Insured, but Still Owing $109K for a Heart Attack

Re:Insured, but Still Owing $109K for a Heart Attack by gav on Tuesday August 28, 2018 @02:59PM (#17861794)

I worked with somebody who at 23 was bitten by a cat and it got infected. She didn't want to seek medical treatment even though her hand swelled up like crazy--"I don't have insurance, I will get better". I basically forced her to go to the hospital and she ended up spending a couple of days in the ICU. They told her if she waited another day, she might not have made it.

Total cost, something around $23,000 I think. This is somebody who was making maybe $10/hr. They took a payment plan of around $15/month, so she will be paying it back for the next 128 years.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Insured, but Still Owing $109K for a Heart Attack by achoped on Tuesday August 28, 2018 @03:19PM (#17861989)

Another anecdote about my mom. A few months ago she was rushed to the hospital for symptoms of a pulmonary embolism. She spent 36 hours in the critical care unit. They couldn't determine what caused her episode; no clots, etc. They charged her $25k for that. That's how fucked up the situation is. A single night in a hospital that may save your life ends up costing almost what your kid/grandkid is paying for a year of college.

Recently she got a bill for $250 for the ambulance, which she paid, and another letter saying her bill for the hospital stay was settled. She told me she would have offered $15/mo had they held her to the $25k or told them to screw off if they didn't accept. They're not even bothering anymore.

[ Parent | on HN ]