Example of ER bills for an uninsured

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tell them you have no money. You can offer them $50 and that is it. You are poor. Put it in writing and do not pay more than that.

Medical debt doesn’t impact your credit score anymore. Don’t pay more than the $50.

This. Do this. They really can't do much.

But I also highly recommend you get healthcare through the ACA, even crappy healthcare. Kaiser's cheapest plans aren't a terrible deal. About 1k a month for family insurance.

[Anonymous]

Agree with the person who says don’t pay. It will not affect your credit. The bills go absolutely nowhere. The numbers are made up. DO NOT PAY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry that this is the case.

To the prior poster, I’ll add that I had a similar incident of going to the ER and coming out with a large bill - and I had a pretty solid insurance plan. I’d followed all the protocols of calling and alerting the insurance company etc.

The burden of insurance and challenging the payment seems to be falling more and more on the insured person vs the medical provider.

I just don't pay them. I don't even open them. I pay my premiums and my copayments and deductibles at point of service. Random bills that my insurer kicked back because they sent to the wrong lab, or coded wrong? Not my problem.

Our insurance now costs is 1700/month through the ACA. If we went with employer health insurance it was going to be 3k. If I am paying that much, don't nickel and dime me. I won't pay it.

So far this has worked out fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree with the person who says don’t pay. It will not affect your credit. The bills go absolutely nowhere. The numbers are made up. DO NOT PAY.

It's actually become quite predatory, medical collections. There's a lot of old people who want to do the right thing and pay their bills who are getting screwed over left and right. The confusion is by design. The hell with that.

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to pipe in and say the ACA sucks. We pay $2000+ per month and have a $6k family deductible which we rarely reach. This is for crappy HMO insurance. (BC/BS) If fact many of our providers are out of network, so we pay for those out of pocket. (Incredibly difficult to find any mental health provider in network in the MVA). So this means we are spending over $35K a year post tax dollars for healthcare. That is insane. ACA is not the answer to everyone's health insurance woes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even with insurance, I always hesitate to visit the ER with how high costs end up being. I’m sorry you’re in this situation though. I’ve heard of people calling the hospital to negotiate how to pay the bill, but that sounds … not promising imo.

This.

The reality is most things people go to ERs for they could see their primary or go to Urgent Care. So it’s also the misuse and abuse of ERs that contribute to this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am uninsured because ACA is not A for me, it's Unafforadble (UCA). I am not entirely low income but in the very uncomfortable middle for whom ACA costs are too expensive. Monthly premiums higher than 1,000 and a deductible of $18,000. What would the ACA coverage help me with in this case? Nada, for $1,000+ a month, I would have to pay this 2,350 bill out of pocket as part of deductible!

Ok so it sounds like you’ve come out ahead.

Until the next actual emergency.

And the rest of us pay for it.

OP is a freerider. I hate freeriders.

[Anonymous]

You are subsidizing those that don't pay

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree with the person who says don’t pay. It will not affect your credit. The bills go absolutely nowhere. The numbers are made up. DO NOT PAY.

It's actually become quite predatory, medical collections. There's a lot of old people who want to do the right thing and pay their bills who are getting screwed over left and right. The confusion is by design. The hell with that.

The bills are high because of those that don't pay it's a viscous cycle, until they enforce payment it will only get more expensive

[Anonymous]

As a doctor, you need to get some insurance asap. We had one patient come in with a sore shoulder and it turned out to be cancer. Without insurance you are in deep deep deep trouble if this happens to you or your family. It is essentially a death wish. Sure you can go to the county hospital (if you have one) but if your care is time sensitive then no one will treat you without insurance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this sustainable? Is this reasonable? I had to go to the ER for a minor accident and got a few x-rays. I guess I am almost writing this post to dissuade people from going to the ER, especially if you are uninsured. I am, unfortunately. So I got two bills, which was a surprise. 1,500 for the ER visit (with a $224 charge for a pregnancy test! even though I had told them I did a pregnancy test myself just prior to the visit) and a $850 bill (kindly discounted from almost 1000), which totals 2,350 for an ER visit. Next time I just won't go. That's American healthcare. Disgrace. I don't know what to do and I am writing this through tears. Is this for real?

I am being penalized for having a medical need in the evening. Had the urgent care places been available I would have paid way less. I had an experience of going to an urgent care place and they have a very deep discount for self-pay patients. In fact, that visit was similar in scope and I was seen much sooner. It cost me just above $100, including x-rays.

NEVER go to a hospital ER. Thank you, America.

How is it a disgrace? There is Medicaid if you qualify, and also "Obama"Care/Affordable Care. Additionally some states have a mandate where you're penalized if you don't have insurance, DC being one jurisdiction on that list. Lastly, I'm shocked your bill was that lowTBH, and in terms of your pregnancy test - you think they're going to, or should accept liability in case you were lying about that supposed pregnancy test you took at home before going to the ER? Other countries don't have a great system either BTW. It may be "free" or very low cost, but it's also crap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The rest of us have to pay premiums through the nose because most people are like you and don't have insurance and most don't pay. So we subsidize everyone else. Cry me a river.

How are you subsidizing me? Illegal immigrants who don't pay anything, yes, but not me. Are you subsidizing my $224 pregnancy test? Is it for the test or for the collection cup?

Illegal immigrants are not paid for their work always. Go after that money. My employer didn't pay any of us for years his part. Someone is getting richer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The rest of us have to pay premiums through the nose because most people are like you and don't have insurance and most don't pay. So we subsidize everyone else. Cry me a river.

How are you subsidizing me? Illegal immigrants who don't pay anything, yes, but not me. Are you subsidizing my $224 pregnancy test? Is it for the test or for the collection cup?

Illegal immigrants are not paid for their work always. Go after that money. My employer didn't pay any of us for years his part. Someone is getting richer.

And most illegal immigrants get screwed by payroll taxes they pay in but never get SS benefits.

Not that illegal immigration is a big problem or any sort of contributor to health care costs anyway. That’s all fat white American alcoholics with diabetes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this sustainable? Is this reasonable? I had to go to the ER for a minor accident and got a few x-rays. I guess I am almost writing this post to dissuade people from going to the ER, especially if you are uninsured. I am, unfortunately. So I got two bills, which was a surprise. 1,500 for the ER visit (with a $224 charge for a pregnancy test! even though I had told them I did a pregnancy test myself just prior to the visit) and a $850 bill (kindly discounted from almost 1000), which totals 2,350 for an ER visit. Next time I just won't go. That's American healthcare. Disgrace. I don't know what to do and I am writing this through tears. Is this for real?

I am being penalized for having a medical need in the evening. Had the urgent care places been available I would have paid way less. I had an experience of going to an urgent care place and they have a very deep discount for self-pay patients. In fact, that visit was similar in scope and I was seen much sooner. It cost me just above $100, including x-rays.

NEVER go to a hospital ER. Thank you, America.

ER's are for life and death situations. That's it.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s shocking that medical facilities don’t need to publish their schedule of fees in a public place. Then at least everyone could know what they are in for and shop around.