Hospitals in Jamaica

[alarmguy]

Glad you are feeling better.

Yes, and if you were illegal, out of the US, I wonder how much that bill would be?

Our highly trained top-notch (unless you are seeing an NP who googles your condition) then they deserve the pay. Of course the hospital cartels and executives pad waay too much but that's what insurance agreements and premiums with insurance companies are for to figure out.

Most likely there would be no charge. Emergency rooms are required to give free care to those who can’t pay.

Thanks for the good wishes. That jury is still out to lunch on the cause of the edema. Unknown cause but it seems to be subsiding most likely a side effect of an anti-Cancer drug last year.

Long story short because I’m used to hospital bills ever since I retired, ha ha, even though I never had them before this time.

To me, the OP charges seemed reasonable for a Third World country because I know what they charge in the states and yes, of course most likely much better care here.

Yes, again maybe being American with the resources the bill would be higher but medical care in this country is incredibly expensive too

I never even had an overnight stay in a hospital and I could show you bills for the year totaling $100,000 and more

OK, time to go out to dinner with my wife! Good conversation and I’m not debating you about the quality of care or the cost in Third World countries.
We can both agree important to have insurance for those occasions!

 

[alarmguy]

There's a big difference between US and Jamaican hospitals; care, equipment, regulations, and training I presume. I doubt anyone pays that amount out of pocket, especially illegals, homeless, or foreign travellers without a $.01 to their name.

Didn't OP say that costs had to be paid upfront in Jamaica? Here it is illegal to do that, you take in everyone and provide care no matter what.

Yes, overseas countries. It is not unusual at all to have to pay upfront for emergency care.
That’s not just Jamaica. That’s many places all over the world.

When you buy travelers health insurance, some of those hospitals that know those companies may accept payment for them, but it would probably have to be almost instant instantaneous.
If not, you have to charge everything and then submit the bills once back in the states to the insurance company for reimbursement.

If you chose a good travelers insurance company many times they will work with the overseas hospital

If you search the term travelers insurance you will get to know the companies that are known for doing things like that

 

[alarmguy]

To give you an idea, I have a family member in the Philippines who lives there. She just had a cesarean section with a slightly premature baby.
She had to pay the hospital cost upfront actually an deposit-and so far the daily cost of the baby being in an incubator for the last two weeks.
They have to keep as time goes on paying more and more of the bills. The other alternative is a government hospital, which you don’t want to go to so she goes to a private hospital.

They actually went shopping at private hospitals based on cost and they chose a moderate one.
Meaning they will tell you the cost right upfront before you go

 

[Owen Lucas]

She had to pay the hospital cost upfront actually an deposit-and so far the daily cost of the baby being in an incubator for the last two weeks.

Scary part is, do they pull the baby out of the incubator and say deal with it if you can't pay? I can't imagine Filipinos being this uncompassionate lol.

 

[SC Maintenance]

I'm glad to hear travel insurance is affordable. What companies offer these policies?

I have used IMG global and BCBS Global. They both sell online. I have never had to use them fortunately so I have no idea how they pay. However there well reviewed and they give you a number to call in each country IIRC. They sell direct online. You must have regular US health insurance, so I suspect they simply pay the bill then try to get reimbursed from your domestic policy?

 

[SC Maintenance]

Scary part is, do they pull the baby out of the incubator and say deal with it if you can't pay? I can't imagine Filipinos being this uncompassionate lol.

I presume that much like private hospitals here, once there stable if they can't pay they will transfer them to the public hospital - which is what it sounds like they were trying to avoid.

 

[daniel327]

Scary part is, do they pull the baby out of the incubator and say deal with it if you can't pay?

Yes. Similar to any other business, when it becomes obvious the customer isn't going to pay or can't pay, services are withdrawn.

 

[TomYoung]

Most likely there would be no charge. Emergency rooms are required to give free care to those who can’t pay.

Thanks for the good wishes. That jury is still out to lunch on the cause of the edema. Unknown cause but it seems to be subsiding most likely a side effect of an anti-Cancer drug last year.

Long story short because I’m used to hospital bills ever since I retired, ha ha, even though I never had them before this time.

To me, the OP charges seemed reasonable for a Third World country because I know what they charge in the states and yes, of course most likely much better care here.

Yes, again maybe being American with the resources the bill would be higher but medical care in this country is incredibly expensive too

I never even had an overnight stay in a hospital and I could show you bills for the year totaling $100,000 and more

OK, time to go out to dinner with my wife! Good conversation and I’m not debating you about the quality of care or the cost in Third World countries.
We can both agree important to have insurance for those occasions!

This starts out incorrect. Hospitals must treat those who cannot pay or are uninsured. But it’s not free. They will be billed, and will be in debt for a long time if they do not pay. Sometimes hospitals will send patients to other hospitals. All that is guaranteed is treatment.

 

[SC Maintenance]

I never even had an overnight stay in a hospital and I could show you bills for the year totaling $100,000 and more

Having paid a few bills, the "overnight hospital bed" is often more than the procedure that required it - per night. Here at least.

Its always surprised me in US hospitals how little the provider - like a surgeon - make, and how much the hospital makes.

 

[dishdude]

This starts out incorrect. Hospitals must treat those who cannot pay or are uninsured. But it’s not free. They will be billed, and will be in debt for a long time if they do not pay. Sometimes hospitals will send patients to other hospitals. All that is guaranteed is treatment.

And I believe it is only if they accept Medicare. Additionally, it is only to stabilize the patient in a life threatening situation.

 

[4wd]

Because lower wages in 3rd world countries typically equates with lower costs But when Americans show up with our infinite wealth, it's time to fleece us. Google $1200 IV bag Jamaica.

I can tell you that’s 3x what we pay for a bag that has the potassium level of a $1 tablet - fleece all over the place …

 

[Rand]

Well healthcare isn’t free when you’re in a foreign country. Whether you’re being ripped off or not, you have to pay so at least we agree on that point.

I was at the emergency room in the USA three times between September and October for an immune system problem where my face would blow up.
On each occasion, I was there for roughly an hour, which was pretty much to prescribe a steroid and make sure the swelling would stop and then sent on my way back home

The bill for each occasion was $2641.00
Thank God for Medicare my cost was $83

so that is what they charged medicare?
if you have no insurance it would probably be $10000.

I had a broken arm in 2017 Summa tried to bill me 39k? (from memory)
but after I fixed the insurance info
the insurance rate for ER was 12k
Of which I paid 2500

Went back next day as fingers were turning purple (arm was splinted)
billed me $7500 for nurse to adjust the splint. (took 5min)

Jamaica isnt the only fleecing going on.

Had surgery the surgeon was about 300 out of my pocket-- and an all around great guy,
but the out of town out of network anesthesiologist was 1200 out of pocket.
"surprise billing" sound familiar anyone?

Am I supposed to know hes out of network out of town working 300miles away from his office?

And my area has some of the better less sketchy hospitals comparatively.

 

[Al]

Getting paid for your hospital and doctor services isn't fleecing. Hospitals can't treat foreigners for free and have the local populations pay your health care. It's up to the individual to make sure they have health insurance when traveling outside the USA or you will not get treated if you can't guarantee payment. Simple stuff, personal responsibility.

This. I would never travel outside the USA under any circumstances.

 

[nickaluch]

A guy I know went to Iraq on vacation I know he's obsessed with the middle east..Got sick had a blockage in his intestines had 3 surgeries there. His sister had to wire 33k for the surgeries to happen. He was transferred to Jordan I remember the sister telling me the USA federal government got involved for this to happen. Needed another surgery there sister again wired money but he died before it happened. Crazy story when I got the phone call

 

[Doc8404]

Wonder if the Hotel can pay some of this lol

Although the hotel is owned by a company in Spain, I will be writing them a letter. Unfortunately, since she was rushed off in an ambulance was no chance to get photos of the AREA or witness statements.

The resort even charged them an extra $300 so they could drive from the hospital to the resort to collect their belongings and back to the hospital

 

[CKN]

My sister was diagnosed with early onset dementia due to Alzheimer’s,
She’s 18 months older than me and lives in CA while I’m in NY.

Working on so many things, but anyways, she goes to Jamaica and was to fly home tomorrow.

She slips and falls on the resort and takes a one hour ambulance ride to Montego Bay hospital for $1,000.

Her friend charged her own card. Then they wouldn’t even look at her at the hospital without another $3,000.

She works for city of Los Angeles and they just moved the employees from the amazing insurance to some trash. Regardless, she has a dislocated and rotated elbow that needs general anesthesia.

$19,000 in addition to the already charged $4k.

Not sure how much will be reimbursed. Even with accident or medical insurances it usually requires up front payment.

(Sigh) done complaining. At least she’s safe. I think.

The wife and I travel extensively. We don't leave the U.S. without travel insurance. Should be a lesson here. I have been to 40 countries.

 

[Hall]

You can bet if it were a Jamaican citizen that jammed their elbow in the exact same place and manner, it wouldn't have been 1/10th the cost.... So yeah, that's exactly what it is... Fleecing.

Odds are they have subsidized, public health care coverage. They've already "paid" for treatment through taxes. OP's sister is being charged the non-subsidized costs.

When the American president refers to xxxxhole countries, he's not far off. Since healthcare fraud is at play here at least with overbilling, maybe the card holder can dispute the charge and place it in suspense. Let the card company negotiate with the crooks at the hospital.

This is neither fraud nor overbilling.

 

[dishdude]

This. I would never travel outside the USA under any circumstances.

This is the most BITOG response ever.

 

[billt460]

Odds are they have subsidized, public health care coverage. They've already "paid" for treatment through taxes. OP's sister is being OVERcharged the non-subsidized costs.

FIFY

 

[billt460]

Odds are they have subsidized, public health care coverage. They've already "paid" for treatment through taxes. OP's sister is being charged the non-subsidized costs.

This is neither fraud nor overbilling.

The people living in these Caribbean tourist countries don't earn enough money to support themselves, let alone hospitals. What keeps these Caribbean nations afloat financially are millions in tourist dollars spent by out of country vacationers. Year in and year out.

Along with a lot of other basic infrastructure. Most of these "citizens" live in dilapidated shanty towns, on the outskirts of the larger tourist cities. It's much the same with the Bahamas.

Don't kid yourself. Take away rich whitey coming down there constantly, year after year for the gambling, booze, fishing, and scuba diving, and the whole country would collapse, and look like what it does when you drive 5 miles out of the major tourist cities in any direction.

If they had to depend on nothing but a citizens tax base, they wouldn't be able to afford Band-Aids. Let alone hospitals.