Lab test for heart attack patient denied because he had a past due bill of $7

[proud2BlibKansan]

By Donna Smith

OK, if this wasn’t personal enough just yet for me, it just got a whole lot more so. And if you think for one instant that in this nation at this point in history and with this popularly elected President and Democratic Congress you will be treated for a heart attack simply because you might die if you are not treated, think again. And if you think having insurance helps, think some more.

On Friday, my husband was denied a blood test because a computer record from some distant time past and some other state showed he had a $7 balance with LabCorp. I am not making this up.

My husband had a heart attack this week. He woke up one morning sweating profusely and with a heart rate dropping. I watched his color turn first ruddy then ashen, and then he felt as though he was going to pass out. He would not allow me to call 911 as he slowly began to feel sick to his stomach and he believed his symptoms were digestive rather than cardiac.

more . . . http://www.guaranteedhealthcare.org/blog/donna-smith-sicko-patient/2009/06/28/labcorp-denies-blood-test-heart-attack-patient-due-7-debt

If you have seen Sicko, this is the Donna Smith in the movie.

[LibDemAlways]

1. I once overheard the receptionist end of the following phone

conversation while waiting in my dentist's office:

No, I'm sorry sir. I checked your records and you still owe us $100.00. The dentist will not be able to see you until that is paid.

I'm sorry that you're in pain, sir. But that's our policy. The dentist will not see you until that bill is paid. Are you prepared to pay it?

Sir, I can't make it any more clear. You owe us money. The dentist cannot and will not see you until that bill is paid.



This went on for a good five minutes before the patient simply hung up. The receptionist didn't flinch.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. My dentist sent me a registered letter 3 months after I had been in and paid my bill in full

telling me I owed him $350 and I had better bring at least $50 with me to my next visit. But I was sure I had paid in full at my previous visit. Turned out my insurance had denied $350 worth of charges. And instead of just sending me a bill I got a registered letter threatening to turn me over to a collection agency. I had always paid my bill every time I went in and had never had an outstanding balance before.

I waited until they called me a month later the day before my next scheduled appointment to remind me of the appointment and I said oh I'm sorry I can't keep that appointment and I know I need to send you a check, how much was that balance again? And they said $275. So I sent him the $275 and found a new dentist.

[ConsAreLiars]

3. I noticed that some uttrly depraved monster "unrecommended" this soon after it appeared.

Or maybe more than one. There is an organized and I would guess well-funded effort to hide the facts about a system that sees sickness as an opportunity for vampires to suck more blood from the vulnerable and for their henchmen who do the "treatments" to pocket some payoffs for their participation.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. They are losing the debate and they know it

Even right wingers are seeing the importance of health care reform. It touches all of us.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. There are 19 votes now

:)

[slipslidingaway]

6. #24 nt

[Wednesdays]

7. K&R

:kick: