$73,000 for a 1 night stay in hospital because of a snake bite

dcraig · Aug 10, 2009

Quote from Alexis:

Would have cost about 300 usd in Belgium.

Drawback? We pay 50% tax on our incomes.

No typo, no BS here, 48% on average.

And would have cost AUD $0 in an Australian hospital.

Bob111 · Aug 10, 2009

Quote from Mnphats:

Excellent point and I see this area of health care growing by leaps and bounds and benefits everybody. At our local target a group of nurse practitioners opened a office to treat minor ailments and flu shots and the like. For a flat fee of 30 bucks or something. Excellent source of care opened 7 days a week from 7am to 7pm.

just wait until government steps in and tax or regulate to death this biz. or simply close it,because it will represent competition to new, government provided health care

trefoil · Aug 10, 2009

Quote from Bob111:

just wait until government steps in and tax or regulate to death this biz. or simply close it,because it will represent competition to new, government provided health care

Evidence, other than your fevered brow?

walter4 · Aug 10, 2009

Quote from Mnphats:

Excellent point and I see this area of health care growing by leaps and bounds and benefits everybody. At our local target a group of nurse practitioners opened a office to treat minor ailments and flu shots and the like. For a flat fee of 30 bucks or something. Excellent source of care opened 7 days a week from 7am to 7pm.

Just wait until Republicans step in and tax or regulate to death this biz. or simply close it, because it will represent competition to old, Republican provided health care.

axehawk · Aug 10, 2009

Quote from peilthetraveler:

http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/2095896.html

The story is about the insurance only paying 3k of that, but i find it interesting that they charged $73,000 dollars for treatment. These prices have got way out of control. What could these doctors do that would merit giving someone a bill that would take 20 years+ to pay off at payments of $300 per month?(without interest too!)

And to think that there are dumbass Americans standing & screaming at these "townhall meetings" that they don't want government-run health care. LOL.

If I get bit by a rattlesnake in Canada,
I doesn't cost me one cent.

spinn · Aug 10, 2009

Quote from axehawk:

And to think that there are dumbass Americans standing & screaming at these "townhall meetings" that they don't want government-run health care. LOL.

If I get bit by a rattlesnake in Canada,
I doesn't cost me one cent.

we dont want the govt giving even more money to scumbag drs.

Pekelo · Aug 10, 2009

Quote from jack8031:

I think your life is worth more than $73K.

I disagree. There is NO WAY his life is worth more than $5500....

And that is pushing it.

markcfd · Aug 10, 2009

Quote from dcraig:

And would have cost AUD $0 in an Australian hospital.

I hear ya,
The USA system is pathetic. We simply have to pay a small % extra taxes ie 1% or there abouts and you are pretty right for everything ( you need ambulance cover though which is only about $100 a year for families) You dont want to pay it in tax then you can get private cover (and it aint 300 a month and all this BS try 300-500 a year) and you can have your jazzed up private room and pay some of the bill aswell.

All this talk about the medical system in the US really makes me think twice about our plans to move there in the future

bigarrow · Aug 10, 2009

Quote from nutmeg:

"Going to the doctor for strep throat would cost $65-$70. In the ER, it's $600 to $800,"
----------------

Why the big difference?

A glorious example of price gouging.

oraclewizard77 · Aug 10, 2009

I had to go in ambulance once, very expensive, so if you can drive yourself to the hospital or have a friend do so, much better.

I just wanted some advil and water. They would not give me anything until the doc saw me. Then instead of giving me advil, they gave me morphine which is not what I wanted.

Fuck them.