it's still in existence, Medicare will kick in in about 10 years & you'll be covered maybe.

Mine starts in 6 1/2 months!

 

[lonestardiver]

The tests the ER doc did were completely warranted to rule out all the potential life threatening causes of syncope (passing out). ER doctors are really only able to find imminent life threatening conditions. There are many reasons for passing out, but only a few are life threatening. That being said you should see your Doctor and get a carotid ultrasound and a Holter monitor (wear at home heart monitor) these would cover any other serious issues that can cause what happened to you. I am a paramedic that has 26 years in emergency medicine including 22 working in ER.
As for ER costs and medical insurance that could be a 1000 page thread itself. The main things that need to happen to reduce costs is 1. Get the government out of the healthcare business.
2. Hospital and other healthcare costs should be openly available BEFORE you need it so you can shop around.
3.Every individual needs to take ownership in their health. I’m not saying that everyone has to be a super fitness nut, but they should have a decent diet, get out and walk regularly, check your blood pressure, and get routine checkups especially after 40. Good luck to you and stay safe.

This ^^^

 

[rotor]

When you get on medicare make sure you don't get an advantage plan, go regular medicare with a supplement. I never pay one penny for anything ER, surgery or doctors office. The problem with CT scans, you could probably get the same scan outside the hospital for 1/4 the cost and covered.
Last year my wife with a gold BC HMO plan and about $10k deductible (my out of pocket) paid $1.2 million so be very thankful you are not looking at being uninsured. The other fact is that had you had no insurance you could have bargained the price of your care with the hospital. Make arrangements with them now, pay $10 a month. Be glad they didn't find anything bad.

 

[jordanmills]

Yep, that's a crappy day.

 

[Mowingmaniac 24/7]

Rotor's advice is solid.

I'm on Medicare, with a BCBS plan F and of course plan D formulary.

A few years back, I had to have my gall bladder yanked. Cost $13,000 plus.

No out of pocket expense to me which more than made up for the supplemental cost.

Also, many PA's are better at diagnosis than GP's.

The PA was the one to diagnose my need for gallbladder surgery.

My family doc, who I went to initially, missed it completely...

 

[Axxe55]

Most PA's can do pretty much the same as a regular doctor, with the exception of surgery. I have had some really good PA's over the years.

 

[TJjerry]

I am not down on PAs. My GPs Pa likely saved my life by spotting a blood clot before many symptoms. I was pointing out that in socialized med, more PAs come about and less specialist. I really want a specialist if they have to put that needle in my spine again.

 

[Dave68]

The financial part of modern health care is a mess. At the root, in my opinion (which is in itself worthless) is that many medical services can never be free market commodities. If I need to go to the ER, I have no idea what tests I will need and have no real opportunity to shop around. The technology in modern medicine has become almost too good to be affordable. Yet doctors are obliged to run all sorts of tests so they don’t miss something and get sued for malpractice. At the same time, most people expect to have the highest level of care, especially in an emergency.

 

[Younggun]

Once went to the ER because my eye was hurting. They put some UV drops in it and tried to shine a light in to look for scratches or something but the light was broke. They told me it was probably just scratched and sent me away.

Next day I went to a clinic by appointment. Doc took out a small metal shaving.


Couple weeks later I got a bill from the ER for their fancy UV gizmo. I called. We had words. They said I had to pay. Told them good luck getting it. It never showed up on my credit so whatever.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[rmantoo]

Wow. Thank you all for the responses, information, and advice.

So Monday morning I was on the phone with the hospital's billing dept, followed by the 3 board member's whose phone numbers I was able to find. I didn't cuss anyone out, but I did cuss.

3-4 hours after that last phone call- wherein the board member hung up on me (I might have accused him of not understand 2nd and 3rd order effects of HIS hospital's billing procedures creating a de-facto violation of the hippocratic oath) the billing dept called and offered me several options to 'help with my situation.'

1. there is some sort of 'indigent assistance' program wherein were I homeless, some org would cover my bill... yeah... not
2. there is some sort of 'immigrant assistance' program wherein were I an immigrant, some org would cover my bill... again, not
3. there is some sort of program wherein if I could demonstrate 'significant financial hardship' as a result of 'my condition,'... there is some org that would help with my bill...

Basically, I don't qualify for any of the above. Ok. Whatever.

I simply cannot WAIT to find out how muhc my upcoming MRI, colonoscopy, and psa tests are going to cost. YAY!!

The tests the ER doc did were completely warranted to rule out all the potential life threatening causes of syncope (passing out). ER doctors are really only able to find imminent life threatening conditions. There are many reasons for passing out, but only a few are life threatening. That being said you should see your Doctor and get a carotid ultrasound and a Holter monitor (wear at home heart monitor) these would cover any other serious issues that can cause what happened to you. I am a paramedic that has 26 years in emergency medicine including 22 working in ER.
As for ER costs and medical insurance that could be a 1000 page thread itself. The main things that need to happen to reduce costs is 1. Get the government out of the healthcare business.
2. Hospital and other healthcare costs should be openly available BEFORE you need it so you can shop around.
3.Every individual needs to take ownership in their health. I’m not saying that everyone has to be a super fitness nut, but they should have a decent diet, get out and walk regularly, check your blood pressure, and get routine checkups especially after 40. Good luck to you and stay safe.

Agreed on the above. I actually asked about a carotid 'test' - answer was, 'maybe.' ER doc said my pcp would probably send me home with a holter at some point...

I really like the Tulsa Surgery Center model: All prices available on the web site, ala carte.

I'm in pretty good health: 52 yo. bp 125/90 @ 66bpm resting sat pulse o2 98-99%. Cholesterol, ldl, hdl both well within range, walk 1-4 miles 6 days a week. 18% body fat per last checkup.

Worst aspect of my health is my 'diet,' which mostly consists of high fructose corn syrup and chick filet. Well, that and a general disdain for anything resembling 'healthy' food- which is the 5th plank in the communist plot to take over our country.

 

[baboon]

Send them a dollar - $5.00 for each bill. It will eventually go away.

 

[rotor]

I don't know what insurance you have but the charge for anything you have done at a hospital is based on the contracted rate for that insurance company. For example..
Aetna contracted rate for a CT may be $1,200
Blue Cross rate for the same test may be $800
Medicare rate may be $200
Medicaid rate my be $50
No insurance charge may be $4,000
In my experience, Blue Cross has the lowest contracted rate (not counting Medicare/Medicaid) of any company so I recommend BC insurance.
So, the charges you received are the charges that are allowed with your insurance. You must of course meet your deductibles first before they pay. What the hospital charges though are negotiated rates with your insurance company. That's why I recommend Blue Cross as they get the lowest rates.
Having the prices listed in my opinion doesn't help as the price you are charged is the contract price.
This is all a nightmare for the average person.
Pay them $20 a month and stop worrying about it.