Appendectomy, just got the bill.

[Joe Bob]

Dan Byers, felt the need to post about my burst appendix....
and I got a lot get well thanks...a wholehearted thanks from me as well.

Then I ranted....sent a pissy letter to the editor about the single hospital service we have....2 weeks and no print.....

Anyways....got the bill.....

$32,693.17 for the whole shebang. Insurance says they will cover 21K...they also said I'm not responsible for the remainder......

But gee, I'm getting bills from all the participants in this little adventure. Maybe I should apply to have my citizenship revoked and it's all for free.....

[Nathans_Dad]

Yeah, the $32k is what the hospital billed, but most insurance companies have a negotiated rate for the procedure which is probably the $21k. I'm not a billing expert but if the participants are on your insurance plan you shouldn't be getting bills to you from them. The only time you run into problems is when ancillary services (like anesthesia, etc) are not on your plan...

[legion]

Hate to say it, but this is one of the reasons auto insurance is so expensive in SoCal.

When someone gets into a car accident and goes to the hospital, the hospital has to bill at a rate the subsidizes their "free" services to illegals. Insurance company has to pay the hospital bills.

Don't worry, if they had socialized medicine, they would have given you two aspirin and told you to go home...no point in sticking around when the wait-time for emergency surgery is two weeks.

***

Anyway, glad to hear you are feeling better.

[sammyg2]

Did they at least let you keep it in a little jar?

[Joe Bob]

Nope...the little jar is where I keep my balls....

[dewolf]

Originally Posted by mikez

Dan Byers, felt the need to post about my burst appendix....
and I got a lot get well thanks...a wholehearted thanks from me as well.

Then I ranted....sent a pissy letter to the editor about the single hospital service we have....2 weeks and no print.....

Anyways....got the bill.....

$32,693.17 for the whole shebang. Insurance says they will cover 21K...they also said I'm not responsible for the remainder......

But gee, I'm getting bills from all the participants in this little adventure. Maybe I should apply to have my citizenship revoked and it's all for free.....

Had mine done last year. Wasn't feeling to good, went to the hospital, 30 mins later in was in theatre. And it was free.

[sammyg2]

Maybe you could put it under yer pillow for the appendix fairy.

[livi]

Yup, free of charge here too. Thats one good thing about semi-communism.

[Jim Sims]

Here's one cheaper solution as long as you can avoid probate.

http://www.bestpricecaskets.com/?gclid=CPGf3dOjuJICFRwbagodkxtXpw#steel18ga20gacas ket

[BeyGon]

Originally Posted by livi

Yup, free of charge here too. Thats one good thing about semi-communism.

Free? what are your taxes? I have to believe you PAY for it.

[Dueller]

Originally Posted by dewolf

Had mine done last year. Wasn't feeling to good, went to the hospital, 30 mins later in was in theatre. And it was free.

Dewolf...so what is health care like in Oz? I mean, what do you have to pay in taxes, premiums, etc.? Is quality health care available? It apparently isn't market driven like our system is? Do you have to purchase health care insurance?

Just a thumbnail sketch, if you will?

[DaveE]

I just had a kidney transplant in early Feb. Hospital bill was $95,000, insurance paid $94,000. This included costs associated with my living donor also (my eldest daughter).

[IROC]

When I had my appendix out a couple of years ago the bill came to about $16k. But then again, in Alabama they use old rusty farm implements for surgical tools, so you get a price break.

[Nathans_Dad]

Well, part of this is that you had a ruptured appendix. So the surgery was a bit more complicated, longer hospital stay, more antibiotics, etc. A routine appendix would probably not be billed at $32k.

To everyone in socialized countries who thinks their healthcare is free, think again. Check your tax rate compared to the US, then take that percentage of your income and you will find that although you might pay a little less than the US citizen on a healthcare plan, it isn't much less...

[Dave L]

Nothing in life is free, but more importantly Im glad you are okay.

Appendicitis seems to run in my family so Im not looking forward to this.

[Zeke]

Mike, you said "ruptured" appendix? That's a tough one. I'm sure you weren't home the next day on that one. Sounds to me like 32K is in line with what they charge for this kind of thing. But that's the riff, what they charge. What they get paid is always a lot less. On my last surgery, a hernia repair, they sent a bill for 18K. I was there a total of 4 hours and home. Ins paid about 2400 and I paid 75 to each the doctor, the anesthesiologist and the horse pistol. Nothing else owed. So, if I had no ins, I'd still be paying the balance or lose my house? WTF???

Is this a great system or what?

It's hard to imagine how many politicians have come and gone and nothing done yet. Oh yeah, that was Hilary's bag back in the 90's. Good job, woman.

[mjshira]

Originally Posted by dewolf

Had mine done last year. Wasn't feeling to good, went to the hospital, 30 mins later in was in theatre. And it was free.

'free'...

clearly you don't understand the meaning of the term.

[Joe Bob]

Originally Posted by milt

Mike, you said "ruptured" appendix? That's a tough one. I'm sure you weren't home the next day on that one. Sounds to me like 32K is in line with what they charge for this kind of thing. But that's the riff, what they charge. What they get paid is always a lot less. On my last surgery, a hernia repair, they sent a bill for 18K. I was there a total of 4 hours and home. Ins paid about 2400 and I paid 75 to each the doctor, the anesthesiologist and the horse pistol. Nothing else owed. So, if I had no ins, I'd still be paying the balance or lose my house? WTF???

Is this a great system or what?

It's hard to imagine how many politicians have come and gone and nothing done yet. Oh yeah, that was Hilary's bag back in the 90's. Good job, woman.

Milt, Go back to the original thread....I sat for 2 + hours in the ER...most likely it popped there. I'm just peeved about the loss of my benfits over the years....I USED to have FULL coverage for me and my family....now I have to have a private plan for the wife and kids and even have to fork out 225 a paycheck for a fargin HMO.

County jobs used to have good medical and decent pay.....

Can't wait to retire and get real bennies....

[Zeke]

Didn't know about an original thread. Hope yer feelin' better.

[Joe Bob]

Thanks...I'm still pissy as always.

Dan Byers posted a "Mikey is dying" thread that I found out about after I got out.....funny I doan feels daid.....