we do not go to the hospital. mostly we lock ourselves in our rooms with over the counter medicines to help the symptoms.
sometimes we die.
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American tourist dumbfounded by cheap medical bill after getting blackout drunk in Croatia, EU
- Thread starter Trice
- Start date
sometimes we die.
You have to pay your subsidized bills somewhere in the feature if you have a tax paying job. If not you feel miserable having no job for months and years.
Croatia has its issues, but atleast our healthcare is reasonable.
As for it being unsafe as that older thread suggests, unless you do something really, really stupid, like go prancing about in a clearly labeled and cordoned off minefield (yes we still have a few of those leftover) you're safer here than in the US.
As for it being unsafe as that older thread suggests, unless you do something really, really stupid, like go prancing about in a clearly labeled and cordoned off minefield (yes we still have a few of those leftover) you're safer here than in the US.
I had an asthma attack in the 90s in Florida and a 3 day stay+ambulance drive amounted to about 30k, once again, in the 90s.
You mean, one of these?
These cost 3 euro.
Yes, exactly. Same here in New Zealand.
To make matters worse, we needed to settle $800 on the spot. They couldn't take my credit card because "we only have one zip zap machine and it's in another wing of the hospital" (this was only 5-6 years ago). Then they had security escort me to an ATM to get cash so I didn't try to run (like I was going to abandon my girlfriend there or something).
6 or 7 years ago I had to go to the ER to be treated for a trapped kidney stone. That was followed by two more trips, one to blow up the stone, the other to remove the stint they put in. Since I didn't have insurance, I got stuck with $36,000 in bills.
I fucking deliver pizza. I'll never have that kinda money.
I fucking deliver pizza. I'll never have that kinda money.
Do people really see a flu as a good reason to visit a doctor? As long as the symptoms ain't too bad, I'd just call in sick, take a lot of rest and some paracetamol. And that's pretty normal here in the Netherlands, which healthcare system is generally ranked as one of the best in the world.
I was stuck with $10,000 after two hospital visits in US. In two separate occasions within a few months of each other, I randomly started vomiting and couldn't stop for hours. I couldn't consume food or water or sleep so I got extremely dehydrated to the point my muscles locked up, I curled up into a ball and I couldn't move. I was also very out of it mentally. My mom begged me to just let it pass and not go to the hospital because I didn't have health insurance even seeing me in those states.
Another weird part of those visits is that in one instance, my mom tried to drive me part-way to the hospital before she realized I very seriously needed an ambulance. Whenever she called 911, police officers in the city we were traveling through showed up first and questioned me, my mom and brother and searched our vehicle for drugs and would not allow the EMTs to assist me until I told them what kind of drugs I had taken. I told them I had taken my anti-depressant like usual and they started yelling that I knew what kind of drugs they actually meant and to quit toying with them or they wouldn't be able to treat me. I don't even do drugs. It was horrifying.
Another weird part of those visits is that in one instance, my mom tried to drive me part-way to the hospital before she realized I very seriously needed an ambulance. Whenever she called 911, police officers in the city we were traveling through showed up first and questioned me, my mom and brother and searched our vehicle for drugs and would not allow the EMTs to assist me until I told them what kind of drugs I had taken. I told them I had taken my anti-depressant like usual and they started yelling that I knew what kind of drugs they actually meant and to quit toying with them or they wouldn't be able to treat me. I don't even do drugs. It was horrifying.
That's crazy. So what happens in this situation where someone doesn't have the insurance and no realistic way to pay the bill? Does it bankrupt you? Do you have to set up a payment plan for the next 50 years?
It's madness. Utter insanity.
Some Influenza types can be life-threating, especially for children and older people. Also, if an illness lasts for several days most employers will want to see a validation from a doctor.
I struggled with depression all my life, I honestly think I wouldn't be here anymore if I had to worry about bills for my psychiatrist, therapist and mental institution on top of being mentally unstable.
When I was at my lowest I was in therapy for more than a year and on top of not paying anything I also got unemployment benfits so that I could pay my bills. After that the pension insurance payed for my training as an accountant and the state even paid me 1000 € for passing the exam. I feel so lucky and grateful.
I don't know how people do it in the US...
When I was at my lowest I was in therapy for more than a year and on top of not paying anything I also got unemployment benfits so that I could pay my bills. After that the pension insurance payed for my training as an accountant and the state even paid me 1000 € for passing the exam. I feel so lucky and grateful.
I don't know how people do it in the US...
Wow. That's terrifying. Worst part is, I don't really need the inhaler for emergencies. If I had to keep one, I'd use the Fluticasone / salmeterol because that pushes phlegm out, clears the lungs and prevents scarring. I never really have strong crises, so I just keep the salbutamol for comfort when doing exerting activities.
I cannot even fathom a situation where a fucking salbutamol inhaler of all things would cost that amount of money, and people who really need it would go without it.
Someone more informed can jump in but I find that unlikely too. In order to be at risk entering the country they'd have to go to court and win a judgement against you then go back to court until the judge sentenced you to jail for not paying and issue a warrant enforceable by border services. Why would they bother to do this against probably thousands of travellers per year
Based on many factors, but especially healthcare, the US is like a failed country.
I'm scared the UK is going the same way.
I'm scared the UK is going the same way.
Yeah it would be cheaper for me to fly to croatia and get surgery done than get it here uninsured or even with most insurances. And they have a terrific education system with great doctors, in case anyone is wondering how it compares with here.
Yeah, that helps :D
You guys over there have a beautiful landscape and many very nice people. It's sad that there are missing so many basics. Think how awesome this country could be. The potential is so fucking high but it's infected with fear. For a country that Helds god so high, it's the least Christian Christian country I know.
And you could visit Pula. Croatia is a really awesome place for a vacation.
Yeah the cost of survival is insane in America. If it weren't for insurance then there's no way my mother would have gone through several bouts of chemo for breast cancer when she was alive nor would my dad have had his knee replacement. My dad was also in the ICU about 8 years ago and almost died (double pneumonia), insurance helped again but it was somewhere in the 200k range if I recall correctly. Hell my dad's knee replacement was around 50k. We still have to pay for the insurance and it's bled me dry but I have to go to doc every 3 months and can't afford it without. One of my monthly medications costs well over 100 bucks without it as well. US health care is a (literally) sick, sad joke.
Yep, I use Seretide as well for regulation, thankfully my insurance is going to kick in by September and it doesn't cost much.I pay out of pocket a bit more than 3 euro (Like 3,50 or so) without prescription. With a prescription, it goes down to 2 euro or so. I never get prescriptions for them because they are not worth the hassle.
These:
are more expensive, they cost 46 euro without prescription. With prescription, they cost like 4 euro or so. The good thing is, if you run out you can buy it, then get the prescription, take it to the pharmacy and get your money back.
800$ for an Aerolin Inhaler isn't just highway robbery, that's assisted suicide legalized by the government. What the fucking hell is going on in America.
Most people keep the debt on their credit and pay the minimum per month. Rental agencies ignore that debt in low income housing because it is so common. Other hospitals will work with patients to charge a lowered amount that works as a tax write off for the hospital. Declaring bankruptcies has become harder in the US due to the growing amount of debt.
On the other side of the coin, hospitals usually only take home a small percentage of what they charge which is also increasing the cost. Medicare patients usually yield 1/8 of what is billed. A rising homeless population also uses the ambulances and hospitals as taxis and hotels. They never have to pay for anything as they have nothing to garnish. The whole system is incredibly broken.
Many people here who get hurt won't be thinking about recovery or anything like that, their first response is worry about having to go get seen and the costs. I've known people bleeding with lacerations or pneumonia refusing healthcare because of costs.
Costs are ridiculous here in the U.S. for healthcare. Here's an example of ER costs here in Baltimore, MD:
One of the great stories I remember with dealing with insurance companies is when I got charged out of network for a physical. Usually with my insurance it is a $20 copay for an office visit. One time I got a charge for a couple hundred dollars weeks later.
It turned out that the insurance company changed my plan based on the naming scheme of select or plus. My card stayed the same but my plan was worse. My doctor was out of network. I asked them how to check on which doctors are in network and they said to call or check the website that they run. Their website never loads and it is a wait time of 40 minutes on the phone to speak to someone.
I honestly believe insurance companies should not exist.
It turned out that the insurance company changed my plan based on the naming scheme of select or plus. My card stayed the same but my plan was worse. My doctor was out of network. I asked them how to check on which doctors are in network and they said to call or check the website that they run. Their website never loads and it is a wait time of 40 minutes on the phone to speak to someone.
I honestly believe insurance companies should not exist.
I absolutely love the NHS.
It's not quite £0 though, I mean I lose £200 a month of my wages to National Insurance (NHS tax). Well bloody worth it though. I didn't pay from 0-21 and won't pay from 68-death
I'm considering bankruptcy due to having an outstanding balance of $23,778.10 from previous medical charges. I'm disabled and on Medicare but these charges were charged when I had no health insurance at all and was unemployed due to being disabled.
If I was still employed, I would be willing to give up a portion of my wages so everyone can have universal healthcare.
a lot of those labs and tests are also wholly unnecessary but are almost demanded by hospital admins to drive up the amounts they can charge insurance companies.Costs are ridiculous here in the U.S. for healthcare. Here's an example of ER costs here in Baltimore, MD:
source: pops has been an ER physician since the late 70s. You don't even want to know what he makes hourly.
Oh yes definitely. One of the best things about the UK. And it's proportional so people earning more pay in more, and if you lose your job you don't pay. It only comes out of wages.
I do not understand why Americans say they have the best country in the world when I read threads like this. $450,000 for one hospital trip? What?
My dad has had a terminal brain tumour for 6 months. He's needed chemotherapy and is now in a care home. We didn't pay for his treatment and his care home is free now as well.
Oh yes, I'm not surprised at all that the labs and tests I was put through with my two most recent ER visits were unnecessary.
I was charged $2000 to go to an ER at 10pm one night, where I sat for an hour and was told to come back if my "condition worsened".
* Should say they attempted to charge that, I did not pay that.
Just got my hospital bill for my heart attack 3 weeks back. 2 night stay, 2 stents and a 25min ambulance ride. The ambulance ride alone was $1200. Overall $120K. Currently fighting it out with my work's travel insurance plus Canadian MSP.
Fuck no we don't have the best country in the world, especially when it comes to healthcare costs!!!
Dude, I got the actual Flu and held out til I was coughing up blood consistently before going to the doctor- because I was more scared of the bill than the illness
Every time a thread like this pops up I wonder why Americans aren't mass protesting in the streets 24/7.
But it's probably because you would loose your job and healthcare.
Like, you are all getting ripped off. Lives are ruined. People die. But everybody just accepts it. And actively fights better systems.
But it's probably because you would loose your job and healthcare.
Like, you are all getting ripped off. Lives are ruined. People die. But everybody just accepts it. And actively fights better systems.
It's truly nightmarish isn't it
Real, legitimate influenza can fucking kill you. Especially if you have a couple of cofactors going on. What you're describing sounds like a cold.
same thing happened to my boyfriend: he cut his hand with an exacto knife and got 3 stitches and a tetanus shot. he waited a grand total of 10 minutes in line at the er (actually just one for some preliminary bandages before proper treatment).
the total cost was 0€
welcome to Italy
The U.S. healthcare system doesn't help anyone when healthcare systems sue the poor.
ProPublica has published this series of articles about how Memphis, Tennessee has a "debt machine" that keeps Memphis residents poor and reveals that non-profit Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare agressively sues the poor:
ProPublica has published this series of articles about how Memphis, Tennessee has a "debt machine" that keeps Memphis residents poor and reveals that non-profit Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare agressively sues the poor:
Don't go to the doctor. You're typically expected to not even take time off. I work with food, and yeah, it's pretty bad when you call out.
If you are sick for a long time, you go to a clinic instead of the actual doctor as it's a lot cheaper. It's still like $150 or so for 10 minutes of someones time. They give you a script for antibiotics. You just got to tell them you've been sick for over 7 days though, even if it's not true. They will make you come back in a few days (after 7) and pay again to get the script. You then have to pay for the pills which are generally pricey as well.
Funny story, I got hurt at work 2 days ago. Put a knife through my thumb. Needed some stitches and was told 10-14 days before they're removed and I can return to work. I'm to not use my thumb at all, get it wet, or dirty. The ER didn't give me a note when I asked, they told me the law says I can't go back until I'm cleared by my primary care and I'm good to go. Literally the next day I get calls from my boss, who drove me to the hospital, that I didn't have a note so I'm not excused (I had a note saying restrictions, but it didn't specifically say I couldn't do my job, though by law I can't work with food with an open wound) and need to come back to work right away. I had to tell him I'll come back when I'm cleared by my primary care physician. I tried getting in contact with the ER, they told me I had to come back in and pay all the ER fees again just to get a note. Had to schedule an emergency appointment just to get the son of a bitch a note. Then they had to pay for that as well, lol. Couldn't have been cheap. Bastards.
Our work culture and healthcare systems are fucked.
Don't you have a HACCP system in place? We even have a law that requires you to stay home when you Are working with food. You have to go to doc here and tell him or her where you work. You will even get longer free so that you don't infect someone even after you feel better.
It's our "food invention safety law".
It's part of my job to give lessons in this topic to the workforce and their bosses.
We don't have that, no. They basically harass you when you call out and become very passive aggressive when you return.
Also, if you read my story, that should give you an idea. I have stitches in my hand, nearly cut part of my thumb off two days ago, and they wanted me in today. I had to go to the doctor to tell them to shove it. They legitimately don't care about people, customers or employees, and only care about the bottom line.