U.S. transition to 988 suicide and crisis lifeline begins Saturday

Re:U.S. transition to 988 suicide and crisis lifeline begins... by lotsofpulp on Saturday July 16, 2022 @07:11PM (#32122799)

I doubt the $12k that was billed was paid by insurance company. Typically, the provider bills a ludicrous amount, and then they apply a ridiculous “adjustment” for being a subscriber to the insurance plan, and then you pay per your deductible/coinsurance/out of pocket maximum situation.

I have no idea how much ambulances and personnel cost, but I do know that whatever the costs are, they have to be distributed amongst the emergency events.

An ambulance and redundant staffing is paid to be available 24/7, but there might only be 3 or 4 or 10 trips per day.

I assume there are also considerable liabilities and hence insurance costs.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:U.S. transition to 988 suicide and crisis lifeline begins... by yellowapple on Saturday July 16, 2022 @09:22PM (#32123534)

> I doubt the $12k that was billed was paid by insurance company. Typically, the provider bills a ludicrous amount, and then they apply a ridiculous “adjustment” for being a subscriber to the insurance plan, and then you pay per your deductible/coinsurance/out of pocket maximum situation.

That doesn't make the fact that they bill such a ridiculous amount in the first place any less unacceptable.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:U.S. transition to 988 suicide and crisis lifeline begins... by lotsofpulp on Saturday July 16, 2022 @09:34PM (#32123605)

It is a well established practice in the US that billed prices have no bearing on reality and if you are insured, you have no liability to pay them, hence out of context for the purpose of discussing the reasonableness of the insurance negotiated price (which is well established to be real).

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:U.S. transition to 988 suicide and crisis lifeline begins... by yellowapple on Sunday July 17, 2022 @01:11AM (#32124639)

> It is a well established practice in the US that billed prices have no bearing on reality and if you are insured, you have no liability to pay them

And if you're uninsured? Or your insurance refuses to cover it? Or it does, but with a high deductible?

My point is that the "well established practice" in question is useless at best and outright detrimental (to say the least) on society. Why even bother throwing out that number unless there's an expectation that someone would pay it?

[ Parent | on HN ]