pbearperry Loc: Massachusetts

Last year,a relative of mine living in Dallas Texas,cut a finger and went to the hospital.(Unknown which one) He was forced to pay $350 up front and it was determined it didn't need stiches as although the cut was fairy long,it was not too deep.He was given a tetnus shot and the finger was bandaged.Unfortunately for him he was uninsured and shortly after he received another bill for $1100.00 I thought most crooks were sent to jail,not run hospitals?
This seems a bit unreasonable to me.

tschmath Loc: Los Angeles

When is everyone going to understand that that $1100 and the $350 helped pay for all of the people who refuse to get insurance and use the emergency room as their doctor? No one gets a free ride, and Obamacare, with its flaws, is a step in the right direction in getting everyone insurance so that we all pay our own way. The real solution, as with the rest of the industrialized world is single payer. But it's gonna be a long time before that becomes the law of the land. We'll see how Vermont does it, and then maybe we can do it nationwide and put the insurance companies out of business once and for all.

pbearperry Loc: Massachusetts

My relative is uninsured because he doesn't make enough money to afford housing,food and insurance.my question again is fully knowing that he was uninsured and would have to pay cash,how can the hospital charge so much for so little?That's the question.

tschmath Loc: Los Angeles

If he is that poor, then he should be eligible for Medicaid. And I repeat what I just said - the fee he's being charged is to make up for people who pay nothing.

Budnjax Loc: NE Florida

It should be criminal the way hospitals charge paying customers such as your relative. They should get paid the same amount they are willing to accept from insurance companies. I have good insurance and when I get a blood chemistry done I will see that the lab charges the insurance company, say $300....then, when you view the statement from the insurance company.....you will see that the allowable amount is $18.78....which is the amount the lab actually receives. Obviously they are making money at $18.78 or they wouldn't offer the service....so why should they get away with charging someone with no insurance $300? Hospitals do the same thing. I was in an ER last year for 18 hours, had an IV and two tests done, nothing else. The hospital billed was $25,000....the allowable amount was only $8000 (which is also ridiculous)....I don't know what they actually get paid.

rocco_7155 Loc: Connecticut/Louisiana

Texas has refused to participate in the ACA, has some of the most restrictive Medicaid rules in the US, and some of the highest hospital costs in the nation, all while paying medical professionals lower wages. That's what turning healthcare into a "free market industry" gets you!

Los-Angeles-Shooter Loc: Los Angeles

Sadly, a tremendous amount of medicine is profit-driven. Routine mammograms are now being questioned seriously; much of the push for them was driven by profit. Statistical studies are questioning the value of colonoscopies for other than high-risk persons. But with the colonoscopy running from a grand or two to as much as $6,000, the procedure is obviously very profitable for doctor, assistant, and hospital. The most common surgical procedure for prostate enlargement is the TURP ("roto-rooter" surgery), while safer alternatives have garnered little medical interest because they are not as profitable.

Budnjax also touches on an important point which is that hospitals routinely have discriminatory pricing where insurance companies pay a fraction of the rate charged to individuals.

Other colleagues touch on another issue which is that we all pay the overhead caused by free use of ER's by illegals. Here in Los Angeles, illegals routinely use the ER as their primary doctor. I remember taking a man to the Pasadena ER with a serious dog bite injury ("Oh, no, it wasn't my Pitbull's fault) and we waited for hours because the place was clogged with non-paying illegals with sore throats...

I don't have the answers. I wish I did.

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

I can relate to this.

My daughter went to Canada, Quebec City with her boyfriend over Xmas. While in the shower at a hotel she slipped and face planted on the soap dish, pushing two front teeth backwards and gashing the upper gum.

The hotel told them to drive to the hospital because the ambulance would charge her, an American close to $4,000.00 to take her there.

Upon arrival at the hospital, blood gushing out of her mouth onto a towel, the admitting clerk demanded $800.00 to have the emergency room see her.

They suggested, without even offering an aspirin, her and her boyfriend drive back to the U.S. for treatment which over a week cost mucho bucks.

Great socialist medicine practices.

Sarge69

jlefebvre Loc: Toronto, Ontario

I live in Canada and can tell you we have wonderful healthcare here...I cannot believe the cost of insurance/healthcare in the U.S. It is rather scary to think about it.

Los-Angeles-Shooter Loc: Los Angeles

I have Canadian friends who strongly disagree with you.

busted_shutter

Yet not a mention of private or public hospital. Public can't refuse treatment on the non-ability to pay. Medicaid should have (and still can) kick in...depending on eligibility.

WNYShooter Loc: WNY

Half of my surgeon's patients are from Canada--he is in Buffalo, N.Y.. He loves them because they pay cash and he has no paperwork.

busted_shutter

You pay for that socialized medicine tho. Don't think so? How much you pay for petrol these days? Not sure of today's prices, but can tell you 14 year ago...you paid triple what we did down below the border. How about smokes? Sure, y'all have 5 more per pack, but your prices are at least double what we pay. It all evens out in the end.

Budnjax Loc: NE Florida

I have neighbors who are from Iceland. While visiting there the lady had a bad asthma attack and almost died. Despite being in the capitol city, it took her 3 days to see a doctor.....so much for wonderful socialized medicine!

CHANDRA

In hospital matters India is much better.You get medical attention at short notice and quality is just the same