US vs. Them.
Inspired by another recently injured friend's recent post:
My recent visit to a Czech hospital? Cost 372Kč, or about $20.89 USD. And that was actually just for the crutches -- they didn't charge me for the visit, and didn't ask me for my address, so I'm guessing I'm not likely to receive a bill.
They told me to follow up with my doctor in the US, which won't be happening for reasons of money and insurance. For those unfamiliar with the specifics, I have (at my Mother's insistence) insurance via COBRA via my job at The Co-op in Pittsburgh. Said insurance is UPMC insurance, and "UPMC" stands for "University of Pittsburgh Medical Center." Now for the fun part: Being Pittsburgh-based, said insurance only covers doctors in Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, none of which I can drive to in the current state of my ankle. In New York I can use my insurance to fill prescriptions or to go to an emergency room. Emergency room visits, however, have a $100 copay.
How much did I spend to go to the hospital in Prague? Oh yea -- nothing. Except for the crutches, which were $21 bucks. $100 copay? In the words of Bart Simpson, eat my shorts.
My recent visit to a Czech hospital? Cost 372Kč, or about $20.89 USD. And that was actually just for the crutches -- they didn't charge me for the visit, and didn't ask me for my address, so I'm guessing I'm not likely to receive a bill.
They told me to follow up with my doctor in the US, which won't be happening for reasons of money and insurance. For those unfamiliar with the specifics, I have (at my Mother's insistence) insurance via COBRA via my job at The Co-op in Pittsburgh. Said insurance is UPMC insurance, and "UPMC" stands for "University of Pittsburgh Medical Center." Now for the fun part: Being Pittsburgh-based, said insurance only covers doctors in Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, none of which I can drive to in the current state of my ankle. In New York I can use my insurance to fill prescriptions or to go to an emergency room. Emergency room visits, however, have a $100 copay.
How much did I spend to go to the hospital in Prague? Oh yea -- nothing. Except for the crutches, which were $21 bucks. $100 copay? In the words of Bart Simpson, eat my shorts.