My meter is in service dude.
I just got threatened to be sent to collections because I can't pay for an ambulance
- Thread starter KevinCow
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My meter is in service dude.
Tallshortman
Member
Just tell them you want to apply for financial aid, if your situation is as described you should get it fully or nearly fully covered.
Nah man. You gotta pay to be healthy. It's common sense.
Such a load of shit.
NHS bros. NHS.
Exactly, this is not some fuck you. You just need to contact the hospital and they will help you out.
PhoenixSFT
Member
Uh...that's how insurance works. Insurance will pay 80% or something, but you pay the 20% out of pocket. Or you have a high deductible plan, and pay (for example) $2500 and once that's paid, everything else is covered by insurance for the remainder of the year. Read the damn things you sign up for.
ROBOKITTYZILLA
Member
Yep, our system is fucked. FUCKED.
I have amazing health benefits and a wonderful doctor now but while I was working full-time in college, before moving into a professional career with good benefits, I was completely screwed over by nearly $80,000 in medical bills. I probably would have been better off declaring bankruptcy but ended up getting a large portion written off to charity, paying off several of the smaller bills, and then living with terrible credit for about 6-7 years for the remainder under the oppression of Collections.
Fuck this healthcare system.
I have amazing health benefits and a wonderful doctor now but while I was working full-time in college, before moving into a professional career with good benefits, I was completely screwed over by nearly $80,000 in medical bills. I probably would have been better off declaring bankruptcy but ended up getting a large portion written off to charity, paying off several of the smaller bills, and then living with terrible credit for about 6-7 years for the remainder under the oppression of Collections.
Fuck this healthcare system.
To be fair he said he's on his parents' insurance. I doubt he signed anything or was shown much. Parents probably did that a long time ago, and just added him now.
Still you should ask for at least some general info.
Mattlikewhoa
Member
I could never understand this. I could never imagine a hospital bill for tens (or even hundreds) of thousands of dollars. I see why people are scared to go, some of the numbers being thrown around this thread is quite scary.
He could be in debt the rest of his life because of this, A wii U ain't exactly expensive with this shit storm hanging over him.
legacyzero
Banned
The word "crotchety" always makes me giggle.
Huw_Dawson
Member
In short:
Break all your bones in Sweden: Sexy nurses.
Break a finger in US without insurance: Go live in a trash can to evade bounty hunters.
Break all your bones in Sweden: Sexy nurses.
Break a finger in US without insurance: Go live in a trash can to evade bounty hunters.
diffusionx
Gold Member
you've heard wrong
Ninja Scooter
Member
People shouldn't be plunged into poverty and bankruptcy because of a medical emergency.
anotherVegan
Member
Or move to Canada. They have a single-payer system. Or France. Rated #1 health care system in the world.
I agree with you both but there are systems in place to help him out. Plus 470 dollars (console plus two games) is around 25% of the $2000 needed for his deductible.
dark_chris
Member
I almost took an ambulance for severe internal pains that i was crying. But because of how fucked up this country's system is, I took the bus to the ER instead. They said why didn't you call 911 and we coulda picked you up? I said cause you charge 2-10x more than what it really is in other countries. The dude looked at me and just called for people for help.
I have insurance, I was just in a real bad mood with the pain.
I have insurance, I was just in a real bad mood with the pain.
Mistake
Member
OP, the first place you need to look is at the hospital itself. See if they have a financial department and how they can help you, chances are they might have something. It seems the insurance isn't going to work out, so also do what stump said and look into other forms of employment or assistance to offset possible payment plans with the hospital. They know you can't pay it, but you're best to work things out BEFORE it goes to the creditors. Sometimes you can work payment plans with them too, but I'm sure simply getting sent to them will hurt your credit.
What did it turn out to be?
dark_chris
Member
Gall stone attack.
I got surgery two weeks later after that (I chose two weeks cause of a important job thing I had to do which later lead me to get the most awesome job I currently have). I used the time they took to evaluate my interview and stuff to recover from the surgery. =) By the time I recovered, I was on my way to start working.
Marty Chinn
Member
I agree it's a terrible situation, but on the flip side, if he's unemployed and having trouble with having money available, it doesn't seem like buying such an expensive console and several new games is the wisest decision either. On the up side, at least it's something he can maybe return or sell to help pay off the debt.
dark_chris
Member
Because they need money for boats.
Tallshortman
Member
Financial aid from the hospital. If it's pretty obvious you can't pay your bills a lot of the time they will either severely reduce or wipe out the bill. Obviously it all depends on your situation (including what services you got) but it seems like a lot of people aren't aware of options available to them through the hospital's financial department. Why does it cost so much? American doctors are paid a lot compared to even other western countries. Also there's a lot of other shit going on with the private healthcare industry.
Deified Data
Banned
Envy of the world.
But they are poorer.
They get paid so much because they have to incur hundreds of thousands of dollars of student debt to become a doctor. Debt that can not be consolidated or eliminated through bankrupcy.
All the extra pay (and then some) goes towards eliminating their debts.
Ugh sounds awful. Glad shit worked out with that job though.
This reality really hit home a few months ago when my 64 year old father had some chest-pain/discomfort and decided to have my mother drive him to the hospital (rather than call 911) to avoid insane ambulance fees. Luckily he is fine, but wow. My parents are pretty well off and pay insane monthly insurance, but they still get a bill for nearly $4,000 from the ER for tests and stuff. The system is absolutely fucked.
Angelus Errare
Banned
Honestly you guys need to stop complaining. Life and healthcare are privileges not rights. Just go get a better job if you can't afford your heathcare bill. Tired of you people mooching, I got mine fuck you. Socialist bastards trying to turn this once great nation into a babykilling gun abortion gay fest. It's called a "White" house for a reason, go deport yourselves! Stop asking for handouts and pull yourselves up by your bootstraps!
So sad many people think like that, sigh. I love how healthcare and higher education can pretty much cripple you/leave you homeless, while in other countries it costs so little. One day we'll get there...right?
dark_chris
Member
The surgery was about $10,000. Same day surgery, took about a week and a half to recover.
Not too bad. With insurance, it was knocked down to $700, parents paid everything for me too.
Maybe if the Republicans leave en masse to build an objectivist utopia at the bottom of the ocean, in the sky, in Bir Tawil, etc.
I preordered the system and the games back when I had a job, and paid for most of it through trade-ins.
Yup.
The numbers you see on a bill (that your insurance pays) absolutely do not represent money changing hands. It's all inflated charge and recharge ping pong.
Horse Armour
Member
Could you not cancel your preorder and get your money back? As broken as the system is, the company isn't responsible for it and you clearly had some ability to pay.
If you cancel your preorder, you get all your money back. I know times are tough, and sometimes we have to sacrifice wants for needs. I hope you can get financial help for this, and if you want to start you may consider selling the Wii U and games. Luckily you can probably get all your money back if not more.
waxer
Member
Wow and to think I was feeling ripped that the parking was $5 an hour when I visited grandma in hospital the other day. Of course ambulance ride 500km between hospitals all treatment etc are all free. Will be transferred back home for free to spend her last days in a familiar environment with family as well.
empty vessel
Member
Yes, but you were right to bitch regardless.
He should be able to have a Wii U and health care at the same time.
Tallshortman
Member
Yes residency and student debts make it so your first years out of med school aren't going to be high class lifestyle but you are still making bank after you finish residency and also it's not like you won't be living like a king after you pay off those debts. They get paid so much because of the health care system and because medical schools are difficult to get into and finish, thus demand is high for doctors. They rarely give a damn how much student debt you incur in any profession, it's all about your value and the demand for your services.
I had $100 down in cash. The rest was Gamestop credit. Do you think they take Gamestop credit?
Christ.
Beyond that, I didn't even know this was gonna be an issue until today, several weeks after I bought the system. Before now, my parents said that they were gonna take care of it and it wasn't gonna be a problem.
Anyway, it looks like it's not as big an issue as I thought. I was able to check on the insurance's website, and it looks like they've paid everything except the one ambulance ride. Still ridiculous that an ambulance ride was $1,140, though. Especially one that I had no say in, because I was strapped down and involuntarily rolled into it.
That's still a shitty amount of money, but my parents will help me make payments until I'm able to. So I guess the situation isn't as bad as I thought it might be.
dave is ok
aztek is ok
America: Cheaper to go to the hospital in a limo than an ambulance.
Funniest thing? They don't need to charge that much for a fancy van ride, but they do, because of insurance reasons. Haha. Ambulance has to be insured. So insurance has raised the costs of every aspect of your healthcare, from the $1200 ride to the hospital, to the $100 aspirin and the $50 wooden crutches you leave with.
And if you don't pay, they'll write it off for a tax discount, and possibly get a refund from the government as well. So why wouldn't they charge $1000 for an ambulance ride?
And if you don't pay, they'll write it off for a tax discount, and possibly get a refund from the government as well. So why wouldn't they charge $1000 for an ambulance ride?
nVidiot_Whore
Banned
It's your responsibility to pay the bill.. which might involve you getting your insurance to pay, but it's still your responsibility.
People who don't pay for shit are part of why it costs so much in the first place.
Not receiving income isn't a "write off" or a "tax discount."
It's simply losing income. Which they don't want. Paying less taxes because you made less money isn't a "tax discount" any more than getting paid a lower salary is a "tax discount."
Go to your boss and demand such a discount!
People who don't pay for shit are part of why it costs so much in the first place.
Not receiving income isn't a "write off" or a "tax discount."
It's simply losing income. Which they don't want. Paying less taxes because you made less money isn't a "tax discount" any more than getting paid a lower salary is a "tax discount."
Go to your boss and demand such a discount!
Yeah a microscopic small part.
The rest is of it being a big fucking scam of unethical profits and loopholes.
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