Is it any wonder the uninsured do not go to doctors?

[Mothernature]

I received the claim summary from our insurer.

For 3 nodule thyroid biopsy and results, our insurance was charged $3,789!

It was cheaper for me to go to the ER with blood tests and two IV bags.

No wonder the uninsured end up so sick! With the 1 out of 6 in poverty and swine flu abound, this is a disaster waiting to happen.

[justmeagain]

tell me about it. It cost me over 400.00 for a flipping UTI. Which I KNEW I had and all I wanted them to do was call me in a script of bactrim.

[kimandkathess]

My stepsons stepson needed do be mercy flighted....guess how much it cost. $9,9xx!!!!Thats right almost $10,000 for a 20 mintues mercy flight.....INSANE.....its reduculous how jacked up the prices of things are....im sure it doesnt cost that much to run that thing.

~~Katrina~~

[Jillianleanne]

I waited over a year to go to the doctor because I was uninsured. By the time I had my biopsy I was told I had less than 3 mo. before tumors obstructed my air way so I needed treatment ASAP. Did I get as good of care as the insured? probably not. I have enormous medical bills and am now one of the "pre-existing uninsurable" so my options are limited in the future. Before this turns into a "people should have insurance" debate. I would like to point out that I felt a roof over my families head and food in their stomachs was more important than paying out the nose for private insurance (not offered by my employer). I have seen it over and over again in the HUTC threads and the like about the uninsured costing the insured, yadda yadda. I don't live in their world where nobody has ever fallen on rough times. Anywho it is starting to sound like I am venting so I'll stop

*edit to add*

For 3 nodule thyroid biopsy and results, our insurance was charged $3,789!

There was a story on the news a year or so ago about the cost of medical services to those insured and those uninsured and it said that what is billed to insured people is oftentimes a lot less than what is billed to the uninsured for the same procedure because insurance companies know how much to pay for those services and the uninsured don't and oftentimes cannot negotiate a lower price like insurance companies can.

[foggierbard9]

My husband had a nasal swab done and the lab charged insurance $90...insurance paid $3. I found that just apalling. There is no way it cost $90 and there is also no way it cost $3, if they could just charge the actual price to insurance co. and those uninsured that would have a lot of headaches in the long run for everybody involved.

[queenofthehivemomof5]

I have posted this before but I was charged $300 for an ace bandage when I was uninsured. Lame!

[LaLabrowneyes]

We have no health insurance so we don't go to doctors the only one that goes to a doctor is our daughter, she has no health insurance. Chips even turned us down we didn't even qualify to pay $50 a month, it sucks because we can't afford to get health insurance through my husbands job(way to much) and we can't buy insurance anywhere else can't afford it. Even when my daughter gets sick it's hard to find a cheap clinic, a clean one not one where people are eating churches chicken in the waiting room(I walked right out) the doctor that I used to take her to charge $100 and up a visit and that's depending on wich doc you see(they have 4). I had to call an ambulance for hubby about 2yrs ago because I thought he had died infront of me(I will never forget the look on his face) the bill for the ambulance was a crap load I think $2,000 and that's not including the hospital bill.

[splash]

We have no insurance, cant afford it and don't qualify for help so we can't do doctors. DH is walking around needing hand surgery but no go because has to be paid for up front. His back is bad messed up. My right hand has broken bone sticking up against skin but can't afford dr. I have lupus and ra so is hard for me to get over injuries but again no funds for drs and/or medicine. So we are both walking around with messed up hands trying to work 7 days a week like this. It really sucks for us but even more so for those in even worse shape than us and there are others out there who are worse off than we are.

[MaryMary]

Originally Posted by Mothernature I received the claim summary from our insurer. For 3 nodule thyroid biopsy and results, our insurance was charged $3,789! It was cheaper for me to go to the ER with blood tests and two IV bags. No wonder the uninsured end up so sick! With the 1 out of 4 in poverty and swine flu abound, this is a disaster waiting to happen.

But it's not how much the insurance paid for it.

Originally Posted by justmeagain tell me about it. It cost me over 400.00 for a flipping UTI. Which I KNEW I had and all I wanted them to do was call me in a script of bactrim.

the doctor wouldn't receive his office visit fees if he will just call the pharmacy with the script. DD needed a health form, it took me good 30 min to convince her doc all info is already in her chart, she cannot come to the office from school hundreds miles away..
also if you'd have something else your Dr.'s butt will be on line for Dx without seeing the patient..

[cupunlvr]

Originally Posted by MaryMary But it's not how much the insurance paid for it. the doctor wouldn't receive his office visit fees if he will just call the pharmacy with the script. DD needed a health form, it took me good 30 min to convince her doc all info is already in her chart, she cannot come to the office from school hundreds miles away.. also if you'd have something else your Dr.'s butt will be on line for Dx without seeing the patient..

I'm not sure I see what point you are trying to make :shrug7: