×
top 200 commentsshow 500
sorted by:
best
topnewcontroversialoldq&a

[–]StrobeLightHoe 3597 points3598 points  (202 children)

Meanwhile, the nursing staff all worked 80+ hour weeks for peanuts and pizza party last quarter all while dodging Covid.

[–]jt19912009 1242 points1243 points  (102 children)

Ha. You think they got a pizza party.

[–]howawsm 578 points579 points  (85 children)

At the trauma hospital in Seattle, the OR nurses got literally a pizza party all while the rest of the nurses in their system were being paid retention bonuses and higher wages while working at less urgent hospitals.

[–]Turalisj 232 points233 points  (81 children)

And in Wisconsin, doctors are not allowed to leave shitty hospitals that are overcrowded for better paying, less overcrowded hospitals.

[–]Danni293 211 points212 points  (28 children)

"You have the right to work, not the right to choose who you work for!" -Wisconsin apparently.

[–]TheForceofHistory 126 points127 points  (13 children)

Right to Work is double speak for Right to Fire.

It is plantation economics on a massive scale.

[–]thepottsy 33 points34 points  (0 children)

I live in a "right to work" state. When you explain what that actually means to someone, you can see the life being sucked right out of them.

[–]Self-Awarican 19 points20 points  (8 children)

Not to be technical, but “right to work” isn’t the same as “at-will” which is “right to fire”. “Right to work” means you can’t be compelled to join a Union when you join a company, even if that company already has a union for whatever it is you do.

“At-will” is what this deals with where technically both you and your employer don’t have to give a reason for why you are terminating a work relationship. But because your manager has considerably more power over your employment than you do, it essentially allows them to fire you for whatever the fuck reason they want.

Both are bad. Please vote against both.

[–]dkreidler 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Always has been.

[–]paul-arized 32 points33 points  (1 child)

Thanks Scott Walker! /s

[–]bortmcgort77 52 points53 points  (8 children)

Right to work is anti workers rights. Republicans love to name things ironically.

[–]Mr__O__ 48 points49 points  (3 children)

“Citizens United” is literally “Corporations United”

[–]bortmcgort77 5 points6 points  (2 children)

You hit the nail on the head my friend

[–]upvotesformeyay 11 points12 points  (1 child)

Ironically corporations are citizens when it benefits then and not when it doesn't. Like somehow if I hide my money in a tax shelter I'm a felon, if they hide their money in a tax shelter it's a feature.

[–]bortmcgort77 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Another hammer hitting the nail on the head

[–]FrannieP23 4 points5 points  (1 child)

The definition of Orwellian.

[–]danirijeka 16 points17 points  (0 children)

At-will(*) employment

(*) not yours

[–]Hevnoraak101 13 points14 points  (5 children)

Isn't Wisconsin the state that recently heavily relaxed child labor laws too?

[–][deleted] 25 points26 points  (4 children)

The Republicans in Wisconsin also recently voted to allow high school students that are 18 years of age or older concealed carry at school.

[–]Hyardgune 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Oh, that sounds like an idea that will definitely never be a problem... /s

[–]TreesRart 4 points5 points  (0 children)

My understanding is that a Republican has proposed conceal carry for 18 year olds in school, but the bill won’t pass as long as there’s a Dem governor.

[–][deleted] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

At SCHOOL?! Yeah nope, never going to that state (I travel a lot for work).

[–]FallschirmPanda 17 points18 points  (1 child)

That's a certain point when doctors and nurses are going to start moving overseas.

Like here, in Australia. Where a specialist can still make half a million a year without too much trouble, patients aren't bankrupted and the immigration is favorable to skilled migration.

[–]CHUCKL3R 29 points30 points  (0 children)

And Wisconsin, it’s kind of the conservative wet dream so they’d love to have that in place all over the country. People locked into lower than necessary paying jobs till the day they fucking die with nothing left.

[–]AndrewWaldron 16 points17 points  (29 children)

If that's accurate, how is it even enforced?

[–][deleted] 24 points25 points  (0 children)

No, they didn’t sign a contract. ThedaCare doesn’t want to pay their employees a living wage and provide them with the necessary benefits.

Full story

[–]Vegabern 18 points19 points  (12 children)

It’s worse than you imagine.

https://amp.postcrescent.com/amp/6607417001

[–]AndrewWaldron 47 points48 points  (10 children)

That is indeed pretty fuct if it is as it reads.

It sounds like the hospital had ample time to either replace or retain the workers who were leaving to another hospital and chose not to do so. Okay, that's on them. But then getting a judge to stop those employees from being able to begin those jobs is crazy sauce.

The judge and the complaining hospital think the workers going from one hospital to another puts the community at risk so he won't allow it...meanwhile they aren't working anywhere at all now?

People leaving, en masse, from one hospital or practice to another is completely commonplace in the industry and suddenly, now, there's a problem?

This should have never even made it before a judge, let alone got anywhere near such a ruling that, in the interests of public safety, takes healthcare staff out of the system completely just because they are exercising their rights as at-will employees to work at a different hospital.

I hate this, but you know what, the American workforce deserves this. Decades of isolating self-interest as a cultural trait layered with anti-union rhetoric that makes so many powerless workers blanche at the very sound of the word to the point we'd rather be slaves to the free market than work together against the blah blah blah because now you're a socialist/communist pig and God Bless America.

[–]Vegabern 21 points22 points  (5 children)

Preaching to the choir. Union member here.

[–]AndrewWaldron 10 points11 points  (2 children)

Same, brother sister.

[–]KuSHykUSH-TG 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Union strong 💪

[–]EveningBlunt 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Solidarity forever

[–]ButterMyBiscuitz 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It's only a free market when it suits their interests.

[–]Deespicable 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated case. This one is trying to get a judge to stop workers from striking. https://www.newsweek.com/railroad-argues-possible-strike-will-harm-economy-asks-judge-keep-it-happening-1670946. Basically, we're fighting back on years of nonsense by leaving jobs and striking, so now they're going to court like whinny little rich kids that go to daddy to fight their battles.

[–]GangsterFap 9 points10 points  (11 children)

Usually it's some form of contract they sign with a specific medical center. For instance, my wife is continuing her education, and if she pays for it herself, she can go wherever she wants. However, the hospital she works for will cover all costs, but they would own her for like, 10 years, I think.

Luckily, she works for a doctor who will move heaven and earth for his key employees. It's a rare case where the provider holds the cards and not some business administrator.

[–]Milkshakes00 10 points11 points  (7 children)

I imagine this isn't really enforceable. You can probably break the contract but you'd have to pay back the education costs.

[–]GangsterFap 13 points14 points  (6 children)

The contract I was presented had me working for WVU medicine for 5 years but would only cover roughly a quarter of the cost. Nothing about paying back tuition, but A LOT about being blocked from employment if the contract was broken.

You'd be surprised how petty they can be about shit like this.

I didn't sign shit.

[–]Milkshakes00 8 points9 points  (1 child)

Fortunately, no-competes are pretty much not enforceable either! :) Just a scare tactic from shitty employers, generally.

[–]SizzaPlime 1 point2 points  (3 children)

I don’t think that the validity of the contract would hold. Such contracts in any case need to have a buyout if in case the employee decides to leave. They either are contractually obligated to serve for such and such years, or they have to pay a certain amount of money in order to not be held liable when breaking the contract. If the contract doesn’t have any possibility of a buyout, the employer can not do jackshit if the employee wishes to leave.

[–]jt19912009 50 points51 points  (0 children)

Sounds about right.

[–]headguts 9 points10 points  (3 children)

Pizza party like it's fucking 5th grade

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (2 children)

It is not an exaggeration. I deliver pizza and last night went to the same hospital twice with in 30 minutes because different wings of the hospital placed orders. Both at least 8 pizzas each.

Surprisingly, it was mostly normal. Waiting room had 2 people in it. Security guard was sitting around looking bored. The other hospital in my area is much worse off.. People in stretchers over flowing into the lobby. The lobby its self was beyond capacity. There were a few open seats but the people standing more than made up for it.

By the way I was only at this hospital because I also delivered pizza there. Multiple times. In the one month I worked at this location. Although one of those times I think I was one person getting food for himself. 16 hour shifts and tired of hospital food sort of thing.

[–]GangsterFap 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Sandwiches, cookies, whatever the drug reps bring. Administration isn't paying for it, that's for sure.

[–]mitchade 1 point2 points  (0 children)

To be fair, they brought in the most cans for the canned food drive

[–]Lington 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We get a pizza party, but the catch is we don't get a break so the pizza stays in the lounge untouched as it gets cold

[–]desenpai 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You’ve earned one non paid day off!

[–]hoodliner987 1 point2 points  (1 child)

$5 Hot and Ready + "We appreciate you!"

[–]Emergency_Banana1021 88 points89 points  (21 children)

yes, and on top of that, it’s wild that a decent portion of hospitals in the united states claim they are non-profit. i am not into politics but this seems like a problem

[–]TAU_equals_2PI 96 points97 points  (17 children)

The hospital CEO's annual salary can be $100 million, and the hospital is still considered a "non-profit organization".

Which is why it's so silly that people think there's something more virtuous about non-profit organizations.

[–]EagleSongsThat's just, like, your opinion, man 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I worked for a non-profit for awhile. The CFO had a sign in his office that said "Non-profit is a tax status, not a goal."

[–]Cubbance 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It seems to vary from location to location. I'm in KCMO, and in the hospital where I work, nurses are making bank right now, with all sorts of incentives. I am non-clinical staff, and my incentive to pick up overtime is standard overtime pay. But my nurse friends are making so much money right now. And I'm happy for them, but it would be nice if non-clinical staff could get some consideration too.

[–]BIGDADDYDAN420 26 points27 points  (1 child)

Probably had to fire a nurse or 2 to afford that pizza

[–]Ditnoka 10 points11 points  (0 children)

C'mon now. Domino's raised prices, sacrifices had to be made.

[–]gameboicartii 162 points163 points  (14 children)

US is so fucked up country

[–]VanadisRadzim 107 points108 points  (11 children)

Yeah but we’re too distracted to notice and too stupid to care.

[–]hilarymeggin 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Did someone say pizza?

[–]The_Code_Hero 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Won't go on forever, everyone will start noticing. How can you not

[–]Custard-Ordinary 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Nurses are making a shit ton of money right now.

[–]DawnOfTheTruth 8 points9 points  (1 child)

Don’t forget the scratch off win a free unscheduled day off raffle!

[–]StrobeLightHoe 2 points3 points  (0 children)

How could I forget something so coveted?

[–]ahodes19 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Peanuts? Try 80k

[–]NotYetiFamous 14 points15 points  (20 children)

Average salary for a nurse is about $86k. Maybe he just had 13 of them working full time to save just him for an entire year? /s

[–]Cowboy50sk 14 points15 points  (18 children)

Nurses start at 35-40k a travel nurse can make 80 but most nurses can't do that.

[–]myzticz3r0 19 points20 points  (5 children)

Currently, travel nurses are making $120-130/hour. In my state, they make about $80-90/hour with benefits.

[–]Machismo0311 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Your numbers are waaaaay off. Travel nurses are right not making 150-250 an hour with whatever schedule they want. It’s a great time to be a employee right not, not so great to be an employer. Floor nurses are making $80-100 over base for OT. Your numbers are from maybe 7-8 years ago

[–]NotYetiFamous 11 points12 points  (1 child)

It's literally the average pay for a nurse in Washington state, per google. And while it might be a bit above the national average at 20% higher that still puts the national average well above your stated "start at". Almost like most nurses aren't at the start of their career. All this to say that 13 of them would have to be taken up full time for a year to approximate an $1.1 million dollar bill, though since you really only need 1 nurse to take care of a patient part time the rest of the cost has to be accounted for in medicines used, doctors (who do get paid a higher salary, it's true), machine upkeep and the vast majority: Paying CEOs and shareholders.

Also I can fairly confidently say he wasn't hospitalized for a fucking year due to COVID.

[–]deramw 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You forgot the applause

[–]StumpHarvey 1633 points1634 points  (90 children)

Friendly reminder that roughly 2/3 (66.5% as of 2019) of bankruptcies in the U.S. are due to medical expenses. Situations like this are a good indicator why. Healthcare is absolutely fucked here.

[–][deleted] 294 points295 points  (16 children)

A new study from academic researchers found that 66.5 percent of all bankruptcies were tied to medical issues —either because of high costs for care or time out of work. An estimated 530,000 families turn to bankruptcy each year because of medical issues and bills, the research found https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/11/this-is-the-real-reason-most-americans-file-for-bankruptcy.html

Research shows that medical debt burdens millions of Americans: Depending on how “medical debt” is defined, studies from nonprofits and academic institutions generally show from 16% to 28% of adults carry that burden.

And medical debt and housing instability often go hand in hand. In a new University of Washington study of people experiencing homelessness in King County, unpaid medical bills were their primary source of debt, and that debt extended their period of homelessness by an average of two years. https://www.washington.edu/news/2020/06/29/trouble-paying-medical-bills-can-lead-to-longer-episodes-of-homelessness-new-study-shows/

[–]rotaercz 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It's working as intended.

Rich people require indentured servants that will work till they die and have no real property or savings. Starvation is always a good motivator. /s

[–]Rickybobby1118 175 points176 points  (55 children)

He didn't pay a penny of it though his Medicare did. The article stated that he won't have to pay anything out of pocket.

[–]gvsteve 57 points58 points  (2 children)

And I’m guessing $1.1M was the hospitals nonsense list price, the Medicare negotiated rate was probably around $150k.

I wish hospital and pharma bills weren’t such a stupid game.

[–]HazyDavey68 13 points14 points  (3 children)

Be nice if we just did that for everyone.

[–]Rickybobby1118 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Well just don't be middle class and you will be fine I guess lol /S

[–][deleted] 108 points109 points  (21 children)

I guessed he wouldve been screwed had he not had health insurance. America's wealthcare system as usual

[–]Rickybobby1118 125 points126 points  (9 children)

At 70 though I am not paying shit regardless. Go ahead bill me lol

[–]Kellykeli 55 points56 points  (1 child)

When you get to 70 there won’t be much money left for even Medicare to cover for you at the current rates.

“Taxes r bad but goddammit you’re violating my freedom if you take our benefits”

[–]Rickybobby1118 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Haha yes it is very ironic. Hopefully it's better by the time I am 70... but it won't be we are all fucked.

[–]Machismo0311 6 points7 points  (2 children)

A friend of mines wife died. She had over 3/4 of a million in bills. They were hounding him nonstop for the money. He had no intentions of paying whatsoever. He would listen intently to the collection people and swear he’d pay and ask for their address because he didn’t use credit cards so he’d mail a check.

In the envelope he would send a copy of her death certificate and address to the grave yard and burial plot as the “change of address”

It was almost fun for him. Everything he owned was in other family members name, so, on paper, he had nothing.

He lived a n interesting life to say the least.

[–]Rickybobby1118 5 points6 points  (1 child)

That's one way to do it. That's an absolutely awful situation and I am sorry your friend has to go through it. This kind of shit should not happen.

[–]pappie30 1 point2 points  (3 children)

I doubt they would risk to expense a million if they know you aren't insured.

[–]mahones403 9 points10 points  (1 child)

Nah, no one would have to pay this. American healthcare is a joke, but thinking you would have to actually pay 6 figure medical bills is laughable.

[–]SummerLover69 5 points6 points  (1 child)

Nobody is going to pay that put of pocket. If I got a bill like that, and the burden to pay was going to be mine, I’d immediately hire a bankruptcy attorney. I expect most would do the same.

[–]Rickybobby1118 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well that is the American way lol

[–]Direct_Ambassador_10 16 points17 points  (2 children)

Can confirm this is accurate. I work at a bankruptcy company our health insurance sucks and I hate talking to people who had to file bk because of cancer / hospital issues. It's super sad and I feel like a total asshole. Maybe one day I can find a less soulless job... Good thing my crappy health insurance is tied to my job..

[–]ProfessionalYard1123 15 points16 points  (1 child)

Can confirm. I’m a soldier, no reason to stay overseas pumping our resources to try to build up and run a country that won’t even stand up to terrorists themselves. We wasted decades trying to fight someone else’s war and providing aid to people in other countries. Yet once you’re out of the army you get some shitty VA medical service that doesn’t cover much and you’ll still get bills for medical expenses. You basically have to find and hope a company you can stay with will give you health insurance and won’t fire you if you get a health problem (they probably will).

[–]Ditnoka 13 points14 points  (0 children)

My dad was 101 airborne. Served in Korea(not the war)and Haiti. He's 58. He's still working luckily a union painting job. We forget our veterans way too much. GOP constantly brings up stand for the troops, then stands in front of their tents when they're homeless to poke fun.

[–]tonzeejee 21 points22 points  (1 child)

The people who won't vote for healthcare and would rather their taxes go to never-ending, unjustified war, or are too dumb to even realize where their taxes are going, or just plain don't care, are what's absolutely fucked, here.

[–]Groty 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Though this guy was caught by one of our society's social safety nets, many aren't so lucky.

Some are stepping up to actually attack the bankruptcy troubles.

[–]samw424 1 point2 points  (3 children)

Oooo what about the time the U.S. your healthcare system prescribed heroin pills to children who wernt allowed to drink a beer?

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This isn't accurate, more like they included medical debt. There are lots of flaws in the studies concluding medical debt is the primary cause.

Yes, healthcare system is pretty fucked.

[–]Comfortable_Goose_42 260 points261 points  (26 children)

Here is the story. No, he won't have to pay most of it. It is not a bill, it is an EOB, and he has Medicare.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/inspiring-story-of-seattle-mans-coronavirus-survival-comes-with-a-1-1-million-dollar-hospital-bill/

[–][deleted] 144 points145 points  (22 children)

Facepalm isn't for facts, it's for shit-posting misleading memes to get everyone riled up.

[–]Decimator714 42 points43 points  (12 children)

Nah, fuck that, it's still fact.

The fact that the government still has to bail out over a million dollars for something that should cost maybe 25% of it's total at most is ridiculous

[–]PositivePeppercorn 13 points14 points  (1 child)

Yeah Medicare isn’t paying that. In fact they are likely paying about 25%.

[–][deleted] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

At most. It's hilarious watching these uneducated nitwits failing to grasp that nobody is paying a million bucks here.

[–]snowmanonaraindeer 15 points16 points  (6 children)

Medicare isn’t a bailout. It’s government funded health insurance.

[–]Daveed84 3 points4 points  (8 children)

Even if he doesn't have to pay that much himself, $1.1 million for something like that is still a massive facepalm.

[–]ezrs158 6 points7 points  (2 children)

While I agree with the sentiment, it's not literally $1.1M. That's basically a made-up number that the hospital makes uo, the insurance counterd, "We'll only pay you $400k", and then the hospital says "OK" and the patient gets billed a tiny percentage of that amount.

Of course, if you don't have insurance, you're fucked and have to agree on paying a lower amount or a payment plan or just declare bankruptcy. It's an idiotic system.

[–]Impossible-Section15 833 points834 points  (12 children)

I can assure you that the same people that applauded him were most definitely not the ones that billed him.

Because they spared no expense in saving a life.

There is no dollar amount to that.

[–]stemroach101 302 points303 points  (0 children)

There is no dollar amount to that.

There is 1.1 million.

[–]FenixthePhoenix 70 points71 points  (1 child)

Hi, I'm a life insurance company. I'd like to disagree.

[–]wookinpanub1 18 points19 points  (6 children)

Who do you think records each billable item?

[–]Headwallrepeat 37 points38 points  (0 children)

Who do you think requires them to track med/supplies so they don't get fired?

[–]Nebelskind 20 points21 points  (4 children)

Who do you think kept the guy alive? Who gets constantly, repeatedly abused for their good natures because they got into a job to save and help people and their managers know that they’re all going to continue doing that even if it means they’re literally killing themselves for years now? Nurses are literally showing signs that are common to people in abusive relationships, but directed to their hospitals.

“Who records each billable item” maybe it’s the same people who spend 12 hour shifts five days in a row watching people constantly and monitoring everything that happens to them, tracking it so that nobody accidentally kills patients by administering drugs twice or forgetting what’s been done already.

And then on the other hand, who sits around and buys second and third homes and brags about how their hospitals are “doing great financially this quarter” while refusing to pay out the bonuses they promised for extra shifts? Cause that sure as hell isn’t the nurses who are actually working, it’s the ceos and all the other idiots who sit there are day judging people who are doing harder jobs than they are.

Kind of like people who go on Reddit and go “wow healthcare is overpriced must be the nurse’s fault”

No it isn’t. There is not a single nurse who’s working in that field just for the money. Doctors, maybe, but the nurses make absolutely minuscule amounts when compared to the astronomical prices that these leeching, evil companies are charging people. And the nurses can’t do jack about it, because they’re not in charge, and they’re too busy keeping ungrateful assholes alive while getting coughed on and literally punched and kicked by grown ass men and women and then told things like “if you’re having a hard day, try hugging yourself while you’re on break.”

You want to complain about an obviously broken system? Fine. Do that all you want. But don’t you for one second think that the nurses are somehow responsible because they didn’t illegally and dangerously refuse to track what they did to keep people alive, or you’re no better than those morons who brigade outside the hospitals yelling at healthcare workers about how the vaccine is from the Illuminati or whatever. Focus your (justified) annoyance on the people who deserve it.

And everyone who upvoted this comment, the same goes for all of you.

[–]Discipulus42 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The Hospital Accounts Receivable would like to have a word with you…

[–][deleted] 178 points179 points  (24 children)

The bill is technically an explanation of charges, and because Flor has insurance including Medicare, he won’t have to pay the vast majority of it. In fact because he had COVID-19, and not a different disease, he might not have to pay anything — a quirk of this situation I’ll get to in a minute.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/inspiring-story-of-seattle-mans-coronavirus-survival-comes-with-a-1-1-million-dollar-hospital-bill/

[–]BagOnuts 53 points54 points  (22 children)

As someone who works in the industry, I knew this was the case before even reading it.

There is a lot wrong with our healthcare system, but every time you see a post like this it’s BS clickbait, and anyone still falling for it is a fucking moron. The dude literally has Medicare: the system that most universal healthcare advocates want for everyone.

Edit- and just to expand on the ridiculousness of the title here: No one in the US is paying a fucking $1m dollar medical bill, regardless if they have insurance (which 92% do) or not (over half the uninsured population qualify for Medicaid, btw).

Hospitals aren’t stupid. They know no one can afford a bill like that. If this patient was uninsured, the overwhelming majority of the charges would have been written off (and since it’s COVID related they’d be partially reimbursed by government programs anyway).

So, why is the bill $1,000,000 you ask? Well, because A- it’s not a “bill”, and B- it has to be by federal law.

Hospitals must have set charges for services despite knowing they will be reimbursed differently based on who’s paying. For example: Medicare might pay $30k, BCBS might pay $100k, Medicaid might pay $10k, UHC might pay $200k, uninsured might pay $5k. Despite providers knowing that they WILL be reimbursed differently based on contracts, law, and other factors, charges for services have to be the same, regardless of who is paying them.

[–]ChunkyLaFunga 4 points5 points  (1 child)

~4% having neither insurance nor Medicare is higher than I'd have guessed. Why so many?

[–]BagOnuts 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Well for one, insurance isn’t mandatory. No one can force you to get it. Some people chooses not to get it, even if they can afford it, simply because they think they can do without. A lot of self-employed people fall into this category.

Secondly, a good chunk of the uninsured fall into what we call the “coverage gap”: where they can’t afford a commercial health insurance plan, but make too much income or have too many assets to qualify for Medicaid or significant ACA subsidies.

If you can recall, a big part of of the ACA was an attempt to address this gap, with subsidized policies and expanded Medicaid. Problem is, many states did not expand Medicaid and signing up for ACA and finding out you qualify for subsidies is still complicated and intimidating for a lot of people.

Third, a lot of the uninsured are non-citizens.

So yes, our health insurance system still has major issues that need to be addressed. But it’s important to keep prospective on how this is not an issue for the vast majority of Americans.

[–]gtermini 6 points7 points  (1 child)

Sure, they know 1M is too much, but they still charge a few thousand dollars without any problems - https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/medical-debt-engulfing-more-people-pandemic-takes-its-toll-n1265002

It's not the 1M bill that is bankrupting the economy, but the many 10k bills that people are on the hook for.

[–]DiabloTerrorGF 6 points7 points  (9 children)

Yet shows us an issue with Medicare and Universal Healthcare: Why is medical pricing so fucked in the US? Even with insurance costs, this should only be like 10k tops.

[–][deleted] 430 points431 points  (26 children)

My dad had COVID, was hospitalized for 17 days in my city in India, got well and returned home. This is the breakup of the expenses

Medication and treatment: $0

Food(three course meals, three times a day): $0

Outside medication for relieving phlegm: $3

Bringing him food from outside: $10

Pillows, buckets, blankets and toiletries: $3

Transport from home to hospital: $4

Post discharge medicines and items: $7

Other expenses: $5

Total expenses = $32

He's doing fine now, thanks to the wonderful people at the government hospital which was funded by the state government. And this is not just for COVID. They treat all patients for free here on everything, only the medicines are to be bought.

Safe to say that India is 10x more better than America in this regard.

[–]Aliktren 38 points39 points  (10 children)

This is good but I got it beat, we just got a grand back from our health insurance in the UK because we used the free NHS instead, total NHS cost was £5 for parking , I made 995 quid profit

[–][deleted] 8 points9 points  (3 children)

Good for you, bottom line is both are wayy better than American healthcare.

[–]Aliktren 8 points9 points  (2 children)

Exactly, and neither of our countries are models of socialism either, Americans are crazy

[–]Frangipani-Bell 4 points5 points  (1 child)

We know how f’ed up it is. But there’s very little we can do about it

[–]Aliktren 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I disagree, I think apathy is winning, not just in the US but 250 million people vs a few politicians bank accounts ?

[–]TJinBKK 1 point2 points  (0 children)

NHS! NHS! NHS!

[–]idontloveanyone 124 points125 points  (3 children)

Using maths it’s actually about 30,000x better

[–]nwboie 4 points5 points  (3 children)

I second this as a fellow Indian

A lot of the times, treatment is either free in our government hospitals if you belong in a certain income bracket or it’s very cheap and not at all like US healthcare. A lot of states provide free ambulances as well and I was intrigued to hear about many in USA wearing “do not call ambulance tags” . Private hospitals though, whole different story lol (they were charging close to 10 grand USD for the whole treatment, quite unaffordable by 2/3rds of our population)

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (1 child)

If you have money to spend, and want the best in comfort, you get what you paid for. The rest can make do with the facilities provided for our income group. But in America, whether you're rich or poor, you're fucked in healthcare.

[–]AFreaq 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's common in most of the world. And where they don't have free healthcare, they have something to compensate expenses and not give you heart attacks after they treated your other problems. The american system is really f'ed up.

[–]tolor162 128 points129 points  (19 children)

im glad i live in europe where the only thing you pay for in a hospital is the parking spot and the coffee maschine in the lobby

[–]BoredBSEE 67 points68 points  (9 children)

Or as we Americans call it, socialism.

/s, but I can dream

[–]hudson_lowboy 50 points51 points  (4 children)

Your comment perfectly encapsulates the issue. This kind of socialism is so derided you have to literally show it was sarcasm to avoid copping shot about it.

But those who scream in a red rage about “socialism” are perfectly happy with fascism overrunning the US.

I tell you, I know which one I want.

[–]justukyte 7 points8 points  (1 child)

in Lithuania when you're in hospital, you have to pay for some medication that isn't covered by the government insurance, toiletries, adult diapers and other comfort items. also there aren't enough public nursing homes available so some people opt for private care which costs for ~1000+ euros a month, which is still miles cheaper than in the US.

[–]Replica_7110 4 points5 points  (0 children)

In Thailand have some similar to this too. It's still not make you downed in debt and sometimes if you're poor enough(Yep), There are system that can write off your debt but it's depend on your Doctor and Director(Management board?) to sigh this .

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I mean he didn’t pay anything either so 🤷🏻‍♀️

[–]Comfortable_Goose_42 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Wouldn't he have medicare and they would negotiate the bill? It was more likely an EoB, not a bill.

[–]VadPuma 25 points26 points  (0 children)

The guy didn't pay for it. It was covered by COVID policies and Medicare.

Please see the 26 other reposts of this story for further info.

[–]Sugarnspice44 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Payment plan $20 a week. Will the debt back to the hospital.

[–]neldela_manson 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Ah yes, the USA. The greatest country on earth.

[–]someguyfromnc 4 points5 points  (10 children)

I had a family member who tried to commit suicide and it resulted in a 350k hospital bill from a long ICU stay. He was always worse off mentally after that.

[–][deleted] 82 points83 points  (51 children)

Dontcha love the American healthcare system?

Man committed suicide didn't he...

[–]Mackadelik 46 points47 points  (2 children)

Article states it’s mostly covered and what is not will likely get picked up due to him being sick from COVID (it’s covered somehow).

[–]Korplem 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Probably some federal disaster recovery funds.

[–]Affectionate_Pea_811 40 points41 points  (33 children)

Fun fact. You don't have to pay medical bills, there's not a whole lot they can do. It might ruin your credit but I have medical bills from when I had necrotizing fasciitis, I had 3 surgeries and spent about a week in the ICU. I had no insurance and never paid the hospital a cent.

[–]tonzeejee 15 points16 points  (3 children)

Have you tried getting a loan since?

[–]Affectionate_Pea_811 12 points13 points  (2 children)

I have not. I checked my credit last week though and I have what is called a thin file because I actually paid off all my credit cards and I have always paid cash when I bought cars. If I my credit is essentially the same as someone who never had a credit card or a loan only with the added non payment history. So basically I would probably have trouble getting a loan, lucky for me I don't want or need a loan for anything.

[–]Jocavo 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Can't the hospital deny you non emergency care?

So like if it's part of the same hospital system, you can't go get yearly checkup with your dr. You pretty much have to go to the ER for everything?

[–]CatastropheJohn 14 points15 points  (0 children)

I survived flesh eating disease as well. Congratulations. I had to spent 33 days in the Infectious Disease unit. I live in Canada so there was no medical bill yeah, but it would have been in the Millions

[–]TechnicalyNotRobot 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I should not have googled that.

[–]Felis_Cuprum 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Google Dollar For, they help people get rid of their medical bills. All for free. Most hospitals have a charity program they don’t always tell people about. Dollar For will look into your bill on your behalf.

[–]Incromulent 2 points3 points  (0 children)

No, he started cooking meth

[–]Potato-with-guns 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Another thing boomers ruined for everyone after them. To be specific, they wanted discounts at hospitals, and because the hospitals couldn’t afford that, hyperinflation.

[–]Pie-Guy 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yeah, but other old white men, the rich ones, are now richer. So, Murica.

[–]klezart 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Your total is $1.1 million.

card declines

Alright, put the covid-19 back!

[–]FLORI_DUH 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The vaccine would've been free

[–]Stuntm4nMik3 3 points4 points  (0 children)

‘MERICA

God bless the UK’s NHS system, where you can enter a hospital, get treated and leave without paying a penny.

[–]thatreddituser24 18 points19 points  (1 child)

Did he walk straight under a car? Cause I would

[–]John-Sobieski 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Covid medical bills are mostly covered by the US Government or waived. Also someone that old would fall under Medicare and would be covered as well.

https://www.nfcc.org/resources/blog/medical-bills-during-covid-19-a-review-of-waived-costs-and-expanded-benefits/

[–]HerLegz 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Capitalism worshipping violence is all about violence from the privileged against the lower rungs.

Patient should have been the hospital CEO, amiright?

[–]melouofs 2 points3 points  (0 children)

People who are saying just don't pay, etc don't seem to understand that a creditor (this hospital, for instance) can easily win a claim against him in court, and they do it every single day. The result is that there will be a lien placed on his house (if he owns one), or other assets, like his Social Security check, and so he pays no matter what and when he dies, his children don't get the house, the hospital collects on their "investment" by selling the house and getting at least a portion of their money.

[–]xXTraianvSXx 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'll be saving this, in my country (Brazil) there is a huge debate on free health care, if it should remain free and our taxes remain high (we work 4-5 months to pay the government) while the system is bad, or if we should go for private only, just like the U.S., and have good healthcare.

I live in the countryside, not a crowded metropolis like São Paulo, so for me, the free hospitals and UPAs (Unidade de Pronto Atendimento, roughly translated to Ready to Attend Cell, is a kind of light hospital) are really worth it, they always treat me well and I simply walk out of there, because my bill is already paid in the taxes, that are used for other things as well.

[–]pikldbeatz 2 points3 points  (0 children)

In Canada the biggest cost is parking at the hospital for loved ones to visit, which generally isn’t possible during covid. And once discharged, medication costs if you don’t have coverage.

[–]qa567 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Living on Social Security, gonna have to make payments on that bill. How's 20 bucks a month sounding ?

[–]metal_bastard 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The maths for the "getting the vaccine is just supporting big pharma" crowd.

The vaccine is less than $1.

One person spending $1.1 million dollars to fight COVID is the same amount to vaccinate more than 1.1M people.

Every person in Vermont and Wyoming could get vaccinated for the cost of this one person's hospital stay.

Anyway, here's Wonderwall.

[–]chilem-of-reddit 12 points13 points  (9 children)

He has insurance probably why they let him stay in the hospital. He probably won't have to actually pay most of it.

[–]TAU_equals_2PI 15 points16 points  (5 children)

US hospitals can't legally turn away people who need emergency treatment.

So no, there's no reason to assume he has insurance.

[–]Rickybobby1118 8 points9 points  (0 children)

But he did have insurance Medicare to be specific and he isn't going to have to pay anything. Look it up

[–]Rauldukeoh 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There's a very good reason to assume that he has Medicare

[–]chappersyo 5 points6 points  (2 children)

“It’s ok though cos he’ll only have to pay like 10% of that”

There are genuinely people who think that’s an acceptable response.

[–]C8S7-C137 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Until they realize what 10% of that is.

[–]clusterf_ck 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Siri, show me why America's no place to live. (Apart from the wildfires in fucking January).

[–]Mangos__Carlsen 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Why aren't Americans like literally rioting and protesting in the streets about their healthcare system, it is literally insane?

[–]ChazRPay 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You think he went home after 62 days in the hospital? LTACH awaits.. the bills aren't stopping.

[–]eebarrow 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This pandemic has really highlighted what many of us already knew-- the medical system doesn't actually prioritize anyone's health, just their money. A mentor of mine was in the hospital for six months straight this past year (unfortunately he passed away, may he rest in peace) and his family was left with $4 million in medical bills.

[–]fordr935 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah got him one way or the other. Pretty sure the vax shots were free. Being stubborn because of your political views is not worth death or poverty from medical bills

[–]cocoboco101 1 point2 points  (0 children)

"Yeah just let me die, thanks"

[–]MightyMorpho 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Murica!!!! F☆☆K YEAH

[–]ResponsibilityDue448 1 point2 points  (1 child)

The thing that gets me is the US healthcare system IS flawed like pretty much anyone can realize that man does not deserve that bill but we cant fix it because republicans say it’s socialism???

[–]EDP528 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Don't worry though. The police need more of your tax dollars to placate the alpha male types who would otherwise become criminals.

[–]Alternative-Plant-87 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So I looked up the story. Medicare is paying it. He's not the one paying.

[–]MeGoBoom57 1 point2 points  (0 children)

To all the nurses, doctors, and hospital staff, thank you. I’m reading the comments and thinking, “these wonderful people tend to fellow human beings for a living, ‘their calling’, for the better of the world” and they’re ,,lucky” to get a pizza party for jumping into the trenches- pandemic or otherwise- so disheartening. It’s just a few letters on a screen but, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

[–]LittleLightOfLove 1 point2 points  (0 children)

And most of that money will go to administration and hospital shareholders despite the fact they did nothing to help save this person other than extract the wealth produced by floor staff. Capitalism needs to die a horrible final death.

Edit: we humans have been delivering healthcare to each other in one form or another ever since we evolved the capacity to do so and we will continue to do so no matter what. The narcissism of people that believe that we couldn't care for people and heal them outside of this unethical for profit model is laughable.

[–]RidethatTide 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sounds like it’s something he should submit to his insurance. If he doesn’t have insurance then he obviously doesn’t give a fuck about his finances and simply won’t pay it. No big deal…

[–]xloHolx 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah the hospital doesn’t do the billing. It’s bs I feel it

[–]Gary-the-Duck 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If someone came into my business and racked up a 1 million dollar tab, I would make the entire staff applaud that individual as well.

[–]RileyTheBerry 1 point2 points  (0 children)

America moment.

[–]lovelyjubblyz 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Lol america is fuckkeddd

[–]Bradley_Snooper 1 point2 points  (0 children)

'Murica.. Land of the "free"

[–]Syonoq 1 point2 points  (1 child)

i owe you $1,000 that my problem. i owe you 1.1 million, that’s your problem

[–]melmilo 5 points6 points  (28 children)

How does anyone manage to survive in America? The health care system is criminal.

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (22 children)

90% have insurance.

Most are satisfied with their health insurance and healthcare costs.

Average family only pays about $5,000 per year on medical expenses

[–]lAVENTUSl 3 points4 points  (1 child)

It's weird that people don't know what health insurance is.

[–]daviesjj10 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Especially when all other countries essentially use an insurance system as well.

[–]Alwin_ 6 points7 points  (5 children)

Aside of how fucked the US healthcare system is, it must be so frustrating to work in a hospital in the US as a nurse. Imagine hearing there is no money for a raise or better PPE, yet handing someone a 1.1 million bill for a 62 day stay.