I need to vent!

[KanoasDestiny]

On Tuesday, my uncle found my aunt passed out on the bathroom floor. She had been sick for the past few days with the flu, and she was unresponsive. He rushed her to the hospital, and was told that had he gotten her there any later, she would have died. She's diabetic and her blood sugar level was above 1300. She stayed in the emergency area for several hours before being moved to ICU because her blood pressure kept shooting up and then dropping really low. They were scared she'd fall into a diabetic coma.

Unfortunately, she doesn't have health insurance. She's being released from the hospital tomorrow, and she was told that if they can pay $5,000 apon discharge, her bill will be taken care of. If they can't pay it, then by the time the charges are added up, they will owe anywhere between $25,000 - $50,000.

My aunt and uncle are living paycheck to paycheck, and with having to just pay income taxes, they don't have that kind of money. Having to come up with $5,000 in less than 24 hours is nearly impossible for them, so I am going to meet them at the hospital tomorrow and I'll put the $5,000 on one of my credit cards. But if the hospital is willing to take a mere $5,000 as payment, was her stay really worth $25,000 - $50,000??? Seriously???

 

[Shari]

Its very sad people have to go through this.

Is wonderful though, you can help them out. (hugs)

 

[laughingllama75]

First off, I would like to say I hope your Aunt is OK and thank YOU for being able to loan them the 5000. that's awesome!

I feel it is a rip off too. Last May, I had a bad riding accident (brain injury and other severe problems) and the bill was 65000. for the hosp in boston (never mind the DHART helicoter ride). I also have no insurance.....and upon discharge, I was told if I could pay 17000.00 then the rest would be forgotten. What??? well, needless to say......didn't have the seventeen grand so I am paying 700 a month for what seems like the rest of my life. the whole thing seems crazy. Like you said..if they can "forgive" a certain ammount, why charge it in the first place?

*now, I am not complaining about the hosp. at all, they saved my life and I will be gratefull for the rest of my life and I truely appreciate them letting me do payments.

 

[Matt73]

That's awful...Hearing stuff like that makes me very happy to be a Canadian.

 

[MeadowRidge Farm]

I think it is great that you are willing to help your Aunt out , and hope she is doing well.

Last July I was in the hospital for 2 weeks. With a ruptured appendix that had burst about 1 week prior to me going in. (too da*n stubborn...but if it would have been one of my horses, I would of called the vet within minutes! ) so the poison had spread and abcessed thoughout and a few days later I went in to cardiac arrest. We have insurance and pay $1,400.00 a month, you would think for that price of insurance..EVERYTHING would be covered.. But, even with insurance ...when I got out, my total bill came to $56,000. out of that we had close to $6,000. to pay on our own. I was given 30 days to pay it, which we did, but they dont stop to think of all the other smaller bills that come in during the month from the hospital that the insurance didnt pay in full that also need to be paid, plus living expense, utility bills, etc..and on top of that a hefty premium just to have health insurance! Then the hospitals wonder why the patient rate is so much lower then a few years back. It seems like those that WORKED/DESERVE/NEED help cant get it..but others.......hmmmmmm...I'm sure you can fill it in here. They can run for every little thing imagineable, and not pay a dime, and that includes dental and eye wear. So unfair.

 

[minie812]

I hope your Aunt will be fine and how wonderful for you to help them out. I am a fortunate one and have insurance. With all my health issues the last summer and fall I had 3 heart caths and triple bypass and diabetic too. With the car accident in 2007 my bills have totaled well over 450,000 dollars (choke, I need CPR)

with my deductables and Out of pocket it took my savings and then some. We are still fortunate though to be covered. At one time we did not have coverage and lived check to check too. I told hubby that I will not see retirement age but that is fine. I think the Health care system and local hospital can name a wing after me.

 

[Crabby-Chicken]

Before you put your money up, go with them to financial office that they should have. Make sure you tell them, they DO NOT have the money. Sometimes they can and do write it off. If they are older, sometimes the hospital knows the elderly would do anything to pay their bills and do the right thing. Even if they can't. It is horrible that they are put in this position. Lots of people are everyday.

 

[Mominis]

This just astounds me. If a loan company did business like hospitals do, they would be closed down and likely in jail. Yet we allow the health care system to operate like this and it is considered the norm. This is completely disgusting to me.

 

[Katiean]

Feel lucky that it is a mear $50,000 if the $5,000 is not paid. I had 2 neck surgery's and yes I did have health insurance. The total bill for the 2 neck surgery's was over $750,000. And yes these bills do not make any since. I ruptured a bowel 2 years ago. Having no insurance I laid unconscious for 3 days in the ER. When I wouldn't die they did surgery. The county paid the hospital and the DR is still billing me for the surgery charging me over $8,000. When he did the second surgery to put things back where they should be, he charged me $600. What the heck is that all about?

 

[KanoasDestiny]

It really does make me mad that health professionals and funeral homes take advantage of people in a vulnerable spot. It's sick! I have to be honest, I was more than happy to help them, but $5,000 spent just like that was really hard (I was just getting my credit paid down, lol). I went and saw my aunt, and she seems in good spirits, so it was worth it. I know it took off alot of the stress.

I am one of the lucky ones with insurance also. Two years ago, I had surgery (two surgeons were working on me at the same time) and I didn't have to pay anything out of pocket. I wish everyone else was so lucky. But before the surgery, I did go to the hospital for an ultra sound and cat scan. I received a copy of the charges which came up to $9,600. Yes, almost $10,000 for two small tests where a human was with me for less than 30 minutes. Does it really take that much electricity to run those tests? Next time, I think I'll take my own KY jelly and save a few hundred bucks!

And just for the record, I WISH we had healthcare like Canada!!!

 

[Barbie]

We do have insurance. When my husband had back surgery 4-5 years ago, his bills came to around $175,000 as there were complications. When we got a copy of the EOB, the insurance only paid around $30,000 - the rest of the bill was charged off. We didn't have to pay a dime. I work as a bookkeeper for a firm that does accounting for medical practices - the write offs are astronomical. It is definitely harder on those who have no insurance as the rates are higher and the write offs lower.

Good luck!!!

Barbie

 

[MeadowRidge Farm]

I am SOOOO with you..on having health care like the Canadian system does. I have been saying that for years.

 

[Pepipony]

In most states so long as they pay any amount ( niece payed $20 a month on a 10k bill) steadily each month, the hospital cannot send it to collection. No use bankrupting themselves, or making themselves sick with worry. Sounds to me like the hospital is playing games anyhow, "we'll only charge you this now, but it will that later' that makes me mad when they do that.

 

[HGFarm]

This subject is one of my BIGGEST PEEVES and dont EVEN get me started!!!!!! It makes me gnash my teeth and smoke come out my nostrils and ears just reading this!

I will say that bless you for helping out your aunt and uncle and I sure hope she will be ok and glad that she got to the hospital in time!!!

 

[KanoasDestiny]

The really irritating part was, my aunt is a little overweight. Not alot, but some. When my uncle found her on the bathroom floor, she was breathing really, really hard, like gasping for air. He had to make the choice of calling 911 or taking her to the hospital himself. He decided to drive her because they live about 5 miles from town, and way off from the main road. He was scared that by the time the ambulance drove all the way out, found their place, and then drove back to town, she would be dead. So he said it was easier to drive her. He had a REALLY hard time getting her in the car because her body was limp. When they arrived at the emergency, he ran inside and begged for someone to come help him carry her in, or for a gurney or wheelchair. The hospital refused to help, telling him that since he brought her, he had to bring her inside himself. They were upset that he didn't have paramedics bring her in. I would have been furious if I was him!!! What is wrong with these people?

 

[Katiean]

I wonder if the news stations would run a story on people that get driven vs ambulance ride to the hospital?