I don't know who those negotiators would be, here in Iowa. But now I remember that Jefferson County Hospital did offer me a 15% discount on their bill if I paid in full within 10 days. That was a considerable saving and I was happy to do it.
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Susan" <wayback71@...> wrote: > > I too would like to see Medicare for all here in the US. It is too late for > you, but the Time article also talks about people you can hire to negotiate > your bill downward with the hospital. They can often get 30% off with just a > phone call. But you have to know such help exists, and pay for it, too. For > you. the question would be how much that cataract surgery would cost if you > were on Medicare. You could probably research waht Medicare pays for for > simple cataract surgery and a 3 hr stay. I am guessing here: $2,500. > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "feste37" <feste37@> wrote: > > > > I had cataract surgery in one eye a year ago, and it cost about $10,000. I > > couldn't figure out why it was so expensive. The surgery takes about 15 > > minutes, I think. I was in and out the hospital in about 3 hours. I have a > > high-deductible insurance policy, so I ended up paying about $5,000m and > > the insurance paid the rest. I would like to see a Medicare-for-all system > > in the US. It is much more efficient than health care for profit. In > > surveys I have seen, people who live in countries that have socialized > > health care are far more satisfied with their health care than those who do > > not. > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Susan" <wayback71@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > The most recent issue of Time Magazine is devoted entirely to one topic > > > (first time ever an issue is about 1 topic) and one author: Steven Brill > > > on the cost of health care in the USA. It is truly a fascinating and > > > mind blowing issue. Brill spent 7 months researching and writing the > > > issue. The gist is that the pricing of health care here is entirely > > > unregulated, inconsistent and with markups of 10 and 20 and 50 times the > > > real price of a service. Medicare has the real data and provides > > > reasonable payment rates, but otherwise the markups are humongous for the > > > privately insured and especially for the uninsured. Our 'non-profit" > > > hospitals rake in billions in profits and their CEO's earn way more than > > > the president of the university system they represent. The profit margins > > > in these hospitals are terrific. So just as important as the question > > > about who is to pay for what - is the question of how much things should > > > cost to begin with. Check out the issue - it has a wealth of information > > > and I think and hope it is going to create a stir. Brill wrote that > > > these costs are destroying our economy - along with other problems, of > > > course. > > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, turquoiseb <no_reply@> wrote: > > > > > > > > This is a sobering article by a physician that should give > > > > those idiots on FFL who claim that everyone in America has > > > > health care pause...but will not, because they're idiots. > > > > > > > > What do you do when you need an operation to save your life, > > > > but the only way to pay for it is to go to prison? > > > > > > > > http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/02/on-purposely-getting-arrested-to-get-life-saving-surgery/273282/ > > > > > > > > > >
