Medical Costs - Help

[EagleKeeper]

Self emploed Health insurance is dangerous.

Because it completely comes out of your pocket; you tend to shop on the low side.
I have run into the same issue.

After the fact; ambulance not covered.
ER $100 only

Those low budget plans are to keep you well; not cover you when you get hurt.

 

[Markbnj]

Another little secret about hospitals is that basically all of them will let you go on a payment plan and pay some pittance per month for the rest of all time. Or thereabouts.

 

[God Mode]

It might be a liability issue like so many things in our society. If an ambulance was called/present and didn't take the injured person in they can be sued later for negligence etc.

A lot of redundant things in our lives are solely due to the few bad apples that take advantage of people around them.

 

[ViviTheMage]

FYI, in Minnesota at least, it's free to have an ambulance come out to you .. it's the ride in that costs the $$$.

 

[OutHouse]

nevermind.

 

[Slew Foot]

The ambulance must be non contracted with your insurance co. Theyre supposed to accepted the insurance as payment as payment in full

 

[Gooberlx2]

Theyre supposed to accepted the insurance as payment as payment in full

What are you basing this on? Ambulatory services have always billed just like every other medical service on every (PPO) insurance plan I've had. Your responsibility is the deductible + co-insurance until you meet your MOOP.

 

[chusteczka]

It would be good for her to have a friend at work knowledgeable on how to manage and care for her during an episode just in case. Teach someone if necessary. Have a pillow and something to put between her teeth ready nearby.

I am glad medicine is helping control the episodes but being prepared and preparing others can help prevent such situations where an ambulance is needlessly called, for the future.

 

[OutHouse]

The ambulance must be non contracted with your insurance co. Theyre supposed to accepted the insurance as payment as payment in full

you know, if you dont know shit about the subject please stop posting wrong information.

 

[Anonemous]

So they charge an exorbitant amount to a person to cover the other 9 who don't/can't pay?

 

[RearAdmiral]

Time to go into the ambulatory business!

 

[OverVolt]

The whole situation is messed up. Stabilize the head, turn them on their side, she'd probably wake up before people could call 911, etc.

She is on anti-seizure meds correct? Well, maybe not if she is pregnant.

I like the "Woman stuck with $89,000 medical bill for two doses of antivenom at the ER. Mexico sells the same antivenom for $100 per dose at the drugstore." story from drudge.

The whole, backroom negotiated prices never, ever set by the market are completely absurd. I understand doctors, nurses, etc. are expensive but cmon. Its not like when they pop into your room for 15minutes they generated the equivalent value of a BMW 7 series.

 

[OverVolt]

Time to go into the ambulatory business!

Yea you should get the ability to accept SNAP/EBT payment for snacks to all the onlookers. The Ambulance, chips, soda, and candy-mobile. Then you'd really be rolling in cash.

 

[DCal430]

The whole situation is messed up. Stabilize the head, turn them on their side, she'd probably wake up before people could call 911, etc.

She is on anti-seizure meds correct? Well, maybe not if she is pregnant.

I like the "Woman stuck with $89,000 medical bill for two doses of antivenom at the ER. Mexico sells the same antivenom for $100 per dose at the drugstore." story from drudge.

The whole, backroom negotiated prices never, ever set by the market are completely absurd. I understand doctors, nurses, etc. are expensive but cmon. Its not like when they pop into your room for 15minutes they generated the equivalent value of a BMW 7 series.

At what point should you call 911, after 2 minutes of convulsion?

 

[OverVolt]

At what point should you call 911, after 2 minutes of convulsion?

They're gonna call 911 in an office if they aren't informed of the condition. The only seizure I've seen in person was in highschool and we grabbed the school nurse who did the above. She had luckily just walked by in the hallway. The guy was in a desk and as he slid under he hit his head on the desk. It depends on the situation case by case. Some are nbd, in an office its going to be "better safe than sorry" and some you should call ASAP.

 

[jagec]

you have to spread the costs around.

If only there were a term for such a setup...

Which is why I dont think government insurance will fix anything. Now I have to pay for smokers and drinkers and others who dont take care of themselves.
Or..... government mandated private insurance. Same problem. I'm paying for other peoples stupidity and carelessness.

You already do.

 

[Northern Lawn]

What is funny is out of the 1300 bill, probably 200 to 400 came from her actual cost, the rest was from paying for everyone else who didn't have insurance.

I live in Canada my ambulance ride cost $200, the 2nd ride to transfer me to another hospital was free.

ALL THIS WAS FREE < 11 days in hospital, operation to put an external fixator on my leg. Then back in the hospital once swelling had gone down for another 3 days for a bone graft operation, few more trips back to get fixator removed, casts put on/off all FREE! X-rays and leg braces free, shoes altered free (Had to buy the shoes though)

Your costs in America are exaggerated because insurance companys take half the money.

 

[pcgeek11]

I've heard of this, it's pretty common. Ambulances are a big for-profit scam. If someone calls an ambulance for you it's almost impossible to refuse it once they arrive, they will claim you aren't in your right mind and you could be endangering yourself if you refuse to ride, and basically threaten to have you arrested if you don't take the ride.

It's really pretty sad what this country is turning into.

BS! You can always turn down an ambulance. You just have to sign a release form for obvious reasons. ( My son is an EMT ).

 

[DCal430]

I live in Canada my ambulance ride cost $200, the 2nd ride to transfer me to another hospital was free.

ALL THIS WAS FREE < 11 days in hospital, operation to put an external fixator on my leg. Then back in the hospital once swelling had gone down for another 3 days for a bone graft operation, few more trips back to get fixator removed, casts put on/off all FREE! X-rays and leg braces free, shoes altered free (Had to buy the shoes though)

Your costs in America are exaggerated because insurance companys take half the money.

I work for the state and I am insured by the state. I went to a state own hospital for en eye emergency. I just saw a nurse for like 15 minutes. The state agency that runs my insurance paid the state owned hospital $3000 about. There was no insurance company taking half of the profits.

 

[Northern Lawn]

I work for the state and I am insured by the state. I went to a state own hospital for en eye emergency. I just saw a nurse for like 15 minutes. The state agency that runs my insurance paid the state owned hospital $3000 about. There was no insurance company taking half of the profits.

Medical Insurance companys take half the money paid from insurance premiums. Thats' why American health care cost twice as much as Canadian health care. That's why Canada can have universal health care, we don't have that middle man.

 

[dmcowen674]

$3,000

That's nothing, a friend of mine just got bill for $20,000 for the ambulance ride for 20 miles

 

[DCal430]

Medical Insurance companys take half the money paid from insurance premiums. Thats' why American health care cost twice as much as Canadian health care. That's why Canada can have universal health care, we don't have that middle man.

I don't know, I don't agree with the middle man either, I support universal healthcare, but I don't have a private insurance middle man and most large companies are self insured as well. Their is no middleman that you are speaking of for most people.

 

[DCal430]

$3,000

That's nothing, a friend of mine just got bill for $20,000 for the ambulance ride for 20 miles

was this a private ambulance?

 

[JEDIYoda]

Paramedics here charge around $90

you claim to live in Southern California.....you don`t know what your talking about!!

 

[JEDIYoda]

The ambulance must be non contracted with your insurance co. Theyre supposed to accepted the insurance as payment as payment in full

another idiot....