Insurance is through her work, so I had to coax her through logging in to her account so that I could try to find an in-network ER list.
After spending ~30 minutes grumbling at the website over the complete lack of anything resembling clarity, I had a list of 3 hospitals that appeared to be in-network (and a sinking feeling that this could easily cost thousands of dollars). Set off around 2am. Arrived at first. 5+hour wait. Went to the next, no wait. They didn't manage to do much aside from giving a few tests that came up negative, administered fluids, gave her a steroid shot, and did a blood panel.
Her blood panel had one abnormal result that the doctor was willing to admit her for observation over (and had admitted people in the pass for less), but the doctor also noted that the parameter can vary a lot person to person; some people would be fine at that level. I had a sinking feeling in my stomach and decided it would be better to take her home to keep an eye on her than risk financial ruin. I think we were there 2-3 hours.
When the bill came months later, it was $2600 because the doctor was out of network.
For all technological advancements in US, the healthcare system is quite backwards. It’s not a new problem. Tons of countries do it well “Canada, Australia, Sweden ...”
The US political and healthcare system refused to accept other models since there is sooooo much money to be made at the expense of “some-other” people dying and going bankrupt.
House insurance, car insurance, all other forms of insurance are transparent, US healthcare is the most “mafia-like money extortion” system.
>Vox's database shows that patients are especially vulnerable to these surprise bills when out-of-network doctors work at in-network hospitals.
“It does happen quite a lot in the emergency room,” says Christopher Garmon, an assistant professor at the University of Missouri Kansas City.
Garmon published a study last year that found as many as one in five emergency room visits led to a surprise bill from an out-of-network provider involved in the care.
https://www.vox.com/2018/5/23/17353284/emergency-room-doctor...