quote:

ORIGINAL: Lucylastic
http://www.viralnova.com/hospital-bill/
A 20 year-old man came down with appendicitis in October of this year. He posted the bill on Reddit and it has gone viral. The US Health Care system is a topic of much debate, not only in the US but around the world. A lot of countries get ‘free’ health care, so needless to say, this has stirred up a lot of conversation.
As if waking up in excruciating pain isn’t enough, this is the bill he received in the mail a couple months later. Take a look:
The original cost was over $55,000. Because the 20 year-old man was on his father’s insurance, the cost was lowered to $11,000.
There are pictures here as well, http://imgur.com/a/WIfeN
the reddit site
http://www.reddit.com/user/zcypher
Im so glad I dont need my kids on my insurance, or that they would have to pay a bill like that.
Think its going "viral" cos its aimed at young adults??
nah couldnt be....

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quote:

ORIGINAL: DesideriScuri

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lucylastic
http://www.viralnova.com/hospital-bill/
A 20 year-old man came down with appendicitis in October of this year. He posted the bill on Reddit and it has gone viral. The US Health Care system is a topic of much debate, not only in the US but around the world. A lot of countries get ‘free’ health care, so needless to say, this has stirred up a lot of conversation.
As if waking up in excruciating pain isn’t enough, this is the bill he received in the mail a couple months later. Take a look:
The original cost was over $55,000. Because the 20 year-old man was on his father’s insurance, the cost was lowered to $11,000.
There are pictures here as well, http://imgur.com/a/WIfeN
the reddit site
http://www.reddit.com/user/zcypher
Im so glad I dont need my kids on my insurance, or that they would have to pay a bill like that.
Think its going "viral" cos its aimed at young adults??
nah couldnt be....

OMG!! An 80% savings because he was insured?!? That's awesome!!!

Then again, one has to wonder what that bill would have been in, say, Germany, or another area. And, I'm not talking about the cost to the consumer, but the cost to the financier.

I didn't see any listing of what the "negotiated costs" were. There is the cost of the service, the cost the insurance company negotiates with the provider, and then there is the covered amount. It doesn't look like there is a breakdown of cost and negotiated cost, unless the "Allowance Insurance C/A" is the negotiated cost. Aetna paid roughly $6500, and the patient is on the hook for $11000.

It's entirely possible that the insured hasn't met the deductible limit yet, which would drive up the patient's portion of the bill, too.

It could be that the insured has met the deductible, and that after the deductible, it's 80/20, but if the "negotiated cost" is included in the 80% the insurance company is covering, that's a scam, imo.

quote:

ORIGINAL: tj444


or a person can just bend over and take it.. (which is obviously what most do!)..

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesideriScuri
OMG!! An 80% savings because he was insured?!? That's awesome!!!

Then again, one has to wonder what that bill would have been in, say, Germany, or another area. And, I'm not talking about the cost to the consumer, but the cost to the financier.

I didn't see any listing of what the "negotiated costs" were. There is the cost of the service, the cost the insurance company negotiates with the provider, and then there is the covered amount. It doesn't look like there is a breakdown of cost and negotiated cost, unless the "Allowance Insurance C/A" is the negotiated cost. Aetna paid roughly $6500, and the patient is on the hook for $11000.

It's entirely possible that the insured hasn't met the deductible limit yet, which would drive up the patient's portion of the bill, too.

It could be that the insured has met the deductible, and that after the deductible, it's 80/20, but if the "negotiated cost" is included in the 80% the insurance company is covering, that's a scam, imo.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Politesub53

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesideriScuri
OMG!! An 80% savings because he was insured?!? That's awesome!!!
Then again, one has to wonder what that bill would have been in, say, Germany, or another area. And, I'm not talking about the cost to the consumer, but the cost to the financier.
I didn't see any listing of what the "negotiated costs" were. There is the cost of the service, the cost the insurance company negotiates with the provider, and then there is the covered amount. It doesn't look like there is a breakdown of cost and negotiated cost, unless the "Allowance Insurance C/A" is the negotiated cost. Aetna paid roughly $6500, and the patient is on the hook for $11000.
It's entirely possible that the insured hasn't met the deductible limit yet, which would drive up the patient's portion of the bill, too.
It could be that the insured has met the deductible, and that after the deductible, it's 80/20, but if the "negotiated cost" is included in the 80% the insurance company is covering, that's a scam, imo.

I have bolded another bullshit red herring, the whole debate IS about costs to the CONSUMER. i digress though, since you wanted to compare costs.
In the UK it would cost around £2,300 on the NHS or £3,400 via Insurance and private treatment. That works out to about $55,000 Stateside...........lmfao
Some of you need to quit bashing Obama, blame the real culprits for high costs, Wake up and smell the fucking coffee.
Source for UK costs. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-72012/Me-operation-appendix.html

• A Conservative interpretation of the US Constitution
  
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quote:

ORIGINAL: PeonForHer
FR
God. Whenever I read threads about medical costs in the USA, I always wonder how often Americans might think, 'To hell with it. I'll perform my own surgery'.

• A Conservative interpretation of the US Constitution
  
• Personal Responsibility
  
• Help for the truly needy
  
• Limited Government
  
• Consumption Tax (non-profit charities and food exempt)
  

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesideriScuri

And, you do understand, do you not, that whatever government pays, is coming from the taxpayers, who likely include the consumer, right?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dvr22999874

Like suicide used to be illegal in England. I often wonder how those cases ever got prosecuted or how the defendant was ever brought to trial !!

quote:

ORIGINAL: Politesub53

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesideriScuri
And, you do understand, do you not, that whatever government pays, is coming from the taxpayers, who likely include the consumer, right?

I understand all too well that the taxpayers pay, here is what you cant or wont grasp. We dont give a fuck, at least the majority dont, because everybody benefits INCLUDING those who cant pay.
Your point about US costs being too high is correct, although costs differ wildly between hospitals. Those of you who support your system, and less government intervention (IE Cost regulation or a proper NHS) have no room to complain. You have got your wish, warts and all.

• A Conservative interpretation of the US Constitution
  
• Personal Responsibility
  
• Help for the truly needy
  
• Limited Government
  
• Consumption Tax (non-profit charities and food exempt)
  

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesideriScuri

...
Then again, one has to wonder what that bill would have been in, say, Germany, or another area. And, I'm not talking about the cost to the consumer, but the cost to the financier.
...