Anonymous
Post 01/02/2024 16:39     Subject: Example of ER bills for an uninsured
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote: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.


They are required to do so. Compliance is not great, but it is already required.

https://www.cms.gov/priorities/key-initiatives/hospital-price-transparency


Compliance should be all debt voided if they failed to post rates
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2024 16:21     Subject: Example of ER bills for an uninsured
Come be a bus driver for Loudoun County Public Schools. Great healthcare and you can bring your child. There are also afternoon/evening janitor positions who also receive full time benefits.
Anonymous
Post 01/02/2024 14:48     Subject: Example of ER bills for an uninsured
Anonymous wrote:It’s not America’s fault you chose to live without health insurance. Most people that choose not to have insurance also put money back each month in case of an emergency. If you can’t afford to do that then apply for state assistance. Going around blaming an entire country for your mistake seems silly.


The pricing *is* an American problem. Here insurance companies pay based on billing codes. Medicare and Medicaid set government reimbursement rates, and those government rates must be the best available rates. Then insurance companies individually set reimbursement rates. Medical facilities cannot offer lower rates or alternative billing arrangements to individuals without violating their contracts with insurers.

Have you ever priced out a self pay surgery or imaging? A one-hour oral surgery can run $9000. Half of Americans don’t have $500 in savings. This isn’t due to profligacy; it’s just the reality of pay rates versus expenses, like housing and transportation.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2024 21:49     Subject: Re:Example of ER bills for an uninsured
OP is frankly an idiot.
-She's going to the ER for non-emergent stuff.
-She makes more than 120K but chooses to not have health insurance on her kids. Who the heck does this?
-A typical family with a "corporate job" will pay 3-5K in premium per year for a family plan (after the the employer pays their part). We are insured under the federal employee health plan (Blue Cross Basic). Out out of pocket for premium for a "family" (employee plus spouse plus kids) is roughly $350/month. That is $4200 that OP is electing not to pay. Hence her ER bill.



Anonymous
Post 01/01/2024 14:03     Subject: Example of ER bills for an uninsured
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It’s not America’s fault you chose to live without health insurance. Most people that choose not to have insurance also put money back each month in case of an emergency. If you can’t afford to do that then apply for state assistance. Going around blaming an entire country for your mistake seems silly.


The system IS broken. I had an insurance coverage and had to go to the ER for a miscarriage. They made me sit for hours before taking me in. I can't explain the physical and mental pain I went through. To top it all, I received a bill of more than $1500 since my deductible had not been met until that point.



I am sorry for your loss, but the last time I went to an ER I nearly died. If you went first, I might have died. I have trauma too, but that happens when you have a medical event.

Triage is important and part of any ER system, especially those with universal health care.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2024 13:59     Subject: Example of ER bills for an uninsured
You should not have gone to the ER for a minor accident. That is not what ERs are for. Make better choices.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2024 13:57     Subject: Example of ER bills for an uninsured
Op, your expenses don’t seem that bad honestly. I would expect it to be more.

Get insurance. You are handling your finances wrong if you can’t afford it.

When your DH considers jobs, you need to look at total compensation, not just salary. A job paying substantially less salary but including health insurance might be more total employee compensation.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2024 13:50     Subject: Example of ER bills for an uninsured
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It’s not America’s fault you chose to live without health insurance. Most people that choose not to have insurance also put money back each month in case of an emergency. If you can’t afford to do that then apply for state assistance. Going around blaming an entire country for your mistake seems silly.


The system IS broken. I had an insurance coverage and had to go to the ER for a miscarriage. They made me sit for hours before taking me in. I can't explain the physical and mental pain I went through. To top it all, I received a bill of more than $1500 since my deductible had not been met until that point.



I'm sorry you had to wait, but that's how ERs work. It has nothing to do with insurance - - there are limited beds in the ER and they have to triage life threatening issues first. This is true anywhere in the world.


Exactly how it works. Enter the ER with a puffy ankles, blue lips and complaining of shortness of breath and chest pain, you are getting seen first, same thing with a limb that’s turned backwards with one end sticking out of the skin. Enter the ER unconscious on a stretcher with half of your leg missing and yes you are getting seen first.

This is the purpose of the ER I think many people forget this. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve overheard a diagnosis of you have a UTI or ringworm… yeah that’s not for the ER.

Anything else maybe the ER will do in a pinch if your doc is closed, but you are going to wait and it’s going to be expensive.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2024 13:39     Subject: Example of ER bills for an uninsured
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:People here will be horrified but don't pay it. Don't pay a dime. Don't call to negotiate. Just don't pay.

If they were billing your health insurance the cost would be a third or less of what they're charging you. Frankly, they don't expect you to pay. Most people with insurance don't.

It won't go on your credit. You can check because the law varies from state to state, but in quite a few of them there's very little collectors can do to get medical debt.


"Most people with insurance don't..." Pay? what exactly are you saying PP. That most people with insurance don't pay their medical bills?


My DC broke some fingers, my insurance picked up $1,000+ in charges a NP looked at the x-ray and had a tech put on a cast. I received a bill for $500+ for the cast. I didn’t pay.

I have great insurance that is expensive; any bills outside of deductible, co-pays etc. ie billing that is obviously excessive goes into the garbage.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2024 13:23     Subject: Example of ER bills for an uninsured
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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.


You realize you don’t have to pay for any of this and it won’t even affect your credit report? The Dems signed into the law, you can be a criminal and not pay your healthcare bill and it’s all good. Stop complaining


Shut up.


Truth bothers you so much

Anonymous
Post 01/01/2024 13:16     Subject: Example of ER bills for an uninsured
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Can you or your spouse get a corporate job so that you have group health insurance?

I know it sucks having to work for the man and not follow your dreams; I’ve been doing it for 20 years because I need health insurance. But sometimes we need to put our dreams aside and make responsible choices.


Sure, I'd get any corporate job that pays. What about preschool children? Where do I find 4,000 a month to pay for their daycare? Do you think the corporate job will even bring me 4,000 a month?


It seems incredibly irresponsible to bring children into this world and not even be able to afford to insure them. And yes finding a corporate job that pays more than $4,000 a month isn’t a hard thing to do. If you don’t have any skills that are worth more than $4k a month then please see point 1.

You and your partner have dependents time to grow up/suck it up and get a desk job with a big corp. or fed or local govt… op for the HMO coverage.
Anonymous
Post 12/31/2023 21:52     Subject: Example of ER bills for an uninsured
Anonymous wrote:Illegal immigration. Full stop.

People in other countries have to pay up front for services rendered or get tuned away.

Imagine that in America.


Wtf no.
Anonymous
Post 12/31/2023 21:52     Subject: Example of ER bills for an uninsured
Anonymous wrote:
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.


You realize you don’t have to pay for any of this and it won’t even affect your credit report? The Dems signed into the law, you can be a criminal and not pay your healthcare bill and it’s all good. Stop complaining


Shut up.
Anonymous
Post 12/31/2023 18:58     Subject: Example of ER bills for an uninsured
Anonymous wrote:The utter lack of empathy and compassion for people who cannot afford healthcare, or who have to make decisions about their hybased on ability to pay is absolutely nauseating. It’s a moral indictment on many of you and this country. Greatest country in the world, my a$$.


There are plenty of people with medical debt, have you paid for any of them? Put your money where your mouth is.
Anonymous
Post 12/31/2023 18:41     Subject: Example of ER bills for an uninsured
Illegal immigration. Full stop.

People in other countries have to pay up front for services rendered or get tuned away.

Imagine that in America.