My middle child’s medical bills wiped us out and kept us on the edge of bankruptcy for almost a decade.
I feel their pain.
We did have one bad experience where our daughter’s operation left us with a $66,000 bill. The bill was a nightmare, but we struggled through it.
Since then we upgraded our medical insurance to a higher standard BC & BS plan. Now with Medicare & BC&BS we pay no out of pocket expenses for doctor or hospital.
There is only one solution.
We must allow highly trained and completely neutral government experts to take over our health care system.
Oh, wait...
“The healthcare industry in the United States has become a cesspool of corruption and greed, and this has been the case for so long that we don’t even remember what a legitimate system even looks like anymore.”
That’s true. Patients are the NPCs in the medical industry’s quest for riches. The whole system is set to extract the most money the fastest. The patient is an after thought, nothing more.
The only way to defeat this system is to leave. Seek medical care elsewhere. All those medical ‘administrators’ can bill each other.
None of this surprises me. Well, except for the fact that so many people are covered and yet still go bankrupt.
bkmk
Go to any small rural town. The biggest, newest, shiniest buildings are the hospitals. What a cash cow.
It’s a two way street on this crap. How can a Dr or health care facility charge me $2,000 for a procedure but accept an insurance agreed to pay out of $600.00? That’s and example, but it’s usually 50% or less and my responsibility is 0. If I don’t have insurance I’m stuck with the $2,000.00 bill. Why? I’ve argued and won a few times on dental insurance since I dropped that. I said you accept an insurance payout of “X” so that’s what I’m paying.
Next are the healthcare institutions. I just went through a detailed analysis on some lower back issues. I have free VA healthcare and community care is paid by Optum insurance through the VA. I also have federal BCBS and Medicare since I’m retired. I keep the BCBS for the wife. Medicare is primary.
After checking all the insurances I find the healthcare agency billed and was paid by all three on 6 separate occasions. VA was supposed to be it. So I did a spreadsheet, got all of the EOBs and told them they need to pay back Medicare and BCBS for double billing plus they owe me $211 in charges I paid that the VA paid.
We’re supposed to “discuss” this tomorrow at my next exam. Should be interesting... It won’t be a discussion it’ll be a “this what you’re going to do.”
Insurance is a scam no doubt but part of the cost is the scam the healthcare industry is doing as well.
3/4 of the Mayo Clinic buildings in Rochester, MN are for Bill Collection.
“Don’t want to get angry”? Wtf? I’m already so effin’ angry I want to tar and feather all democrats, all lazy gov workers who don’t want to work in an office, big pharma who has been stuffing crap down our throats and in our veins for a long, long time. Ins. companies that have ruined our hospitals, illegal scum draining bankrupting medical care, I could go on and on. Angry? My blood is boiling.
MAHA
The healthcare industry in the United States has become a cesspool of corruption and greed
....................................
Not just the healthcare industry, the entire country.
The article is written by somebody named Michael, no last name. As such, its credibility and numbers cited are, most likely, incorrect (as in false).
I have to add a note about another side - not a frequent one, but a very real one.
I had open heart surgery in 2009 with triple bypass and aortic valve replacement. We had no insurance. And no savings. Had just finished raising 8 kids.
The wonderful Catholic (I am Christian, but not Catholic) hospital system upon learning of our poor financial state, forgave us the $230,000 bill. The incredible heart surgeon charged us 1/5th of his normal fee, and the anesthesiologist cut his fee in half. We owned a nice home with a large mortgage, but they said they wouldn’t touch that.
I am grateful beyond words. The staff and management at this system are wonderful people all and I can’t even count the procedures I’ve had there. We go no where else if possible. Bon Secours.
The cost of health care is NOT included in the calculation of inflation that drives economic policy.
Along with the cost of government (this has to include debt taken on by the government, since it has to be paid back), and the cost of college education, these 3 things account for more inflation the traditional “market baskets of good and services”.
Did they just figure this out???????
The major construction projects here are Health Care facilities. You’d think the different corporations would create more competitive pricing. Medical Monopoly? Some one should write a law!
No, it’s been a scam for YEARS but for most people the warnings here at FR fell on deaf ears, even some FReepers.
It’s a pathetic situation of ITYS.
Worse, I have zero confidence that RFK Jr has the will to do anything about it (Evidence: He’s still married to you know who).
[[ tens of millions of American families now live in great fear of illness and disease]]
Fake story... everyone knows that oblamacare solved everyone’s medical expense problems! /s
I have some intrusive diagnostic tests scheduled for Friday. It's impossible for me to find out what my out-of-pocket costs will be. The hospital is telling me that they will max out my deductible and I will also have a 20% copay on some remaining balance, so they want me to pay $1,800 up front. The insurance company won't tell what the negotiated rate is, despite a pre-auth request from the hospital, so I can't find out. In any other business, people would be jailed for fraud for doing this.
About a year ago I got the same demand from another medical group for another test. When I told them I would cancel rather than pay up front, they caved.
I could literally fly to Europe and get the same tests done and it would cost less. We are simply being robbed blind.