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I went to the emergency room with a horrid ear infection because no local urgent cares were open and after I called the phone # on my insurance card thats what

I went to the emergency room with a horrid ear infection because no local urgent cares were open and after I called the phone # on my insurance card thats what they told me to do. The receptionist literally, and I am using this word correctly, LITERALLY laughed in my face when I asked how much the visit that had just ended would cost. For me it's not about "shopping around" before I go to a hospital. Its having a transparent and up front bill for what services were rendered before I leave. It's preventing that shock unbelievable bill that shows up in the mail three months later, and giving the patient a chance to dispute fraudulent or excessive costs while they are still in the building. Hospital billing needs to be open and transparent. It's the most manipulative and predatory industry on the planet. If only the goal was to help people, it seems like the companies that own hospitals only care about shareholders.

poulsbohemian 8y ago
I had a similar situation about 5 years ago. Even though the hospital had my insurance info, they sent a bill / demand letter for the full amount anyway. Of course insurance eventually paid for most of it, and I was finally reimbursed by the hospital about six months later. This was from an "award winning" hospital in Oregon. Scum suckers.
ghostbrainalpha 8y ago
Do you remember what the actual cost of the visit ended up being?
jehlakj 8y ago
I’ve had similar experiences when I went for a checkup for the first time with my own insurance. I’ve been so used to knowing the prices beforehand through my young and feeble life, but everything about my initial visits felt abnormal. I’m here to pay for a service, but why aren’t they telling me anything about price? I’m aware of my copay but what about the original price? Okay, I should probably get an x-ray. Why the hell aren’t you mentioning the costs? I mean, I don’t have to get it either. I always feel so helpless whenever I go as if my decisions are more or less made for me. Transparency will not only help me decide, but give me options that weren’t visible in the first place.

poulsbohemian 8y ago

I had a similar situation about 5 years ago. Even though the hospital had my insurance info, they sent a bill / demand letter for the full amount anyway. Of course insurance eventually paid for most of it, and I was finally reimbursed by the hospital about six months later. This was from an "award winning" hospital in Oregon. Scum suckers.

ghostbrainalpha 8y ago

Do you remember what the actual cost of the visit ended up being?

jehlakj 8y ago

I’ve had similar experiences when I went for a checkup for the first time with my own insurance. I’ve been so used to knowing the prices beforehand through my young and feeble life, but everything about my initial visits felt abnormal. I’m here to pay for a service, but why aren’t they telling me anything about price? I’m aware of my copay but what about the original price? Okay, I should probably get an x-ray. Why the hell aren’t you mentioning the costs? I mean, I don’t have to get it either. I always feel so helpless whenever I go as if my decisions are more or less made for me. Transparency will not only help me decide, but give me options that weren’t visible in the first place.