I Know This is Unethical, But How in the Sam Hell is it LEGAL?

[Bloodshot Scott]

So I was going over some old paperwork as I prepare to move out of my current residence, and I came across the paperwork for my visit to the ER a couple years ago for a sprained ankle.

Now, after they gave me a couple x-rays, they gave me a cheap plastic "brace" for the ankle that looks about as cheap as sometihng you would find at the Dollar Store.

Price: about $300.00 for the flakey plastic brace POS. Never mind the fact that the second I walked into that ER they hit me with about a quick $400.00 right off the bat, but the price for that "brace" really sticks in my craw.

Now I know our current healthcare is superior to places like the U.K. and Canada and at my age with my health I don't really even feel like I need health care, but seriously, $300.00 for a flimsy plastic POS? :dunno:

Something stinks.

 

[Ulysses31]

Maybe it includes the x-rays and labour cost of the dr seeing you and the nurse putting it on. We have great healthcare here in the UK it's just got financial problems at the moment but we have some of the best doctors and medical techniques there is, free of charge to

 

[Baill Inneraora]

Because companies have the absolute right to charge people whatever they want, especially when it comes to the health care industry. Insurance companies have the right to drop you as soon as you get sick. Pharmaceutical companies have a right to charge whatever they want for medicine.

If you disagree you are a Nazi, a socialist and un American.

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

Maybe it includes the x-rays and labour cost of the dr seeing you and the nurse putting it on. We have great healthcare here in the UK it's just got financial problems at the moment but we have some of the best doctors and medical techniques there is, free of charge to

Well she could've at least given me a blow job as well at those rates. Of course my girl was with me, so I don't know how well it would've went over with her.

Seriously, I don't believe for a second that U.K. healthcare (or Canadian healthcare for that matter) is superior.

I could post dozens of links to point out how inferior both systems are to American HC, but I won't waste your - or my - time.

What the hell, take your pick: http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy&...=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&pbx=1&fp=ea5733a97aebfa72

 

[Doc Scurlock]

Maybe it includes the x-rays and labour cost of the dr seeing you and the nurse putting it on. We have great healthcare here in the UK it's just got financial problems at the moment but we have some of the best doctors and medical techniques there is, free of charge to

Ditto for Canada. If you've got a major problem they'll deal with you quickly. If it's something minor like an ankle injury you'll probably wait awhile. The one problem we have since it's available to everybody is that people go to emergency rooms with the most minor things hence why the wait times are long. Kid got the sniffles, take him to the hospital since other than your taxes it won't cost you a thing.

 

[John_8581]

What about the emergency room doctor that bills out a separate $250.00 invoice ... (I submitted it to my insurance company.) They refused to pay it. They said, "it was outside the scope of care." So I eventually paid it. Otherwise, it impacts your credit history adversely.

But I called up, and got the ER doctor's office practice, I sent him a Form W-9. His office manager completed it and returned it to me. Although it was under the $600.00 limit, I still sent him a very nice Form 1099 MISC.

Yes, I guess he had to report it on his Form 1040 Schedule C for that year.

 

[Rey C.]

Libertarian Rey: why would/should it be illegal? Prior to anything being done for you, I'm willing to bet that a contract was offered to you and that you signed it... thereby obligating you (or your parents/guardian) to pay for any and all charges - whether you had insurance or not. It was up to you, the consumer, to ask how much the brace and other care was going to cost. If you chose not to do that, then caveat emptor. Yes? :dunno:

Realistic Rey: welcome to the real world, Sport. :wave2:

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

Libertarian Rey: why would/should it be illegal? Prior to anything being done for you, I'm willing to bet that a contract was offered to you and that you signed it... thereby obligating you (or your parents/guardian) to pay for any and all charges - whether you had insurance or not. It was up to you, the consumer, to ask how much the brace and other care was going to cost. If you chose not to do that, then caveat emptor. Yes? :dunno:

Realistic Rey: welcome to the real world, Sport. :wave2:

Well, there were people limping around in that ER room for the better part of 10 hours with all kinds of shit wrong with them.

Truth be told, my white trash friend who got a $60,000 bill from the hospital has never paid a dime, and in fact filled out paperwork to have it fully funded by the donations that are made to that particular hospital, one of the biggest in the Midwest.

I was just inquiring how the freakin' hell a plastic POS "brace" - and I think you might agree - could cost upwards of $300.00. Bottom line was my girl pretty much forced me to go to the ER because my foot was the size of a football. I never intended on going, but whatever. My foot has never been the same, so when I get insurance again coming up soon It will need to be tended to.

 

[pete rose]

In Sam H(e/i)ll, they go by their own rules.

 

[D-rock]

Ah, capitalism at it's finest.

And yes, the U.S. does have the best health insurance in the world...if you have a lot of money. I'm sure everybody on here is in that category, right?

 

[Christa]

So right!

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

Ah, capitalism at it's finest.

And yes, the U.S. does have the best health insurance in the world...if you have a lot of money. I'm sure everybody on here is in that category, right?

Not true. My parents were blue collar "clock punchers" who worked check to check for a good 30 years, and they always have had HC. And I was covered by their insurance for the better part of that time. :dunno:

If Americans were'nt such piglets and we didn't let 30 million illegals into places like California - where their situation is terrible at best - maybe we would'nt be in this situation. :dunno:

 

[meesterperfect]

my moms got bronchitis right now
went to the doc, and got a prescription.
$440.000 for the medicines.

its a grim situation there.

 

[Ulysses31]

Ditto for Canada. If you've got a major problem they'll deal with you quickly. If it's something minor like an ankle injury you'll probably wait awhile. The one problem we have since it's available to everybody is that people go to emergency rooms with the most minor things hence why the wait times are long. Kid got the sniffles, take him to the hospital since other than your taxes it won't cost you a thing.

Lately people are dragging themselves or their kids in with the flu and have taken up loads of valuable beds, I was suffering with the flu and I know it's not pleasant but you just gotta grin and bear it unless you're vunerable (ie a baby or the elderly) or have suspected swine flu. Here it takes 2 days min to get a GP's appointment which is why people just head off to the hospital, because you'll definately be seen sooner or later. Although free healthcare is good as some people develop illnesses through no fault of their own I think in some instances patients should pay, ie health issues related to excess smoking/drinking where a patient was previously warned or if someone injures themselves robbing a house or joyriding in a car, and breast implants on the NHS I was watching a hospital reality show based in the UK and a guy in his late 30s had a bet with his older brother about jumping a river, he missed the bank and busted both his legs/ankles. They called a fucking helicopter and ambulance for him, he had multiple x-rays and multiple operations on both legs so think of how much all this cost because a grown man was being a show off

 

[Asianlov69]

this is called capitalism

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

Lately people are dragging themselves or their kids in with the flu and have taken up loads of valuable beds, I was suffering with the flu and I know it's not pleasant but you just gotta grin and bear it unless you're vunerable (ie a baby or the elderly) or have suspected swine flu. Here it takes 2 days min to get a GP's appointment which is why people just head off to the hospital, because you'll definately be seen sooner or later. Although free healthcare is good as some people develop illnesses through no fault of their own I think in some instances patients should pay, ie health issues related to excess smoking/drinking where a patient was previously warned or if someone injures themselves robbing a house or joyriding in a car, and breast implants on the NHS I was watching a hospital reality show based in the UK and a guy in his late 30s had a bet with his older brother about jumping a river, he missed the bank and busted both his legs/ankles. They called a fucking helicopter and ambulance for him, he had multiple x-rays and multiple operations on both legs so think of how much all this cost because a grown man was being a show off

I watched a show called Frontline recently and the terminally ill with lukemia cost their insurance a quarter of a million dollars everytime they get a blood transfusion. $250,000 dollars. And of course even if their prognosis is of little hope, they can decide how many they want. It's a real tragedy this whole mess.

this is called capitalism

I believe $300.00 for a plastic POS is called swindling the masses, not "capitalism."

 

[Ulysses31]

I believe $300.00 for a plastic POS is called swindling the masses, not "capitalism."

Problem with capitalism is people get greedy and start exploiting others for their own personal gain. Lawyers were supposed to uphold the law and help people but they are just a bunch of blood sucking vampires who turn people against each other just to get more work. Insurance companies do their best to avoid paying out whenever possible. The police spend more time issuing fines than catching criminals. Bankers make risky decisions with YOUR money just to get themselves bigger bonuses and if it all messes up YOU the taxpayer has to bail them out. Estate agents over inflate property values to get more commision from sales. There are many cases where people use capitalism to screw over their fellow countrymen and just bypass any moral/ethical considerations.

 

[mrtrebus]

So I was going over some old paperwork as I prepare to move out of my current residence, and I came across the paperwork for my visit to the ER a couple years ago for a sprained ankle.

Now, after they gave me a couple x-rays, they gave me a cheap plastic "brace" for the ankle that looks about as cheap as sometihng you would find at the Dollar Store.

Price: about $300.00 for the flakey plastic brace POS. Never mind the fact that the second I walked into that ER they hit me with about a quick $400.00 right off the bat, but the price for that "brace" really sticks in my craw.

Now I know our current healthcare is superior to places like the U.K. and Canada and at my age with my health I don't really even feel like I need health care, but seriously, $300.00 for a flimsy plastic POS? :dunno:

Something stinks.

Wrong!

 

[Rey C.]

I was just inquiring how the freakin' hell a plastic POS "brace" - and I think you might agree - could cost upwards of $300.00. Bottom line was my girl pretty much forced me to go to the ER because my foot was the size of a football. I never intended on going, but whatever. My foot has never been the same, so when I get insurance again coming up soon It will need to be tended to.

I can't really speak to the brace, since I don't know what the cost of engineering and producing it were. And even if I knew, I couldn't say what a "fair" markup would be. But I got really sick last year and I demanded and got a detailed bill. One of the charges was $20 for aspirin. At the highest price pharmacy in my area, I'm sure I could buy three or four bottles of aspirin for $20. That certainly fit my definition of price gouging.

As for your future insurance needs, I'm sorry to tell you that you now have a documented pre-existing condition. That being the case, if Rep. Bachmann and her pals are able to get the healthcare reform package repealed, you may not be able to get private insurance. And if you get on an employer's open enrollment plan, there's no guarantee that the ankle will be covered in that case either. Oh, and if you happen to "forget" to tell your insurance company about your prior injury, and then need surgery or whatever on the ankle, if they find out about the ER visit (which they likely will), they'll likely deny the charges and also drop your coverage.

In the United States, true, we have some of the most advanced medical technology. But I wouldn't claim that we have the best health care system. Our system, our pharmaceutical industry and our doctors revolve around keeping people on a medical hamster wheel, so that they can be charged for something from cradle to grave. IMO, we don't do a very good job with preventative care or followups. My vets kept up with me even after my dog and my cat died. But after I got out of the hospital and paid off the last bill, I haven't heard a single word from any of the doctors that "took care" of me.

 

[Tittyman5000]

Yeah Dude, The Health Care system is messed up, I tripped over a air line in my shop & split my head open on a bumper, LOL, Anyway I went to the ER & waited 5 Hrs for them to tell me Ehh its healing already nothing we can do now, WTF! All I did was shower cleaned it & put Neosporin & they think its OK, I had a 5 inch gash & the skin was cut clear to the skull, I swear to God They did not touch it other than give me a tetanus shot no one cleaned it no stitches nothing!!! & I received a $3,600 Medical bill two weeks later! WTF!!!
That was F'd up man, I'll never go to the ER again! Not even if I'm Dying