re: Everyone should request an itemized hospital bill, it is really interesting

You can thank that piece of shite Ronald Reagan for this.

I've been in and out of the hospital over the past 6 months with some breathing issues. My insurance agent told me to get the hospital to send her a "super bill." She negotiated my out of pocket cost from $17k+ down to $1,063. That's ridiculous.

My dog almost killed my wife's dog in a fight, and we had to take her to an emergency vet for surgery. I asked for an itemized bill after the procedure. $270 for a trauma dressing they put on her neck after the surgery. A dressing that maybe costs $10 on Amazon.

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It’s criminal what they charge

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Yup I remember when my dad was having an outpatient procedure done in the hospital he commented he was cold. The nurse asked if he wanted a warm blanket and he said yes please. We found out later the hospital charged him $125 to use the warm blanket.

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You can thank that piece of shite Ronald Reagan for this.

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I’ve read some stupid shite on this site but this takes the cake.

You don't think they are attempting to be profitable?

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You just get on a payment plan- $100/month until forever, but at least it's no interest, right?

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Instead of paying thousands of dollars each year to an “insurance company,” what about creating a pool or cash savings account with your local hospital of all your health insurance premiums. They use the cash price or lowest negotiated rate for all your hospital charges. They send you a statement of your balance, which can earn interest. You can also adjust your monthly payments to save more or pay more if you require more services. When you pass, if there is money left over they can mail your estate a check or a bill for the balance.

The money stays local and there can even be a portion of the monthly payment dedicated to a catastrophic claims fund or extra emergency insurance if the services exceed your savings account balance like some self insured employer plans have.

The only thing that would need to be worked out is how to manage if you decide or need healthcare services at another hospital. A big hospital chain like Ochsner could have all your healthcare needs and pharmaceutical services within their member hospital facilities, but a smaller independent hospital like Thibodaux Regional might not be able to provide that service and their customer needs to get services at another facility.

Thanks Obama

when our fist kid was born, there was a charge blood given to my wife during the delivery. No blood was ever given.

The issue goes all the way to the suppliers in the US. The US healthcare organizations are being charged nearly double in some instances to use the same products and drugs that are being used in markets overseas. However, because there is not heavily subsidized care here and commercial insurances will may out “a premium,” we foot a lot of the bill here. What is subsidized here continues to be expanded and we just “print” money to fund it.

Want a recent example of the silliness, just go look at the amount various countries were charged to get the COVID vaccines when those rolled out. I’m sure this will go down the vaccine hole now, but the point is, the supply chain determines a lot of the cost. If US providers are being charged twice what international providers are, the costs are going to be much higher in the US. It’s basic economics.

Beyond that, you have inflationary pressure on everything. That includes highly trained provider salaries that rise just like everyone else during these times. Not to the same % level, but they do rise. Those people have to be compensated. These are also consequences of paying someone $15-$20/hr to make cheeseburgers.

It’s the entire economic system, not just the healthcare. The forces outside the market impact healthcare just like any other industry.

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Then why charge that amount?
Because, whatever amount that is charged, your insurance company will pay 25%.

Charge less? Insurance company pays less.

This is also the nature of using insurance for EVERYTHING.

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Almost no plans still pay a % of charges. They pay an amount per day or an amount per stay for a particular diagnosis. You are talking about 20+ years ago.