How can you NOT have insurance these days?
 

I was in the hospital last month with a colon infection. I just got the statement from bluecross showing my amounts VS what was covered.

7,143.
For a day. Granted I had a lot of tests/drugs etc... I mean shit. That's INSANE! I can't imagine not having insurance and having to fork that over.

Good thing you had insurance...thats a nice hospital bill

To answer your question, very simply.

Have a pre existing condition from early youth that is very broad. You will be unable to get insurance unless your willing to shell out a crap load each month, or can sneak into a group plan unnoticed. Or you can opt to be poor, live on 782.00 a month and qualify for medical and medicare.

7+k for a visit isnt bad. My last one cost me 48k and some change. I.E. Why I put a lot into savings.

Got a better one they send my wife to a specialist, he ran 3 grand in blood tests in one day. Now was that needed or was it the insurance comany is paying so fucked it

We don't need it here. We have an NHS...

I still don't have any. I am very much afraid that something will happend...

Get sick in Canada...

...and....

We don't need no stinkin' health insurance up here. The rich people pay everyone's hospital bills when they file their income taxes. :winkwink:

I lie your country. Like Robin Goods' principle. Rich people pay for others.

Actually, it's the middle class that pay for everyone. Rich people make very little taxable income:winkwink:

Funny you bring that up about blood tests. I went in a few months back because I was having trouble getting to sleep at night. I was basically looking for some sleeping pills, maybe some advice, as well as a physical.

The guy runs $1500 in blood tests for all sorts of diseases and conditions. Tells me they come back find and puts me on some Ambien. I believe he did the blood tests in house and probably made a pretty penny off my insurance company.

Fraud is legal and alive and kicking in the healthcare biz? :winkwink:

Sheesh.. who owns who?

Three years ago I was in the hospital for Four days. I had a bill of about 30 grand of which $8000.00 was for morphine. Would have been cheaper to score heroin. What kind of a gross profit % are they running?

Sheesh man - it's cheaper getting a private flight out of the country to the same hospital chains in another country with the same level of care at a third of the cost.

Webby, I could not agree more. :thumbsup

Given one is able to fly out, they can get some incredible service (if not better than you get in the USA) and care for 1/3 of the cost.

BTW... you don't even want to know how much a 10 days SARS quarantine cost in the USA.

Some of you remember that old pic of me that is floating around with the big G in my eye and a SARS mask. HAHAHA. I still laugh over that one. Oh the memories.

Webby, my $365. month insurance pays for it. That still doesn't mean massive price gouging isn't taking place. Or, is it medical malpractice insurance premiums driving costs?

yea insurance is imperative

Like in any country, i guess.

Got ya!

I was just checking some stuff (tho not got the paperwork here right now) - apparently we have private international healthcare cover and this includes air ambulance services if there was a need (some islands may not have full medical facilites) - and this costs just over $100/month.

One bit worth noting - the air ambulance flights will take you to Canada, the EU or wherever the nearest South American country with suitable facilities - the choice of where you go is a personal one (tho may be based on urgency - depending).

The moment you elect to fly to, eg Florida or the US - that's another policy and the cost jumps up to over $600/month. Suppose, if anything, that kinda matches the cost of healthcare in the US.

Was just checking medical air services - there is even what looks like a ripoff on costs if you charter an air ambulance in the US to go elsewhere - they can't give a price - all "negotiable" - presumably hoping for some stitchup on insurance claims.

While thinking of this - dunno why we bother with this policy - healthcare here is good and often in private clinics operated by US hospital chains - the difference is the costs are averaging 25%-33% of the US rate. Makes you think :)

BTW.. On your morphine costs - spent three days in a private clinic here (US owned and operated) and got two morphine shots and the total bill was fractionally under $800.

Sure.. smells like mass ripoff pricing to a level that makes any drug cartel look improvised.

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh :1orglaugh

The pleasures of international living :winkwink:

$600. plus per day for private hospital room., free popsicles and soft drinks.

Hilton Suites across the street $150. per night, Heineken from mini-fridge $5. a bottle.


????????????????? :Oh crap

I pay 52 bucks a month for insurance..although I haven't had to go to the hospital yet,I'm thankful it's that cheap

Is $600/day for the room alone?? (and the soft drinks :winkwink: )

Shit.. sounds like I got off light at the rates of the Hilton and a total bill of $800 - sounds like same spec - ie private rooms in a "medical hotel".

And end up dead waiting in the waiting room... lol
WG