Can this really be true?

[gini]

A young girl who is living with her boyfriend in my neighborhood became pregnant and then had a miscarriage.

She was taken to the hospital immediately and she was there under 24 hours.

The hospital bill???? They have no insurance.

$18,000.00

As my dear departed father would have said............

"it doesn't seem hardly enough!"

[IRescue452]

Small bill. I have no insurance so I avoid getting any injuries. Broke college students don't qualify for crap for a few years after getting kicked off their parents insurance. Great land I live in.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

We just saw that movie on TV....can't remember the name of it but it was with Denzel Washington and his son needed a heart transplant and his insurance would only cover $20,000.00 of it so he ended up taking hostages in the hospital to get the new heart for his son. It was really heart wrenching because it made you wonder how often this happens in real life!

Great land I live in.

Sorry IRescue452, but this comment just turned me off. If you don't like it here, there's no one stopping you from leaving and going to a country where poor college students get insurance just like everyone else.

If you're a college student, you're old enough to vote - did you? If you don't like the way this country is run, do something about it. Your above comment does absolutely nothing constructive to help correct the situation we have here in our country. It's just negative whining and just grinds on my last nerve. People are so quick to criticize this country when you don't know how good you really have it here. I really don't know you and I know I shouldn't judge just from one comment made in passing, but you sound like just another spoiled American who expects everything to be handed to them on a silver platter. If you don't like it - leave!

Sorry, off my soap box now.

[caseysmom]

Tubby and Peanuts mom...I agree with you 100%...this country is all of ours...we need to make it better and that takes all of us. As the great president once said "don't ask what your country can do for you ask what you can do for your country"

By the way I watched John Q also for the third time...just loved that move (doesn't hurt that denzel is gorgeous)

[lizbud]

The bill seems high to me for such a short stay. Wonder if any
life saving (emergency) measures or machines had to be used?

[emily_the_spoiled]

Unfortunately given that the hospital was treating both her and her unborn baby and they had an overnight stay it does not seem too high

If you have a relationship with the young woman please tell her to contact the hospital billing department. Most hospitals (especially in CA) have a policy of reducing the bill so that they have some hope of collecting at least some of the money.

BTW, if she is pregnant/uninsured & below a certain income level, she may qualify for Medicaid or some government program developed specifically for pregnant women. I am sure if she contacted Planned Parenthood or some other organization that deals with pregnancy they would be able to direct her to the right place.

[christa]

I believe it!

It's all a scam!!!

[cali]

and that is exactly why I do not live in the states and have zero intention of ever going there lol that bill is outragously high. but this is comming from the land of healthcare. frankly I would be a bum in the street if I lived in the states, I would never be able to even remotly afford a bill that huge, I am already on welfare here, and I so do often have to go to the hospital(carpo-pedel spasms as a result of my skin being unable to absorb Vit. D, the only vit D I can get is from a chewable multi as I cannot swallow before chewing)

[caseysmom]

Well this administration has not made health care a priority although it has been broken for some time.

[ladywizz]

I cannot believe they charged the poor woman!! Am pleased I live in the Uk...after having 3 miscarriages myself....i hate to think what the bill would be!!!
Is that just the normal thing over in the states???
I think the only thing we get charged for here, health wise, are prescriptions, private medical care and the ambulance if you cause a road accident.
I feel quite sorry for the woman

[catlady1945]

Outrageous.

In Canada we are really protective of our medicare.

[wolflady]

It is crazy how expensive healthcare is here and how difficult it is for some people to even get insurance to help pay these outrageously high bills.

This doesn't even compare to your poor neighbor's bill, Gini, but my neighbor cut her finger and she went to the hospital. The cost for 2 stitches?? $2000!!!!
That seems a little high for something that takes like 1 minute to do.
I worked in a vet hospital (and I know it's nowhere near a human hospital, but the equipment is basically the same), and I know for a fact that the monocryl doesn't cost THAT much and even a little shot to numb her finger wouldn't have cost THAT much either.
*sigh*
Luckily, my neighbor fought it because she looked at the itemized sheet that she received and they were charging her for an exam by a physician that she didn't even see! That's just rediculous, IMO.

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by wolflady
It is crazy how expensive healthcare is here and how difficult it is for some people to even get insurance to help pay these outrageously high bills.

This doesn't even compare to your poor neighbor's bill, Gini, but my neighbor cut her finger and she went to the hospital. The cost for 2 stitches?? $2000!!!!
That seems a little high for something that takes like 1 minute to do.
Luckily, my neighbor fought it because she looked at the itemized sheet that she received and they were charging her for an exam by a physician that she didn't even see! That's just rediculous, IMO.

Always ask for an itemized statement after a doc/hospital visit...
Every procedure or surgery is loaded into the billing software with a list of materials, meds and equipment...you are charged for them...used or not...

Somedays I hate my job, it's stories like this that make me appreciate it...

For 4 stitches I payed 20 dollars....I took them out myself so I saved a few buck more....

------------------------------------------------
Health insurance should be a priority for everyone.

More and more companies are moving away from employer subsidized health coverage. The reason?

Rates to get coverage are going thru the roof.

It has to do with the legal system here in the U.S.

I do have strong opinions on the impact of the health industry on the political, social and business aspects of our country-I probably do not know exactly how, but there are a few commercials on TV that give me an idea.....


"If you or a loved one has suffered from a heart attack, stroke or tape worms from taking Vioxx, call the law offices of........."


The commercials selling you a treatment for hair loss, impotence or flatulence always have "the voice" telling you that you can expect some, but not all of the following symptoms from taking that pill.....

Irritability, hearing loss, high blood pressure, sore throat, itchiness, dry mouth, hemmorhoids, dry eyes, dandruff, diarrhea,
jaundice, loss of memory, headaches......


Need I say more?.....the cure sounds worse than the illness.

--------------------------------------------

We as consumers, voters and eventual patients have to get on the ball here and stop some of the ridiculous lawsuits that will impact us later on..

18,000 dollars??

That is a pretty steep lesson to learn.

----------------------------------

This is not going to make me popular-

Why are they having sex without thinking???

Now a woman can get a script for some OthroNovum or a guy can shell out a few bucks for a box of condoms.....

5 dollars versus 18,000?

Or just pass on the sex and hold hands for Pete's sake!!!

[Edwina's Secretary]

ssshhh..... Richard...this is what went through my mind as well....

Why are they having sex without thinking???

but don't tell anyone...

We do have outrageously expensive medical care...much of which covers lifestyle choices....especially ones that may be fun but unhealthy...smoking...eating....drinking...having sex.

I believe there are lots of reason....drug companies, litigious patients who expect miracles, sloppy doctors, nursing shortage, and the failure of most of us to be smart consumers of medical care. I once had an argument with my insurance company. There was a charge for a service I didn't receive...and as Richard suggests.... I pointed it out. The response was...Why did I care...I wasn't paying for it...the insurance is!

Insurance doesn't really pay for anything. It merely pools the risk and passes on the claims paid to everyone (minus a fee for doing the work.)

[gini]

Richard and Sara - you have pointed out exactly what was going through my mind at the time these kids were telling me their sad tale. But the deed has been done - they didn't need my lecture.

An insurance agent explained to me that when people walk in for emergency care without insurance - the hospitals will really sock it to them - to try to re-coop some money against ALL of the people that walk in without insurance.