Re: Hospitals Hose Uninsured: For Herman


"Skeptic" <bcs002b@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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"George Conklin" <georgeconklin1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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"George Conklin" <georgeconklin1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> 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?

In a labor-intensive situation, there is no such thing as bulk
purchasing.

Bulk purchasing exists just as does the Statue of Liberty. Contracts -
large ones - are negotiated b/w hospitals and insurance carriers.
Insurance
companies are often in a power position for such negotiations and have
been
forcing lower and lower payments for services. Same with clinics. It's
actually *illegal* for two different practices to even discuss/disclose
the
terms of their contracts with another practice, although the insurance
company has free access to what contracts the practice has with other
insurers.

You want some change? Start with loosening the stranglehold of insurance
companies over the medical community which is helping drive healthcare
costs
upward.




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Relevant Pages

  • Re: Hospitals Hose Uninsured: For Herman
    ... Of all the charges, I was appalled ... You think I'd get any difference of pay if the hospitals got more or less? ... Insurance companies can do it, ... Bulk purchasing does not function in a labor-intensive industry. ...
    (talk.politics.medicine)
  • Re: Hospitals Hose Uninsured: For Herman
    ... Hospitals keep their list prices secret so you cannot comparison ... large ones - are negotiated b/w hospitals and insurance carriers. ... Same with clinics. ...
    (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)
  • Re: Hospitals Hose Uninsured: For Herman
    ... Hospitals keep their list prices secret so you cannot comparison ... It's like a large family of 12 buying in bulk from Costco or Sam's Club ... Do you understand the concept of bulk purchasing? ...
    (talk.politics.medicine)
  • Re: Hospitals Hose Uninsured: For Herman
    ... Hospitals keep their list prices secret so you cannot comparison ... Bulk purchasing exists just as does the Statue of Liberty. ... large ones - are negotiated b/w hospitals and insurance carriers. ...
    (talk.politics.medicine)