Re: Hospitals Hose Uninsured: For Herman


"George Conklin" <georgeconklin1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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"Skeptic" <bcs002b@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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"George Conklin" <georgeconklin1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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Tonight's 60 Minutes on CBS gave the case of the uninsured when they
hit
a
hospital for care.

Hospitals keep their list prices secret so you cannot comparison shop.

You or I can call any clinic at any hospital and request the cost of a
visit/procedure. It is readily available through the business office.
In
fact, it is often encouraged.

The program said that in fact for in-patients such a list is not
available easily or at all.

I didn't see the program so I only have your post to respond to. As for
inpatients, the social workers on any inpatient unit are responsibe for this
very task. Not only can they get you prices/costs but if yhou can't afford
to pay, they try to figure out ways to assist.

Then they charge everyone the same, but offer automatic discounts to
insurance companies, but bill the uninsured the full amount.

It's like a large family of 12 buying in bulk from Costco or Sam's Club
vs.
an individual going to the local supermarket. The large family gets a
discount due to volume.

I know the excuse. We all do. Cash customers get hosed.

Do you understand the concept of bulk purchasing?

They gave two
cases. One man had a mild heart attack, and was billed about $50,000
for
a
short stay after a heart attack. An insurance company would have paid
$13,000 for the same care. Another man from the West Coast got an
advocacy
group on his side but was charged about 4 times more than an insurance
company would have paid, with a total bill of about $250,000. (That
bill
was forgiven after the show).

So without someone to speak for you, Herman, you cannot get a fair
price.

An individual has no bargaining power. An insurance company does.

That is why MSAs fail.

Cash customers with medical savings accounts are going to really be
hurt.
MSA's are a disaster waiting to happen. George Bush obviously knows
this.

Don't give him more credit than he's due.

You mean he is stupid?

I don't know his IQ. He does not strike me as an intelligent person,
however.


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Hospitals Hose Uninsured: For Herman
    ... Hospitals keep their list prices secret so you cannot comparison shop. ... $13,000 for the same care. ... An insurance company does. ...
    (talk.politics.medicine)
  • Re: Hospitals Hose Uninsured: For Herman
    ... Hospitals keep their list prices secret so you cannot comparison shop. ... $13,000 for the same care. ... An insurance company does. ...
    (talk.politics.medicine)
  • Hospitals Hose Uninsured: For Herman
    ... Hospitals keep their list prices secret so you cannot comparison shop. ... $13,000 for the same care. ... company would have paid, with a total bill of about $250,000. ...
    (talk.politics.medicine)
  • Filthy NHS Hospitals
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  • Filthy NHS Hospitals
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    (sci.med.diseases.cancer)