Hospital Charged Family Almost $40K for 12 COVID Tests so They Could Return to Work, School

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Source: Newsweek

A New York hospital reportedly charged one family nearly $40,000 for a dozen coronavirus tests that were required for them to return to work and school.

The New York Times reported on Tuesday afternoon that Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, which is owned by Northwell Health, has repeatedly charged patients thousands of dollars for virus tests that typically cost less than $200. The hospital has billed the tests—which insurance or the U.S. government is generally required to cover—as a "moderately complex" emergency room visit, tacking on additional charges.

One family that did their testing at Lenox Hill reportedly racked up $39,314 for just 12 tests. The virus testing was necessary for the family members to return to work and school. Several other patients' bills for one test reportedly hovered just below or above $3,000—which is roughly 30 times the cost of a typical test.

"It was shocking to see a number like that, when I've gotten tested before for about $135," Ana Roa, who received a bill of $3,358 for a test at Lenox Hill in February, told the Times.



Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/hospital-charged-family-almost-dollar40k-for-12-covid-tests-so-they-could-return-to-work-school/ar-BB1f8hOK?li=BBnb7Kz

[questionseverything]

1. This is what for profit "healthcare " looks like

[SunSeeker]

7. This is what fraud looks like.

They billed them as ER visits. That's fraud.

The hospital has billed the tests—which insurance or the U.S. government is generally required to cover—as a "moderately complex" emergency room visit, tacking on additional charges.

[questionseverything]

8. For profit "healthcare "/ fraud, same thing

[SunSeeker]

11. Certainly pretending healthcare is a negotiable, unessential consumer good is a cruel hoax.

Healthcare is not like a hoola hoop. You can't take it or leave it. You will die without healthcare, and so you have no bargaining power, particularly in an ER setting where time is of the essence.

[IronLionZion]

14. COVID tests now are a quick simple swab in the front of the nose

nothing complex or ER-worthy about it. My HMO does it without any copay. My city government does it for free.

The hospital is committing fraud.

[SunSeeker]

15. Yup. nt

[Faux pas]

2. Kickin' with disgust!

And

[bucolic_frolic]

3. Uninsured get soaked too.

They could pay the full $3000 price. No pre-negotiated group discounts.

[intheflow]

4. I hope they contest the charges in court.

This is the poster child story of WHY WE NEED UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE!

[The Wizard]

5. Don't pay the bill

Let them sue and be exposed to discovery.

[DENVERPOPS]

6. No Wonder

The fascist Republicans are going all out against Obamacare..........

You could write books of countless true stories about how the Insurance Companies and both hospitals and doctors have played
"Rape and Run" price gouging...............

A significant number of Dr.'s and hospitals have been charged repeatedly for Medicare Fraud, and new ones join them everyday.

I was just reading about the Air Ambulance Choppers here in areas north of Denver. XYZ medical chopper, XXY medical chopper, and now a whole big bunch more. No so long ago it would cost you 5K. Now, the report said, they are all charging ludicrous prices, a few near 40K for a call.....

And don't think insurance will cover it folks........

[ZonkerHarris]

9. Time for Northwell Health's time in the barrel. Fuck them all.

[Turbineguy]

10. Standard charges.

The hospital charged me $82,000 for a gall bladder operation. Insurance paid them $7100 and I paid $1800. Case closed.

If you can't afford to pay for health insurance you get a bill for at least ten times as much. It's a strange form of capitalism.

[Tess49]

13. Hospital charged me 11,000 per eye for cataract surgery. My cost was $250 per eye. Insurance

paid around $2000 per surgery.

[Demovictory9]

12. Disgusting