Why do we need Medicare at all?

[Wonder Why]

These two say it all.

A bill for my wife and what was paid.

Sleazy Private Hospital Corp (which was purchased from a non-profit) probably bills this amount to those without insurance driving them into bankruptcy or making them decline the necessary test.

[link:|]

[link:|]

$14K+ billed. Total Paid by Medicare $1300. We would owe $300+ but that was paid by a Medigap policy.

This is why we need Medicare For All!

What if everyone who didn't have Medicare could even avoid the $14K bill and only get a bill for the total paid by Medicare and paid by patient? Not everyone could afford even that much but it's a lot better than $14K!

[jimfields33]

2. People without insurance negotiate a price.

Hospitals always ask Medicare way more than they get. They want to ensure they are at least compensated. If they asked for 1300 dollars the true cost, they’d get 30 bucks. Maybe exaggerated a little. But they ask a ton more so they get what the true cost is.

[Generic Brad]

5. Like a healthcare debt ceiling?

Hard to negotiate after services have been rendered. I sure wish something was done to stop the obscene overcharges these companies impose on services and goods we can't shop around on. We need mandated price controls.

[inthewind21]

3. Hospitals

Do that to see fish for how much they can get. Example, we see what your medicare paid, however, Blue Cross may have paid the full amount or somewhere close where United Health Care may only pay 50% of what was billed and so on. Depends on what was "negotiated".

Example, I had back surgery in 2018. I went out of network so my insurance (Blue Cross) only paid 50%. I was told the surgery would be 28K. I paid my part up front before the surgery. Imagine my surprise when the facility billed my insurance 70K! When I asked them why that was done, response was "We bill that way because some insurance will pay more then others so we can make up for the insurance that doesn't." On top of my payment upfront payment they collected a little over 39K from my insurance, 11K more than what the entire bill was supposed to be.

[pinkstarburst]

4. It is not always possible to "negotiate" a price

There is a recurring treatment I HAVE to have every 3 months, or I am so sick we end up in and out of the ER. When covered by insurance, we pay nothing, and insurance pays around $1,200. I know this because I see the EOB every time.

When there have been insurance issues, the self-pay price is $4,500 and they do not allow you to negotiate it down. Not one cent. Believe me, I've tried everything.

So it is a myth that you can always negotiate a price or that self-pay can be cheaper. It isn't.

[jimfields33]

6. Damn. That awful to hear.

I admit I have have heard the negotiations BS. But I thought it was true. Such a dummy I can be.