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There are many issues with the hospitals north of us. I posted just a few of the links I found. Women having miscarriages while waiting in the ER waiting room for 3 hours, an aboriginal double amputee left in the waiting room 34 hours before he died without ever being admitted.
I want to comment on this. Last year I had a screening MRI. I have one every year, and they have always been about the same amount (~$1200). Because of our very high deductible of $8000, most years we have paid this cost out of pocket.
Last year my doctor suggested a new imaging center, "just downstairs" from her office. I called and confirmed that they took my insurance, made an appointment, and everything went fine.
Then.....we got the bill. $5400. Which, again, we would have to pay out of pocket. This seemed insane! There was nothing so special about that MRI, that it should cost over four times the normal amount and there was no way we were paying that bill as it stood. I called my insurance, BC/BS, and they said this was indeed our "adjusted" rate for a preferred provider. Then I called the imaging center.
"Ohh," they said, "That's because it's affiliated with the hospital. You are being charged for hospital fees. There's nothing we can do here; if you have a problem with your bill, you need to write to the billing address."
So I sent off a letter. About three months later I got a call from a very nice young woman who said she completely understood, etc. She offered to remove the insurance claim and let me pay the cash price for my procedure.
"And how much is the cash price?"
Brace yourself...it was $973. Just a little matter of $4,427 less than the center billed my insurance. Not only that, my insurance was willing to pay it! Or, rather, they were willing to let ME pay it. But in cases where their patient had already met the deductible, BC/BS would have just reimbursed the hospital this ridiculous amount, and the hospital would happily have taken it because they could.
So yes, the problem is hospitals for overcharging, and insurance companies for allowing it.
Saibot, it is crazy how much of a difference the bill is. I have to get MRI's every year for a serious condition and the posted amount is $6,000 and then when all is said and done my co-pay is about $60-120 depending on which part was done.
My pcp told me of a similar story to yours of a patient who had their MRI at the hospital. Sadly, because she had insurance, and the insurance denied the procedure she was getting a bill into the thousands. She had been quoted (if she was uninsured) something ridiculous like $300. total if uninsured. THIS is the kind of thing that is so messed up about our healthcare system.
There are many issues with the hospitals north of us. I posted just a few of the links I found. Women having miscarriages while waiting in the ER waiting room for 3 hours, an aboriginal double amputee left in the waiting room 34 hours before he died without ever being admitted.
And of course, none of that happens south of us!
I'll see your aboriginal reference with one about rural Kentucky:
15 years wait to have a blood clot in her leg scanned??????? Even I'm having a problem believing that one!
And this one by your own CIA deals with Maternal deaths as a sub-category stating America experiences 21 maternal deaths compared to Canada's 12 per 100,000. So I guess those issues with the hospitals north of you are still not as serious as yours using the same category of maternity issues.
15 years wait to have a blood clot in her leg scanned??????? Even I'm having a problem believing that one!
And this one by your own CIA deals with Maternal deaths as a sub-category stating America experiences 21 maternal deaths compared to Canada's 12 per 100,000. So I guess those issues with the hospitals north of you are still not as serious as yours using the same category of maternity issues.
That is spot on......the definitions vary, and I'm going to show a website that proves exactly that.
I got something you're not going to want to see....you know, 'cause it has facts.
Good post, but that pales in comparison the United States Centers for Disease Control.
Since you have so much difficulty finding US government websites to back any of your claims, I'll help you out here.
"If the United States had Sweden’s distribution of births by gestational age, nearly 8,000 infant deaths would be averted each year and the U.S. infant mortality rate would be one-third lower."
Note the cause of the "high" infant mortality rate.... "The main cause of the United States' high infant mortality rate when compared with Europe is the very high percentage of preterm births in the United States."
Everyone needs to see that.
The epidemic of preterm births in the US is not due to healthcare. The cause is older women giving birth, plus there are dietary factors, which no amount of healthcare can fix.
Mortally...
Mircea
The epidemic of preterm births in the USA is NOT due to merely "dietary factors" and "older women giving birth."
"Often, the specific cause of premature birth isn't clear. Many factors may increase the risk of premature birth, however, including:
Having a previous premature birthPregnancy with twins, triplets or other multiplesAn interval of less than six months between pregnanciesConceiving through in vitro fertilizationProblems with the uterus, cervix or placentaSmoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol or using illicit drugsPoor nutritionSome infections, particularly of the amniotic fluid and lower genital tractSome chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetesBeing underweight or overweight before pregnancyStressful life events, such as the death of a loved one or domestic violenceMultiple miscarriages or abortionsPhysical injury or traumaUnusual shape of the uterus
For unknown reasons, black women are more likely to experience premature birth than are women of other races. But premature birth can happen to anyone. In fact, many women who have a premature birth have no known risk factors."
This last paragraph should not be overlooked. The fact remains that USA has a shoddy infant mortality rate in comparison to other first world countries.
Yea, I remember several years ago. I was brushing my teeth, when I spit out the toothpaste the left side of my face went numb, just like a shot of Novocain. I called the doc and they sent me to the emergency rm. After a 2 1/2 hr. wait I was finally seen. After preliminary test for stroke were all negative, the doc said he felt I was having a stroke and I should stay overnight for more tests, I said no and they ask me to sign a release (to cover their ass). I said " If you thought I was having a stroke , why did I wait I wait 2 1/2 hrs. in the waiting room?
Dr. had no answer, just lip service. Well, I promised to follow up with my PCP and it turned out to be a palsy which is caused by a virus, which explains why I had felt sick for the last week. Hospitals and doctors are so afraid of being sued, they go to great lengths to cover their asses, and you can't really blame them. Numbness went away after a few months.
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Just sayin'
