Cyberpop wrote --

I reply back, "You'll get zero payment until we get a correct invoice"

Good advice for any business or individual. :)

Probably different in the USA from socialist Canada. Of course, that extra pride costs the patient extra (the insurances I've worked for rarely covers more than 60% of the standard costs)

Too many people with insurance don't care how much something costs since "insurance will pay it". Seldom, if ever, realising this is why their
premiums continue to go up.
Until I turned 65 and had to go on Medicare, I had no health insurance,
it was either out of pocket or workers comp (if on the job).
The times I would have dental/medical work done and told them I was
paying cash I got strange looks with a receptionist asking a co-worker "can he do that?"
And my payments were often half what insurance would charge since a lot
less paper work involved.
Insurance is a racket. The company is betting it will never be used,
the customer betting it will pay if needed.
Joe
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Too many people with insurance don't care how much something costs since "insurance will pay it". Seldom, if ever, realising this is why their premiums continue to go up.
Until I turned 65 and had to go on Medicare, I had no health insurance, it was either out of pocket or workers comp (if on the job).
The times I would have dental/medical work done and told them I was paying cash I got strange looks with a receptionist asking a co-worker "can he do that?"
And my payments were often half what insurance would charge since a lot less paper work involved.
Insurance is a racket. The company is betting it will never be used,
the customer betting it will pay if needed.

You're 100% banging on all 8 cylinders. . .

Here we're born having full coverage for all medical stuff, & people milk it & abuse it.

The emergenmcy rooms are filled with sniffles & coughs (even before Covid); I don't go to ER unless it truly cannot wait til the next day for me to text or call my doctor. i.e. There's blood involved that's not going away on its own. Most of my last ERs were for kidney stones (the worst pain humans ever suffer, I've been told, & believe it); they used to put a bag of morphine in me, do an X-Ray, & send me home before breakfast. Now I only go in if it's something unusual, increased, or new with my stones (e.g. blocking my flow of urine); I just passed a large triangle shaped sharp shard last week -- horrible extreme p-ain, but I sucked it up, bit down, & stayed home, where I know the germs. . .

I know that if it continues to be used too much, there'll soon enough be a user fee attached to visits & I'd haste for those lesser off than me put off necessary medical stuff because they lack the $10. So if I avoid going even if justified, it covers one who shouldn't be there(maybe--I'm not a doctor)

I'm soon going to approach our company's owner about me (re-)starting a division that focuses on bringing enhanced medical services to local residents, for a fee for premium options, like housecalls. (we, by law, can't charge for housecalls, but we can charge for the doctor's travel & our time arranging everything); I'll need to work up a public education campaign, too, as most people are kneejerk-hostile to anuything that hints of two-tier medicine.

I am fine with getting the richer folk out of the way so the limited public resources become less overbooked for the hoi polloi.

Richer being anyone making more than minimum wage, & minwagers who know how to use/save money.

Life insurance:

company: We bet you'll live to at least 80
mark: Betcha I'll die long before then.
company: how's about putting $30/month oin the line for this bet?
mark: you're ON!! Free money for me, errm, for my wife & kids. . .
(omitted: company plans to declare anything he dies from to be part of as pre- existing condition, so they make money whether he dies or not)

It's like any gambling: the only way to truly come out ahead is to own the house!

Your friend,

<+]:{)}
Cyberpope, Bishop of ROM
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George Pope wrote to JOE MACKEY <=-

I know that if it continues to be used too much, there'll soon enough
be a user fee attached to visits & I'd haste for those lesser off than
me put off necessary medical stuff because they lack the $10.

There already was a story of a woman who filled out the paperwork, waited hours, went home and was charged a $700 fee. The hospital spokesperson confirmed it, saying it paid for all of the services that go into the ER.

Except most people don't request an itemized receipt and don't even know
it's there.


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Kurt,

There already was a story of a woman who filled out the paperwork,
waited hours, went home and was charged a $700 fee. The hospital spokesperson confirmed it, saying it paid for all of the services that
go into the ER.

I saw that story. Locally, the hospital is required to see you, whether
you can afford it or not, if you are suffering "a medical emergency condition". Unfortunately, many folks use the Emergency Room as "their
doctor", and the condition isn't life threatening. With COVID-19 issues, visitors aren't allowed, and patients must wear masks, unless they're
vomiting.

Many hospitals have financial assistance available for those who qualify.
I'm going through that process with one local hospital right now. One has
to provide 3 to 6 months of bank statements, plus proof of their insurance (Medicare, Medicaid, supplemental), and what they receive in disability (a statement from the Social Security Administration).

Daryl

... There are many internet scams; send me $20 to learn how.
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George Pope wrote to JOE MACKEY <=-

I know that if it continues to be used too much, there'll soon enough be a user fee attached to visits & I'd haste for those lesser off than me put off necessary medical stuff because they lack the $10.

There already was a story of a woman who filled out the paperwork, waited hours, went home and was charged a $700 fee. The hospital spokesperson confirmed it, saying it paid for all of the services that go into the ER.

Except most people don't request an itemized receipt and don't even know it's there.

Well, in my job, we only get itemized receipts (the underwriters pretty much demand it, plus our job is to get rid of superfluous billing items (like NYC charging a $4,000 "non-American" fee, which made the final bill almost $8K. We paid around $2.5K)

Al over the world we have to maintain controls as when these little back country hospiotals hear "insurance coverage" they start performing a slew of non-necessary procedures, including surgeries, just to pad the bill. My job was to get these people home asap, but safely, especially when home has unlimited free coverage on their government plan!

One case cost about $450K to get her from Brazil to Canada (Lear Jet had to have a full operating theatre on-board, including 2 surgeons(neonatal & General) & 3 nurses); no prob; I said yes, & got it organised. including popping out my boss' no limit credit card to pay for it on the spot. . .

My job was to get the job done, whatever our principal requested (ultimately,. they pay all costs, plus our fees--wonderful position to be in! I learned so much)

Good times.

Your friend,

<+]:{)}
Cyberpope, Bishop of ROM
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