Health care costs are RIDICULOUS!!!!

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Jun 16, 2011

I got a breakdown for one of my surgeries one time. The whole "this is not a bill" thing but what your bill would be. Looking at the surgeon charges and time operating and stuff, breaking it down the surgeon got over 3 thousand dollars a MINUTE preforming the surgery. That was only the surgeons fee divided by the minutes operating. None of the other fees and supplies and charges. Was pretty shocked.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Jun 16, 2011

I'm uninsured. I find it ironic that I provide care to patients, but I cannot even afford to receive the same care if I ever needed an inpatient or outpatient stay at my workplace.

Yea I was just looking at the benefits package for my new job. Since I am listed as part time it's more although I will most likely be working full time with extra shifts. It's over 850 dollars for family for only medical, no vision or dental. Pretty shocking.

MunoRN, RN · Jun 16, 2011

I thought that part of the Medicare rules was that providers aren't allowed to bill clients for additional fees beyond what Medicare pays for a particular procedure -- that that was what providers agree to when they agree to accept Medicare coverage -- i.e., that, if a hospital usually charges $10k for a heart cath but Medicare only pays $5k, the hospital or physician isn't allowed to bill the client for the additional $5k. Does someone here know if I'm wrong about that? (I try so hard to keep up with all this stuff ... :))

Billing the patient more than what medicare pays for that particular service is called "balance billing" and yes, it is generally illegal. I had her ask about this and she was told there is an exemption for emergency care in my state and that it's only illegal if they don't inform her first that they may charge more for certain services than medicare will pay and she will be responsible for the remainder. It turns out that buried in one of the many forms they gave her in the ED was a notification that they "balance bill" for medicare services. The Hospital she went to was a sister-hospital of mine, and it turns out I've been "informing" patients that we do 'balance billing' all along and I didn't even realize it.

MickeyTong · Jun 16, 2011

I'm appalled by everything I've read here. I live in the UK where we have a wonderful thing called the National Health Service, and in Scotland we don't even pay for prescribed medicines.....so I'm shocked to read of a nurse who can't afford thyroid meds.

OK, 12% of my income goes to the National Insurance scheme - which pays for State pensions, unemployment benefits and health care......but I won't have to think twice about the cost of any health care I may need.

Socialism! Ya gotta love it.

dudette10, MSN, RN · Jun 16, 2011

Billing the patient more than what medicare pays for that particular service is called "balance billing" and yes, it is generally illegal. I had her ask about this and she was told there is an exemption for emergency care in my state and that it's only illegal if they don't inform her first that they may charge more for certain services than medicare will pay and she will be responsible for the remainder. It turns out that buried in one of the many forms they gave her in the ED was a notification that they "balance bill" for medicare services. The Hospital she went to was a sister-hospital of mine, and it turns out I've been "informing" patients that we do 'balance billing' all along and I didn't even realize it.

How can a state law trump the requirements of a federal program?

According to one site a looked at, 56% of California Medicare patients who were balance-billed--although it's illegal--went ahead and paid the balance of their charges. It added up to millions of dollars.

Here's a story on a very recent push to make balance-billing easier and not illegal. It's called the Medicare Patient Empowerment Act. I love how elected officials choose misleading names for their legislation...

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/742271

ETA: A BusinessWeek article on balance-billing for both privately insured patients and Medicare patients.

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_36/b4098040915634.htm

conroenurse · Jun 17, 2011

"......but I won't have to think twice about the cost of any health care I may need."

No, Maybe not, but from what I have heard from your fellow countrymen is that people die because they have to wait on a waiting list to be seen by the dr. regardless if it's minor or extremely urgent and life threatening.

Of course the more wealthy can afford to go to USA, or other countries (or I don't know maybe there) and pay out of pocket. I've really heard nothing but bad stuff from Canada's and UK national health ins. Maybe they represented it wrongly, I don't know, just saying what I was told by them. Seems NOTHING works for the good of the pt's anywhere , and once again who comes out with the money? "THE INS. COMPANY" THAT"S what needs to be reformed.

MickeyTong · Jun 17, 2011

"Of course the more wealthy can afford to go to USA, or other countries (or I don't know maybe there) and pay out of pocket."

The UK also has private health care and private health insurance - and the wealthy, as they do in every country, don't worry about the cost of anything, and money opens any door quickly.

Even ordinary working people have choices about waiting: your mum can wait 6 months to have her hips replaced by the NHS, or you can forgo this year's family holiday in Thailand and get her new hips next week in a private hospital.

There are strict targets in the NHS regarding waiting times for various procedures. Inevitably and sadly, some people fall through that net and die. Or clinicians misunderstand the urgency of need....In which case there's always a hue and cry, and probably litigation.

I have a disabled nephew who frequently needs health care and medication. I can't imagine what their medical bills or insurance premiums would be in the States.......and if they were unemployed (which is happening to people more and more, through no fault of their own) what level of ongoing care could they expect?

I do get cheesed off at people who abuse the system - if they had to pay something, they'd be less inclined to fartorifice around.....

"Seems NOTHING works for the good of the pt's anywhere , and once again who comes out with the money? "THE INS. COMPANY"

When money is the primary consideration, you can provide health care only to wealthy people, or those who can afford excellent insurance cover. The directors of big private health care providers, like the directors of all big private businesses, have a legal and contractual obligation to maximise profits for the company's shareholders.

conroenurse · Jun 17, 2011

STILLL sad. Here in the USA, IF you are uninsured, there are free clinics, and if no area free clinics (I volunteer at one) then the county will do medical ness. stuff, but not preventive. The deal is though you HAVE to fill out paper work and prove you need help. Takes time, and most people just want to WALK in and be serviced. (kinda entitled thinking) Imo if govn. just did free preventive care, tests done, that would be a solve ALOT of problems before they ever came into big medical issues

. OH well, who am I but a little nurse that wishes I could do more.

MickeyTong · Jun 17, 2011

Most of us are "but little" people......

And in some countries being a citizen does actually come with a few entitlements.

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qt_rn · Jun 18, 2011

"......but I won't have to think twice about the cost of any health care I may need."
No, Maybe not, but from what I have heard from your fellow countrymen is that people die because they have to wait on a waiting list to be seen by the dr. regardless if it's minor or extremely urgent and life threatening.
Of course the more wealthy can afford to go to USA, or other countries (or I don't know maybe there) and pay out of pocket. I've really heard nothing but bad stuff from Canada's and UK national health ins. Maybe they represented it wrongly, I don't know, just saying what I was told by them. Seems NOTHING works for the good of the pt's anywhere , and once again who comes out with the money? "THE INS. COMPANY" THAT"S what needs to be reformed.

I am so thankful that we have a national health care plan. I really do not understand why so many Americans are against "Obamacare". He is trying to help people so that they do not lose their houses or go bankrupt due to medical bills. His policies keep getting more watered down and not satisfying what he set out to do because of opposition from the republicans.

I am curious as to where you heard nothing but bad stuff about Canada and UK's system? Of course there are people out there that are not happy with the system, that would prefer a system that is more like the US, and yes, there are people who have had bad experiences. There are also people out there who only think about themselves and are just not satisfied with a system that cannot accommodate to every single need right away. But these are the consequences of having a system that does not cost anyone out of pocket. Yes, we get taxed more, but not much more than Americans. I honestly would rather have the money deducted from my pay than have to worry about finding money for health care. If I had to pay $1000 a month for health insurance, I would not have any money left to keep a house over our heads! All I have to do is watch Sicko and feel disgusted at how American's are treated by HMO's and feel so proud of my countries health system, even though it definitely has some areas it needs improvement.

I have not personally heard of anyone that needed STAT treatment, life or death type of treatment having to wait and die while waiting. Yes, if you need a non urgent procedure you will have to wait. My mom just had bilateral knee replacements this past month, yes she waited a year for that surgery, yes she was in pain while she waited. But no, it was not life threatening, and it did not cost her a cent. She received great medical care in the hospital for 2 weeks, and is now at home, and receiving physio and the treatment that she needs. If she lived in the states, she would have never ever had the money to pay for her surgery, therefore she would have been severely limited in her mobility for the rest of her life! My husbands grandfather was recently in the ICU due to severe artery blockages and an arrhythmia. He had an oblation done within a week and a pacemaker in within 2 weeks of being admitted to the hospital.

I am pregnant, go to the OB every week, any test or ultrasound etc that I need done is done in a timely fashion. I had bleeding during my first trimester and was able to get an appointment the same day with my doctor and got an ultrasound at the hospital within a few hours.

Now, our hospitals do a pretty good job, but there are some areas that need improvement. Preventative care, wait times for being referred to specialists can be high and needs improvement. We do not have all the cutting edge technology or procedures that the US does. The governments tend to wait and see when it comes to new procedures and technology, determining the cost-benefit to things and best practices based on research.

Sorry for the rant, I am very passionate about my countries publicly funded system that provides high quality care without bankrupting families. We may not get the "best" care that is available to Americans, and we may not get our MRI's or CT's, etc as fast as Americans, but we get the care that we need and that is good enough for me!

mappers · Jun 18, 2011

In the US, having to wait for things like knee replacements, etc is also very common. People get denied for procedures and medication all the time. People who don't know this, usually have had little experience with insurance and "elective" medical treatment.

conroenurse · Jun 18, 2011

I was told abt UK's/Canada medical care by a health care director I worked with from Eng. (who made pretty good money) and a nurses aide from Canada who made very little. the one from Canada was the more vocal of the two and really hated the system and blamed a family members death on it. (? true or not), then a bunch of others through the yrs, a nurse from London that I remember and can't remember the rest, but there were several. WEIRD THOUGH cause I don't recall any comments that were positive, but do rmember it was all about the 'wait' thing that they were up in arms over.

BTW IF your Mother was a certain age, and did not work or have high income she would have recieved the care from Medicare/Medicaid without THAT long of a wait. My mother in law is on Medicaid/Medicare and her care is excellent, just had bypass, cardiac rehab, etc.\

There are programs to help those with no insurance, BUT you have to fill out paper work, and call 211 or other numbers to find out where free clinics and care can be recieved. MAINLY protected are the eldery and the children, it's the middle class young and mid age people that USUALLY are in dire straits.

NOT SURE, but I think MOST people that are against Obama's Health Plan are because of some of the clauses it contains that are not good. Parts of it most people agree with, and other parts just aren't for the ave. taxpayer, or lower middle income people. ALOT of things are wrong with it that I am just freaked abt, and I DO believe in helping be my "brothers Keeper"...but it does seems to hurt the middle class ALOT!

By the way, if ins. is obtained at work, it usually only costs a couple of hundred for entire family and so it's not thousand a month.