Speaking Of Hospital Bills

fmdog44

fmdog44

Well-known Member
Location
Houston, Texas
Does anyone have first hand knowledge of how hospitals collect money from crime related injuries like gang shootings, etc. Seems to me they get nothing. Knowing what the weekend activities at hospitals looks like I wonder if even 10% of the admitted wounded bother to pay one cent after they get out. I doubt drug addicts pay anything when admitting for over dosing. Emergency rooms must operate at a negative cash flow forever.
 

Hospitals make it up by overcharging insurance companies for other patients who are insured. That's why a typical hospital stay costs around $20,000.00 per day. That's why an itemized hospital bill has outrageous prices - like ONE Tylenol for $50.00 - $100.00. That's also why they'll take blood from a patient every 2-4 hours & the nurse will go directly to the computer & enter a bill each time. And every time any employee walks into the room.....another bill. And those "Specialists?" Yeah...someone walks in & asks you if you have food in your house when you get home.....that's another big bill for "Nutritional Counseling."
 
In spite of its numerous shortcomings, I'm glad we have the NHS in Britain. Our American friend in spite of living for many years in the UK, is still surprised when she doesn't have to pay for hospital treatment. Well, not quite true, we contribute throughout our working lives, but treatment - no matter what- is free at point of delivery.

For convenience, it is useful to have some medical insurance to prevent having to wait an artificially long time for non-urgent treatments.
 

In our state, and I am sure in others as well, they collect money from victims of crimes the same as people who are ill. The cause of the injury doesn’t matter much. What makes you think crime victims don’t have insurance? Sure, there is always a small percentage of insured people but not many anymore.

Also there are several types of insurances that will pay, including homeowners strangely enough. There are victim groups, (forget what the are called), which will not only pay medical bills but a certain amount help with rent etc. If you are poor, hospitals get you signed up for your state’s Medicaid program. If you are hurt and under arrest, the state pays your bill.

Lastly, the hospital/doctors office bills you. My friend on Medicare and Medicaid still had money owing after a hospital stay. She went on a payment plan and paid 15 dollars a month until If was paid off. One of my sons had a doctors bill sent to collection. He received a letter from them. It was all a mistake, but it was stupid since he can’t read and didn’t have a clue why he got some mail.

He also had Medicare/Medicaid and lived in a group home. Legally he could not be billed or held responsible for any amount owed since he could not give an informed consent. Duh.
 
fmdog44 said:
Does anyone have first hand knowledge of how hospitals collect money from crime related injuries like gang shootings, etc. Seems to me they get nothing. Knowing what the weekend activities at hospitals looks like I wonder if even 10% of the admitted wounded bother to pay one cent after they get out. I doubt drug addicts pay anything when admitting for over dosing. Emergency rooms must operate at a negative cash flow forever.
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I suspect you already know the answer. Those who work, pay taxes, and/or have insurance pick up the tab for those who don't. Hospital employees and investors don't take the hit. Whether or not that is acceptable depends on your sociopolitical bent, but the fact is that's how it has been here for decades. The same is probably true in Canada and the UK.
 
I would like to see the numbers pertaining to the annual amounts owed and never paid to hosptials and emergency service people.
 
You could probably get those from the non profit hospitals, doubt the private ones should have them over.

Also probably could find it on line for the public hospitals in your area. If you are treated at the university hospital in our area, and not insured, any state tax refund you might get is applied to your bill.
 
I know first hand that my husbands insurance from the Police Department paid for the entire Emergency Department and one site rescue team service and not one red cent was paid by the man who murdered my husband or the other officer while on duty before he took his own life shortly there after. Not even his families insurance had to pay anything for any of the services given to my husband and the other officer as well as I imagine the other innocent bystanders that were injured. I believe you are exactly correct it is the people who have insurance that get overcharged in the end that pay for it.
 
Now that I think about this nonpayment issue when you are in an car accident with a vehicle driven by an illegal alien that has no license and no insurance you pay for 100% of your costs both for the vehicle and medical. Some years back in Houston a reporter rode with a police unit and it was verified there is nothing that can be done to help you with the bills.
 
Well, your car insurance pays. Our parked car was hit by an Australian fellow, years ago. He left the country. We paid.
 
fmdog44 said:
Does anyone have first hand knowledge of how hospitals collect money from crime related injuries like gang shootings, etc.
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Win231 is correct. I worked for a hospital grouping (4 hospitals in the system) for several years. The city hospitals, in Chicago, did lose money. But the suburban hospitals, in more affluent areas, made up for it, and more. The suburban hospitals overwhelmingly had patients who were insured, and they were charged ridiculous prices on things. The $40 aspirin is not a myth.
But it became more difficult to stay profitable, and eventually, one of the city hospitals was sold, or closed (can't recall). Just one of the many things wrong with out health system. But as soon as someone suggests something like the NHS the Brits have, someone else yells "socialism!'.
 
retiredtraveler said:
Win231 is correct. I worked for a hospital grouping (4 hospitals in the system) for several years. The city hospitals, in Chicago, did lose money. But the suburban hospitals, in more affluent areas, made up for it, and more. The suburban hospitals overwhelmingly had patients who were insured, and they were charged ridiculous prices on things. The $40 aspirin is not a myth.
But it became more difficult to stay profitable, and eventually, one of the city hospitals was sold, or closed (can't recall). Just one of the many things wrong with out health system. But as soon as someone suggests something like the NHS the Brits have, someone else yells "socialism!'.
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socialism_quote.jpg
 
I wonder how much longer we will have to put up with these soaring medical costs before the U.S. takes a serious look at what is working quite well for much of the rest of the world, and begins to take some action to adopt similar policies here. In a very few years, our costs are going to create real problems with Medicare, etc., and drive even more people to the brink of bankruptcy.
 
Many years ago when I was working in Rochester Minnesota, I went for a tour round the Mayo Clinic. At one point the guide pointed out that the Mayo was a clinic, and if you required inpatient treatment, you would go (according to religion or preference) to either St. Mary's, or Methodist hospital. She pointed out the reception areas, and between them was your first call - at the cashiers office !
 

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