The reality of US Healthcare - written by an Australian journalist who'd gone to live and work in the US with her American-born husband. This article, by Helen Pitt, from The Sydney Morning Herald
"My husband might have been battling cancer, but the battle with the insurance companies proved just as sickening. Each time William had a brain operation we would receive a bill - usually in the vicinity of $50,000-$80,000 for the operation and three-day hospital stay - despite the fact we paid a hefty premium and the insurance company intended to pay costs.
I've heard often that unsuspecting and unwell patients who are insured have paid hefty medical bills because they are vulnerable, confused, tired of being harassed by hospital billing departments or simply didn't understand the insurance jargon that the bill was the responsibility of the insurance company, not the patient."
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Living in the UK where everyone has free healthcare, I still can't believe the mercenary approach that is levelled at sick people in the US..............it is totally shocking that you can be dying and the hospital will ask for your credit card! But trying to extract money out of ill people by issuing invoices (even though they are insured) - surely this is fraud?
ReplyDeleteI have received those hefty bills as well...and they don't stop coming. I have insurance coverage and don't understand why I'm being billed. So, I've taken the chance and waited it out. I'm not paying for those bills. Nope!
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that you've been harassed by your insurance company - hope they stop it so you can on with your life.
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