So upset about this stupid cost

[Anonymous]

My ds is at college and is prone to terrible ear infections since he was little (had tubes, saw an ent regularly…) Had one in fall and another this past week. to urgent care twice this year. This time the urgent care doctor said his ear was so clogged he might go deaf and needed the ER. So ds went to the ER he recommended, the college one. It was nothing, just ear wax and an ear infection and we owe 2k. I am so upset. Have you had stupid health costs like these?

[Anonymous]

Can't DS declare he has no income and get the bill reduced? That's so ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Is his hearing worth $2k?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is his hearing worth $2k?

The point is the guy was wrong. It was just ear wax and an infection and should have cost $30 copay at urgent care to treat, which this guy did not do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can't DS declare he has no income and get the bill reduced? That's so ridiculous.

He is under my plan. It’s so stupid.

[Anonymous]

Did you know he was going to ER? The Urgent Care doctor "recommended" right. It was your/your kid's call to go.

[Anonymous]

Yeah it sucks. This is how you eventually learn to ask more questions and make doctors explain their reasoning. Super annoying but something everyone has to learn.

[Anonymous]

Look at the positive side. This may explain your kid's GPA. His performance may significantly improve now he can actually hear the lectures.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you know he was going to ER? The Urgent Care doctor "recommended" right. It was your/your kid's call to go.

I knew he was going where the guy recommended. My da actually asked about cost he said and the guy said it would be a copay. I’m not there so I was not going to tell him not to get medical attention after doctor said go to ER and he might go deaf! If he were home we’d have done things differently. In any case I still don’t get why this is not a copay because we do have an ER copay and I’ve never had a copay not kick in before deductible.

[Anonymous]

Urgent care is useless. He needs a primary care doctor by the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you know he was going to ER? The Urgent Care doctor "recommended" right. It was your/your kid's call to go.

I knew he was going where the guy recommended. My da actually asked about cost he said and the guy said it would be a copay. I’m not there so I was not going to tell him not to get medical attention after doctor said go to ER and he might go deaf! If he were home we’d have done things differently. In any case I still don’t get why this is not a copay because we do have an ER copay and I’ve never had a copay not kick in before deductible.

I’d follow up with your insurance before paying 2k.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I just got one from the ENT. I was out of town and my husband took my teen for on and off ear fluid….i felt confident it is allergy related. Said do Flonase and allergy pills.

The result was ENT said exact same thing as me. And I got the bill for a nasal endoscopy!!!!!!! I asked my husband “ did they do a camera up her nose?” Husband has no idea. I go onto the portal to read notes. Her nose had some swelling so they couldn’t see as well as they wanted, so $500 later, we have Flonase and allergy pills.

I agree with the PP that suggested your college kid find an ENT or primary care near school.

[Anonymous]

I would be more worried about why an adult is getting repeated ear infections! This is worrisome. Does he swim? Do the bacterial infections come on the heels of other, viral, infections like colds and flu? Are the infections usually triggered by wax blockage?

My son is prone to ear wax blockages and there is an oil he has to use regularly to keep the wax from blogging his ear canal. When he forgets for long periods of time, he can't hear, it gets painful, and he ends up needing to see the ENT to remove the wax, which isn't ideal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you know he was going to ER? The Urgent Care doctor "recommended" right. It was your/your kid's call to go.

I knew he was going where the guy recommended. My da actually asked about cost he said and the guy said it would be a copay. I’m not there so I was not going to tell him not to get medical attention after doctor said go to ER and he might go deaf! If he were home we’d have done things differently. In any case I still don’t get why this is not a copay because we do have an ER copay and I’ve never had a copay not kick in before deductible.

This is what's wrong with American healthcare. Patients need to be able to use emergency care without worrying about what massive bill they're going to get.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would be more worried about why an adult is getting repeated ear infections! This is worrisome. Does he swim? Do the bacterial infections come on the heels of other, viral, infections like colds and flu? Are the infections usually triggered by wax blockage?

My son is prone to ear wax blockages and there is an oil he has to use regularly to keep the wax from blogging his ear canal. When he forgets for long periods of time, he can't hear, it gets painful, and he ends up needing to see the ENT to remove the wax, which isn't ideal.

He had the flu earlier in year and now a bad sinus infection He already has special drops. And he does get wax build up. Had he been home we would have gone to ENT.