I was in the ER last month when I was found passed out in the shower...

then went back to the ER the next night when I felt the same symptoms. They found my pulse and blood glucose way too high, but otherwise OK, and I was released in the mornings. Got an envelope from the hospital a couple of days later, but it was just a survey about how well they did. Just got the bill in the mail, though.

It was not itemized, just the total of $18,000 and change.

18 grand! You woulda thought I got a brake job on my Mercedes. But, it appears Medicare bargained that down to around 8 grand and paid about $7,000 of that.

So, from $18,000, I owe them a little over a thousand. Although grateful that I don't owe them the whole thing, the absurdity of it all astounds me.