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

[ashestothestars]

Holy crud. [hugs beat up and failing Canadian health system that still has a pulse]

[ganimede]

Seriously.

[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]

I'm actually surprised the bill isn't higher, given the fact that you traveled by ambulance. Yes, I am bitter about our healthcare.

How does travel insurance work? Will it just pay the full amount, or will you still have to pay a percentage of the bill? I've never used it before (nor have I purchased it), so I have no idea how it works.

[dativesingular]

The stuff A and I have pays for the whole bill, at least. It's not like the sort of co-pay stuff we're used to, and I never got travel insurance in the US either, since my health insurance covered me nationally. I do have to now though, for when I go back and visit.

[ganimede]

I didn't realise that there was a charge for ambulances until someone happened to mention it in brits_americans recently. I'm surprised there's nothing for the aircast and crutches though, I was expecting to be charged for those. (Mind you, I'm used to crutches only being given on loan and needing to return them to the hospital.) I really don't blame you for being bitter about the healthcare in the US, it's just stupid. If the situation had been reversed, and it had been you in the UK needing medical attention, it would have been free for you.

Travel insurance should, hopefully, pay for the full amount, if they accept it as a valid claim. It works like car insurance, but usually without the excess bit!

[lizzie]

I have a hard time fathoming a world where you don't pay for ambulance service. Or where you're not charged out the ass for other ridiculous expenses. Or where I could just get an emergency taken care of for free. It just boggles my mind.

I'm surprised you weren't charged for the aircast and crutches, either. Maybe that's included in the "emergency ward" fee?

[dativesingular]

Yeah, I don't miss those bills in the slightest, but I'm glad you're getting healed up, at least!

[ganimede]

Well, it's healing slowly. It's still sore sometimes because I've not been able to rest it as much as it probably could have done with.

[ganimede]

When I was in the ambulance, I was wondering how much it was going to cost because I knew x-rays were expensive. No one should be in that situation, there's really no need for it at all. Healthcare should be a basic human right, not something that only rich people/employed people can afford. The NHS has its flaws but at least, I know that I can call for an ambulance and be treated without needing to worry about how I'm going to pay for it.

Well, I hope it will. I don't see why it won't because it's a pretty straightforward claim as far as I can tell but I don't know if there's any likelihood of them rejecting it.

[lizzie]

Healthcare should be a basic human right, not something that only rich people/employed people can afford.

Psh, you and your silly ideals, wanting everyone to be healthy. ;-)

[ganimede]

You know, it's a wacky idea, but it might just work! I'm just a hippy really ;)