Re:Using AI to negotiate a $195k hospital bill down to $33k
by tptacek on Tuesday October 28, 2025 @06:07PM
(#45739874)
You just cited the out-of-state cost of the flagship state university in Illinois as if it were the in-state cost of a Directional State University in Illinois. Again: you have an argument here that depends on people not Googling list prices (the prices that nobody actually pays) and seeing what they actually are.
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Re:Using AI to negotiate a $195k hospital bill down to $33k
by davidcbc on Tuesday October 28, 2025 @06:13PM
(#45739944)
No I didn't, that is in state, it's right there on the page.
Directly from the page:
> Illinois Resident
> Tuition & Fees: $18,046-$23,426
> Food & Housing: $15,184
> Books & Supplies: $1,200
> Other Expenses: $2,500
> Total: $36,930-$42,310
I literally looked at the exact school you used in your example and you are just wrong
Re:Using AI to negotiate a $195k hospital bill down to $33k
by tptacek on Tuesday October 28, 2025 @06:29PM
(#45740120)
Couldn't have been clearer that I was referring to tuition, including the fact that I said that specifically upthread.
Re:Using AI to negotiate a $195k hospital bill down to $33k
by davidcbc on Tuesday October 28, 2025 @06:30PM
(#45740133)
Well then as long as the kids don't need housing or books or food or to pay the other fees they'll be set. Luckily those are all optional
Re:Using AI to negotiate a $195k hospital bill down to $33k
by tptacek on Tuesday October 28, 2025 @06:43PM
(#45740247)
They in fact differ wildly between students and between colleges! UIC and NIU are commuter universities where students generally don't live on campus. Students at UIUC live in campus-provided housing for their first year, but not generally for subsequent years. Everybody, whether they're in school or not, pays for housing. So no, the cost comparison you're offering here is not very useful.
Shortly later
I also think you might have to ask around to find a student paying full price for books.