Ahh the American Health Care system...

[donutsweeper]

Okay, son broke his arm in April. The ER couldn't set it properly so we scheduled surgery for a few days later. For that surgery we have gotten the following bills:

The doctor who performed the surgery
The RNs who assisted with the surgery
the anesthetist
the anesthetist assistant
the anesthetist nurse
the xrays taken before and after the surgery
the radiologist who interpreted the sray
the radiologist assistant

and those are just the ones we've received so far...

Is it me or is that a little insane?

Comments

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

GAAAH, I'm not even going to get started, but YES. A LOT INSANE.

When I had (doctor's visits, tests, hospitalization and) surgery a few years ago, I got bills from everyone for every item, separately. I just waited until they all came and then let the hospital add them up! Somehow it came down to just four bills all together. I don't know if it's different if insurance is covering some of it. I do remember asking for an itemized bill from the hospital, and it was at least 25 pages long.

::so much sympathy::

Ha, I can't decide whether to use my facepalm icon or my stomp-a-bitch one. *g*

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

bwhaha I love your stomp a bitch icon!

Thankfully insurance is covering some (it wound up more than 10k without coverage so far) but it is just SO insane!

[travels-in-time.livejournal.com]

Oh, I hear you. What with Timelet staying chronically injured, we're paying more in health care costs every month (counting insurance) than we are for housing. You probably will also get bills from the hospital or clinic where the surgery was done, and the department where the x-rays were taken (yeah, in some places the x-rays are charged for, and then there's a separate charge for using the facilities, which is NOT the same as the charge for the radiologist who reads the x-rays...)

Not to even mention the prescriptions or the materials (cast or whatever; orthopedic devices such as crutches or walking boots are not covered by most insurances, I've found).

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

We've doled out a major chunk of change on this broken arm and you're right, I think there was a bill for the materials too, and I wouldn't be surprised if we get one for the room and whatnot.

It's such an unorganized mess, why they can't just send one bill I'll never know

[travels-in-time.livejournal.com]

Everybody's gotta have a piece of the pie.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

bwhaha too true!

[haldane.livejournal.com]

That is more bills than over here; certainly I've never paid for nurses before, they count as hospital staff and are paid under the hospital's per diem charges.

I have a small procedure coming up, and there will be the surgeon, anaesthetist, and hospital to cover. Items such as x-rays taken inside hospital are not charged extra, only x-rays done at a walk-in clinic. Similarly drugs used inside the hospital are not a charge, but drugs to take home are.

Maybe I wind up paying the same. It's still less annoying to, say, go for an x-ray, pay one amount, and that covers not only the x-ray but also the interpretive report that comes with it.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I hope everything goes okay!

Yeah, paying one amount makes so much more sense. But I guess logic is too much to ask for sometimes

[adafrog.livejournal.com]

Seriously? WTF?

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I know, right?

[karaokegal.livejournal.com]

OUCH!!! And who exactly says we don't need health care reform?

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Although, it'll take a little more than an overhaul to make their billing system something other than chaotic.

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

Yeah, apparently the paperwork load is not much better from the side of the health professionals. It's just a huge mess any way you look at it.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I'm not remotely surprised. Neat article though

[karaokegal.livejournal.com]

My friend is Sebastian is absolutely furious at Kaiser for the way they've been holding on to his bills and then sending out a whole batch at once, so he gets with a bunch just when he's sweating out a paycheck or something.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

What bugs me is we're STILL getting bills for this. The surgery was late April, don't you think they could have realized they needed to send out a bill earlier than more 10 weeks later?

[roque-clasique.livejournal.com]

I had very minor surgery back in December and am STILL getting bills for it -- some to the tune of ridiculous amounts like $16.50, and some that are upwards of $200. It seems like every single doorway I passed in the hospital is charging me money. It's UNREAL.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

We got one bill for $2.53. And some for WAY more. I'm pretty sure we'll still get some more bills. They sure as hell want to make sure we pay for every little pill and bandage.

[fritti13.livejournal.com]

You'll also get a bill for the use of the surgery bay, the room and every single pill or shot. When hubby had his colonoscopy, he was in the outpatient procedure room for less than 20 minutes and they charged us (or our insurance, rather) 1500.00 for the use of the room.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Next they'll be charging for turning the lights on!

[nakeisha.livejournal.com]

*Boggles* Yep, utterly and totally insane - and it probably seems even more so to a non-American.

Here if you do go private there are three bills: the surgeon, the anaesthetist and the hospital for the room, nursing, etc. etc. At least that's how it was - things may have changed somewhat, but I can't imagine it's anything as crazy as yours!

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Your way sounds SO much better.

[phoenix64.livejournal.com]

Gah! My sympathies for the headaches. I hope the kid's doing well.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

He got the cast off a few weeks ago and is fine. The bills keep coming though....

[padawanpooh.livejournal.com]

This is why anytime I hear someone compain about our NHS I want to hit them.

*HUGS*

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

NHS sounds like a MUCH better system!

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

I second that!
*hug*