RANT on our Healht Care system

[nadinbrzezinski]

ok, more about the billing in the system.

So last time dad came, he needed to go to the ER... and ended up staying overnight. Now they are blessed that yes, they were able to cover the expense.

Now here is where the rant comes.

1.- How many bills does the hospital and medical group (In case any of you is wondering... no they are not the same bill) do they need to send?

2.- Moreover, one of them got LOST, so never mind they tried to leave all paid and settled, one of them ended in collections... already paid for.

3.- Alas they got a letter AFTER the damn thing was settled in Mexico, today.

SO I just spent a good 90 minutes tracing the whole thing down. But this is partly what is wrong with the system, and the duplicate duties that you have with many of these. Oh and this is a major university center.

Oh and no, nobody was going to say we ain't gonna pay. For the love of me, they tried to even before they left the place... but damn it, this is a way to give an 81 year old, aka mom, a tummy ache, and I noticed today talking to my dad that he is not fully there anymore. So more grief for an 86 year old.

NO, in this case it would not be single payer, or anything like that... but this is what people who go to the ER who don't have insurance, have to face. Ain't it lovely? Let's see if we charge and double bill people will pay!!! (And yes, they also got reimbursed for some of that... can you see the overburdening of the system?)

Oh and for comparison sake, when he left the Hospital in Mexico City (as well as the Cleveland Clinic) all was paid before we left, and we got pretty detailed invoices. Thankfully they do have what they need to cover his medical costs, and why doesn't he have insurance? That is a different rant... and it does involve a US based insurance company, by the way.

Now, I feel better...



Oh and dad is doing better... but I don't think he'll be able to travel any more. Again another story.

[bobbolink]

1. ...and compare that to......

An elderly friend who, many years ago when he lived in what was then Czechoslovakia, had a major and scary surgery. Not only was he not discharged right away, but he was then sent to a nice place in the mountains to recuperate.

No stress.

No harrassment.

Recuperation.

What a concept.

Why, they must think health is important or something. :shrug:

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Or as I said, Mexico City

got a complete, detailed bill. Pay it, that's it.

[Hydra]

3. Our Health Care system is a mess

And instead of fixing it, we reinforced the mess.

I haven't seen a doctor in years...while I don't miss all of the hoops, I do miss getting assessed and treated as needed.

[jimlup]

4. Yes, I had a similar issue 3 years ago

It was a bill in which I was legitimately covered but because of the ridiculous system I was unable to prove that it was covered and it ended up in collections. It still affects my credit but it really wasn't my bill. The system is so broken that it would be funny if it were not so sad.

Single Payer was the way to go. We decided decades ago to miss that opportunity. Now with each passing year, and despite the recent attempts at "reform" we get further and further from the possibility of a working system.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Alas the system will collapse under it's own weight

and it will not be pretty.

[w8liftinglady]

5. When you have $200K in bills and brain surgery in one year-take a guess...

I get a new bill every day from someone,somewhere-even though my insurance has paid almost all of that.I am on Longterm disability...and still owe about 6000.00....six thousand dollars.they can go f*&k themselves...and yes,I am a healthcare worker.I can not wait much longer for national health care.Our nation desperately needs it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Absolutely

I could go into the other rant as to why dad has no insurance... ok let's go into it.

After he needed heart surgery, since he has diabetes, mom had to fight them. After that, they just simply dropped him... yep a US company.