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Mom Shares Her Son’s Crazy Surgery Bill To Show What Will Happen Under Trumpcare
With Trumpcare’s debut just around the corner, many Americans fear that their healthcare costs are going to become too much to bear. A New Jersey mom has bravely taken up arms against the pending changes by sharing the hospital bills she pays each month to care for her chronically ill son on Twitter, and her story is so powerful that it’s shaking the Internet.
Ali Chandra, a registered nurse by profession, was still pregnant with young Ethan when she found out he would be born with heterotaxy syndrome, a rare disease that causes vital organs to be arranged abnormally, and several heart defects. Ethan had his first open heart surgery just 6 days after he was born in July of 2014, and has undergone multiple procedures since then, most recently in late February 2017. Though most of Chandra’s expenses related to Ethan’s medical needs are covered by her insurance, that could change with the new healthcare plan soon to be implemented by the Trump administration.
The most damaging law proposed by the new Trumpcare bill is the “lifetime cap,” a limit on how much money any one person can claim through their health insurance plan. These limits were banned by the Obama administration, but they could be back on the table if the GOP moves forward with their current objectives. This means that children like Ethan will most likely be already maxed out as soon as the law comes into effect, leaving their parents to foot the bill out of their own pockets. “A lifetime cap on benefits is the same as saying, “Sorry, you’re not worth keeping alive anymore. You’re just too expensive,”” Chandra wrote on Twitter.
Both the mom’s photo of her last hospital invoice and her stream of tweets that followed have gone viral, gaining over 52 thousand retweets and over 79 thousand likes. Other parents identified with Chandra’s concerns, and stood in solidarity with her staunch opposition to Trumpcare. Follow her compelling story below, and tell us what you think in the comments.
More info: Hope for Ethan
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People were quick to respond to her message:
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What do you think ?
Sheralyn 8 years ago
Btw: How is "lab chemistry" $15k and "sterile supplies" $10k? What are they doing in the lab?? And are the supplies sterilised in mineral waters taken from the peak of Mt Everest or something?? Can someone explain this madness? (That said, in Singapore, I've been charged $5 for "disposables" - which amounted to a single ice cream stick. I could have purchased a pack of them for like $1 and brought one myself.)
Hans 8 years ago
This tell you a lot about a crooked healthcare system. Insurance is just a tiny part in it. Building a just AND efficient healthcare system is something that pretty much all countries struggle with. It either is not just, or way too expensive. And in many cases, it is both. Alas.
Load More Replies...
Lyndsay B 8 years ago
As a Canadian I can't even imagine having to pay for this. Unbelievable that people think this is the best way to live. This is not freedom.
Rob Wagner 8 years ago
After moving to Canada a couple of years ago, having a fairly healthy family with kids: My Canadian taxes are definitely less than my US taxes + health insurance premiums - and my health insurance coverage over the last few years turned to c**p. Add that to the fact that a doctor visit is going to cost $180 out of pocket and prescription co-pays are generally the same as _retail_ price in Canada, I'm saving a lot of money. From what I've seen with my family and a new baby since moving, the health care we need is easily as good and available as the US. (and costs nothing) It took me a couple of years to pay off the bills from my oldest son being born premature in the US (insurance covered 90%). My youngest son's costs? 0.
Load More Replies...
Bob 2.0 8 years ago
The "Pro-Life" people are such bullshitters. They don't care about people's life, except for when they're embryos. Absolute nonsense.
Ron Rushing 8 years ago
Bob 2.0 How do you figure Pro-lifers have anything to do with insurance caps? How did you connect those dots because that is wacky. I'm Pro-life and know plenty of others and not a single one of them has ever expressed a desire to see insurance caps. The only people in favor of insurance caps are the shareholders of insurance companies. The only representatives or senators that would vote for ins. caps are the ones that are in those shareholders pockets. Quit trying to lump huge groups of people into one. It's stupid.
Load More Replies...
Florence Brooks 8 years ago
So when someone else is paying the bill they can just make up numbers. Starting at the top, does anyone have a problem with $22,000 to rent a room for a week? Insurance is not our problem, the out of control medical industry is.
Tammy Sharping 8 years ago
I agree ..Let's get to the root of the problem. It is the insurance companies that cover the Dr. , pharmacies, and then the medical facilities ....that is where the CAPS belong! Look at those fees....and justify just one of them.....ya, your right....there is not even one that is justifiable 😡😤😡
Load More Replies...
cpd228 8 years ago
Nobody should state what the new bill will do or not do until it's finished. It's still in the works and being adjusted. One thing the medical institutes should be attacked for is the unbelievable charges like I had during knee surgery. Charges for items that I never got or were used and ridiculous charges like $225.00 for bandages?? Same ones they used could be bought at CVS for 5 bucks each.
Mardie Scott 8 years ago
You are billed for your charges and those of the people who don't carry insurance and bilk the system of billions of dollars a year. If you don't know the system, don't point fingers. What you're billed is not what you pay.
Load More Replies...
Sherry Levoy 8 years ago
Her part was 500? That's an amazing bill. The problem is not Obamacare or Trumpcare, the problem is what the facilities are allowed to charge. It's absolutely ridiculous. You are even charged for the pillow, yes you bought it, but nobody takes them home. I had a surgery where they goofed and left me paralyzed and my part of the bill was 30,000! I paid them a total of 126,000 to end my life as I know it.
Mardie Scott 8 years ago
The problem is the number of people who carry no insurance but still demand care paid by taxpayers and only are willing to buy insurance when they're already sick or injured. And it's not necessarily because they CAN'T afford, they choose to blow their money on other things.
Load More Replies...
Shelley Lisle 8 years ago
It is not just about'insurance'. I am a a 2nd time breast cancer patient. I have finished the chemo, surgery, radiation and now am on a monthly pair of shots that cost $5000. Why? Why?! The total I have been charged for the entire ordeal is mind numbing. This is big business. Make no mistake. Someone is getting sickeningly wealthy at the expense of sick people. And it is not the doctor. My family menmber who is a doctor has to spend the equivalent of the 4-5 months total income to insure their practice. The lawyers who are suing are part of this huge debacle.
Bunnies are better!! 8 years ago
pro-life should mean life is valuable from conception to death, I'm pro life and I hate it when I see other pro lifers not caring about necessary, lifesaving healthcare
Jule Westcott 8 years ago
I saw the current bill proposal and I did not see a cap. Please show me where that is? My friends premiums went from $300 to $700 a month under Obama care.
Bridget Whitney 8 years ago
The uncertainty under the possibility of a new law by the GOP has premiums going up. They are strangling Obamacare. They want it to die.
Load More Replies... Sheralyn 8 years ago
Btw: How is "lab chemistry" $15k and "sterile supplies" $10k? What are they doing in the lab?? And are the supplies sterilised in mineral waters taken from the peak of Mt Everest or something?? Can someone explain this madness? (That said, in Singapore, I've been charged $5 for "disposables" - which amounted to a single ice cream stick. I could have purchased a pack of them for like $1 and brought one myself.)
Hans 8 years ago
This tell you a lot about a crooked healthcare system. Insurance is just a tiny part in it. Building a just AND efficient healthcare system is something that pretty much all countries struggle with. It either is not just, or way too expensive. And in many cases, it is both. Alas.
Load More Replies... Lyndsay B 8 years ago
As a Canadian I can't even imagine having to pay for this. Unbelievable that people think this is the best way to live. This is not freedom.
Rob Wagner 8 years ago
After moving to Canada a couple of years ago, having a fairly healthy family with kids: My Canadian taxes are definitely less than my US taxes + health insurance premiums - and my health insurance coverage over the last few years turned to c**p. Add that to the fact that a doctor visit is going to cost $180 out of pocket and prescription co-pays are generally the same as _retail_ price in Canada, I'm saving a lot of money. From what I've seen with my family and a new baby since moving, the health care we need is easily as good and available as the US. (and costs nothing) It took me a couple of years to pay off the bills from my oldest son being born premature in the US (insurance covered 90%). My youngest son's costs? 0.
Load More Replies... Bob 2.0 8 years ago
The "Pro-Life" people are such bullshitters. They don't care about people's life, except for when they're embryos. Absolute nonsense.
Ron Rushing 8 years ago
Bob 2.0 How do you figure Pro-lifers have anything to do with insurance caps? How did you connect those dots because that is wacky. I'm Pro-life and know plenty of others and not a single one of them has ever expressed a desire to see insurance caps. The only people in favor of insurance caps are the shareholders of insurance companies. The only representatives or senators that would vote for ins. caps are the ones that are in those shareholders pockets. Quit trying to lump huge groups of people into one. It's stupid.
Load More Replies... Florence Brooks 8 years ago
So when someone else is paying the bill they can just make up numbers. Starting at the top, does anyone have a problem with $22,000 to rent a room for a week? Insurance is not our problem, the out of control medical industry is.
Tammy Sharping 8 years ago
I agree ..Let's get to the root of the problem. It is the insurance companies that cover the Dr. , pharmacies, and then the medical facilities ....that is where the CAPS belong! Look at those fees....and justify just one of them.....ya, your right....there is not even one that is justifiable 😡😤😡
Load More Replies... cpd228 8 years ago
Nobody should state what the new bill will do or not do until it's finished. It's still in the works and being adjusted. One thing the medical institutes should be attacked for is the unbelievable charges like I had during knee surgery. Charges for items that I never got or were used and ridiculous charges like $225.00 for bandages?? Same ones they used could be bought at CVS for 5 bucks each.
Mardie Scott 8 years ago
You are billed for your charges and those of the people who don't carry insurance and bilk the system of billions of dollars a year. If you don't know the system, don't point fingers. What you're billed is not what you pay.
Load More Replies... Sherry Levoy 8 years ago
Her part was 500? That's an amazing bill. The problem is not Obamacare or Trumpcare, the problem is what the facilities are allowed to charge. It's absolutely ridiculous. You are even charged for the pillow, yes you bought it, but nobody takes them home. I had a surgery where they goofed and left me paralyzed and my part of the bill was 30,000! I paid them a total of 126,000 to end my life as I know it.
Mardie Scott 8 years ago
The problem is the number of people who carry no insurance but still demand care paid by taxpayers and only are willing to buy insurance when they're already sick or injured. And it's not necessarily because they CAN'T afford, they choose to blow their money on other things.
Load More Replies... Shelley Lisle 8 years ago
It is not just about'insurance'. I am a a 2nd time breast cancer patient. I have finished the chemo, surgery, radiation and now am on a monthly pair of shots that cost $5000. Why? Why?! The total I have been charged for the entire ordeal is mind numbing. This is big business. Make no mistake. Someone is getting sickeningly wealthy at the expense of sick people. And it is not the doctor. My family menmber who is a doctor has to spend the equivalent of the 4-5 months total income to insure their practice. The lawyers who are suing are part of this huge debacle.
Bunnies are better!! 8 years ago
pro-life should mean life is valuable from conception to death, I'm pro life and I hate it when I see other pro lifers not caring about necessary, lifesaving healthcare
Jule Westcott 8 years ago
I saw the current bill proposal and I did not see a cap. Please show me where that is? My friends premiums went from $300 to $700 a month under Obama care.
Bridget Whitney 8 years ago
The uncertainty under the possibility of a new law by the GOP has premiums going up. They are strangling Obamacare. They want it to die.
Load More Replies...
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