Fucked up health care system

[progressoid]

So, at Xmas time I had these nasty abdominal and back pains. Go to the Doctor and he orders a bunch of tests including an MRI. I just got the bill for the MRI from the hospital.

MRI: $3721
Insurance paid: -$662
Contractual Adjustment: -$2444
My cost: $615

So our insurance pays obout 18%. But then there is that contractual adjustment! Apparently, this procedure can acually be done for $1277. The hospital just writes off $2444. Am I missing something here?

I'm lucky this didn't occur a year or two ago when I was uninsured.

I can't wait to get the rest of the bills.

:grr:

[geardaddy]

1. That is fucked up.

:grr:

[progressoid]

4. Grrr.

I'm going outside for some fresh air. Hope I don't contract pneumonia

[Donkeykick]

2. I guess we do not need...

better, universal health care after all, huh. :sarcasm: :eyes: :wtf:

[progressoid]

3. Oh this system is just dandy.

Dandy I say.

[Lasher]

5. That contractural adjustment is where insurance companies called their hands at jacking up the price

But if someone doesn't have insurance the hospital would expect to be paid the full price. Just one way individuals, and not insurance companies, are getting soaked to help pay for the uninsured who show at up the emergency rooms.

[PA Democrat]

6. Yes, people who are uninsured pay a premium price for health care.

Also, if you DO have insurance, and your insurance company denies payment for a claim, claiming it is for a preexisting condition for example, you will get billed the entire inflated amount; no contractual adjustment.

The whole system is a big scam.

[TheDebbieDee]

7. I've started to get bills for my bloodwork, too.........

Bloodwork that my doctor orders to determine how well my medicine is working and whether or not the medicine is affecting my liver function. I've been taking these tests 4 times a year for at least 4 years and never got a bill for them until 4 months ago.

The bills average between $35 - $40 and is the portion that my insurance doesn't pay. I called my insurance comapny and got an answer that amounted to gibberish.

Don't get me wrong - I'm glad I have insurance but I'm going to get in a bind over these lab bills someday. The $35 - $40 bill that I get amounts to almost half a day's pay for me.

I raelly don't know what to do other than to continue paying the bills that I get for as long as I can pay them. But, eventually I can see that my insurance will make more money by paying less and less of the bill and having the doctor's office send the balance of the bill to me!