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I shared this experience before on HN, but I once cut my leg quite severely playing ice hockey. Ended up at the ER dripping blood everywhere. I went to the desk

I shared this experience before on HN, but I once cut my leg quite severely playing ice hockey. Ended up at the ER dripping blood everywhere. I went to the desk and asked if they took my insurance. Said I was only interested in treatment if my insurance would cover it. I was assured it was fine. Naturally the doctor assigned to me did not take my insurance... I got out of the out-of-network billing after hours of phone calls and lots of unkind words. But man was it just a terrible experience. And with insurance coming from work, it’s not like I could change providers. And with one hospital close to my house I didn’t have lots of options in an emergency. Nor would I expect any other hospital to treat me differently. My dad is a nurse and I grew up wandering hospitals. He complained as far back as the 80s that insurance was killing medicine. I didn’t understand it as a kid, but I see more what he was getting at as an adult.

alehul 8y ago
Just out of curiosity: have you tried calling your insurance to ask them where you should go? I haven't either, and have generally gone by your route of asking the hospital whether it will be insured, but I'd imagine calling insurance (if a feasible option?) would provide a lower rate of error.
- PenguinCoder 8y ago
  The patient shouldn't have to call the insurance provider to see where it is accepted. This is adding to the problem. Do you have insurance, yes or no? Should be a good he only question not add-ons like, what provider, etc. It's stupid as hell that certain doctors are in network at a hospital while others are out of network, at the same damn facility. Ask me how I know this. American Healthcare insurance and billing is beyond messed up and needs to be fixed.
  - conanbatt 8y ago
    > The patient shouldn't have to call the insurance provider to see where it is accepted But this is actually the one that provides the service. You dont call the music band to ask about the prices ticketek charges. You should and can ask about the price without insurance and you might get an answer (though you wont like it).
    - deleted 8y ago
      [deleted]
    - PenguinCoder 8y ago
      See other comments in this thread about where that question gets you. My experience has not been any different. IE, the answer ranges from "I can't tell you until the procedure is done", to exorbitant quotes. Of course I don't like those answers, who does?
      - conanbatt 8y ago
        You can find someone that knows the prices. Small practices will know, and in hospitals I'd try someone from staff, not doctors because they are overworked with patient loads and are shielded from the admin burden. What makes the expectation unreasonable is when you don't know what you will need. Surgery is a great example of that: what if there is a complication? What if a specialist is required, etc etc.
conanbatt 8y ago
The collecting system is way too complicated for a provider to know. Nobody can reasonable assure you of that, the same way an accountant cant assure you you are compliant on all IRS codes, or even a doctor can assure you you will be healthy if you do a treatment. But think what happens when you have a patient with insurance, bleeding right in front of you: would you turn them away because of this lack of assurance? its an unreasonable ask of a human being. Insurance copmanies are the Ticketek of the health industry: they take the bad rep for the ones reaping the benefits.

alehul 8y ago

Just out of curiosity: have you tried calling your insurance to ask them where you should go? I haven't either, and have generally gone by your route of asking the hospital whether it will be insured, but I'd imagine calling insurance (if a feasible option?) would provide a lower rate of error.

PenguinCoder 8y ago
The patient shouldn't have to call the insurance provider to see where it is accepted. This is adding to the problem. Do you have insurance, yes or no? Should be a good he only question not add-ons like, what provider, etc. It's stupid as hell that certain doctors are in network at a hospital while others are out of network, at the same damn facility. Ask me how I know this. American Healthcare insurance and billing is beyond messed up and needs to be fixed.
- conanbatt 8y ago
  > The patient shouldn't have to call the insurance provider to see where it is accepted But this is actually the one that provides the service. You dont call the music band to ask about the prices ticketek charges. You should and can ask about the price without insurance and you might get an answer (though you wont like it).
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
  - PenguinCoder 8y ago
    See other comments in this thread about where that question gets you. My experience has not been any different. IE, the answer ranges from "I can't tell you until the procedure is done", to exorbitant quotes. Of course I don't like those answers, who does?
    - conanbatt 8y ago
      You can find someone that knows the prices. Small practices will know, and in hospitals I'd try someone from staff, not doctors because they are overworked with patient loads and are shielded from the admin burden. What makes the expectation unreasonable is when you don't know what you will need. Surgery is a great example of that: what if there is a complication? What if a specialist is required, etc etc.

conanbatt 8y ago

The collecting system is way too complicated for a provider to know. Nobody can reasonable assure you of that, the same way an accountant cant assure you you are compliant on all IRS codes, or even a doctor can assure you you will be healthy if you do a treatment. But think what happens when you have a patient with insurance, bleeding right in front of you: would you turn them away because of this lack of assurance? its an unreasonable ask of a human being. Insurance copmanies are the Ticketek of the health industry: they take the bad rep for the ones reaping the benefits.