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Americans Share How Much Their Hospital Bills Have Gone Down Just Because They Asked For An Itemized Receipt
Professional medical care in the United States is weird. Why? Because your hospital fees can be wildly expensive or, well, normal—and it depends a lot on whether or not you ask for an itemized bill.
Twitter user Yolanda posted about how her hospital bill shrunk by three quarters just because she asked for a receipt and a list of everything that she was charged for. Others pitched in and shared their own stories about how itemized bills protected their wallets, while some people spoke about other ways that their huge hospital bills shrunk or even disappeared.
Getting a discount on your bill can be an uphill battle. Professional patient advocate at Systemedic, Sue Null, explained to Vox that you need to find two things before you challenge any medical bill: the right info and the right person.
Yolanda gave people advice about how asking for an itemized bill can greatly reduce hospital fees
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Twitter users then shared their own stories about how their hospital bills shrank after asking for a receipt
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When you manage to get your hands on an itemized bill, you need to carefully check it for any mistakes and inconsistencies. You might find double-fees, extortionate prices for simple things, and charges for procedures that never even happened.
Luckily, there are databases like Fair Health, Healthcare Bluebook, and others where you can check what the prices should typically be. Some emergency rooms also charge far more money if they think your case is extremely complicated (the operative word here being think).
In general, American hospitals are willing to give you a discount if you’re prepared to pay the bill immediately, so this can be a great way to save money. After all, no hospital wants the headache of chasing down a bill that somebody might not ever pay in the future. So always ask about a discount. You might be surprised! Even if you don’t get one, at least you tried. It’s not like they can bump up your bill just for asking.
According to patient advocate Null, if you’re getting nowhere with your bill, you should ask to speak to a supervisor, and then their boss if you’re still stuck. Going up the chain of command can work wonders, but you shouldn’t expect it to magically make all of your financial worries disappear.
If you’re stuck with a huge medical bill and you’re out of options, you can always go public with your story. Just be sure to have all the supporting documents and evidence ready for nitpicking. When journalists start digging deep in a story, sometimes the bills vanish into thin air. For instance, Vox’s Sarah Kliff had more than 100k dollars worth of bills reversed during her report about emergency rooms.
Other people shared how they fought back against extortionate bills and posted their own hospital stories
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What do you think ?
E.T. Blackfyre 4 years ago
I'm likely not the only non-American thinking this, but: Boy am I glad to live in a country where health expenses are covered by my insurance and I never have to worry about how to pay for a neccesarry medical procedure. I never have to worry when I call an ambulance when I'm in pain or if I can afford my medication. Friends you are being scammed. Those people who tell you universal health care is not affordable are profiting from the status quo and you are suffering because of it. Public health care is socialism in the same way public schools are. They are necessary for everyone and should therefore be accesible to everyone.
Karmadillo 4 years ago (edited)
I'm from the UK and we get our health care from the awesome NHS. Its funded from taxes. USA health care system is b******t for billing insane amounts of money. You guys need need a system where healthcare is accessible for everyone; one where you dont have to choose finance over health.
Lucas 4 years ago
Let's just be clear - it's free at the point of delivery. We do pay for our NHS and I am more than happy to do so. It's a wonderful and precious resource.
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Colin L 4 years ago
Yep, Murica... where "free" happens to have a lot of fees.
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Carolyn Parker 4 years ago
I will never understand how the US is the only country that refuses to take care of its own people!?! No wonder they tend to be gun crazed maniacs, they feel alone and scared!
Mike Crow 4 years ago
They are brainwashed that universal healthcare is socialism and therefore is unpatriotic and anti freedom.
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deanna woods 4 years ago
I am an American and I can't begin to explain how sad the healthcare situation in America makes me. My sister and I both work minimum wage jobs and can't afford to go to the doctor when we need to. My sister has epilepsy and can only see her neurologist twice a year because she has to save the money to pay for the appointments. I have asthma and should probably be using a Breo or Advair or something like that but I can't afford to pay for something like that. My father spent forty one days in the hospital with the k- virus form of pneumonia. I can't begin to imagine how much his bill would have been if he didn't have insurance. No one is bashing America, they just want to know why we have put up with a healthcare system that essentially sucks the life out of its citizens.
Lemon 4 years ago
Another American here, thankfully I'm only a teenager, so I don't have to worry as much about healthcare costs yet, but I'm honestly scared for my adult years, and I hope we can get some actually intelligent people in government soon. Best of luck to you and your family!!!
Load More Replies... Mike Crow 4 years ago
The USA, the nation where it is your right to own guns but not to have universal healthcare.
Jace 4 years ago
That’s what a constitutional amendment for one but not the other does to a country...
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Foxxy (The Original) 4 years ago (edited)
How are the "fake" costs even legal? There is obviously something going on that is super dodgy for bills to go from thousands to hundreds. I am so grateful for our universal health care, don't have to worry about any of that b******t.
Carol Emory 4 years ago
Because private insurance companies and hospitals got together and hashed out what to charge patients so they could make profits for shareholders. You heard right...shareholders. So basically..America treats medicine like a business and patients as customers to be exploited. If we have a single payer health care system like the rest of the world..we can stop the false charges and price gouging. Medical procedures would cost a lot less.
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Dutch VanZandt 4 years ago
Free market capitalism gone frickin' insane! I live in the UK where healthcare is government funded, paid for through taxes. If everybody (including the super wealthy and corporate tax evaders) paid their fair share, universal healthcare would be feasible in every country. In some European countries you have a separate health insurance but the premiums are affordable... PS make sure you ALWAYS have travel health insurance (saved my mother-who is resident in Canada- 35K EURO for a triple heart bypass when she was there on holidays a few years back, obviously still a bargain compared to the US).
Carol Emory 4 years ago
I remember Bernie Sanders posting a video of a woman that was charged nearly $4000 for skin to skin contact after the birth of her baby boy. Basically..they charged her for holding her own baby. Then they also sent a bill to her newborn son... Seriously!?!
Well, I Tried 4 years ago
It went from thousands to hundreds... and it is still very expensive. America needs to work on getting free healthcare. Maybe your govt can spend less on guns and work to help people.
Kristina Thomas 4 years ago
There is no "free" healthcare. I'm all for capitalism. But maybe the govt needs to fine hospitals for charging such high amounts. Heyyyy yeah Dr you can send me a bill for $20,000 for a normal birth, if you want to get fined $5 million because you got caught ripping off so many people. :-)
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Alexandra Couette Turgeon 4 years ago
So glad I do not live in America and never will. So many wrong things there
Jennie-Lind Normand 4 years ago
So glad to be Canadian! Over my 41 years I have been to emerg numerous times, 1 pregnancy with an emergency c-section, gall bladder removed, stitches, staples, X-rays, MRI, ctscan, etc etc etc, never paid a penny! It's not perfect, but with my minor heart condition, depressions, anxiety, asthma and allergies I would be totally screwed if I was American. I have private insurance for prescription drugs and only pay &63 for what would normally be over $800 worth of drugs monthly
Irina Ionascu 4 years ago
Am I missing something or is healthcare not a basic human right as stipulated by the United Nations or something? I live in what can be referred to as a "developing country" but we still have pretty decent healthcare coverage. I still have to pay for some stuff, but between the state covered healthcare which I pay taxes for and the insurance my employer offers, I'm pretty ok for most general stuff. I've read absolute horror stories from Americans who outright refuse to call an ambulance because THEY CHARGE YOU FOR THAT. Sweet Jesus I cannot even wrap my head around the fact that they would charge you thousands of dollars for CALLING THE AMBULANCE. Keep it.
Aahzmandus Pervect 4 years ago
I've said this before, but I am going to say this again: as a country, as a system, USA truly and wholly sucks.
Christy Smith 4 years ago
There are no set prices at hospitals, each hospital can charge whatever they feel like, and it's usually really high when they know you have insurance. There was a 300% markup on mine because they thought I had insurance. 1 day (about 12 hours) was $14K, they charged me $75 for ONE Tylenol.
Martti Laurson 4 years ago
I live in Estonia. If you work, you are insured always and your hospital bills are always 0.
Jenny Counter 4 years ago
I once got billed for a third ear tube when I got a set of ear tubes put in last year. When I called my insurance company asking why they charged me for 3 ear tubes, at the cost of just over $1,500 each, they apologized and took care of it. And THAT is why I double check everything.
Bob Belcher 4 years ago
Yup. When I started living by myself at 19 I developed a cyst on my back. After ignoring it for so long it ruptured and I had to go to urgent care where they cleaned it with saline and packed it with gauze. No surgery or anything. Bill was $1,090. At 19 I was busing tables so that was almost double my rent. I never paid it for several months. Then one day out of the blue I got a letter stating they would accept a flat $100 payment. I called to confirm and paid it that day.
Isa 4 years ago
Wow...just wow...I can't imagine how terrifying is to live in a country where you are afraid to get sick because you can be in debt for the rest of your life...how this is even possible?? Taking from the ppl that got huge bills and then suddenly 76% or more off when they ask for a detailed bill?? What a scam!!
Meeow 4 years ago
I can't imagine the people got sick from this virus and how much they have to pay for this BS bills. smh!!!
AY1984 4 years ago
The way it is supposed to work is they shouldn't be liable for anything. It will be up to the patient to be aware if they get a bill if the diagnosis coding was correct from the hospital side and if it isn't have it fixed. And, if it is correct then making sure the insurance processed it correctly. A good medical provider billing office will catch the one not processed correctly and fight with the insurance over it....but clearly many medical providers won't so these sick patients will have to be very aware of it.
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Ian Smith 4 years ago
Didn't work for me. They happily provided four pages for my daughter's overnight stay.
Krystal Francis 4 years ago
My daughter was flossing her teeth 10 days after getting a filling and the filling fell out. Scared her to death because she thought her tooth broke and she didn't want to tell us. Called the dentist to have them fix it, they charged us for having to refill her tooth which they obviously didn't fill correctly the first time to have it fall out by flossing 10 days later. I refuse to pay them. This system is messed up. I got a 2000 dollar bill after having my daughter and I refuse to pay it. I pay almost 700 a month for insurance, and we barely use it. My deductibles are crazy high. I would much rather pay extra taxes so everyone gets the care they need then having to pay 700 a month plus deductibles for just my family to get care. I'd end up saving money and more people who need the help would get it. That's a no brainer to me.
Steven H 4 years ago
Representing the rest of the world.... WTF?!? why why why is America still in the stone ages?? why and how do you not get this fixed?? use your power and vote in the right person to fix this...
Plushipoof 4 years ago
We can't. Every one of our elections are used to pit people against eachother so we don't find out that both candidates are equally as bad and the government is trying to distract us about the fact that they're suppressing us
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Gabi 4 years ago
I don't understand the whole thing, seriously. Why aren't protesters already out on the streets? Isn't such scamming against the law? Hospitals just make bills out of nothing like this, and people let them?!
deanna woods 4 years ago
Because they would be protesting their rights to go out to dinner and get their nails done.
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Nick 4 years ago
As an American this makes me truly truly sad. Even though most of the comments on this site tend towards the anti-american most of the comments regarding this article are pretty accurate. Our priorities here are pretty messed up right now. MOST Americans want socialized medicine if you get down to what that actually means for them and their families. But everyone here is just so afraid of someone else getting more than them that they are trained to be selfish. I personally would gladly pay higher taxes to make it so everyone could get the same medical care I have, which to this point has been pretty good since I've been gainfully employed my entire adult life. A lot of Americans don't share that sentiment unfortunately and as soon as they get ahead they fight tooth and nail to cling to their advantages while stomping on the people they were just shoulder to shoulder with.
WilvanderHeijden 4 years ago
What can you say? Just keep voting for the politicians that are doing their best to block every effort to get people affordable healthcare and some sort of social security net. But as soon as someone even hints to that, that person has immediately lost all chances to win in any election. Americans prefer old greedy people that don't want changes over improvement. It has gotten to the point that you can tell people you're a satanist and they are fine with it. Tell them you're a socialist and you become a pariah.
Steve Cruz 4 years ago
If you mail checks and they are cashed, it is a payment arrangement that courts will uphold it. On good advice, I began sending $30 checks on the same date each month while settlement was worked out. Then I opened a new checking account and had scheduled payments sent from the bank -- so the hospital couldn't claim I had missed a payment and would need to pay in full. ///// After six years my bill was still over $300k and the hospital agreed to settle for $2000. ///// How in the heck does that work? I'm glad it's over, but I've always wondered how that c**p goes down.
Celtic Pirate Queen 4 years ago
To my knowledge I would only owe about $300 after my insurance paid for my hip replacement surgery & follow-up care, which I paid promptly. Imagine my surprise when 8 months later I was contacted by a collection agency - for $4,800. I asked them to send me documentation proving this was accurate. They kept sending me statements from the hospital. When I told them I wouldn't pay off a statement, but needed an actual itemized invoice they got really nasty. I explained that I was a professional bookkeeper and that if they couldn't provide an invoice they were s**t out of luck. I finally got a hold of someone in the hospital's billing office. I had no balance owing, it was a scam. I have no idea how they got my information. I blocked every number they called me from and eventually they gave up.
cybermerlin2000 4 years ago
At last! People in America are starting to listen when we all tell them they are being ripped off. They still won't use universal health care though. How about this America... The government runs a flat rate health insurance system and you all pay a fixed rate per month, say £50. All other insurance companies become insurance companies with various benefits. The Government run insurance HAS to pay out in full. No arguments from anyone at all. Next, set up a regulatory watch dog that makes sure the cost of healthcare is kept low and no false inflation of fake costs are added and that the people can contact when the hospital/Dr tries to rip them off and this watch dog has the power to prosecute and strike off offenders. It will be like our NHS but in an American style
joi 4 years ago
privileged asshats with insurance should be grateful. You can certainly challenge your bills, but you're really impotent. Your insurance will pay what it feels like and stick you with the bill for the rest. Of course, it's far more economical to care for your own obese meat carcass instead of squandering precious PPE on your trivial concerns. https://www.thebalance.com/dispute-an-incorrect-medical-bill-2385903 I had a stroke a decade ago and haven't seen a health care flunky in so many year, i can't even recall how horrible the experience of letting anther person touc my body was.
Anna Sim 4 years ago
All this site seems like is a forum to bash the United States. At least we get quality health care here and don’t have to wait months or years for surgeries. I guarantee that 95% of you imbeciles claiming that America is such a bad place would love to live here. Jealousy sucks.
Chewie Baron 4 years ago
This is why I daily thank the NHS. I have three types of antiretroviral meds, antidepressants,, plus other meds for arthritis and other ailments and I don't pay for any. Plus at least four hospital appointments every month. All free.
Stannous Flouride 4 years ago
Both the US and UK are still suffering from the deregulation fervor of the Reagan and Thatcher eras. The economic policy of the time was called trickle-down but even the guy who invented it realized it doesn't work because the 1% have no incentive to release the bulk of their wealth into circulation.
Jakub Syno 4 years ago
How are those people not facing criminal charges? This is nothing other than fraud and extortion.
Erika Leon 4 years ago
Funny how they mention America is a 'scam' well you always have the opportunity as an American to move to a socialist country of your choice and get the cheap healthcare you want and good luck with that LOL. I agree on the discounts and itemized bills and the blatant thievery but leave your anti America sentiment out of it.
Mad Mar 4 years ago
My local walk-in story. Finally got ins at work. Went for a sore toe. Xrays. Rxs. $30. Next visit thought I had flu. They tested for that. Then covid. Was told $30. They charged my credit card $123 more because they said ins didn't cover it. I got no rx for my issues. Had to wait a week in isolation for results. Was neg. but I called their billing an no one called me back. I ate it. But I won't let them have my card on file if I go next time. Scammed me because covid test went free earlier that week too. I literally sat on a table for 20 min for $153 bucks.
Plushipoof 4 years ago
American here. If anyone tries to tell you that we don't need free healthcare, they're wrong. My sister is non-verbal and autistic and her medicine costs an absurd amount of money. So much I can barely afford to go to college.
Michelle Yarnell 4 years ago
They are definately shady in billing. The hospital charged us for a circumcision that was clearly not given.
Flisey 4 years ago
I do wonder how good the care is though. Are they paying for better care? In NZ we have free hospital care but it's not that great. I was in A&E after falling in a mechanics pit, they took one x-ray of my knee said they didn't know what was wrong, try some physio once I can walk again, bye-bye. My daughter had issues with her psychiatrist through the hospital, so they signed off and closed her file. I had to get a private psychiatrist to refer her back with a request for a different psychiatrist.
CherylTunt 4 years ago
I got a call from a collection person who sounded iffy and i didn’t really believe them, so I asked them to send me an itemized bill before I pay anything, never got the bill and they never called back either
Pug Pug 4 years ago
Yeah I have good insurance, and if a bill is more than 500 I just don't pay it, they claimed they will send it to collections, and then it just goes way. They trump up some other charges and just re-bill the insurance I think. Its all a scam. They just trick people into paying.
Julie BT 120 4 years ago
Emergency Room visit $0.00 all the time, every time. Thank you Canada !
Sarah Luna 4 years ago
I have the opposite problem. I still get itemized statements every month for neurosurgery in 2015. Every month. The amount is...$0.00.
TheKnightOwl 4 years ago
I do admire the US for a lot of things, but it's healthcare system isn't one of them. I've never fully understood why a system similar to Australia's Medicare can't be used. I understand there's a huge population difference, perhaps that's it? I wonder what the percentage of those paying into the system (or would be if it existed) vs those drawing on it would be for both countries. We don't have as large of an illegal immigration issue, and those that are not citizens are not covered (except New Zealanders as we have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with them). It's always saddened me that the people of the supposed "land of the free" can't even visit a hospital in an emergency without fear of debt.
Wibbi 4 years ago
How can any of this be legitimate???? I really don't understand how they can even create a bill in the first place if all the charges are frivolous enough to just be cancelled out if they have to come clean and tell the patients what they actually were charged for. I really, really, really do NOT understand!. But then again, I'm German, have a comprehensive health insurance and never paid anything directly while being covered completely. USA, you're health care system is a scam!
Katerina Huskova 4 years ago
In my country both employer and employee have to pay the health care insurance (the money go directly to the insurance company). Also entrepreneurs have to pay it. Also the government pays for those who do not work (kids, seniors, unemployed, parents on maternity leave, etc.) to the insurance companies. This system is kind a black hole and there's not enough money in the system for doctors, nurses, equipment, etc.BUT no one has to die on banal problems because of not having insurance.
Dippin Dot 4 years ago
Friday night my boyfriend sliced his finger with a knife (he was trying to chop green onions while watching tv... *eye roll*). After lots of swearing he said "I'll only go to the hospital if it doesn't stop bleeding." Let me paint the picture for you - he's a GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE. He should have the BEST healthcare available to him. But he still refused to go because he knew he would meet his deductible from that one visit and didn't want to drain his health savings account. For those if you who don't know how this works - US insurance: we pay a monthly fee (premium) to have it. If you have a "low" premium you have a high deductible - the amount you, the insured, have to pay OUT OF POCKET BEFORE INSURANCE PAYS A DIME. After that, you only pay a % of the total bill, and insurance will pick up the rest until you hit what is called "maximum out of pocket". So until that number is hit, you are stuck paying at least a part, if not the whole bill. Yeah. Thanks USA. >:(
Alex Bailey 4 years ago
Unless he needed stitches because it was a massive cut or part of his finger was hanging off then, to be brutally honest, most cuts don't need hospital care.
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Blakkur Sverrir 4 years ago (edited)
I am from europe. Could someone explain to me how this "choice" orientated, corpirate(
AY1984 4 years ago
Honestly the way our healthcare is set up is a ridiculous. I am lucky that my family has very low cost insurance, but my coverage is not normal. Even our elderly are screwed. My dad put 65 working years in and he had a sudden stroke. After all was said and done we were left with a ridiculous bill (something like $10k). Luckily there was more than enough money to pay for it (which is not normal). My mom's monthly RX bill alone was $450! That did not include the additional $100 copays every month! If it were not for the large estate after my dad passed my mom would never have made it, or my brother and I would have had to supplement her income. Our healthcare is just royally messed up here.
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Invisible User 4 years ago
You have "an 8 figure net worth" and you wish corona death on people. Although I'm 95% certain your financial net worth is really 3 figures, I'm 100% certain that morally you're worth s**t.
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Mike Crow 4 years ago
You have to look at where these people are coming from and the propaganda that is being spread. The biggest is that you too can be rich but that is not true is it?
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E.T. Blackfyre 4 years ago
I'm likely not the only non-American thinking this, but: Boy am I glad to live in a country where health expenses are covered by my insurance and I never have to worry about how to pay for a neccesarry medical procedure. I never have to worry when I call an ambulance when I'm in pain or if I can afford my medication. Friends you are being scammed. Those people who tell you universal health care is not affordable are profiting from the status quo and you are suffering because of it. Public health care is socialism in the same way public schools are. They are necessary for everyone and should therefore be accesible to everyone.
Karmadillo 4 years ago (edited)
I'm from the UK and we get our health care from the awesome NHS. Its funded from taxes. USA health care system is b******t for billing insane amounts of money. You guys need need a system where healthcare is accessible for everyone; one where you dont have to choose finance over health.
Lucas 4 years ago
Let's just be clear - it's free at the point of delivery. We do pay for our NHS and I am more than happy to do so. It's a wonderful and precious resource.
Load More Replies... Colin L 4 years ago
Yep, Murica... where "free" happens to have a lot of fees.
Load More Replies... Carolyn Parker 4 years ago
I will never understand how the US is the only country that refuses to take care of its own people!?! No wonder they tend to be gun crazed maniacs, they feel alone and scared!
Mike Crow 4 years ago
They are brainwashed that universal healthcare is socialism and therefore is unpatriotic and anti freedom.
Load More Replies... deanna woods 4 years ago
I am an American and I can't begin to explain how sad the healthcare situation in America makes me. My sister and I both work minimum wage jobs and can't afford to go to the doctor when we need to. My sister has epilepsy and can only see her neurologist twice a year because she has to save the money to pay for the appointments. I have asthma and should probably be using a Breo or Advair or something like that but I can't afford to pay for something like that. My father spent forty one days in the hospital with the k- virus form of pneumonia. I can't begin to imagine how much his bill would have been if he didn't have insurance. No one is bashing America, they just want to know why we have put up with a healthcare system that essentially sucks the life out of its citizens.
Lemon 4 years ago
Another American here, thankfully I'm only a teenager, so I don't have to worry as much about healthcare costs yet, but I'm honestly scared for my adult years, and I hope we can get some actually intelligent people in government soon. Best of luck to you and your family!!!
Load More Replies... Mike Crow 4 years ago
The USA, the nation where it is your right to own guns but not to have universal healthcare.
Jace 4 years ago
That’s what a constitutional amendment for one but not the other does to a country...
Load More Replies... Foxxy (The Original) 4 years ago (edited)
How are the "fake" costs even legal? There is obviously something going on that is super dodgy for bills to go from thousands to hundreds. I am so grateful for our universal health care, don't have to worry about any of that b******t.
Carol Emory 4 years ago
Because private insurance companies and hospitals got together and hashed out what to charge patients so they could make profits for shareholders. You heard right...shareholders. So basically..America treats medicine like a business and patients as customers to be exploited. If we have a single payer health care system like the rest of the world..we can stop the false charges and price gouging. Medical procedures would cost a lot less.
Load More Replies... Dutch VanZandt 4 years ago
Free market capitalism gone frickin' insane! I live in the UK where healthcare is government funded, paid for through taxes. If everybody (including the super wealthy and corporate tax evaders) paid their fair share, universal healthcare would be feasible in every country. In some European countries you have a separate health insurance but the premiums are affordable... PS make sure you ALWAYS have travel health insurance (saved my mother-who is resident in Canada- 35K EURO for a triple heart bypass when she was there on holidays a few years back, obviously still a bargain compared to the US).
Carol Emory 4 years ago
I remember Bernie Sanders posting a video of a woman that was charged nearly $4000 for skin to skin contact after the birth of her baby boy. Basically..they charged her for holding her own baby. Then they also sent a bill to her newborn son... Seriously!?!
Well, I Tried 4 years ago
It went from thousands to hundreds... and it is still very expensive. America needs to work on getting free healthcare. Maybe your govt can spend less on guns and work to help people.
Kristina Thomas 4 years ago
There is no "free" healthcare. I'm all for capitalism. But maybe the govt needs to fine hospitals for charging such high amounts. Heyyyy yeah Dr you can send me a bill for $20,000 for a normal birth, if you want to get fined $5 million because you got caught ripping off so many people. :-)
Load More Replies... Alexandra Couette Turgeon 4 years ago
So glad I do not live in America and never will. So many wrong things there
Jennie-Lind Normand 4 years ago
So glad to be Canadian! Over my 41 years I have been to emerg numerous times, 1 pregnancy with an emergency c-section, gall bladder removed, stitches, staples, X-rays, MRI, ctscan, etc etc etc, never paid a penny! It's not perfect, but with my minor heart condition, depressions, anxiety, asthma and allergies I would be totally screwed if I was American. I have private insurance for prescription drugs and only pay &63 for what would normally be over $800 worth of drugs monthly
Irina Ionascu 4 years ago
Am I missing something or is healthcare not a basic human right as stipulated by the United Nations or something? I live in what can be referred to as a "developing country" but we still have pretty decent healthcare coverage. I still have to pay for some stuff, but between the state covered healthcare which I pay taxes for and the insurance my employer offers, I'm pretty ok for most general stuff. I've read absolute horror stories from Americans who outright refuse to call an ambulance because THEY CHARGE YOU FOR THAT. Sweet Jesus I cannot even wrap my head around the fact that they would charge you thousands of dollars for CALLING THE AMBULANCE. Keep it.
Aahzmandus Pervect 4 years ago
I've said this before, but I am going to say this again: as a country, as a system, USA truly and wholly sucks.
Christy Smith 4 years ago
There are no set prices at hospitals, each hospital can charge whatever they feel like, and it's usually really high when they know you have insurance. There was a 300% markup on mine because they thought I had insurance. 1 day (about 12 hours) was $14K, they charged me $75 for ONE Tylenol.
Martti Laurson 4 years ago
I live in Estonia. If you work, you are insured always and your hospital bills are always 0.
Jenny Counter 4 years ago
I once got billed for a third ear tube when I got a set of ear tubes put in last year. When I called my insurance company asking why they charged me for 3 ear tubes, at the cost of just over $1,500 each, they apologized and took care of it. And THAT is why I double check everything.
Bob Belcher 4 years ago
Yup. When I started living by myself at 19 I developed a cyst on my back. After ignoring it for so long it ruptured and I had to go to urgent care where they cleaned it with saline and packed it with gauze. No surgery or anything. Bill was $1,090. At 19 I was busing tables so that was almost double my rent. I never paid it for several months. Then one day out of the blue I got a letter stating they would accept a flat $100 payment. I called to confirm and paid it that day.
Isa 4 years ago
Wow...just wow...I can't imagine how terrifying is to live in a country where you are afraid to get sick because you can be in debt for the rest of your life...how this is even possible?? Taking from the ppl that got huge bills and then suddenly 76% or more off when they ask for a detailed bill?? What a scam!!
Meeow 4 years ago
I can't imagine the people got sick from this virus and how much they have to pay for this BS bills. smh!!!
AY1984 4 years ago
The way it is supposed to work is they shouldn't be liable for anything. It will be up to the patient to be aware if they get a bill if the diagnosis coding was correct from the hospital side and if it isn't have it fixed. And, if it is correct then making sure the insurance processed it correctly. A good medical provider billing office will catch the one not processed correctly and fight with the insurance over it....but clearly many medical providers won't so these sick patients will have to be very aware of it.
Load More Replies... Ian Smith 4 years ago
Didn't work for me. They happily provided four pages for my daughter's overnight stay.
Krystal Francis 4 years ago
My daughter was flossing her teeth 10 days after getting a filling and the filling fell out. Scared her to death because she thought her tooth broke and she didn't want to tell us. Called the dentist to have them fix it, they charged us for having to refill her tooth which they obviously didn't fill correctly the first time to have it fall out by flossing 10 days later. I refuse to pay them. This system is messed up. I got a 2000 dollar bill after having my daughter and I refuse to pay it. I pay almost 700 a month for insurance, and we barely use it. My deductibles are crazy high. I would much rather pay extra taxes so everyone gets the care they need then having to pay 700 a month plus deductibles for just my family to get care. I'd end up saving money and more people who need the help would get it. That's a no brainer to me.
Steven H 4 years ago
Representing the rest of the world.... WTF?!? why why why is America still in the stone ages?? why and how do you not get this fixed?? use your power and vote in the right person to fix this...
Plushipoof 4 years ago
We can't. Every one of our elections are used to pit people against eachother so we don't find out that both candidates are equally as bad and the government is trying to distract us about the fact that they're suppressing us
Load More Replies... Gabi 4 years ago
I don't understand the whole thing, seriously. Why aren't protesters already out on the streets? Isn't such scamming against the law? Hospitals just make bills out of nothing like this, and people let them?!
deanna woods 4 years ago
Because they would be protesting their rights to go out to dinner and get their nails done.
Load More Replies... Nick 4 years ago
As an American this makes me truly truly sad. Even though most of the comments on this site tend towards the anti-american most of the comments regarding this article are pretty accurate. Our priorities here are pretty messed up right now. MOST Americans want socialized medicine if you get down to what that actually means for them and their families. But everyone here is just so afraid of someone else getting more than them that they are trained to be selfish. I personally would gladly pay higher taxes to make it so everyone could get the same medical care I have, which to this point has been pretty good since I've been gainfully employed my entire adult life. A lot of Americans don't share that sentiment unfortunately and as soon as they get ahead they fight tooth and nail to cling to their advantages while stomping on the people they were just shoulder to shoulder with.
WilvanderHeijden 4 years ago
What can you say? Just keep voting for the politicians that are doing their best to block every effort to get people affordable healthcare and some sort of social security net. But as soon as someone even hints to that, that person has immediately lost all chances to win in any election. Americans prefer old greedy people that don't want changes over improvement. It has gotten to the point that you can tell people you're a satanist and they are fine with it. Tell them you're a socialist and you become a pariah.
Steve Cruz 4 years ago
If you mail checks and they are cashed, it is a payment arrangement that courts will uphold it. On good advice, I began sending $30 checks on the same date each month while settlement was worked out. Then I opened a new checking account and had scheduled payments sent from the bank -- so the hospital couldn't claim I had missed a payment and would need to pay in full. ///// After six years my bill was still over $300k and the hospital agreed to settle for $2000. ///// How in the heck does that work? I'm glad it's over, but I've always wondered how that c**p goes down.
Celtic Pirate Queen 4 years ago
To my knowledge I would only owe about $300 after my insurance paid for my hip replacement surgery & follow-up care, which I paid promptly. Imagine my surprise when 8 months later I was contacted by a collection agency - for $4,800. I asked them to send me documentation proving this was accurate. They kept sending me statements from the hospital. When I told them I wouldn't pay off a statement, but needed an actual itemized invoice they got really nasty. I explained that I was a professional bookkeeper and that if they couldn't provide an invoice they were s**t out of luck. I finally got a hold of someone in the hospital's billing office. I had no balance owing, it was a scam. I have no idea how they got my information. I blocked every number they called me from and eventually they gave up.
cybermerlin2000 4 years ago
At last! People in America are starting to listen when we all tell them they are being ripped off. They still won't use universal health care though. How about this America... The government runs a flat rate health insurance system and you all pay a fixed rate per month, say £50. All other insurance companies become insurance companies with various benefits. The Government run insurance HAS to pay out in full. No arguments from anyone at all. Next, set up a regulatory watch dog that makes sure the cost of healthcare is kept low and no false inflation of fake costs are added and that the people can contact when the hospital/Dr tries to rip them off and this watch dog has the power to prosecute and strike off offenders. It will be like our NHS but in an American style
joi 4 years ago
privileged asshats with insurance should be grateful. You can certainly challenge your bills, but you're really impotent. Your insurance will pay what it feels like and stick you with the bill for the rest. Of course, it's far more economical to care for your own obese meat carcass instead of squandering precious PPE on your trivial concerns. https://www.thebalance.com/dispute-an-incorrect-medical-bill-2385903 I had a stroke a decade ago and haven't seen a health care flunky in so many year, i can't even recall how horrible the experience of letting anther person touc my body was.
Anna Sim 4 years ago
All this site seems like is a forum to bash the United States. At least we get quality health care here and don’t have to wait months or years for surgeries. I guarantee that 95% of you imbeciles claiming that America is such a bad place would love to live here. Jealousy sucks.
Chewie Baron 4 years ago
This is why I daily thank the NHS. I have three types of antiretroviral meds, antidepressants,, plus other meds for arthritis and other ailments and I don't pay for any. Plus at least four hospital appointments every month. All free.
Stannous Flouride 4 years ago
Both the US and UK are still suffering from the deregulation fervor of the Reagan and Thatcher eras. The economic policy of the time was called trickle-down but even the guy who invented it realized it doesn't work because the 1% have no incentive to release the bulk of their wealth into circulation.
Jakub Syno 4 years ago
How are those people not facing criminal charges? This is nothing other than fraud and extortion.
Erika Leon 4 years ago
Funny how they mention America is a 'scam' well you always have the opportunity as an American to move to a socialist country of your choice and get the cheap healthcare you want and good luck with that LOL. I agree on the discounts and itemized bills and the blatant thievery but leave your anti America sentiment out of it.
Mad Mar 4 years ago
My local walk-in story. Finally got ins at work. Went for a sore toe. Xrays. Rxs. $30. Next visit thought I had flu. They tested for that. Then covid. Was told $30. They charged my credit card $123 more because they said ins didn't cover it. I got no rx for my issues. Had to wait a week in isolation for results. Was neg. but I called their billing an no one called me back. I ate it. But I won't let them have my card on file if I go next time. Scammed me because covid test went free earlier that week too. I literally sat on a table for 20 min for $153 bucks.
Plushipoof 4 years ago
American here. If anyone tries to tell you that we don't need free healthcare, they're wrong. My sister is non-verbal and autistic and her medicine costs an absurd amount of money. So much I can barely afford to go to college.
Michelle Yarnell 4 years ago
They are definately shady in billing. The hospital charged us for a circumcision that was clearly not given.
Flisey 4 years ago
I do wonder how good the care is though. Are they paying for better care? In NZ we have free hospital care but it's not that great. I was in A&E after falling in a mechanics pit, they took one x-ray of my knee said they didn't know what was wrong, try some physio once I can walk again, bye-bye. My daughter had issues with her psychiatrist through the hospital, so they signed off and closed her file. I had to get a private psychiatrist to refer her back with a request for a different psychiatrist.
CherylTunt 4 years ago
I got a call from a collection person who sounded iffy and i didn’t really believe them, so I asked them to send me an itemized bill before I pay anything, never got the bill and they never called back either
Pug Pug 4 years ago
Yeah I have good insurance, and if a bill is more than 500 I just don't pay it, they claimed they will send it to collections, and then it just goes way. They trump up some other charges and just re-bill the insurance I think. Its all a scam. They just trick people into paying.
Julie BT 120 4 years ago
Emergency Room visit $0.00 all the time, every time. Thank you Canada !
Sarah Luna 4 years ago
I have the opposite problem. I still get itemized statements every month for neurosurgery in 2015. Every month. The amount is...$0.00.
TheKnightOwl 4 years ago
I do admire the US for a lot of things, but it's healthcare system isn't one of them. I've never fully understood why a system similar to Australia's Medicare can't be used. I understand there's a huge population difference, perhaps that's it? I wonder what the percentage of those paying into the system (or would be if it existed) vs those drawing on it would be for both countries. We don't have as large of an illegal immigration issue, and those that are not citizens are not covered (except New Zealanders as we have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with them). It's always saddened me that the people of the supposed "land of the free" can't even visit a hospital in an emergency without fear of debt.
Wibbi 4 years ago
How can any of this be legitimate???? I really don't understand how they can even create a bill in the first place if all the charges are frivolous enough to just be cancelled out if they have to come clean and tell the patients what they actually were charged for. I really, really, really do NOT understand!. But then again, I'm German, have a comprehensive health insurance and never paid anything directly while being covered completely. USA, you're health care system is a scam!
Katerina Huskova 4 years ago
In my country both employer and employee have to pay the health care insurance (the money go directly to the insurance company). Also entrepreneurs have to pay it. Also the government pays for those who do not work (kids, seniors, unemployed, parents on maternity leave, etc.) to the insurance companies. This system is kind a black hole and there's not enough money in the system for doctors, nurses, equipment, etc.BUT no one has to die on banal problems because of not having insurance.
Dippin Dot 4 years ago
Friday night my boyfriend sliced his finger with a knife (he was trying to chop green onions while watching tv... *eye roll*). After lots of swearing he said "I'll only go to the hospital if it doesn't stop bleeding." Let me paint the picture for you - he's a GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE. He should have the BEST healthcare available to him. But he still refused to go because he knew he would meet his deductible from that one visit and didn't want to drain his health savings account. For those if you who don't know how this works - US insurance: we pay a monthly fee (premium) to have it. If you have a "low" premium you have a high deductible - the amount you, the insured, have to pay OUT OF POCKET BEFORE INSURANCE PAYS A DIME. After that, you only pay a % of the total bill, and insurance will pick up the rest until you hit what is called "maximum out of pocket". So until that number is hit, you are stuck paying at least a part, if not the whole bill. Yeah. Thanks USA. >:(
Alex Bailey 4 years ago
Unless he needed stitches because it was a massive cut or part of his finger was hanging off then, to be brutally honest, most cuts don't need hospital care.
Load More Replies... Blakkur Sverrir 4 years ago (edited)
I am from europe. Could someone explain to me how this "choice" orientated, corpirate(
AY1984 4 years ago
Honestly the way our healthcare is set up is a ridiculous. I am lucky that my family has very low cost insurance, but my coverage is not normal. Even our elderly are screwed. My dad put 65 working years in and he had a sudden stroke. After all was said and done we were left with a ridiculous bill (something like $10k). Luckily there was more than enough money to pay for it (which is not normal). My mom's monthly RX bill alone was $450! That did not include the additional $100 copays every month! If it were not for the large estate after my dad passed my mom would never have made it, or my brother and I would have had to supplement her income. Our healthcare is just royally messed up here.
Load More Replies... Invisible User 4 years ago
You have "an 8 figure net worth" and you wish corona death on people. Although I'm 95% certain your financial net worth is really 3 figures, I'm 100% certain that morally you're worth s**t.
Load More Replies... Mike Crow 4 years ago
You have to look at where these people are coming from and the propaganda that is being spread. The biggest is that you too can be rich but that is not true is it?
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