Got my hospital bills today, $30,000 for appendix removal, insurance settled at 10,000 (legal, lawyers)

[Cavaturaccioli]

Originally Posted by ambient

Do you realize that what when the insurance pays way less than the hospital bills, the patient has to pay the difference in hard cash straight out of their own pocket?

That is not true. Period.

[henrjam]

This looks more and more like a racket.
There might be a better word but I don't know it.

[ambient]

Originally Posted by Cavaturaccioli

That is not true. Period.

What alternate reality do you live in? I know people who have been stuck with huge bills even with insurance - and I've experienced it once myself in the past. You may be able to negotiate it down, but every health care provider tells you straight out of the gate before they touch you that whatever insurance won't cover will be your responsibility.

[juppiter]

Originally Posted by HappyTexan

Do you see a pattern here ?

What the hospitals bill and what the insurance pays.
In each instance the insurance pays way less than the bill and it's settled.

Could you do that without insurance ?

No..getting everyone insurance is not the solution because having insurance seems to be the problem.

So... what? Nobody should have insurance and the government should pay for it? Like liberals wanted?

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by Theliberalvoice

The Republicans here think it is your fault. You deserved it. Just don't sick or have emergencies. It is that simple.

Jeez.

Don't forget "personal responsibility". It is the OP's fault his appendix got iflamed. No one else's! (Sarcasm intended)

[ergohead]

Originally Posted by Katiana

Don't forget "personal responsibility". It is the OP's fault his appendix got iflamed. No one else's! (Sarcasm intended)

He shouldn't have swallowed a grape seed.

[Cavaturaccioli]

Originally Posted by ambient

What alternate reality do you live in? I know people who have been stuck with huge bills even with insurance - and I've experienced it once myself in the past. You may be able to negotiate it down, but every health care provider tells you straight out of the gate before they touch you that whatever insurance won't cover will be your responsibility.

My alternate reality is twenty years in health care. If you stay in network the fees are negotiated and agreed upon. The out of pocket expense is not unreasonable.

[LauraC]

Why do you think surgeries in the hospital costs so much?

Could it be:

1) You are paying for everyone else who doesn't have insurance/uses the hospital like a clinic?

2) Medical malpractice insurance for the doctors?

3) The cost of green jello has skyrocketed?

[11thHour]

Originally Posted by Randomstudent

I don't see why they would. Hospitals have attorneys, insurance companies also have attorneys. Part of why hospitals negotiate with insurance companies is they weigh the cost of a lawsuit to collect against how much they can get the insurance company to cough up. People on the other hand generally don't have attorneys and as a result it can be much easier to get a collection judgement against a person then it is to negotiate with them.

We (my wife and I) currently have several tens of thousands of medical debt incurred from an emergency surgery and resultant hospital stay early this year. After she was released, the insurance co. sent a letter saying they weren't going to cover some of the days in the hospital. We've appealed 3 times with no change. We tried to negotiate with the hospital. They would not budge, at all. They also would not accept payment arrangements! They are demanding payment in full! Not going to happen. We've made monthly payments, which they've accepted, yet they still demand it in full and sent us to collections. I am expecting to be sued. Don't know what it will accomplish, we don't have the money, wife can only work part time since the surgery. All this happened with insurance. F the hospitals and the insurance co's both.

[Katarina Witt]

Most likely, 3.