In the ICU

[Zoffen]

NEVER GIVE UP!
NEVER SURRENDER!

Glad you are home!

[Shazam/TPP]

Glad you are on the mend, this will give you the initiative to hang up the spurs and retire?

[gcode]

Glad you are on the mend, this will give you the initiative to hang up the spurs and retire?

Due to the suddenness of the problem I ended up in an out of network hospital.
I have no idea what the bill is going to be, but I'm sure it's going to put a dent in our retirement funds

edit.. that was probably a good thing as the hospital I ended up in has a much better reputation than the
one I was supposed to go to.

[mowens]

I keep waiting for the bill from my stay in an out of network hospital. So far, I haven't seen it.

[Here's Johnny!]

Being in socialist Canada I forget the real costs of health care (I think the last figure I read is I am contributing about $15,000 per year to health care through taxes based on my income). I am a critic of our health care system as it has dwindled dramatically (people die waiting for treatment sometimes). But when I had my heart attack in January it worked for me the day I needed it.

[gcode]

I keep waiting for the bill from my stay in an out of network hospital. So far, I haven't seen it.

How long have you been waiting?

[mowens]

Since the 2nd week of July.

[Smit]

Glad to hear you are home now gcode.

@mowens and you both, you should ask for an itemized bill when your invoice comes out if you don't like what you are charged. You can dispute some of the outrageous charges if they're way above the average prices paid nationwide and potentially save some coin. Maybe a lot of coin.

[mowens]

This is what the explanation of benefits says. Not as bad as I expected.

Amount overview & service details
Amount billed for 8 services
$51,914.35

Plan discount
$34,367.31

Plan's share
$15,179.19

Your share
$2,367.85

[neurosis]

This is what the explanation of benefits says. Not as bad as I expected.

You have way better insurance than I do. My deductible is 8k.

[neurosis]

you should ask for an itemized bill when your invoice comes out if you don't like what you are charged. You can dispute some of the outrageous charges

Our "administrative assistant" has a lot of medical issues, so has some experience with this. She helps some of the employees out with their medical bills by doing exactly that.  I don't know how she knew about this, but she can go through a bill and tell you what is contestable.

[mowens]

You have way better insurance than I do. My deductible is 8k.

My deductible is about $3000 I think. Out of network is $6000. I have met both deductibles. I pay 40% after deductible is met for out of network.

[mowens]

When my wife and i first got married we both had BCBS through our employers. That was when insurance was a benefit and you paid nothing for it.

Places salivated when we came in for treatment.

[JParis]

Cost of Healthcare...

My insurance company gets billed $122,000/month for my infusions.

Granted, they only pay $22k of that per month....

Since my situation isn't improving as it should,  my doc is adding another infusion...getting one, then another 2 weeks later, then every 6 months.... can't wait to see what these cost.

My deductible this year is $2k, I met that in the 1st week of January. Then it's $4k while the split is 80/20... I've still not maxed that out...

My place offers 3 different insurance options,  I'm currently in the middle one.  When renewal comes up in November,  I've already decided I'm moving to the no deductible plan next year.... going to cost an extra $80/week but it'll be worth it.

Tom I'm glad you're on the mend. You gotta decide for you but man, I would be pulling the plug.  I don't ever want to say I wish I worked one more day.

[mkd]

My wife's medication was $240,000/yr when she was on a full dose.
All of Europe should thank her for subsidizing their cheap rates.

Edit: my shock attempt was easily outdone by John  

And btw, DAAAANg!!