I don't blame you for ranting...
They over charge all the time.
Keep um on their toes Nerves!





I just left the ER tonight- can't wait to see that bill! (sarcasum)

A common theme in this thread is that people think they too much for healthcare. Medical equipment, supplies, and the personnel do not come cheap. If you want cheap healthcare, let Billy Bob remove your appendix in his garage.

severa; years ago my 13 yo son went in and had a mole removed from his back...lol...hosp billed my insurance for three days in hosp and a radical masectomy..ins rejected...and was a h*** of a fight to get it fixed.....lol..radical masectomy on a 13 yo boy? and they are educated ppl...duh

I WORKED IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES,AND BELIEVE ME YOU HAVE ONE OF THE BEST MEDICAL SYSTEMS IN THE WORLD HERE(AFTER A FEW SCANDINAVIAN COUNTRIES).
YOU WON'T BELIVE ME UNTIL YOU GO AND SEE IT YOURSELF.
THE PRICES ARE HIGH BECAUSE: 1.HIGH COASTS OF LIABILITY INSURANCES AND SALARIES OF MEDICAL PERSONEL 2.A PLUMPER WILL CHARGE YOU 100$ FOR A SMALL JOB ^_^
AND DON'T FORGET A HOSPITAL IS NOT A NONBENEFIT COMPANY,THAT'S A BUSINESS AND OFCOURSE THEY WILL CHARGE US AS MUCH AS THEY CAN

Not ALL hospitals are FOR profit. Even the for profit cannot charge whatever they want. Many insurances, including medicare reimburse hospitals a flat rate based on the diagnosis.

YES,YOU ARE RIGHT,NOT ALL OF THEM...

BUT WHEN YOU COMPARE THE PRICES TO THE COASTS IN THE US,THEY ARE NOT SO HIGH.
IN TURKEY A DOCTOR'S VISIT IS ABOUT 100$,BUT THE SALARY OF A FULL TIME NURSE/MONTH IS JUST 300$ :(

HERE A VISIT IS 50-200 BUT THE SALARIES ARE IN A HIGHER RATE,HOW MUCH IS THE SALARY OF A NURSE?

Salaries vary depending on what part of the country you are in. It is a supply and demand issue for most healthcare professionals. There is a nation-wide shortage of nurses, lab techs, physical therapists, radiology techs, etc. Nurses in our area (fresh out of school) start out at around $38,000 a year. Lab techs with a bachelor's degree (fresh out of school) start out around $32,000. Considering these professionals have 5 years+ of college under their belt that is not much. Hospitals are also a 24/7/365 operation with holidays required. Newbies have to pay their dues on the odd shifts (midnights/evenings) before they can work into a day shift position. In our lab the day shift starts as early as 0300. We have to staff based on when the workload is heaviest. All-in-all, it is not a very desirable sitation but thank God for those individuals that have the altruistic nature and can do this kind of work.

LOL

in USA they make the patients sign the forms (printed in really small letters) that state that ultimately the patient is responsible for payment of services. So if a medical insurance doesnt want to pay, tough cookie, buddy, they sic the collection agency on you (even if you are working through on the case with the insurance company).

ALL western european medical systems are superior to the american model. You will get your doctor visit promptly and emergencies are takern care of right there and then. And it costs you nothing (thats what you pay taxes for).

Of course there are countries that have much worse medical care than the USA - Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Republic of Congo...

Why do people complain about having to pay their medical bills? It is just like any other bill. Your plummer, mechanic, grocery store, etc. require payment. This is your HEALTH, your LIFE, can you truely put a price on that?

I agree,
I don't want to pay for my health either.I go to the restaurant and pay more than I pay for my insurance.
And about the health system;I still think that there is high standard for patient safety and medical education in US.
In Europa everything might be cheaper or easier but the quality of healthcare here,is very high.

Call billing and demand an explanation of the charges.... if they can't explain ..... refuse to pay the charges until they do.

Sometimes its good to vent ..... clears your mind so you think about it alittle more rationally. Good Luck.

Even if explained, most (non-medical) people have not a clue what the items are. I have emailed the original author of this thread and will help him decode the bill. If they did 14 analytes for drug testing for $37 ea... that is a very good price.