Here is the deal. In nursing school, all I could afford was Student Accident & Sickness Health Plan which is basically low-end "insurance plan" that has a $2,500 deductible and will only cover a max $10,000 of an emergency/sick health care bill. It was $100/month and I couldn't really even afford that at the time but health insurance was required for nursing school.
During clinical one day I nearly fainted during a venipuncture procedure. I've had a history of fainting while standing during non-blood related activities, so I agreed to be taken to the ER for an evaluation. They were unable to determine the reason for my fainting spells. My insurance didn't cover a penny of the $1800 visit, nor was I able to pay it during the last 1.5 years of nursing school because I did not have an income. I feel $1800 is a lot to charge someone without insurance coverage for a 2 hour hospital stay, ECG and bag of IV fluids ... but hey that's healthcare for you. Lol
Now I just accepted a job offer from the same hospital I have this medical bill collection with. In some ways I feel I should pay the bill off once I get an income from working there or at least settle the debt for a smaller payment. It is the LEAST I could do considering they just offered me a job, and are providing me income. For once I might be able to pay it! On the other hand it is an old debt and I have a huge amount of student loans to start paying off. I am in the process of filing bankruptcy from credit card debt that went into collections when my husband was unemployed for 8 months. I feel it is ethical to pay it, especially since they are giving me a job! :) Any opinions?
My insurance didn't cover a penny of the $1800 visit, nor was I able to pay it during the last 1.5 years of nursing school because I did not have an income. I feel $1800 is a lot to charge someone without insurance coverage for a 2 hour hospital stay, ECG and bag of IV fluids ... but hey that's healthcare for you. Lol