Medical Bills!
11-04-2003, 09:52 PM
#31
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Stuart, FL
Posts: 24,416
Originally Posted by Mazderati' date='Nov 4 2003, 07:50 PM
Check into paying $1.00 per month. I've heard you're untouchable so long as you are paying something.
11-04-2003, 10:15 PM
#32
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 334
Would the $5.00 fee really matter, though? At $1.00 per month on $7,000.00 the bill would never be paid off anyhow. Or perhaps there is some stipulation that says you have to pay the billing fee regardless? But then if that were the case, that would go against the whole $1.00 per month is an attempt to pay off the bill scenario.
Insurance companies are sore losers.
Insurance companies are sore losers.
11-05-2003, 01:20 AM
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Jensen Beach, FL / Sylva, NC
Posts: 2,934
Originally Posted by 2ndGenerationY' date='Nov 4 2003, 10:13 PM
It may seem that way, but it isn't. My father has had a private practice which is now about to enter its fourth year. He is getting screwed by the insurance companies just as much, if not more than patients who are insurance-dependent. While his patients may struggle for the $200 x-ray cost without insurance, they did not have to pay $10K for the machine that took them, and only receive a payment from insurance for about $40 for the x-rays from the insurance company. While they may lose an afternoons pay to come into the office during regular work hours, they still are not paying a quarter of a million dollars in medical school student loans...
About 60% of profit gains are lost in insurance exchanges. It seems like the insurance companies have a neat little plan worked out to screw everybody but themselves. Hey, if there is somebody on the forums that works for one--I'd love to be proven wrong here.
About 60% of profit gains are lost in insurance exchanges. It seems like the insurance companies have a neat little plan worked out to screw everybody but themselves. Hey, if there is somebody on the forums that works for one--I'd love to be proven wrong here.
I have not seen a doctor yet that is starving. All of the doctors in this town are the whose who in the social circles and all drive expensive cars and live in big houses in gated communities.
My wife wanted nothing more in this world than to have a child the "normal" way.
Insurance Companies and Doctors forced her to have a c-section and then made us pay the bill out of our own pocket. How many people have $12K laying around?
It was our choice to have a baby and our decision to pay $12K our of our own savings. That does not mean it doesn't SUCK!
Like I said you dad is probably a decent guy its sad he is in a profession that so many are starting to hate. Why do people decide to become doctors? I am sure your dad wanted to help people. But when does it become all about the money? Its human nature to want to make lots of it there is nothing wrong with that.
I honestly think the Insurance companies are the biggest crock in all of this.
What sucks for Phins is if he doesn't take care of this his credit is going to be screwed. If you think that they dont look at medical bills you are wrong. One of my employees was denied a mortgage due to too many outstanding medical bills that he is making payments on.
I had to get shitty mortgage on my house because I cought the Hospital that delivered my first son red handed ripping me off. Tons of things on the bill that never happened. They turned it over to collections when I demended a itemized bill and challenged all the charges. That was 6 years ago at the time and it messed me up.
Phins I missed the memo can I get a summary of what happened.
11-05-2003, 01:42 AM
#35
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Central Iowa
Posts: 77
My family is not living paycheck to paycheck, but the disposable income is much smaller than one would ever assume. (Please understand that I'm not trying to start a fight, I'm trying to explain myself and my views on doctors being blamed for what I believe is the insurance companies many faults.)
My brother attended a community college for 2 years on scholarships before transferring onto a 4-year state institute because my family does not have the funding to send both of us through school. The government issued about $600 financial aid I believe, because they read "Father's Occupation: chiropractor" on his FASFA form. The only reason we are not living completely paycheck-to-paycheck is because my mother is the Executive Vice President of the banking company she helped found several years ago. Both of my parents have prestigious job titles, and none of the benjamins to show for it.
I am sorry to hear about your wife, and the encounter several years ago. This is in no way trying to explain, or compensate for the mistakes of your practitioner. Honestly, I have no idea why people want to become doctors. I suppose I do because I am a pretty compassionate person, and the human body fascinates me. And if you look at my other two career choices--a lawyer and a politician--at least I have a chance of being slightly less hated in the long run...
My brother attended a community college for 2 years on scholarships before transferring onto a 4-year state institute because my family does not have the funding to send both of us through school. The government issued about $600 financial aid I believe, because they read "Father's Occupation: chiropractor" on his FASFA form. The only reason we are not living completely paycheck-to-paycheck is because my mother is the Executive Vice President of the banking company she helped found several years ago. Both of my parents have prestigious job titles, and none of the benjamins to show for it.
I am sorry to hear about your wife, and the encounter several years ago. This is in no way trying to explain, or compensate for the mistakes of your practitioner. Honestly, I have no idea why people want to become doctors. I suppose I do because I am a pretty compassionate person, and the human body fascinates me. And if you look at my other two career choices--a lawyer and a politician--at least I have a chance of being slightly less hated in the long run...
11-05-2003, 02:32 AM
#36
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: ITS DARK AND HELL IS HOT
Posts: 10
11-05-2003, 04:29 AM
#37
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Ames, IA
Posts: 4,773
Turn your goddamn caps lock key off.
My inurance company hasn't saved me crap on health care, but it's free so whatever. Add to that the fact that doctors schedule me for appointments just to ask me if I'm okay, and if I say no they still don't do anything other than scheduling another appointment, and you can see why I'm in a little debt to the medical industry.
My inurance company hasn't saved me crap on health care, but it's free so whatever. Add to that the fact that doctors schedule me for appointments just to ask me if I'm okay, and if I say no they still don't do anything other than scheduling another appointment, and you can see why I'm in a little debt to the medical industry.
11-05-2003, 05:59 AM
#38
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Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Jensen Beach, FL / Sylva, NC
Posts: 2,934
Originally Posted by 2ndGenerationY' date='Nov 5 2003, 02:42 AM
My family is not living paycheck to paycheck, but the disposable income is much smaller than one would ever assume. (Please understand that I'm not trying to start a fight, I'm trying to explain myself and my views on doctors being blamed for what I believe is the insurance companies many faults.)
My brother attended a community college for 2 years on scholarships before transferring onto a 4-year state institute because my family does not have the funding to send both of us through school. The government issued about $600 financial aid I believe, because they read "Father's Occupation: chiropractor" on his FASFA form. The only reason we are not living completely paycheck-to-paycheck is because my mother is the Executive Vice President of the banking company she helped found several years ago. Both of my parents have prestigious job titles, and none of the benjamins to show for it.
I am sorry to hear about your wife, and the encounter several years ago. This is in no way trying to explain, or compensate for the mistakes of your practitioner. Honestly, I have no idea why people want to become doctors. I suppose I do because I am a pretty compassionate person, and the human body fascinates me. And if you look at my other two career choices--a lawyer and a politician--at least I have a chance of being slightly less hated in the long run...
My brother attended a community college for 2 years on scholarships before transferring onto a 4-year state institute because my family does not have the funding to send both of us through school. The government issued about $600 financial aid I believe, because they read "Father's Occupation: chiropractor" on his FASFA form. The only reason we are not living completely paycheck-to-paycheck is because my mother is the Executive Vice President of the banking company she helped found several years ago. Both of my parents have prestigious job titles, and none of the benjamins to show for it.
I am sorry to hear about your wife, and the encounter several years ago. This is in no way trying to explain, or compensate for the mistakes of your practitioner. Honestly, I have no idea why people want to become doctors. I suppose I do because I am a pretty compassionate person, and the human body fascinates me. And if you look at my other two career choices--a lawyer and a politician--at least I have a chance of being slightly less hated in the long run...
I will tel you he just bought a 500K home. But he deserves it. I have no idea how he makes money he only charges me $35 per visit because my insurance will not cover. He is a kind man that cares and I feel he desrves everything he gets. If your dad was half a decent he would be a saint.
11-05-2003, 08:19 AM
#39
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Orange County, NY
Posts: 635
Weird Coincidence: We just spent 3 weeks talking about health insurance at college.
It's not as Money-Hungry as you think.
For the most part, the technology is simply expensive. If you think about something as simple as an MRI, well, it had to be designed by *someone*. Not just one someone, but a whole team of experts, over x amount of years. Then it costs X amount of money to pass legalities, and then X amount was needed from the Hospitals they sell it to to pay off everyone involved and still have a profit for the owners.
THEN, the hospital is in debt and needs to charge for the MRI operations in efforts to pay back that big amount they used to get the MRI equipment. As well, a Hospital's time is precious: everything costs money to operate.
You may scream bloody murder, but a large part of the people involved went through a lot of schooling to get there, and not *all* of your money go's to them.
As well, Health Insurance is usually very generous. I paid a whole $15 co-pay to get an MRI on my knee just this past month due to my father's union's health insurance policy.
How can you put a price on life? You can't.
The stories that suck are people who need a lot of medical attention but don't even have health insurance. I know if I were Bill Gates, I'd have anybody suffering from $100k + Medical bills to simply forward me the bill...cause I hate that situation.
Hope all works out Phins. Everyone, Get Health Ins!
It's not as Money-Hungry as you think.
For the most part, the technology is simply expensive. If you think about something as simple as an MRI, well, it had to be designed by *someone*. Not just one someone, but a whole team of experts, over x amount of years. Then it costs X amount of money to pass legalities, and then X amount was needed from the Hospitals they sell it to to pay off everyone involved and still have a profit for the owners.
THEN, the hospital is in debt and needs to charge for the MRI operations in efforts to pay back that big amount they used to get the MRI equipment. As well, a Hospital's time is precious: everything costs money to operate.
You may scream bloody murder, but a large part of the people involved went through a lot of schooling to get there, and not *all* of your money go's to them.
As well, Health Insurance is usually very generous. I paid a whole $15 co-pay to get an MRI on my knee just this past month due to my father's union's health insurance policy.
How can you put a price on life? You can't.
The stories that suck are people who need a lot of medical attention but don't even have health insurance. I know if I were Bill Gates, I'd have anybody suffering from $100k + Medical bills to simply forward me the bill...cause I hate that situation.
Hope all works out Phins. Everyone, Get Health Ins!
11-05-2003, 08:44 AM
#40
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Sunny South Florida :)
Posts: 1,963
most important reseach are done on government grants and such, like the government this year dedicated millions to discover the cause of aids. Once aids is cured there will be no need to over charge for r & d because that time has already been paid for.
all i have to say is look in the parking lot
you go to wal mart, where you'll find the best prices on just about everything and your not gonna see one porche or ferrari where the employees park. You go to a funiture store and look at the employee parking, and can immediatley tell how much mark up there is on the products they sell, because that profit is coming from somewhere.
you look at a hospital parking lot and there's enought money in the employee parking lot to build another hospital. Not saying that is wrong. Just saying the business of hospitals/drugs is rediculously profitable. You can prove me wrong when you see a doctor driving a ford festiva.
all i have to say is look in the parking lot
you go to wal mart, where you'll find the best prices on just about everything and your not gonna see one porche or ferrari where the employees park. You go to a funiture store and look at the employee parking, and can immediatley tell how much mark up there is on the products they sell, because that profit is coming from somewhere.
you look at a hospital parking lot and there's enought money in the employee parking lot to build another hospital. Not saying that is wrong. Just saying the business of hospitals/drugs is rediculously profitable. You can prove me wrong when you see a doctor driving a ford festiva.