The Insanity Of Medical Costs

[Diggin It]

In September, a cat scratched Shyam Patil's wrist when he was outside his home. He wasn't sure if the cat was a stray or if it was up to date on its shots so he called his doctor. Because the cat drew blood, his doctor said he should get a rabies shot just in case. His doctor said to go to the ER because the rabies shot isn't commonly available at clinics.

< snip >

A few months later, a letter arrived in the mail detailing what he owed for his visit to the ER.

'I got the bill for $2,500. I was like 'I didn't even take the shot. What is this bill for?'

The bill shows a charge for more than $2,300 for a level 3 emergency department visit. There are other additional charges on the bill, including a tetanus shot update that was about to be due and an anti inflammatory pill he took there for the possible rabies exposure. Altogether the bill adds up to a little more than $2,500.

If Patil did get the rabies vaccination that day, the bill shows it would have been an extra $13,048 charged.

N.C. man charged $2,3 for walking through ER doors for cat scratch

CAUTION: News story video autoplays if you go to the link.


Personally, I would not have gone to the ER for a cat scratch, but still ....

 

[2LaneCruzer]

In September, a cat scratched Shyam Patil's wrist when he was outside his home. He wasn't sure if the cat was a stray or if it was up to date on its shots so he called his doctor. Because the cat drew blood, his doctor said he should get a rabies shot just in case. His doctor said to go to the ER because the rabies shot isn't commonly available at clinics.

< snip >

A few months later, a letter arrived in the mail detailing what he owed for his visit to the ER.

'I got the bill for $2,500. I was like 'I didn't even take the shot. What is this bill for?'

The bill shows a charge for more than $2,300 for a level 3 emergency department visit. There are other additional charges on the bill, including a tetanus shot update that was about to be due and an anti inflammatory pill he took there for the possible rabies exposure. Altogether the bill adds up to a little more than $2,500.

If Patil did get the rabies vaccination that day, the bill shows it would have been an extra $13,048 charged.

N.C. man charged $2,3 for walking through ER doors for cat scratch

CAUTION: News story video autoplays if you go to the link.


Personally, I would not have gone to the ER for a cat scratch, but still ....

I spent a couple hours in the emergency room about a month ago for tendonitis and muscle spasms in my neck. It was VERY painful; the bill, as I recall was $5600.00.

 

[Oaktree]

I get how an ER can be expensive...they need to be prepared for anything.
Not everyone has a "doc in the box" (ie-urgent care clinic) facility nearby, but from what I understand they're considerably cheaper and a good alternative if you don't have a severe injury.

I think the worst thing about medical costs is that no one will tell you what something's gonna cost so you can shop around. Well, that and the fact that everybody seems to be a contractor so you get a bunch of bills instead of just one.
I'm sure the hospital association has very good lobbyists to make sure things stay that way.

 

[Diggin It]

^^^ That's the problem, when you're hurt or sick and in need of immediate treatment, you can't shop around. Most smaller communities only have one place to go. And even if you have several, what are you going to do when EMS rolls you in? 'Hey Doc, what're you gonna charge to reattach this arm, I wanna see if the place down the road is a couple of hundred bucks less.'

 

[jeff9366]

During the twenty-five years I was in sales management we repeated to our sales staff during evaluations: If you or family members are ill with routine symptoms, see your doctor Monday-Friday if possible @ $250 a visit, not the ER on the weekend or after hours for $2,500 for the same service.

We would not complain about an ER visit for a cat scratch from a feral, potentially rabid animal.

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^ That's the problem, when you're hurt or sick and in need of immediate treatment, you can't shop around. Most smaller communities only have one place to go. And even if you have several, what are you going to do when EMS rolls you in? 'Hey Doc, what're you gonna charge to reattach this arm, I wanna see if the place down the road is a couple of hundred bucks less.'

When I had surgery the doctor told me everything to expect; what he was going to do, recovery time, meds that I would need to take, how long before I took the catheter out . The one question that he couldn't answer was how much it would cost. I pulled a 5 figure number out of the air which turned out to be within 5%.

 

[JPRambo]

I was moving a large piece of equipment outside my home garage. It wanted to tip over so I tried to stop it from falling. I felt a sharp pain in my right arm on the inside of the elbow. It did not feel like I broke my arm but was pretty painful. I sat down and looked at the piece laying on the ground trying to figure out how to get it upright. When I got up to reattach a strap my arm was very weak. Went to work for the next couple weeks but the arm still was weak. I went to the doctor and he suggested to see a specialist. The next week the specialist said I had ruptured and torn the bisept tendon off the forarm. And I needed to have an operation to reattach it. The total for the surgery and follow up visits were over $100,000. Thank goodness for insurance. Coste $250.00.

 

[japody]

I had to be airlifted to a major hospital 3 months ago due to a medical emergency. The ride lasted 26 minutes. The helicopter company billed the insurance company $64, 248. The insurance company only allowed $8,000.

 

[PILOON]

Move to Canada!

I had stomach pains, wanted to heave from both ends but nothing.
Pain was awful!
Called 911, and the picked me up and into a scan I went.
At 7 AM they operated and removed 39" of small intestine as I had knotted up and that footage was dead.
Spent all of 9 days recuperating in hospital in all. (nurse even brought me midnight snacks)
My only charge was parking when I went back on follow up.

Oh, that was 10 years ago and I'm just fine. Never missed those 39 inches.

OK. I've had other smaller medical issues (hey 80+, to be expected) but never disappointed.
Some waiting for minor issues, like hernia or hearing tests and hernia corrections but when urgent they move things.

Now I lost my GP but had breathing problems and but there was some MD's that covered for him.
Turned out I had onset of pneumonia. All OK now!

 

[Jstpssng]

Move to Canada!
I had stomach pains, wanted to heave from both ends but nothing.
Pain was awful!
Called 911, and the picked me up and into a scan I went.
At 7 AM they operated and removed 39" of small intestine as I had knotted up and that footage was dead.
Spent all of 9 days recuperating in hospital in all.
My only charge was parking when I went back on follow up.

Do you really want us?
Back at our last presidential election in 2016 many people were saying that if Hillary Clinton lost, they were moving to Canada. It turns out that it's harder to migrate to your country than they thought, apparently requiring some visible means of support.