Right to Privacy

[20 20]

FallbrookFarmer,

It was just too nice out today. Got into the upper 70*'s and it's 69* at 6:30pm - that's summer weather here. Changed my snow to summer tires and took the chains off the tractor. If the E. Coast gets hit with a Spring blizzard, it will be my fault.

You can blame me also I did what you did and also went and got sand for my horse show pits, :drink: {in the north east} If it look like summer, if it feels like summer, if the birds are singing.......... WATCH OUT:shocked: it might be time for a snow storm :laughing:

 

[BTDT2]

FWIW- We recently had one of our mechanics go to an emergency room with chest pains. He was temporarily working in Indio California at the time, and received excellent service, once past emergency room reception.

After two nights in ICU, several tests, an angiogram, and a stent, he was released. His bill came to $130,000. Our company has Blue Cross insurance. Blue Cross paid the entire bill for $16,000. What happened to the $114,000?

Had this been someone with a home and average salary, but no insurance, I suspect the bill would have remained at $130k.

 

[300UGUY]

FWIW- We recently had one of our mechanics go to an emergency room with chest pains. He was temporarily working in Indio California at the time, and received excellent service, once past emergency room reception.

After two nights in ICU, several tests, an angiogram, and a stent, he was released. His bill came to $130,000. Our company has Blue Cross insurance. Blue Cross paid the entire bill for $16,000. What happened to the $114,000?

Had this been someone with a home and average salary, but no insurance, I suspect the bill would have remained at $130k.

My nephew was only 3 months old when he got pnemonia. My brother's company had gone out of biz, left him with no job and no insurance. He got a job right away, but it took 90 days to get on the insurance. My nephew ended up spending 3 weeks in the hospital. The 60K bill cost my brother his home, and his marriage. This was 20 years ago. It's only gotten worse since then.

 

[dave1949]

FWIW- We recently had one of our mechanics go to an emergency room with chest pains. He was temporarily working in Indio California at the time, and received excellent service, once past emergency room reception.

After two nights in ICU, several tests, an angiogram, and a stent, he was released. His bill came to $130,000. Our company has Blue Cross insurance. Blue Cross paid the entire bill for $16,000. What happened to the $114,000?

Had this been someone with a home and average salary, but no insurance, I suspect the bill would have remained at $130k.

I would like to understand where the $114K went too.
Dave.

 

[dave1949]

Here is topic that concerns privacy and health care costs

Myriad Loses Ruling Over Breast Cancer-Gene Patents (Update3) - BusinessWeek

Myriad Genetics was granted a patent on specific genes which are related to inherited breast cancer. The patent puts restrictions on other researchers use of the genes. This would effectively give Myriad Genetics a monopoly on medical issues relying on those genes thereby removing competition. Does the discovery of the existence of a naturally occuring gene give someone the right to profit from it, or control it? Is it right that our medical costs will increase due to such a patent?

Who owns the rights, if anyone, to our genes? Our genes contain lots of information, do our privacy rights protect that information?
Dave.

 

[keegs]

Here is topic that concerns privacy and health care costs

Myriad Loses Ruling Over Breast Cancer-Gene Patents (Update3) - BusinessWeek

Myriad Genetics was granted a patent on specific genes which are related to inherited breast cancer. The patent puts restrictions on other researchers use of the genes. This would effectively give Myriad Genetics a monopoly on medical issues relying on those genes thereby removing competition. Does the discovery of the existence of a naturally occuring gene give someone the right to profit from it, or control it? Is it right that our medical costs will increase due to such a patent?

Who owns the rights, if anyone, to our genes? Our genes contain lots of information, do our privacy rights protect that information?
Dave.

.......the risks involved in identifying the genes enable/encourage the therapies and treatments for the condition. Those risks deserve some reward.

 

[MikePA]

After two nights in ICU, several tests, an angiogram, and a stent, he was released. His bill came to $130,000. Our company has Blue Cross insurance. Blue Cross paid the entire bill for $16,000. What happened to the $114,000?

Did anyone ask where the $114,000 went or ask why the hospital accepted $16,000?

Had this been someone with a home and average salary, but no insurance, I suspect the bill would have remained at $130k.

You suspect wrong. Most hospitals typically give discounts for direct pay.

 

[MikePA]

The 60K bill cost my brother his home, and his marriage.

One hospital bill was the only reason he lost his house and the marriage? Interesting. The last hospital bill I had arrived before I had anything in my HSA. I could have gotten a loan or charged it. Instead I called them and arranged to pay it off monthly at no interest.

This was 20 years ago. It's only gotten worse since then.

No, it has not. Look up COBRA. It was passed to address this exact situation.

 

[brin]

There are ways to cut the costs of health care which include tort reform, buying incurance across state lines, ala carte policies where you do not pay for services you will not use like abortion, mental health or pregnancy according to your situation etc.....take it back to the way it used to be..We pay the doctors visits , drugs and lab tests and 20% of any hospital admission or visit and surgery etc. the insurance pays the rest. This puts the consumer back in to the equation and the market will work. As far as uninsured --poor or lazy people...set up government clinics where they can be sent if they go to a regular hospital..Get the government out of it completely.. Happy Easter !

 

[Stampeder]

The myth of Privacy disappeared with the Patriot Act.
Anything is now justified without any recourse.