Washington man gets stunning souvenir with COVID-19 treatment: a $1.1 million bill

BarryFishFinger · Sep 4, 2020

qaopjlll said:
Well he did spend 2 entire months in a hospital where he was fed and cared for around the clock... 3k for that isn't unreasonable

Nappuccino said:
I can pay that out over 3.4 years at 18% by finding an extra 100 bucks each month. No problem

Tofer said:
Yes only 3k

That's less than my rent for the same length

Gibbo said:
Considering what he went through - what's wrong with that amount?

excelsiorlef said:
Only 3k, not that bad, people say as if he was on a two month vacation in the Bahamas and not in the hospital under the threat of death

Grimace McRib said:
Huh? I've paid medical co-pays for years especially with having 2 kids, I budget 2k a year. That's not dense, that's reality and 3k isn't life changing money.

The issue is that this treatment would be free in so many other countries around the world and frankly should be free - yet so many Americans are conditioned into thinking paying thousands for treatment is 'not that bad' because it's a fraction of a percentage of the original insane total.

Healthcare should never be for profit. Some people have no issue coughing up $3k, but for a huge amount of people that $3k bill could cause serious financial problems. It comes across as tone deaf privilege to not see a problem with something just because it's not a problem to you.

Dreamwriter · Sep 4, 2020

Mivey said:
Gotta be honest here, as European seeing US folks here say "3K" is normal for a life saving treatment, is whack.
Like, I'm not judging people for their views here, I'm sure I'd say the same thing if I grew up there, but it's just weird how lack of universal health care normalises balooning health costs.

It's more than that. The prices didn't used to be this high even without insurance. In fact it was insurance that brought the prices up - insurance companies demanded huge group discounts from the hospitals, but the hospitals were already charging reasonable fees. To be able to give the insurance discounts, the hospitals raised their prices, and kept doing it more and more to give insurance companies better deals.

Now it's so bad, I was overnight in a hospital without insurance, just one night. The bill just for the hospital stay, not for the doctors and ultrasounds and stuff (as those were billed separately by the individual doctors): $9,000. Took me years to pay that off. So yeah, 2 months stay for only $3000, that's a damn good deal with this messed up system.

Box · Sep 4, 2020

IDreamOfHime said:
Free in my country, but sure if you say it's not unreasonable.

Which country?

shaneo632 · Sep 4, 2020

Imagine thinking $3k to not die is a bargain.

Jegriva · Sep 4, 2020

Batatina · Sep 4, 2020

3k after insurance is insane to me. And that a lot of american people don't see that as a high amount is even crazier. In most of Europe this is free...

3k would set me back on so many aspects of my life, just because I was unlucky to get a disease.

jwk94 · Sep 4, 2020

Keio said:
Do all the enormous bills fall on the insurance providers who the pass them onto everyone in ridiculous premiums?

I have no clue. I don't really understand how insurance works

nillansan · Sep 4, 2020

Novoitus said:
you shouldn't have to fucking pay 3 thousand dollars for a novel disease that hospitalized you. you shouldn't have to pay 3k for ANY medical expense.

Exactly.

astro · Sep 4, 2020

qaopjlll said:
Well he did spend 2 entire months in a hospital where he was fed and cared for around the clock... 3k for that isn't unreasonable

Tofer said:
Yes only 3k

That's less than my rent for the same length

Gibbo said:
Considering what he went through - what's wrong with that amount?

That is an obscene amount regardless.

Healthcare should be free.

Earvin Infinity · Sep 4, 2020

All of the right-wing people at my work would always flip out at the idea of "free" anything to Americans when brought up. They always circle back to the same question: "who's going to pay for it?"

Chairmanchuck (另一个我) · Sep 4, 2020

Earvin x Hunter said:
All of the right-wing people at my work would always flip out at the idea of "free" anything to Americans when brought up. They always circle back to the same question: "who's going to pay for it?"

"Free" Healthcare in most European countries also isnt free. Healthcare gets deducted from your salary. It is just so normal, that no one thinks about it twice. The healthcare unemployed people get is then paid by other taxes.

Wackamole · Sep 4, 2020

Would a mothly fee of 125 dollar per person and a max own risk limit of 350 dollar a year be a solution in the USA? So you pay 125 a month = 1500 a year. And if you get treated for anything that year you have a maximum of 350 a year you have to pay yourself. So max 1850 a year.

This way there is a constant flow of money being payed for healthcare by everyone, healthy or not. And if something happens, you're covered.

125 a month could still be a lot for a lot of households, i get that.

.exe · Sep 4, 2020

One million. Lmao.

Like do they have a monkey working for them that just randomly punches in numbers on the invoice form?

Yes, yes, I get that it isn't the number billed.

Wackamole said:
125 a month could still be a lot for a lot of households, i get that.

The way it works here is that low income households get a subsidy that covers 90% of the monthly premium.

Dandy · Sep 4, 2020

qaopjlll said:
Well he did spend 2 entire months in a hospital where he was fed and cared for around the clock... 3k for that isn't unreasonable

I genuinely feel sorry for people who grow up in a society that teaches them that this is not only normal, but justified.

Mars People · Sep 4, 2020

Good Gods almighty there are even people here defending a 3K hospital bill.

If the same thing happened to me, it would cost precicely ZERO!

This is as it should be!

glaurung · Sep 4, 2020

Ambulance medic in the USA, talking to the patient: "Have you considered death? If we just shove you out of the car right now, your bill might not be more than 1500 USD. Tick tock."

Kyuuji · Sep 4, 2020

Mad to see people think having to cough up $3k for the privilege of surviving the worst ordeal of your life is a reasonable situation lol.

Joe White · Sep 4, 2020

America's for-profit healthcare model is deeply flawed, and health insurers doubled their profits amid pandemic.

Deleted member 61469 · Sep 4, 2020

qaopjlll said:
Well he did spend 2 entire months in a hospital where he was fed and cared for around the clock... 3k for that isn't unreasonable

i wouldnt pay a single cent in germany

Wackamole · Sep 4, 2020

.exe said:
One million. Lmao.

Like do they have a monkey working for them that just randomly punches in numbers on the invoice form?

Yes, yes, I get that it isn't the number billed.

The way it works here is that low income households get a subsidy that covers 90% of the monthly premium.

Where is that?
In my Country we have something similar, by the way.

Fatoy · Sep 4, 2020

Kyuuji said:
Mad to see people think having to cough up $3k for the privilege of surviving the worst ordeal of your life is a reasonable situation lol.

Apparently Americans think hospitals are hotels.

Gibbo · Sep 4, 2020

I screwed up by saying that $3k doesnt seem like alot. In the case of a pandemic like this one, citizens should be fully subsidized by the government. That's what my own government is doing as well.

Keio · Sep 4, 2020

Chairmanchuck said:
"Free" Healthcare in most European countries also isnt free. Healthcare gets deducted from your salary. It is just so normal, that no one thinks about it twice. The healthcare unemployed people get is then paid by other taxes.

To expand on this, European countries have many different models of providing universal healthcare, usually with structures where both private and public healthcare providers coexist, with the latter often being the sole provider of expensive specialised health care and funded with public money. Public money or highly regulated private insurance is used to subsidize/cover the costs of private health care, which is used for rapid diagnostics, clinic level visits and occupational health care.

.exe · Sep 4, 2020

Wackamole said:
Where is that?
In my Country we have something similar, by the way.

Presumably the same country then. 'Own risk' is a very Dutch health insurance concept, I think. At least under that name.

Nostremitus · Sep 4, 2020

Grimace McRib said:
Man I'm not downplaying others, nor do you know how this has affected me. But there's a major difference with owing 3k vs. a million dollars. I have no choice but to make sure my girls are covered, that's not "privilege"

It is a privilege because many don't have the privilege of making sure their families are properly covered.

Wackamole · Sep 4, 2020

.exe said:
Presumably the same country then. 'Own risk' is a very Dutch health insurance concept, I think. At least under that name.

Ah right. Haha. Couldn't find the appropriate word for that 😂.

Apathy · Sep 4, 2020

qaopjlll said:
Those charges also apply to Complex Continuing Care which according to this link sounds like this man's situation would apply

There's a reason why you can't find things in Google where Canadians are getting charge a ridiculous bill for their stay in a hospital due to covid. Because we don't. You're misunderstanding what ALC is and what CCC is and how someone with covid, even a monthlong version of it, isn't going to be charged.

We are not used to bills, so you would definitely see articles of 3k hospital bills on Canadians if it were happening

____ · Sep 4, 2020

"Treatment"?

Lexxism · Sep 4, 2020

You can see how out of touch some people here. $3,000 is a lot of money. If you don't think it isn't much, you are living a privilege life.

MrCibb · Sep 4, 2020

Fuck me, I wish I was well off enough that I wouldn't think $3000 is a lot of money. But this is US healthcare continuing to be a fucking piss take. Nothing new here.

Robin64 · Sep 4, 2020

Can't believe people immediately start posting "but he only had to pay $3k"

Only?!

Deleted member 5334 · Sep 4, 2020

Grimace McRib said:
But would you be screwed for life if you owed 3k? It's not like getting stuck with a million dollar bill.

I get less than 800 a month because I'm permanently disabled and I survive on my disability check. Something to that amount could take me fucking YEARS to pay off and could possibly land me into SERIOUS trouble depending on my circumstances.

Like, come the fuck on. That's an extremely privileged (and arguably ablest) way to look at that. Don't do this.

Arkanim94 · Sep 4, 2020

jwk94 said:
He only had to pay 3k

Deleted member 5334 · Sep 4, 2020

Chairmanchuck said:
"Free" Healthcare in most European countries also isnt free. Healthcare gets deducted from your salary. It is just so normal, that no one thinks about it twice. The healthcare unemployed people get is then paid by other taxes.

And you don't think that doesn't happen here? Both if you work and when you are on Medicare. You know Medicare deducts from my disability, and the only reason I don't PAY for that, is because my Medicaid pays for it.

Worst thing, most people have to pay into the system, and in the end, STILL have to pay for fucking Medicare. Like, what the fuck?

teruterubozu · Sep 4, 2020

Jesus no wonder America gets hosed on health care. Only 3k folks! Totally doable!

VariantX · Sep 4, 2020

Fatoy said:
Apparently Americans think hospitals are hotels.

We've been conditioned to think everything and anything should be for profit.

red731 · Sep 4, 2020

I would lose everything if I would be to drop 3k USD, converted into my currency.

JasoNsider · Sep 4, 2020

BarryFishFinger said:
The issue is that this treatment would be free in so many other countries around the world and frankly should be free - yet so many Americans are conditioned into thinking paying thousands for treatment is 'not that bad' because it's a fraction of a percentage of the original insane total.

Healthcare should never be for profit. Some people have no issue coughing up $3k, but for a huge amount of people that $3k bill could cause serious financial problems. It comes across as tone deaf privilege to not see a problem with something just because it's not a problem to you.

It's actually kind of incredible that so many people even in this thread can't see the issue with a 3k bill. That is considered pretty much unthinkable elsewhere. I would be livid if it happened to anyone I know here.

America has to fight hard to get universal healthcare, stat. This is is shameful. It should have been one of, if not the most important issues to lock down.

Deleted member 5334 · Sep 4, 2020

JasoNsider said:
It's actually kind of incredible that so many people even in this thread can't see the issue with a 3k bill. That is considered pretty much unthinkable elsewhere. I would be livid if it happened to anyone I know here.

America has to fight hard to get universal healthcare, stat. This is is shameful. It should have been one of, if not the most important issues to lock down.

The worst thing is like, my Senator who is a democrat, that is on the ticket this year, isn't fighting for "Universal Healthcare", but "affordable", aka, "corporate" owned. People think both are the same and they absolutely not. Corporate healthcare will always have strings attached and it's fucking terrifying for me. I recently had aspects of my health insurance, despite being on Medicaid and Medicare shifted over a bit, and while it works out better for me, there is some minor issues with "out of network", which while Medicaid and Medicare will cover, it's not something my expanded part of Medicaid from the private insurance, themselves, will cover.

This is "affordable" healthcare, and not true "universal". People don't fucking understand that and it's fucking infuriating that this is the best we can get, senator wise, here in my fucking state.

This is just garbage.

EarlGreyHot · Sep 4, 2020

3k would ruin me.

Biggersmaller · Sep 4, 2020

$3,000 is perhaps reasonable to charge considering the treatment. But look at what insurance had to cover and it explains why American premiums and deductibles are so damn high. Hospitals charge too much, many doctors make too much, and drug companies are just plain criminally overcharging.

Spring-Loaded · Sep 4, 2020

Elfforkusu said:
$3K is only reasonable if you ignore what the rest of the world does for health care.

Stockholm syndrome

^
The conditioning has been successful.

Conal · Sep 4, 2020

I love that he had to pay the 3 grand. It's such a drop in the bucket compared to the total amount that it could easily have been absorbed but no, the American healthcare system just has to fuck you a little so that you're grateful it's not fucking you more.

Conal · Sep 4, 2020

Box said:
Which country?

Dude, like all of them

JasoNsider · Sep 4, 2020

Mendinso said:
The worst thing is like, my Senator who is a democrat, that is on the ticket this year, isn't fighting for "Universal Healthcare", but "affordable", aka, "corporate" owned. People think both are the same and they absolutely not. Corporate healthcare will always have strings attached and it's fucking terrifying for me. I recently had aspects of my health insurance, despite being on Medicaid and Medicare shifted over a bit, and while it works out better for me, there is some minor issues with "out of network", which while Medicaid and Medicare will cover, it's not something my expanded part of Medicaid from the private insurance, themselves, will cover.

This is "affordable" healthcare, and not true "universal". People don't fucking understand that and it's fucking infuriating that this is the best we can get, senator wise, here in my fucking state.

This is just garbage.

You have every right to be angry. Your representatives and fellow citizens are letting you down.

Conal said:
Dude, like all of them

Heh, exactly.

ethranes · Sep 4, 2020

*Laughs in NHS*

IpKaiFung · Sep 4, 2020

It's quite hilarious (at least to me) that the plot of Breaking Bad would only work in the USA.

Box · Sep 4, 2020

ethranes said:
*Laughs in NHS*

Well we pay for it so we should be able to.

Deleted member 15737 · Sep 4, 2020

So if he didn't have insurance, what would happen? Bankruptcy and the hospital writes it off?
Don't taxpayers foot a larger bill then than if it had been universal in the first place?

Lobster Roll · Sep 4, 2020

The privilege in this thread is really coming through strong. Show some empathy, folks.

Washington man gets stunning souvenir with COVID-19 treatment: a $1.1 million bill

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