American here. Reluctantly went to the ER because I had been vomiting for a couple of days. Turned out that my gallbladder just stopped working. Was immediately placed into a room, given IV antibiotics, and had surgery the next morning.
Had to stay for 4 days to make sure I was in good shape. The surgery wasn’t super expensive, but the room itself cost me way too much.
Total cost was just over $24k. No insurance (contractor). Even on payments, it’s insane.
My plan is to just never get sick for the rest of my life so I don’t go into another debt hole.
The ambulance ride was something like $1200, which I’ve come to learn was “cheap” comparatively speaking, as they’re typically thousands of dollars each. My insurance didn’t cover the cost of that ambulance because the particular service that picked me up was out-of-network. Insurance also didn’t cover the ibuprofen I was given for pain citing the fact that they require prior authorization for it. Two ibuprofen alone cost me $40.
You can haggle with them. Save up a few k and then call them offering to pay a lump sum to settle the debt. A few years ago I broke my wrist and ended up with a 16k bill. I got 3k together, called them, told them I’m poor AF, that they could take the 3k or nothing. They took the 3k.
Similar story back when I didn’t have insurance for a bit. In my case the hospital billing actively offered a settlement when I called and asked about options.
Medical debt aside, (not that it’s not important) you are an example of something that’s true about both systems: If you are at death’s door you’ll get treatment immediately, even if it’s just to stop you actively dying and stabilize you enough to wait for admission to the ICU. If you are waiting 12 hours in the ER before being seen by anyone but Triage, you’re probably the least sick/wounded person there.
Maybe instead of cursing the nurses and doctors, muster up the most powerful curse you can conjure, and send it to the germs and cancer cells in the Children’s Ward. Can’t hurt, might help. I like to start with “Fuck you, you filthy neuroblastomas! With your disgusting corrupted DNA and misshapen tumors oozing and squooging into places you don’t belong! Just fucking shrivel up and die! Don’t you know nobody wants you here? You’re fucking waste, so waste yourself and go out the shithole!”
Then see if you can call some good vibes for a quick resolution to the people who look miserable enough to be ahead of you. You’re on your own there, I’m not so good at prayers or that kind of thing.
Also a summertime reminder: a lot of people in the ER these months will be getting an IV because they’re severely dehydrated. And others will be getting an IV because their ability to withstand whatever else they have will be improved by getting better hydrated. You can help keep yourself and your friends out of there by pre-emptively drinking more water and non-alcoholic no-caffeine drinks, and being a …did “hydro homie” get ruined when I wasn’t paying attention?
Based on the price and it affecting your credit, it must have been something that you asked for, rather than needed. Like a couple of Tylenol for pain.
I’m beginning to think if I need to call 911 for myself, I should grab a couple Tylenol to take with me, even if I’m not sure it’s a good idea to actually take them. In my experience it’s possible to get permission from a doctor to take one’s usual home meds and the nurse will chart that you did so. In my husband’s case it was Evrysdi, which they were very glad we could provide, and his insurance (Platinum Plan because he needs it) did cover Tylenol, but I bet mine doesn’t.
I recently wound up with a ~$300 ER bill while unemployed for an extended period. I tried to negotiate a payment plan, and they insisted the minimum payment was $100/month. So, they got zero.
That instant room you got is nothing special, but just how triage works. I came to the emergency room some years ago, shitting and vomiting my guts out, and they placed me in quarantine faster than I could hand over my insurance card. Come with a sore ankle and wait until the other patients are stabilized.
My gf had a mini stroke a few weeks ago. We were traveling so didn’t go to the hospital right away, mostly because she hates them and is terrified of the bill. On the way home and got way worse. We went immediately. They tried to tell us it was nothing more then a headache, and charged us 18k. I’m also a contractor so even if I could get insurance, because I’m not married to her I would have to pay double. Fuck this system.
That’s a great plan until it’s not. If you’re able to, I’d highly recommend looking into getting Obamacare if you can’t get insurance through an employer due to being a contractor. I don’t know your personal situation, but Obamacare plans are often more reasonable than people imagine.
Obamacare is getting gutted bit by bit. You might have noticed the enrollment has dropped. This is because the premiums are way up, it’s now harder to get a subsidy to offset this, there are less insurance companies available, and the plans that are there now cover less. If Dems don’t win in the midterms, it’s toast.
American here. Reluctantly went to the ER because I had been vomiting for a couple of days. Turned out that my gallbladder just stopped working. Was immediately placed into a room, given IV antibiotics, and had surgery the next morning.
Had to stay for 4 days to make sure I was in good shape. The surgery wasn’t super expensive, but the room itself cost me way too much.
Total cost was just over $24k. No insurance (contractor). Even on payments, it’s insane.
My plan is to just never get sick for the rest of my life so I don’t go into another debt hole.
I ended up in the emergency room last year.
The ambulance ride was something like $1200, which I’ve come to learn was “cheap” comparatively speaking, as they’re typically thousands of dollars each. My insurance didn’t cover the cost of that ambulance because the particular service that picked me up was out-of-network. Insurance also didn’t cover the ibuprofen I was given for pain citing the fact that they require prior authorization for it. Two ibuprofen alone cost me $40.
You can haggle with them. Save up a few k and then call them offering to pay a lump sum to settle the debt. A few years ago I broke my wrist and ended up with a 16k bill. I got 3k together, called them, told them I’m poor AF, that they could take the 3k or nothing. They took the 3k.
There’s a horror in having to haggle for the price of your healthcare whilst in the hospital.
Similar story back when I didn’t have insurance for a bit. In my case the hospital billing actively offered a settlement when I called and asked about options.
Medical debt aside, (not that it’s not important) you are an example of something that’s true about both systems: If you are at death’s door you’ll get treatment immediately, even if it’s just to stop you actively dying and stabilize you enough to wait for admission to the ICU. If you are waiting 12 hours in the ER before being seen by anyone but Triage, you’re probably the least sick/wounded person there.
Maybe instead of cursing the nurses and doctors, muster up the most powerful curse you can conjure, and send it to the germs and cancer cells in the Children’s Ward. Can’t hurt, might help. I like to start with “Fuck you, you filthy neuroblastomas! With your disgusting corrupted DNA and misshapen tumors oozing and squooging into places you don’t belong! Just fucking shrivel up and die! Don’t you know nobody wants you here? You’re fucking waste, so waste yourself and go out the shithole!”
Then see if you can call some good vibes for a quick resolution to the people who look miserable enough to be ahead of you. You’re on your own there, I’m not so good at prayers or that kind of thing.
Also a summertime reminder: a lot of people in the ER these months will be getting an IV because they’re severely dehydrated. And others will be getting an IV because their ability to withstand whatever else they have will be improved by getting better hydrated. You can help keep yourself and your friends out of there by pre-emptively drinking more water and non-alcoholic no-caffeine drinks, and being a …did “hydro homie” get ruined when I wasn’t paying attention?
I’m sure Canadian doctors do something similar
Yes I agree, both systems. That’s what triage is for.
Remember, you can make payments, they just don’t have to be the suggested amount. $10 a month for life.
I don’t recall if medical debt impacts credit ratings like others. It shouldn’t in a sane world, but here we are.
So far, that total hasn’t, but there was a $985 bill for something relating to the stay that did hit my credit as a “derogatory mark.”
I hate this system lol.
Based on the price and it affecting your credit, it must have been something that you asked for, rather than needed. Like a couple of Tylenol for pain.
I’m beginning to think if I need to call 911 for myself, I should grab a couple Tylenol to take with me, even if I’m not sure it’s a good idea to actually take them. In my experience it’s possible to get permission from a doctor to take one’s usual home meds and the nurse will chart that you did so. In my husband’s case it was Evrysdi, which they were very glad we could provide, and his insurance (Platinum Plan because he needs it) did cover Tylenol, but I bet mine doesn’t.
I recently wound up with a ~$300 ER bill while unemployed for an extended period. I tried to negotiate a payment plan, and they insisted the minimum payment was $100/month. So, they got zero.
That instant room you got is nothing special, but just how triage works. I came to the emergency room some years ago, shitting and vomiting my guts out, and they placed me in quarantine faster than I could hand over my insurance card. Come with a sore ankle and wait until the other patients are stabilized.
(Germany)
unfortunately we all become disabled. It’s just a matter of time.
My gf had a mini stroke a few weeks ago. We were traveling so didn’t go to the hospital right away, mostly because she hates them and is terrified of the bill. On the way home and got way worse. We went immediately. They tried to tell us it was nothing more then a headache, and charged us 18k. I’m also a contractor so even if I could get insurance, because I’m not married to her I would have to pay double. Fuck this system.
That’s a great plan until it’s not. If you’re able to, I’d highly recommend looking into getting Obamacare if you can’t get insurance through an employer due to being a contractor. I don’t know your personal situation, but Obamacare plans are often more reasonable than people imagine.
Obamacare is getting gutted bit by bit. You might have noticed the enrollment has dropped. This is because the premiums are way up, it’s now harder to get a subsidy to offset this, there are less insurance companies available, and the plans that are there now cover less. If Dems don’t win in the midterms, it’s toast.