General Discussion

R Merm

(443 posts)

22. This summer

Thu Dec 5, 2013, 12:13 PM

Dec 2013

I cut the tip of my finger off at around 5:30 on a Saturday. I know going to the emergency room was not the best idea, but it needed to be treated. I went to 4 or 5 different urgent care clinics all of them closing at either 5 or 3 pm on Saturdays. Having no choice I went to the e.r. and paid the higher prices. Sometimes there is no other option available. My costs were under $1,000.00 but that was with the negotiated BCBS rates ($5,000.00 deductible that I never go above). Under my old insurance, also high deductible but no contracted rates, it would have cost me more then double that.

There is no question that the system is unfair, one of our local non-profit hospitals was so aggressive on collections that they were going after peoples homes. How can actions like that be justified.

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Hospital Price-Gouging Widespread [View all] unhappycamper Dec 2013 OP

This matches up with JimDandy Dec 2013 #1

Weird hospital pricing is a product of our payment system. 95% of US hospitals are not-for-profit. Scuba Dec 2013 #2

when they charge $10 ea for tampons like they did to my wife, they're gouging. hobbit709 Dec 2013 #3

They're doing it to cover for the free care they are required to give in the ER .... Scuba Dec 2013 #4

Hospital executives are being paid up to 7 figure salaries. The money may not go to share holders R Merm Dec 2013 #11

I agree that some hospital execs are overpayed. Most are underpaid ... Scuba Dec 2013 #13

non profit hospitlas spent 2% or less on charity care rdking647 Dec 2013 #7

Apples and oranges. That unpaid ER visit isn't categorized as charity, it's a straight loss. Scuba Dec 2013 #14

Do you have any backup for your assertions? Paolo123 Dec 2013 #18

30+ years as a hospital administrator Scuba Dec 2013 #23

OK thanks Paolo123 Dec 2013 #36

There's a concerted effort being made to confuse the public about healthcare costs. Scuba Dec 2013 #37

no it is not maindawg Dec 2013 #21

Wrong. If the patient has Medicaid, that's an insurance payment. Scuba Dec 2013 #24

Not for profit? Define what that means, please. erronis Dec 2013 #28

Certainly employees, which sometimes include physicians, get paid, but there are no owners that do. Scuba Dec 2013 #30

exactly. thank you. magical thyme Dec 2013 #31

Amazing how many people still don't get this. Scuba Dec 2013 #32

I would like a simple reform... sendero Dec 2013 #5

while I'm sure price gouging does occur here and there greenman3610 Dec 2013 #6

the hospital in the story has 28 execs making 1m a year rdking647 Dec 2013 #8

And there you have it. freebrew Dec 2013 #9

No, they don't "just give themselves a raise". Scuba Dec 2013 #15

American medical personnel work five times as hard as those in other developed countries? Fumesucker Dec 2013 #19

Well said. erronis Dec 2013 #29

do those other countries have some kind of single payer system? magical thyme Dec 2013 #33

You have to have insurance to get the insurer's negotiated rates. FarCenter Dec 2013 #10

And once again R Merm Dec 2013 #12

Of course, if I had the described cut or gash, I wouldn't go to a hospital emergency room. FarCenter Dec 2013 #16

This summer R Merm Dec 2013 #22

The local ones are open until 6 pm on the weekends FarCenter Dec 2013 #27

k/r solarhydrocan Dec 2013 #17

My kid needed stitches for a gash on his head AllyCat Dec 2013 #20

This message was self-deleted by its author maindawg Dec 2013 #25

LOL, these are NOTHING Glitterati Dec 2013 #26

I have a pretty good idea pediatricmedic Dec 2013 #34

So it took 5 HOURS to call in an on call nurse? Glitterati Dec 2013 #38

Not to worry, the capitalists are in charge. Take your case and extrapolate... Egalitarian Thug Dec 2013 #35

Oh, that was just the ER Glitterati Dec 2013 #39

But we mustn't upset the industry, else they will take their toys and go home. Egalitarian Thug Dec 2013 #40