My Recent Hospital Experience ($$$)

My seething mind | 03 Aug 10 | Moi

[MozarkDawg]

Medicare and Medicaid and she got a private room? The only time I got that privilege was when somehow I contracted spinal meningitis from the pre-op to the post-op, my shunts were infected -- and even then, the nurse said it was for the benefit of the other patients in the ward, not mine.

[ThisLittleLightofMine]

Now, my friend rushes her mother to the doctor’s office every time she has the slightest problem.
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This is the biggest problem, people with “free healthcare” don’t use it like they would if they were paying for it.

[nutmeg]

This thread might be of interest to you...

[Red_Devil 232]

No diet at all. Never was put on one. And never told not to eat peanuts or popcorn and all the typical “do not eat foods” associated with aggravating diverticulitis".

I had a colonoscopy about 3 months later - no polyps nothing.

Many years ago I developed an ulcer (real) and the doctor treated it with meds (Tagemet). Then years later I started to have pains that were like what I had with the ulcer. I just treated it with OTC Tagemet and what ever until I felt better. Looks like I had DiverT for quit awhile and not an ulcer.

The only thing I was told to do was to stop drinking beer! Yeah right!

[Diver Dave]

I underwent another lumbar fusion 2 months ago. This was 13 months after the initial injury. I was referred to 5 different doctors, physical therapy, multiple x-rays, MRI, CT and a myleogram (sp?). When surgery was finally the recommendation, I had to wait an additional 2 months on a waiting list for the procedure. Bottom line, I'm doing better but have no idea the total cost. Insurance covered it all save my co-pays for PT and the Dr visits. Out of pocket expense, $200. For everything else, there's MasterCard. {8^)

[verity]

I question the $180k bill.

[TexasCajun]

Thanks for the insight.

[eXe]

Thank you for this! This is exactly what I mean about the medical field today.. test after test after test with NO results ever. All the while the bills PILE sky high. I have seen this far too many times to say its just a isolated incident.

I just plan on keeping myself healthy as possible and staying away from doctors these days.

[sportutegrl]

You need to compare the original hospital bill to what your insurance company paid. I had a problem pregnancy and a C-section and the bill was 65,000. Aetna negotiated it down to about 4000. I could have paid that myself. I don’t need health insurance, I just need the negotiating team. This is why the bill for uninsureds is so high, they have to pay for all the freeloaders and all the insurance discounts.

[Bitsy]

You need to compare the original hospital bill to what your insurance company paid. I had a problem pregnancy and a C-section and the bill was 65,000.
Quite a difference in costs. I waited in 12 years of total pain to be on medicare to get the surgery because my deductable was sooooo high. I wonder if I should still contact Humana or let the hospital and medicare duke it out.

[A_perfect_lady]

It sounds like she’s a carb addict. There’s a book called the Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet, by two doctors who I think are married to each other. Their names are Richard & Rachel Heller. It’s very interesting. I’m kind of a carb junkie too. I’m lucky that I have just enough self-control not to go up too much (I’m about a size 12.) But it really is hard to control. If I eat even one apple or piece of bread, I crave carbs for the rest of the day, and shake if I don’t get them. It’s awful.

[A_perfect_lady]

I just plan on keeping myself healthy as possible and staying away from doctors these days.

That's my plan too. So far, so good! LOL...

[PLMerite]

I agree it’s messed up.

But I would ask your friend, by what right does she demand we pay for her mother’s health care ?

[momto6]

At our hospital, everyone new gets a private room till the MRSA test comes back negative. Insurance, private pay, medicare, medicaid it doesn’t matter.

[frankenMonkey]

The joys of a small town hospital...
That, and I held off going until a Thursday afternoon.
Not a person in the ER, I had to wake the admitting nurse up!

[justsaynomore]

The reason it costs $180,000 was likely due to the fact that there are several million illegal aliens who use the Emergency Room as their Primary Care Provider. They show up, demand service, then leave - and it’s all free.

YES - paying for those who don't pay, paying for what Medicaid doesn't pay, and paying for outrageous insurance are what drives medical costs up.

[justsaynomore]

paying for outrageous insurance - should read “paying for outrageous malpratice insurance”

[A_perfect_lady]

I suspect the one who is really flipping out is the mother who is sicker than a dog. I feel sorry for her. She’s only 73. That’s not very old, too young to die.

You probably don't remember this thread. I was just taking a trip down memory lane and was reading it again. You know what? The lady died 6 months later (almost to the day.) After another $900,000 (literally) in hospital costs, they finally told her it was time for hospice. The hospice workers gave her some morphine and some pamphlets on what to expect. The mom died within 4 days, before the daughter had even had time to read the pamphlets. A million dollars that lady's last year of life cost. And she was miserable too, the whole time. I don't know what the answer is, I don't even know what the question was. I just know that having seen this, I don't think we are on the right track.