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I was saying that as a JOKE because I've been called that (and worse) many times on this board...
They love to accuse you of being an inferior person and ASSUME that you want something for free.
They love to call people names,....
If you want HEALTH CARE reform, then in theirmind YOU're a Socialist.
So, now, I guess that means you're a RINO, if you're a socialist, republican voter.
You're so right. Something has to be done about our healthcare.
Sorry WC I got my wires crossed. Since I'm a socialist republican I guess that makes me a moderate.
I'm angry at the republican party because they've voiced very little in what they propose to do about this health insurance racket. What they've proposed the loudest is tort reform. Another words they propose to increase profits to the insurance companies by allowing caps on those injured by malpractice. The malpractice premium insurance costs have increased in those states who have passed tort reform. Bad idea republican party, better come up with a different strategy or else. As a republican I would bust up these huge insurance companies into smaller companies and yank their colluding, money fixing anti-trust exemption from them and impose federal regulation on them and really allow true competition in every state in the union creating large pools of happy premium paying americans who may find themselves able to afford health insurance at a reasonble price, even without employment being a factor because group coverage over individual coverage may not be a factor any longer.
But, this wont happen. If that is the case a non profit health insurance is needed. Another words a one payer system.
It doesn't sound like these kids had colds if the total bill was $20K.
Silly me, taking the OP at their word..
Quote:
Originally Posted by denverian
I don't think anyone believes healthcare should be free. But like we just found out recently, two hours in the emergency room for our kids (sick twins) who were just checked out and got one shot ended up costing us nearly $2K OUT OF POCKET after insurance paid its part. Ridiculous!
Um.. what does that have to do with anything I posted. The facts are there is a different job function of a family doctor vs an emergency room. Thats a fact..
If you go to the emergency room for something that you should have gone to your family doctor for.. Dont complain about the bill
What makes you so sure this was the case for denverian? He already said the kids had 103 temps in the middle of the night. Does your family doc hold office hours at 4 AM? How do you know he didn't talk to the dr. who said to take them to the ER?
What makes you so sure this was the case for denverian? He already said the kids had 103 temps in the middle of the night. Does your family doc hold office hours at 4 AM? How do you know he didn't talk to the dr. who said to take them to the ER?
If you take your kids to the emergency room, be prepared to pay the bill... Its that simple.. He had 2 kids, $1,000 fee for each.. Thats not out of line to make ones kids healthy.. And hospitals will negotate this down to a few hundred with a phone call..
If you wont spend a few hundred to make your kids feel better, why do you expect me to?
You'd think denverian would be thankful they had insurance, but his example is counter the thread argument about "high profits" for the insurance agents.. They wont pay $18k.. but I bet he's dam glad he had insurance and he expects them to pay "their share"..
If you take your kids to the emergency room, be prepared to pay the bill... Its that simple.. He had 2 kids, $1,000 fee for each.. Thats not out of line to make ones kids healthy.. And hospitals will negotate this down to a few hundred with a phone call..
If you wont spend a few hundred to make your kids feel better, why do you expect me to?
You'd think denverian would be thankful they had insurance, but his example is counter the thread argument about "high profits" for the insurance agents.. They wont pay $18k.. but I bet he's dam glad he had insurance and he expects them to pay "their share"..
It's about what's reasonable. If I went in to have my head reattached, maybe $2K is reasonable. A couple shots and getting fevers down, $2K doesn't seem reasonable. It also seems like a lot of the problem is with what doctors and hospitals charge. With my skin cancer check scenario, it should not have cost $2000 overall to see a doctor for 5 minutes. Could it be the doctors/hospitals are part of the problem and screwing over the insurance companies? Or is this the cost of people who have no insurance who then bail on the bill being passed on? The entire system is broken.
If you take your kids to the emergency room, be prepared to pay the bill... Its that simple.. He had 2 kids, $1,000 fee for each.. Thats not out of line to make ones kids healthy.. And hospitals will negotate this down to a few hundred with a phone call..
If you wont spend a few hundred to make your kids feel better, why do you expect me to?
You'd think denverian would be thankful they had insurance, but his example is counter the thread argument about "high profits" for the insurance agents.. They wont pay $18k.. but I bet he's dam glad he had insurance and he expects them to pay "their share"..
Poor attempt at deflection after implying he took the kids to the ER frivolously, receiving an answer, and then reiterating the question. And sure, a quick little phone call and everything will be hunkey-dorey.
It's about what's reasonable. If I went in to have my head reattached, maybe $2K is reasonable. A couple shots and getting fevers down, $2K doesn't seem reasonable. It also seems like a lot of the problem is with what doctors and hospitals charge. With my skin cancer check scenario, it should not have cost $2000 overall to see a doctor for 5 minutes. Could it be the doctors/hospitals are part of the problem and screwing over the insurance companies? Or is this the cost of people who have no insurance who then bail on the bill being passed on? The entire system is broken.
it sounds to me like the insurance company should be the one complaining.. $18,000 to make kids not "sick" that isnt theirs? But are they complaining? I doubt it.. They are doing their job to fufill their end of the agreement, you need to call the hospital and askt hem what your "share" is, and ask them for an amount other than billed. Its quite simple to make the call.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Katiana
Poor attempt at deflection after asking him why he took the kids to the ER, receiving an answer, and then reiterating the question. And sure, a quick little phone call and everything will be hunkey-dorey.
The OP did claim he took them because they were "sick". If my kids were sick I'd wait for a few hours and take them to the family doctor and be happy with my $200 bill. If your going to use emergency service, then indeed be prepared to pay the bill... Period.
What many fail to understand is why does the hospital bill so much? If you get to this answer, (which is "government") then maybe you'll understand why many oppose governments further involvement. The OP link further confirms this.. The more individuals who sign up for "government" care, the more profits the insurance companies had in the OP report.
It's about what's reasonable. If I went in to have my head reattached, maybe $2K is reasonable. A couple shots and getting fevers down, $2K doesn't seem reasonable. It also seems like a lot of the problem is with what doctors and hospitals charge. With my skin cancer check scenario, it should not have cost $2000 overall to see a doctor for 5 minutes. Could it be the doctors/hospitals are part of the problem and screwing over the insurance companies? Or is this the cost of people who have no insurance who then bail on the bill being passed on? The entire system is broken.
It seems if you don't have insurance at all the doc will charge less. The same could be said about meds too. Yes, the system is scewed. But it may not be the doctor's fault, instead it could be the cost the doctor needs to charge in order to comply with the insurance company.
If I was wealthy I would pay cash for my doctor and my wife's doctor and carry catastrophic insurance. The reason is you as a patient will have much more control over your health and treatment without interference from a government or a for profit insurance company that interferes plenty. I know because I live it everyday.
I don't think anyone believes healthcare should be free. But like we just found out recently, two hours in the emergency room for our kids (sick twins) who were just checked out and got one shot ended up costing us nearly $2K OUT OF POCKET after insurance paid its part. Ridiculous! And then I also have to wonder about what hospitals are charging as well... from that ER visit, the total bill was over $20K! For what??? That's what my car cost!!!
We want to pay what's reasonable, affordable for the middle class, and to receive reasonable care. That's it!
I'm sorry you had to pay that much.
Had you lived in another industrialized country (because remember, the U.S. is the only one without universal health care), it would have been much cheaper.
Part of the problem it cost so much is because the system is more focused on profit.
What makes you so sure this was the case for denverian? He already said the kids had 103 temps in the middle of the night. Does your family doc hold office hours at 4 AM? How do you know he didn't talk to the dr. who said to take them to the ER?
Thank you!!
Many times when the doc's office is closed they TELL you to call 911 or go to the ER.
In many countries with universal health care, they have more general physicians than we do, which is part of the reason their costs are lower. In France house calls are common.
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