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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBoston hospitals and insurers will waive most medical bills for bombing victims
Boston Hospitals And Insurers Will Help Ease The Bombing Victims Medical Costs
The total medical costs resulting from last weeks Boston Marathon attack are expected to top $9 million and that could be a conservative estimate, since the bombings injury toll has just been revised up to nearly 300 people. Fortunately, however, the citys largest health providers are stepping up to ensure that the victims wont suffer under the full weight of those mounting costs.
The Boston Globe reports that the largest health insurers in Massachusetts are planning to eliminate out-of-pocket fees for the bombing victims who are receiving treatment for their injuries, and three of the citys hospitals are promising to delay billing those patients. Fortunately, health care providers plan to address ongoing treatment for long-term health issues as well as the initial emergency room care that victims received in the immediate aftermath of the attacks. Tufts Health Plan a Boston-based insurer whose corporate offices are actually located just blocks away from where the manhunt to capture the bombing suspects first began with a shoot-out on Friday morning has announced that, in addition to waiving costs for physical treatment, it will also cover the cost of mental health care.
The physical injuries are easier to determine, but the mental health component is important, a Tufts spokeswoman told the Boston Globe. Six months down the road, someone may have a hard time dealing with these issues. The insurance company has already contacted over a thousand mental health providers to make sure they will be available to take on the extra caseload that may arise as bombing survivors cope with potential post-traumatic stress disorder.
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http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/04/25/1919921/boston-hospitals-insurers/
bmbmd
(3,088 posts)Who would have thought? Maybe it will catch on.
lpbk2713
(42,757 posts)They didn't have to but they did.
What's not to like about Boston?
Skittles
(153,160 posts)they don't gouge people who are receiving extensive publicity
TheMadMonk
(6,187 posts)...are no longer in the news and in need of follow up treatment.
elehhhhna
(32,076 posts)elehhhhna
(32,076 posts)fucking operating the way they should "Hey, lookie -- WE WON'T FUCK THESE PEOPLE!" Wow, attaboys.
Skittles
(153,160 posts)and is suffocating under piles of bills and won't be able to afford therapy
elehhhhna
(32,076 posts)have medical conditions and no sympathy or fundraisers
malaise
(269,004 posts)Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)that the rest of the insureds will pay in the form of increased premiums, I expect.
I just wouldn't believe until I see it that insurers will take money out of their profit margins to give insureds.
surrealAmerican
(11,360 posts)... these fees (and I agree that it isn't), why is it fair that other accident victims would have to pay them?
The system is unfair, and needs to be changed for everybody.