Hospitol bill

[Shannow]

Oops, we did use our insurance when we had our children.

We went pricvate, so the the boss and new child could have some privacy....the Private hospital used the public delivery room, public midwives, and our doctor worked in both the public and private.

Out of pockets were about the same as renting a motel room for three days.

 

[Shannow]

But this time 2 years ago, I had some funny chest pains that I didn't like...trip to ER, hooked up to machines, tested etc. Career advice (we see a lot of people wearing those shirts come in here for this)...public, and cost nothing.

 

[crinkles]

shannow I don't see having private as virtually mandatory. you just ake a choice when you are 31 whether you are willing to pay for private for ever or public for ever.

if you have a large income, then yes, maybe the 1.5% levy will be more than your private medibank premium.

we had public healthcare for our first born, went to the nest maternity hospital in Australia, excellent service, not a penny, and a professor of gyneacology "checked in" during delivery.

second child, move to NSW, worst service from public midwifes and doctors - we checked ourselves out after 20 hours (luckily the baby was doing well).

 

[Spector]

I spent a lot of years in the health care industry and have done a complete turn around. Today managed care companies only care about the bottom line to stockholders, all about the money not about insuring people. Assuming health care is a right similar to water sewer, electric etc the profit motive needs to be taken out of the equation. The principal of ins is to spread the risk to make it affordable. Managed care companies eliminate the risk, make record profits every quarter and charge more each year for less coverage, their executives make millions and millions of dollars etc. Unless you have group coverage health ins is not affordable, especially with any kind of chronic condition. If you have had cancer or any chronic digestive disorder you are UNINSURABLE!

Medicare Part A is actually a well run insurance product and actually administered by private insurance companies. I would vote anytime for a national health ins run like Part A. Managed Care and pharmaceuticals are out of control in this country and the money buys the votes in Congress.

 

[Shannow]

crinkles, Little Johny's rule that your premiums go up 2% per year that you don't hold private was to all intents and purposes blackmail.

Opting out of the "service" results in increased costs forever thereafter.

 

[sprintman]

Mother-in-law rang 60 secs ago she has heart palpitations and she is off to casualty and of coutrse it's free. Pablo what part of that do you not undestand? By the way I am [censored] myself that I may have a najor crisis on my hands

 

[Pablo]

Originally Posted By: sprintman
Mother-in-law rang 60 secs ago she has heart palpitations and she is off to casualty and of coutrse it's free. Pablo what part of that do you not undestand? By the way I am [censored] myself that I may have a najor crisis on my hands


I hope your Mother-in-law is OK.

But sprintman. Of course it's NOT free. Who pays for the medical facility, who pays the bloody Dr.'s salary? Who pays for the equipment? It's not free my friend.

 

[Shannow]

sprintman, I hope that your MIL fares well.

You've got some good doctors in the ACT...but they aren't free.

 

[Johnny]

Originally Posted By: Kruse
Originally Posted By: Johnny
Originally Posted By: Footpounds
Originally Posted By: CivicFan
Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
True,

But I don't mind my tax dollars helping person in need like toyotaguy



It is not taxpayer money that pays for this. It goes into charity care and comes out of the provider's revenues.



And what does a taxpayer supported hospital do when their revenues drop and they need more money? They raise taxes. This just happened with our county hospital (Parkland) in Dallas County.


Does that mean they are having to few or to many gunshot victims.



Is that a reference to Kennedy, the gang bangers or both?



Has absolutely nothing to do with Kennedy. If you live in Dallas Country and you get shot or stabbed, you go to Parkland Hospital. They are experts in that field.

 

[TooManyWheels]

Originally Posted By: Shannow


I have to pay $2 grand in health insurance, ..
...


Over what period? On most traditional (low deductible, 20% copayment) plans I have seen, that would cover a family for about a month and a half, medical only.

 

[Tempest]

Originally Posted By: TooManyWheels
Originally Posted By: Shannow


I have to pay $2 grand in health insurance, ..
...


Over what period? On most traditional (low deductible, 20% copayment) plans I have seen, that would cover a family for about a month and a half, medical only.

If most people use the publicly subsidized, government health program, the amount they will use the private side will be less so rates can be less.

 

[crinkles]

Originally Posted By: TooManyWheels
Originally Posted By: Shannow


I have to pay $2 grand in health insurance, ..
...


Over what period? On most traditional (low deductible, 20% copayment) plans I have seen, that would cover a family for about a month and a half, medical only.


likely a year. how can it cost as much as you are saying! who makes that kinda money!

 

[Gary Allan]

Family coverage for my family in 2002 was $750/month to my employer. My wife pays, iirc, $440/month through her employer.

 

[Pablo]

Company pays most of it. We for example, pay about $268/month for medical coverage for our family. Company pays about $600 or so IIRC.

 

[sprintman]

Unemployed so yes it's free and the govt gives me $500 a fortnight to look at BITOG all day.

 

[toyotaguy]

Well, have an update for you guys. Just recieved the Ambulance bill today. Charges are as follows.

1. Ambulance to house. $577.00

2. Oxygen $45.00

3. Mileage. 12.0 miles $105.00


Total $727.00


I'll just put this with the stack from the hosp.

 

[Pablo]

Hey I'm glad it's free for you! That is cool. But someone is paying.

Our state unemployment insurance doles out ~$550/week as I recall.

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: toyotaguy
Well, have an update for you guys. Just recieved the Ambulance bill today. Charges are as follows.

1. Ambulance to house. $577.00

2. Oxygen $45.00

3. Mileage. 12.0 miles $105.00


Total $727.00


I'll just put this with the stack from the hosp.


Wow! What a bargain! I think that you got a real discount. Normally (from the bills I've seen) you've got a two tier service. Normal "life suppport" (which is doing nothing but safely putting you on a gurney and delivering you) and "advanced life support" (which may be nothing more than a routine transport for someone who is using O2 at the time - or an IV drip that the ambulance EMT did not initiate). The cost just about doubles.

Side note: Never use an ambulance service for a routine transport. Rent a Winnebago and get two agency nurses. It's cheaper (that's the joke of it).

 

[Dave Hess]

On the bright side, it was just acid reflux and stress.
It could of been a much worse medical condition.

 

[toyotaguy]

yes, I realize that. To that I am thankful.