Health care isn't free, agreed. But many people abuse that notion. There is no real reason why healthy people should go to the ER (esp. in ambulances) for minor illnesses. But they do, and we all pay.
We all should have to take some responsibility for our use of the health care system. Saying that poor people have no responsibility is making our problem worse, and it really isn't helping them.
Thank you!
My ONE HOUR visit (my husband timed it) to the emergency room last summer for a slash (3 stitches) between my thumb and forefinger (durned avocado seed!)....cost $1300 - my husband's company got it negotiated down to about $1100, and then the insurance paid about $900. When I got the bill I had a question about some of the items (I had requested an ITEMIZED bill).....they ended up telling me they would forgive the $240 I was supposed to pay (they had ignored my letter for a long time and I sent THEM a BILL for my time in responding to their stupid bills and trying to send me to Collection.) Anyhow....ONE HOUR at the rack rate was $1300. But, they must have a lot of profit margin built it, because ultimately they got paid about $900 - plus a fee for the Physicians Assistant.
Oh, and I saved myself about $75.....I took the stitches out myself a couple of weeks later, using the kit(scissors, tweezers, etc) we TOOK home with us from the Physician's Assistant who had put the stitches in. (He said we were paying for it, and my husband asked if we could have it - he thought the scissors would be great for fly fishing). NO, I never saw a REAL Doctor.
LESSONS LEARNED:
Everything is negotiable
Always ask for itemized bills - even if you have insurance
Take everything in the room that a nurse/doctor opens with you - it's yours.
And, of course, have insurance.