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So basically i got a circumcision last month(not for aesthetic reasons).
The hospital gave me an outline on how much i'd be paying before i agreed to the operation and they told me it would amount to 1500 dollars TOTAL(includes everything).
I don't have insurance because my mom has too many health difficulties and we aren't qualified for a family plan. So i agreed to this operation agreeing that i'd pay that exact amount.
The next day i get my operation and alls well until i get a bill 3 weeks after the operation for a pathology gross IV or some weird name where they send a sample of my foreskin or something to verify i had a circumcision(wtf?). The bill was for 200 dollars and after a long argument on the phone they told me it was required by law so i hesitantly agreed.
Then i got another bill for 100 dollars for the actual lab fee that they couldn't really explain to me but just gave me the same "its required by law bullshit". I directly asked if this was the very last bill and they said yes.
A month after, i come home to a 700 dollar fee for anesthesia. I already paid this fee within the 1500 dollars i paid initially. I even have the receipt for it(it was 400 dollars). I call the hospital and they tell me they have nothing to do with this and its a completely different company.
What i don't understand is i was knocked out for 1.5 hours and i'm charged 1100 dollars for general anesthesia or a shot to the crotch?( i don't know what they did to me, i was put asleep)
Ironically this is the FIRST time i opted for an american doctor rather than a korean doctor because i wanted it done right(I have nothing against korean doctors but they sometimes try to rip you off or do a messy job).
Are they allowed to charge me all these hidden fees? I'm not rich at all. if i end up paying the 700 dollar fee then i paid 2500 dollars for a 10 minute procedure? What should i do -_-? This is really pissing me off.
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I'd present it to a lawyer and if you have the right paper work they might take it up.
Not sure if they charge to look at a case, but you know a friend?
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On July 31 2009 10:28 randomKo_Orean wrote: the joy of US healthecare The real joy will be when it's fully nationalized and you can't even get this operation even if you are able to pay out of pocket.
Privatize that shit.
Edit: and to actually respond to the thread, I'd definitely seek out some sort of legal advice. I'm sure there are some sketchy lawyers who won't charge a consultation fee. Could you perhaps even file some sort of small claims thing? If you have documentation stating the all-inclusive price should be $1.5k then obviously you shouldn't have to pay more than that. It's such bullshit that there is so much government red tape and hoops for both you and the health-care industry to jump through that ends up manifesting itself in ways like this.
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i have a document saying that i hereby agree to pay 1500 dollars and that the 1500 dollars is an ESTIMATE. It also says i'm responsible for paying any additional co-payments,deductibles, co-insurance, and items not covered by my insurance.
But it ALSO says that they are required to declare all remaining installments due and payable within TEN days. The "required by law" ones were within 10 days so i couldn't argue against that but what the flying f***? this 700 dollar bill is a month later. If i add this 700 dollar bill then its 2500 dollars total for the operation.
1500 is not a very accurate estimation for 2500. Thats a whole freaking 1k more. I'm paying this out of my own pocket. I was hoping to go on a vacation this summer but i cancelled it because of this operation and because of my doctor's urgency that i get this operation done as soon as possible.
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lol why did you even pay 1500 you should wait it out for 2-3 years till it becomes 300-400$ total then maybe consider paying it if u get tired of mail
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On July 31 2009 10:36 Ingenol wrote:The real joy will be when it's fully nationalized and you can't even get this operation even if you are able to pay out of pocket. Privatize that shit. Edit: and to actually respond to the thread, I'd definitely seek out some sort of legal advice. I'm sure there are some sketchy lawyers who won't charge a consultation fee. Could you perhaps even file some sort of small claims thing? If you have documentation stating the all-inclusive price should be $1.5k then obviously you shouldn't have to pay more than that. It's such bullshit that there is so much government red tape and hoops for both you and the health-care industry to jump through that ends up manifesting itself in ways like this. The only operation that is hard to get in a nationalized health care system is organ transplants. And those are hard to get in a privatized system too, although you can artificially bump yourself up the list.
But if you break your arm or you need a circumcision or whatever, you'll be pretty happy with national health care. Lots of people I know who would be financially ruined if they'd had to pay for their healthcare.
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On July 31 2009 11:04 Chef wrote:Show nested quote +On July 31 2009 10:36 Ingenol wrote:On July 31 2009 10:28 randomKo_Orean wrote: the joy of US healthecare The real joy will be when it's fully nationalized and you can't even get this operation even if you are able to pay out of pocket. Privatize that shit. Edit: and to actually respond to the thread, I'd definitely seek out some sort of legal advice. I'm sure there are some sketchy lawyers who won't charge a consultation fee. Could you perhaps even file some sort of small claims thing? If you have documentation stating the all-inclusive price should be $1.5k then obviously you shouldn't have to pay more than that. It's such bullshit that there is so much government red tape and hoops for both you and the health-care industry to jump through that ends up manifesting itself in ways like this. The only operation that is hard to get in a nationalized health care system is organ transplants. And those are hard to get in a privatized system too, although you can artificially bump yourself up the list. But if you break your arm or you need a circumcision or whatever, you'll be pretty happy with national health care. Lots of people I know who would be financially ruined if they'd had to pay for their healthcare.
he was talking out of his ass, theres people who will argue no matter what because they think they know something obviously US healthcare is one of the shittiest systems in whole western world, only a complete idiot would argue against this
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On July 31 2009 10:22 ShinSa.NokCha wrote: A month after, i come home to a 700 dollar fee for anesthesia. I already paid this fee within the 1500 dollars i paid initially. I even have the receipt for it(it was 400 dollars). I call the hospital and they tell me they have nothing to do with this and its a completely different company.
Did you call that other company?
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On July 31 2009 11:10 food wrote: he was talking out of his ass, theres people who will argue no matter what because they think they know something obviously US healthcare is one of the shittiest systems in whole western world, only a complete idiot would argue against this
Not sure I'd say it's "one of the shittiest" but I definitely agree in its current incarnation it is a very poor system as our friend here is unfortunately finding out. Where I differ is that I would see it fixed by going to a completely privatized system (it's not even close to that now in any sense whatsoever, so don't take that tack) rather than completely nationalized.
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lol the joys of not having to pay for medical attention, seems ridiculous any other way to me.
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On July 31 2009 11:26 ShadowDrgn wrote:Show nested quote +On July 31 2009 10:22 ShinSa.NokCha wrote: A month after, i come home to a 700 dollar fee for anesthesia. I already paid this fee within the 1500 dollars i paid initially. I even have the receipt for it(it was 400 dollars). I call the hospital and they tell me they have nothing to do with this and its a completely different company. Did you call that other company?
I received the bill today. I called the other company and the offices were closed =/ gonna call tomorrow.
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On July 31 2009 11:28 Ingenol wrote:Show nested quote +On July 31 2009 11:10 food wrote: he was talking out of his ass, theres people who will argue no matter what because they think they know something obviously US healthcare is one of the shittiest systems in whole western world, only a complete idiot would argue against this Not sure I'd say it's "one of the shittiest" but I definitely agree in its current incarnation it is a very poor system as our friend here is unfortunately finding out. Where I differ is that I would see it fixed by going to a completely privatized system (it's not even close to that now in any sense whatsoever, so don't take that tack) rather than completely nationalized.
There are very few completely nationalized systems. And those that are usually are fucked up countries politically. In my opionion, in today's society, I tend to think a completely privatized system would be just as disastruous as the non existant completely nationalized ones you speak of. Somehow you seem to have the flawed notion that countries in europe and elsewere with so called "socialized healthcare" outlaw private clinics and practices. That's just not the case. It's a combination.
And I should know better than getting in an argument with someone who with certainty states my country doesn't perform a procedure that somehow, miraculously perhaps, was perfomed unto me.
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sue/threaten to sue that usually gets doctors scared to shit i was working in the ER today and one of the MDs was bugging out over a threatened lawsuit
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you should refuse to pay, on the terms that as stated in your contract they have 10 days to present any bills. By doing this they would be forced to sue YOU to get the money, and if they do, you have a contract to back you up.
On July 31 2009 11:28 Ingenol wrote:Show nested quote +On July 31 2009 11:10 food wrote: he was talking out of his ass, theres people who will argue no matter what because they think they know something obviously US healthcare is one of the shittiest systems in whole western world, only a complete idiot would argue against this Not sure I'd say it's "one of the shittiest" but I definitely agree in its current incarnation it is a very poor system as our friend here is unfortunately finding out. Where I differ is that I would see it fixed by going to a completely privatized system (it's not even close to that now in any sense whatsoever, so don't take that tack) rather than completely nationalized.
. . . how old are you?
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On July 31 2009 12:33 Caller wrote: sue/threaten to sue that usually gets doctors scared to shit i was working in the ER today and one of the MDs was bugging out over a threatened lawsuit
That's retarded, and you know it. How indecent are you. You sicken me.
Health care is incredibly expensive to provide and nothing will change that. I doubt they've charged you more than they would any other case - however, its not fair that the cost hasn't been correctly conveyed to you.
The estimate you got was probably the surgical fee. In a private system, that doesn't account for the pathology, anaesthesiology, and other hospital stay related bills.
If you can imagine that the drugs and equipment alone cost several hundred dollars, let alone the anaesthetic fee, then you'll begin to appreciate the size of the bill you've gotten.
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Snet
United States3573 Posts
On July 31 2009 12:33 Caller wrote: sue/threaten to sue that usually gets doctors scared to shit i was working in the ER today and one of the MDs was bugging out over a threatened lawsuit
Yea probably over a multi-million lawsuit rather than some kid threatening to sue over $700. Did you even think before posting this? Lol.
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What should i do -_-?
Move. To Norway.
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United States22883 Posts
On July 31 2009 11:04 Chef wrote:Show nested quote +On July 31 2009 10:36 Ingenol wrote:On July 31 2009 10:28 randomKo_Orean wrote: the joy of US healthecare The real joy will be when it's fully nationalized and you can't even get this operation even if you are able to pay out of pocket. Privatize that shit. Edit: and to actually respond to the thread, I'd definitely seek out some sort of legal advice. I'm sure there are some sketchy lawyers who won't charge a consultation fee. Could you perhaps even file some sort of small claims thing? If you have documentation stating the all-inclusive price should be $1.5k then obviously you shouldn't have to pay more than that. It's such bullshit that there is so much government red tape and hoops for both you and the health-care industry to jump through that ends up manifesting itself in ways like this. The only operation that is hard to get in a nationalized health care system is organ transplants. And those are hard to get in a privatized system too, although you can artificially bump yourself up the list. But if you break your arm or you need a circumcision or whatever, you'll be pretty happy with national health care. Lots of people I know who would be financially ruined if they'd had to pay for their healthcare. Canada's healthcare system is turning to shit atm, fyi. Try not to get sick. And it's definitely not limited to organ transplants. NY Times just ran a series on the current state of it.
Op, it seems like you should be able to take up your complaint with the $700 bill, since it wasn't disclosed like they had agreed.
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On July 31 2009 20:40 FirstProbe wrote:Show nested quote +On July 31 2009 12:33 Caller wrote: sue/threaten to sue that usually gets doctors scared to shit i was working in the ER today and one of the MDs was bugging out over a threatened lawsuit That's retarded, and you know it. How indecent are you. You sicken me. Health care is incredibly expensive to provide and nothing will change that. I doubt they've charged you more than they would any other case - however, its not fair that the cost hasn't been correctly conveyed to you. The estimate you got was probably the surgical fee. In a private system, that doesn't account for the pathology, anaesthesiology, and other hospital stay related bills. If you can imagine that the drugs and equipment alone cost several hundred dollars, let alone the anaesthetic fee, then you'll begin to appreciate the size of the bill you've gotten.
Agreed. To pull out all these fees and keep on sending bills is a pretty lame thing to do. They should have given a more accurate estimate and sent it all together. Paying all the salaries for doctors, nurses, clerks and all the other people in the hospital, such as people who work in medical records, janitors, transporters, not to mention buying machines (x-ray, cat scan, mri etc). Then you have to consider all the money it costs for hospital upkeep and research. You also have to keep a pharmacy, pay all their salaries and get all the medicines.
Then there's people like you who threaten to sue. People who go to the hospital go there because they need help, and people sometimes die there. It's not the doctors fault, they tried their best to help the person and they are incredibly busy. They aren't miracle workers and won't always know what's wrong with you and can't always help.
Getting through med school and becoming a doctor is not easy at all, why do you think there is a shortage of doctors?
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