MGH

[ganimede]

After a month of waiting, I've finally got my invoice through from Massachusetts General Hospital for the impromptu visit I had there on November 4th. I was rather apprehensive when I opened it because I knew that American hospitals charge ridiculous amounts, especially for x-rays, and apparently they can also charge you for being transported by

Comments

[momentsmusicaux]

What the fuck is 17 cents for Other?

There is something heinously wrong about seeing charges marked 'Emergency room'.

Man that country is a fuckup.

[ganimede]

I really have no idea. Unless it's for the painkillers they gave, that's about the only thing I could think of.

I agree. And the possibility of being charged for using an ambulance is seriously fucked up too. I don't understand how anyone can think that this system is better than free healthcare for everyone.

[lizzie]

If you're truly interested, you can call the hospital and ask for an itemized bill - they should send you one for free upon request. It'll tell you exactly what that 17 cents was used for and will detail what x-rays you got and how much each one cost.

It's actually pretty interesting (to me, at least) to get an itemized bill just because everything is so ridiculously expensive. For example, a 1,000 mL bag of lactated ringer's solution (usually what they give you when they hook you up to an IV) can be purchased for less than $5 from the internet/vet's office/etc. In the hospital, you'd be charged about $90 for that same bag. :-O

[ganimede]

Oh, can you? That might be interesting. Just for sheer omg-ness.

[lizzie]

Yep, just call the billing department (phone number is probably on that bill somewhere) and ask for an itemized bill.

[ganimede]

It'd cost me an arm and a leg to call, and they've already asked for that on the bill. There's an e-mail address though, maybe I can e-mail them and ask.