Even with insurance, my medical bills are killing me

[skygazer]

I feel bad even complaining, knowing that there are so many people out there who have no insurance. I've got insurance but it's been drastically cut since our last union contract and things that used to cost me very little out of pocket are now frighteningly expensive.

I just had knee surgery in January and today I got both the hospital and doctor bills. After insurance paid their bit, I still owe close to a thousand dollars!

Compare that to several years ago when I had a surgery that cost over twice as much in total - but out of pocket, I spent roughly $250 on that one - for everything, doctor, hospital, meds, physical therapy, etc.

It's maddening especially since it's because of my job that I needed the damn surgery in the first place!

I guess I need to be thankful that I HAVE a job and that I HAVE insurance. ~sigh~

[Lars39]

1. I hear ya.

Found out today my deductible is now $2,000. Per person. :banghead:

[skygazer]

4. Wow. Just wow.

Like I said, I feel guilty complaining. I don't know how people get by. I suppose a lot of them don't.

[Redstone]

2. Hey, my last shoulder surgeries didn't cost me anything (except for pain for the

rest of my life), but we pay almost two thousand dollars a month for the health insurance. In fact, it's only about 200 bucks less a month than we pay for our mortgage.

Redstone

[skygazer]

5. Two thousand a MONTH?

I guess this thread will cheer me up and depress me at the same time. Something has got to be done about the health care situation in this country. :grr:

[Redstone]

12. Yes, per month. So, is anyone still envious of people who own a business?

It ain't a cheap way to make a living. Even with my office in the house, my annual overhead is more than sixty thousand dollars. Which means that until I've made $60,001 for the year, I haven't actually made a dollar.

Redstone

[lizziegrace]

22. That's why I left the ranks of the self-employed

Insurance was more than I paid in rent.

[Redstone]

25. And yet, everyone thinks that working for yourself is a walk on the beach, while eating

a bowl of cherries...don't they?

Redstone

[lizziegrace]

27. Gotta love those 7 day work weeks

doing tax returns at midnight on a Saturday night...

And no vacations because if you're not working, you're not creating billable hours.

:hug:

How've you been Redstone?

[Redstone]

29. I've been tolerably well, thank you for asking. Which is to say, if you want the truth,

that I've only had to endure three or four things in the last five days that would have made most people jump off a bridge.

But no matter; that which does not kill me only makes me stronger, and all that.

Redstone

[bicentennial_baby]

3. Heh, my Mom's got about 15,000 right now, after insurance

CT Scans, MRIs, Brain Surgery, Neuro appts, EMG tests.... It's scary....

[skygazer]

6. It is scary

I'm a wreck just trying to figure out how to pay this lousy thousand. I can't imagine an amount like that. And I read some statement by some fucking moran recently who explained that people simply need to "prioritize their spending better." :wtf:

Yeah, if I stop buying potato chips, I'll have that extra 15 grand in no time. :sarcasm:

[bicentennial_baby]

8. Yeah, my parents aren't broke, but

They're paying a mortgage, car pmt, various insurances, dogs, lawn guy, etc...On a fixed income, cause my dad's disabled. Luckily, he gets his health care free through the VA.

ps- the lawn huy is b/c my parents have an acre of grass, and my mom has sciatica, btw.

[Redstone]

13. Hey, having someone else cut your grass is NOT something to apologize for, OK?

Lots of people can't do it themselves.

Redstone

[bicentennial_baby]

16. Oh, I know...but, this is DU

both of my parents could be paralyzed, and someone would bitch :P

Frankly, I used to mow that thing with a pushmower...i wouldn't wish it on anyone! :o

I do miss my 30' x 30' garden though...and my dogs. x(

:hi:

[skygazer]

17. I was going to say the same thing as Redstone

But I guess I did the same thing, feeling the need to apoligise for complaining about my medical bills.

Geez, this place makes us crazy, doesn't it? Or are here because we are crazy? :silly:

[bicentennial_baby]

20. I'd say it's about 50/50

:P

But thanks :)

[Redstone]

24. Yeah, it's DU. I'll never forget a year or so ago, when someone was howling on and on

about "hotel-class people" (really!) as using the term as a perjorative because, well, according to her, anyone who stayed in a hotel was some kind of Evil Capitalist Running-Dog Imperialist Lackey Member Of The Elite Who Exist Only To Downtread The Downtrodden Workers, or something like that.

Oddly enough, she didn't have anything to say about people who grab a hotel room just to grab a piece of...never mind.

Hey, I hear the weather's going to be right crappy up your way in the morning. And here's me, having to drive up to Arlington. but what the hell, at least I'll be able to take Mrs R's car, which has all-wheel drive and an automatic.

Redstone

[bicentennial_baby]

26. I take the Red Line, but, I'm praying for a snow day...I have

a Macro test at 10:30....Please gawd, spare me this hell...

:)

[Liberal Veteran]

7. Screw that. You have every right to complain.

I pay for what Chimpy McFucktard, our Decider-in-Thief, refers to as "gold-plated coverage" instead of the cheaper HMO that is available and still I have to pay for 20% of my lab work every three months which isn't exactly cheap for someone who has HIV.

And I feel absolutely no guilt in complaining.

We have the most fucked up health care system in the first world.

[skygazer]

10. Thanks for the validation

We sure do have a fucked up system. And the added stress of worrying about medical bills creates more medical problems. It's just a horrible run-around.

[undeterred]

9. Yeah, its bad

but I feel lucky to have insurance at all and I've gone for whole years without it.

[skygazer]

11. I've gone without too

Which is one reason I feel guilty about complaining now. And I do feel fortunate to have what I have - just looking at some of the replies on this thread makes me realize how good I have it in comparison to some.

I just don't understand why we can't provide everyone with reasonable and affordable coverage.

[undeterred]

18. I have what most would call decent coverage now

But its insane. In Janauary all my prescriptions were free. In February when I went to pick them up they were over $500. There's a "$1500 donut hole" in my coverage and I reached it after a month. Its ridiculous. Our whole system is out of control and has been for years, and nothing has been done about it for decades. It keeps getting more and more out of reach for the average person.

[Kat45]

31. Is that the new Medicare drug plan?

aka, the gift to the pharmaceutical industry. Sounds like it.

[undeterred]

34. It sounds like it, doesn't it?

But no, I'm 50, and its called a "Consumer Driven Health Plan", that I get through my employer. It feels like its modelled after Medicare.

[Redstone]

14. Oh, I forgot to add: You DO have a right to complain. Didn't want to try to make you

feel otherwise with my post.

Redstone

[skygazer]

15. Not at all, Redstone

:pals:

[SPKrazy]

19. It Does Suck Skygazer

deductibles are up for most

healthcare costs are up

it is unreal.

it is good to have insurance

I wish we could figure out that we need a national health insurance that would cover everyone. We spend so much more on health care that we would SAVE money with a national health plan

[skygazer]

21. Exactly

Those who profit from the situation have so much pull that nothing changes. And it's absurd. Like you said, we'd SAVE money.

It's enough to make you chew off your own foot... :nuke:

[SPKrazy]

30. Yes, but eating your own foot

isn't logical

:hug:

it is insane friend

[LanternWaste]

23. I'm having a bar-b-que this weekend with some friends

Star...

I'm having a bar-b-que this weekend with some friends for a pal who just got out of the hospital for knee-surgery also.

I think you can count on this: At 4:00pm on Saturday, three married coupes, two self-avowed bachelors (I'm the hideously ugly one), and a puppy named Max will be sending really good thoughts specifically at you, followed by a few swigs of beer.

Eight elitist rednecks and bubettes invite you to Texas on Sat. for some relaxation, old rock and best of all, brisket and every stereo-typical Texan side-dish imaginable. Love to see ya there-- but seriously, we WILL be sending you good vibes on Sat at 4.

I'm glad your knee's better. :)

[skygazer]

36. Hey, thanks for the invite!

I'm half tempted to hop in the car and start driving! But at 4 on Saturday, I will lift a beer to you as well. :toast:

[S n o w b a l l]

28. I understand...

I'm in the same boat. Owe a shitload of money for a condition still undiagnosed. I had insurance at the time and because I did, I feel like it cost me even MORE money.
.
If they can't figure it out with an MRI, they send for a catscan on your pelvis, then a catscan on your back, then it's spinal blocks, then it's to the gyno & ultrasounds on your ovaries... they find a cyst, then it's another unltrasound every six months to monitor the cyst, then it's a mammogram and there's a spot, so it's another ultrasound every six months ... I swear this is what I've gone through and it's bullshit. I stopped going to them all. I'll take my chances and die.

I've had insurance most of my life through my employer but have also gone long periods without and I spend more money when I DO have insurance.

I'll get my yearly exams and that's it. I don't hate doctors but there's so much specialization now that you can't go to just one to get any answers. By the time, you MIGHT get an answer, you're bankrupt.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

32. Even the unions are feeling it now

When Oregon had its initiative on single-payer health care, the unions opposed it because it wasn't as good as their health plans.

However, a friend whose husband is a union worker tells me that their coverage is about to deteriorate noticeably under their new contract.

[KT2000]

33. As I understand it

most of the bankruptcies caused by medical expenses are with people who do have insurance.

The net result of this is that even if people have insurance, they will not go for fear of costs.
I was shocked by a bill even though I have insurance. I will have to refuse treatment if something big happens - my hospital takes the house.

[raccoon]

35. Do you mean, they'd take the house upon your death? nt

[KT2000]

38. No - if you owe money

they do everything they can to force people into selling their homes if money is owed to the hospital. They are very aggressive. It is also very scary.
The hospital is also the only facility for tests.
It's the only hospital in town.

[BluePatriot]

37. Dont' feel bad

I've succeeded in getting a $250 deductible written off through hospital bureaucracy -- by written off no bill ever showed up (just notice of a deductible from ins claim folks), nothing on my credit, basically they just ate the cost on the back end somewhere as it was not worth it to anyone. I think their lab vendor recovered $120ish dollars through insurance and then they quit caring. If you are persistent enough to whip out your policy, see what's covered, and get your docs to work with you re-coding charges and resubmitting them (which some will within reason) it is way easier to work with the hospital billing folk rather the insurance co, as they HATE insurance cos too.

Good luck!