General Health Conditions/Issues

Posted on: Mon, Sep 7 2009 2:39 PM

Posted by: mcjane Posts: 1,291

My friend opted to have have her gall bladder removed.  Because she didn't have insurance the doctor said he would only charge her $250 instead of $1,800.   The operation would take an hour.   The hospital agreed to finance their $4,000 expense.

Does this seem right????  I think $250 an hour is an incredible salary....but if she had insurance...Medicare, Medicaid, whatever...he would have charged what percentage MORE....do the math.

As it turns out....she was in the operating room for 2 hours...and had to stay overnight due to some complication.  I figure they took a kidney to sell.  She is a prime candidate for this corruption.  If she can't afford a doctor .... she sure can't afford a lawyer.   This *%# happens.

Maybe I watch too much Scrubs.....

Posted on: Tue, Sep 8 2009 12:05 AM

Posted by: Nightengale Posts: 801

I'm actually impressed.  Most hosptials charge more to people without insurance than they would charge a person's insurance company for the same procedure.   I hate this practice, but it's very common.  It's also common for doctors to refuse to see patients without insurance or who have only Medicaid insurance.  

So the idea that the doctor would charge less, and the hospital would waive their fee so an uninsured person can get necessary surgery - I'm all for it.   I think all doctors and all hospitals should be required to care for everybody and to make financial arrangements that won't bankrupt the patients.  I expect most of my future patient population will be kids with Medicaid, unless we manage to figure out universal health care in the next four years. 

Also, I've never seen a kidney removal operation but I've seen several gall bladder surgeries.  I don't think you can remove a kidney without making a few larger incisions that would be pretty obvious.

Posted on: Tue, Sep 8 2009 8:05 AM

Posted by: squabwithfibro Posts: 3,158

 Wow Jane......your friend is in a bad spot.  Needing surgery when there is no insurance is anyone's worst nightmare.  I thought the doctor sounded like they were trying to help.  

It reminds me of when my hubby was a grad student......a group of doctors who were sympathetic to his particular course of study gave a discount to student wives who were in need of  good OBGYN......much appreciated.  I had a baby and was uninsured.  They made the experience much less painful for our family.  We survived and had wonderful care.

On a personal note.....my gallbladder came out through my belly button!  Who knew?  I have only small scars from that surgery!  

We no longer have dental insurance.  I feel much the way you do about her lack of medical insurance.  I have long suspected that those with no insurance are charged at a higher rate.  The dentist we used to go to used to be kind and compassionate.  These days, we feel he is a money grubber.   Too bad.  He has to advertise on TV for patients now.  

Sorry.......similar but different......lack of insurance is not a good place to be.  

Posted on: Tue, Sep 8 2009 10:23 AM

Posted by: Tony Posts: 1,521

mcjane:

My friend opted to have have her gall bladder removed.  Because she didn't have insurance the doctor said he would only charge her $250 instead of $1,800.   The operation would take an hour.   The hospital agreed to finance their $4,000 expense.

Does this seem right????  I think $250 an hour is an incredible salary....but if she had insurance...Medicare, Medicaid, whatever...he would have charged what percentage MORE....do the math.

 

As it turns out....she was in the operating room for 2 hours...and had to stay overnight due to some complication.  I figure they took a kidney to sell.  She is a prime candidate for this corruption.  If she can't afford a doctor .... she sure can't afford a lawyer.   This *%# happens.

 

Maybe I watch too much Scrubs.....

 

 

 Sounds like the Doctor was being very compassionate, charging such a low fee. The Hospital could have waived or reduced their fees more though. All Hospitals have a fund for indigent patients. Hope the $4,000 bill will not be too much of a burden to your friend, maybe she should talk to them and negotiate the fee down some? It is worth a try, i have heard of other people doing this.

 I had my Gallbladder removed last year, 3 very small incisions about 1/2 an inch in length and can not even see the scars now. Removing a kidney would require a much larger incision.

 Tony

Posted on: Tue, Sep 8 2009 10:55 PM

Posted by: pambe Posts: 820

I'm one of those other people Tony was referring to. A few years back I was in a hospital in Ca. I was newly diagnosed with MS, but I was still working and... I had insurance. While I was in the hospital, they sent out a notice that as of _________, they would no longer be accepting Blue Cross Blue Shield, with whom I was insured. I made a note of the date and made sure to be out of the hospital well before said date. The following month I received a very large bill. Because the hospital did their billing after said date, they charged me! I was in poor shape, at the time and I was dealing with the crisis that was my life. I had just given up my job because I was now too ill and incapable of working, or caring for myself. When I explained the situation and my anger at being charged (in a reasonable tone), the hospital agreed to pay from their own funds that are set aside for this type of situation. I wasn't willing to let them get away with billing me when I had insurance at the time of my stay.  Although it meant standing up for myself at a time when I was at my worst, it was well worth it.

pambe

Posted on: Wed, Sep 9 2009 5:00 AM

Posted by: Chipper Posts: 6

Ive seen and heard of this before and In some cases the patient Is charged more then they are told. I've talked to my doctor about my out of pocket expenses like my co pays and he has lowered them a few times. So Doctors will work with you as most people these days are struggling to get by.

I just wonder now If I'll get back what I lost on my Access card being how my Ex wife went after my SSD for child support???

Posted on: Wed, Sep 9 2009 7:33 AM

Posted by: mcjane Posts: 1,291

What I wonder is...does every doctor charge a different amount for the very same procedure?  Shouldn't there be a standard?

I read of the man in Australia who sold a kidney for $25,000...the broker got a fee too.   I wonder what a hospital charges the recipient of the organ?  This story was scandalous because people are not allowed to sell their organs...they are only available on the Black Market.  Shouldn't people be allowed to sell their body parrts if they so desire?  Wonder how much a lung goes for?  

I know a few people who were approached by the "organ harvesters" in the hospital when their loved one was near death.  They said it was not a good experience, the people are very callous and pushy in trying to get them to "donate".   I'm sure the harvesters don't "donate" the organs to the hospitals or the recipients.

I also think Locks for Love is a wig makers scam.  They are kidnapping people in the Phillipines for their hair!  It's a precious commodity.  Wonder if they harvest the hair off cadavers.   I wonder a lot of things....and not just about body parts.

Posted on: Wed, Sep 9 2009 10:21 AM

Posted by: TriDog Posts: 2,799

mcjane:

Does this seem right????  I think $250 an hour is an incredible salary....

Actually, I ws think it's rather low.  For all the time and money spent getting and education and the debt the doctors have. Not to mention the insurance they have to carry....  I think she got a pretty sweet deal.