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I occasionally get random bills from "providers", and I think it shows just how awful medical billing is. The worst was whenever we had our first child. I thou

I occasionally get random bills from "providers", and I think it shows just how awful medical billing is. The worst was whenever we had our first child. I thought it would just be a single bill or something, but instead I received about 10. One from the hospital, one from a surgeon, one from the OBGYN, and one from an anesthesiologist. We only met one pediatrician during our stay, but we received a bill from every pediatrician that did a rotation while we were there, so that added four more. One because a nurse working was an independent contractor, and one from the wet nurse who we talked to for like 5 minutes. Two of them we never actually received bills for because they had an outdated address, so they were sent to collections. We discovered them a year later when we were trying to buy a house. It dinged my wife's credit so bad that we were recommended to not put her on our mortgage application.

ransom1538 8y ago
"One from the hospital, one from a surgeon, one from the OBGYN, and one from an anesthesiologist. We only met one pediatrician during our stay, but we received a bill from every pediatrician that did a rotation while we were there, so that added four more. One because a nurse working was an independent contractor, and one from the wet nurse who we talked to for like 5 minutes." This is it. This is the US medical scam crystallized. What you need to focus on as a US patient is the "Out-of-pocket maximum/limit." (a number) - which is the yearly maximum you pay as an insured person. Basically, once you enter into an ER you are going PAY this this number. This number is reset every January 1st. So If you have a child January 2nd -- you are in GOOD* shape -- since you will hit your yearly max ("Out-of-pocket maximum/limit.") early in the year -- all other medical is free. My friends that had a child December 30th, are in bad shape. They pay for yearly "Out-of-pocket maximum/limit" two times: one for the current year and one for the next year.
- Cerium 8y ago
  Stories like this are what keep me as a Kaiser member. In the years I've been with them, I've been to the ER twice and have yet to hit the yearly maximum. Usually they correctly bill me while I am on-site, only rarely do they have a follow up bill.
- jacquesm 8y ago
  "Hold on honey, it is nearly 12...". This is really terrible. Healthcare (and burial) should be free.
- pxeboot 8y ago
  My out-of-pocket maximum resets on July 1st. Found out after having a baby in late June...
_emacsomancer_ 8y ago
> It dinged my wife's credit so bad that we were recommended to not put her on our mortgage application. I've been through this sort of thing, and it's ridiculous. Medical bills shouldn't be able to affect one's credit rating.
TallGuyShort 8y ago
I got a notice from a debt collector and I disputed it. The proof they provided was a hand-written note from the doctor, and a copy of the hospital's form my wife signed (while in hard labor, mind you) agreeing to pay the hospital. But the hospital had no record of a doctor by that name and could not confirm the legitimacy of the bill. Neither could anyone at the contact address provided. It ended up going to court and it was judged to be a legitimate bill that I had to pay. That's how bad the system is.
pishpash 8y ago
That's old school. The latest scam is for hospitals to buy up all the independent neighborhood clinics, and then double charging for services there. For the same service, the doctor at the clinic will charge their usual fee, then the hospital will charge another one for the privilege of hanging their name at the door -- it's called a "facility fee", because you see, by stepping in you've entered a "hospital" even though nothing has changed [1]. For a routine visit, as an example, you pay for the doctor's service and the use of their office. Did the doctor reduce their fee which used to cover such mundane cost of doing business as having an office? Ha! Of course no. There is simply no end to the greed of the medical cartel hell bent on subverting market forces. [1] https://www.the-alliance.org/uploadedfiles/Health_and_Wellness/Understanding_Facility_Fees_TA114-0116.pdf https://www.the-alliance.org/uploadedfiles/Health_and_Wellne...

ransom1538 8y ago

"One from the hospital, one from a surgeon, one from the OBGYN, and one from an anesthesiologist. We only met one pediatrician during our stay, but we received a bill from every pediatrician that did a rotation while we were there, so that added four more. One because a nurse working was an independent contractor, and one from the wet nurse who we talked to for like 5 minutes." This is it. This is the US medical scam crystallized. What you need to focus on as a US patient is the "Out-of-pocket maximum/limit." (a number) - which is the yearly maximum you pay as an insured person. Basically, once you enter into an ER you are going PAY this this number. This number is reset every January 1st. So If you have a child January 2nd -- you are in GOOD* shape -- since you will hit your yearly max ("Out-of-pocket maximum/limit.") early in the year -- all other medical is free. My friends that had a child December 30th, are in bad shape. They pay for yearly "Out-of-pocket maximum/limit" two times: one for the current year and one for the next year.

Cerium 8y ago
Stories like this are what keep me as a Kaiser member. In the years I've been with them, I've been to the ER twice and have yet to hit the yearly maximum. Usually they correctly bill me while I am on-site, only rarely do they have a follow up bill.
jacquesm 8y ago
"Hold on honey, it is nearly 12...". This is really terrible. Healthcare (and burial) should be free.
pxeboot 8y ago
My out-of-pocket maximum resets on July 1st. Found out after having a baby in late June...

_emacsomancer_ 8y ago

> It dinged my wife's credit so bad that we were recommended to not put her on our mortgage application. I've been through this sort of thing, and it's ridiculous. Medical bills shouldn't be able to affect one's credit rating.

TallGuyShort 8y ago

I got a notice from a debt collector and I disputed it. The proof they provided was a hand-written note from the doctor, and a copy of the hospital's form my wife signed (while in hard labor, mind you) agreeing to pay the hospital. But the hospital had no record of a doctor by that name and could not confirm the legitimacy of the bill. Neither could anyone at the contact address provided. It ended up going to court and it was judged to be a legitimate bill that I had to pay. That's how bad the system is.

pishpash 8y ago

That's old school. The latest scam is for hospitals to buy up all the independent neighborhood clinics, and then double charging for services there. For the same service, the doctor at the clinic will charge their usual fee, then the hospital will charge another one for the privilege of hanging their name at the door -- it's called a "facility fee", because you see, by stepping in you've entered a "hospital" even though nothing has changed [1]. For a routine visit, as an example, you pay for the doctor's service and the use of their office. Did the doctor reduce their fee which used to cover such mundane cost of doing business as having an office? Ha! Of course no. There is simply no end to the greed of the medical cartel hell bent on subverting market forces. [1] https://www.the-alliance.org/uploadedfiles/Health_and_Wellness/Understanding_Facility_Fees_TA114-0116.pdf https://www.the-alliance.org/uploadedfiles/Health_and_Wellne...