thistlechaser (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
thistlechaser) wrote2014-02-01 05:31 pm
thistlechaser) wrote2014-02-01 05:31 pm
Whew insurance, WTF hospitals?
I got my itemized bill from the hospital today. I have insurance (THANKFULLY), so it was sent for my information.
I was in the hospital exactly 14 days.
Total bill? $144,769
I nearly fell over. Just the hospital room and (awful) food cost $84,000 for the 14 days.
My antibiotic, the only one that worked, cost $250/dose when put in by the home nurse. When put in at the hospital? $3,990/dose.
I'd like to have a word with those who claim America has the greatest health care system in the world. The service I received was nearly 100% perfect, I have no complaints at all there, but the prices are just so unreasonable that 'unreasonable' doesn't even describe it.
One shot of nasal spray for a stuffy nose, put in by me, cost $179.
In related news, I'm still on the mend. Getting better every day, but still weak and little energy. Returning to work on Monday, so we'll see how that goes.
I was in the hospital exactly 14 days.
Total bill? $144,769
I nearly fell over. Just the hospital room and (awful) food cost $84,000 for the 14 days.
My antibiotic, the only one that worked, cost $250/dose when put in by the home nurse. When put in at the hospital? $3,990/dose.
I'd like to have a word with those who claim America has the greatest health care system in the world. The service I received was nearly 100% perfect, I have no complaints at all there, but the prices are just so unreasonable that 'unreasonable' doesn't even describe it.
One shot of nasal spray for a stuffy nose, put in by me, cost $179.
In related news, I'm still on the mend. Getting better every day, but still weak and little energy. Returning to work on Monday, so we'll see how that goes.
no subject
Hokay, another point of comparison: I am Australian. My husband and I have needed to go to hospital for a few things in the last couple of years. He has private health insurance. I do not.
Him:
- Kidney stone. ER visit (driven by me), lots of morphine, ultrasound, MRI, intravenous antibiotics, equivalent of an overnight stay, more antibiotics to take at home.
- Cut in the palm of his dominant hand. After-hours clinic visit (driven by me), local anaesthetic, buncha stitches, antibiotic.
Me:
- Miscarriage. ER visit (driven by him), overnight stay, ultrasound, more ultrasounds, follow-up visits every couple of days for a week, about three more visits a week apart each, loooooads more ultrasounds, assorted medication.
- Infected cyst-thingy. ER visit (referred by doctor and driven by him), what turned into effectively an overnight stay, minor surgery, intravenous antibiotics, more antibiotics to take at home.
Prices charged by the hospital? Cost to the Medicare system?
No freakin' idea. We did not get given a bill, or even an accounting of stuff we did not have to pay, because we did not have to pay one cent. There are things that Medicare doesn't pay for, or doesn't pay for fully, but ye gods I'm glad I live here.
no subject