Yup...it's now just a matter of time.

[Big Guy]

I had my 1st ever issue with a kidney stone earlier this year. We went to the emergency room about 10 pm @ night. It was packed and I got tired of waiting. We returned home and went to bed.

About 2 am I told my me wife I need to go back to the emergency room. Once there it wasn't nearly as busy as before. They took me back and gave me some meds for the pain and I had an MRI done. That disclosed the stone and it's size. 

After waiting and drinking lots of water, then going to the restroom, the doctor told me that he suspected that the stone had been passed by now. I was released about 5:30 am or so. 

Once home, we went to bed and from that point on, I felt much better. I'm on Medicare and have BC / BS as my supplemental insurance. Out-of-pocket expense was zero. That felt pretty danged good as well. 

[Superstar]

Yes ma'am, I fully understand that there are indeed many good folks with good hearts & intentions employed in the medical 'industry'...but in my own defense of comments made...

In the year 2020, the whole medical field in general took in 2 TRILLION plus dollars in the USA.  2 times one thousand billion. How many billions does it take before enough is enough? 

In my own case... 3 years ago, I had an 'out patient' surgery at a local hospital to remove a kidney stone , they billed my insurance company $23,700.00.  Plus a few hundred they billed me for co-pay.  I was actually only 'in' there for less than 9 hours.  The 'recovery room' charge alone I noted was $8,000 and change...for maybe 30 or 40 minutes of someone watching me sleep off the anesthesia.  if you look at the 'hourly rate', we're talking over $2,600.00 per hour, for the care I received.... Does this seem right to you?  Or does it seem to be just total greed...they charge what they do, because they can....   

FLc"



I have no intention of getting into a debate on personal beliefs about our healthcare system on an apnea forum.  It is just broad statements that "they" do something egregious just because they can to be not fact based.  On the other hand our healthcare system and drug costs truly need to be addressed and improved. BTW  over 50% of the hospitals in the US are non profit.  If you google why hospital charges are so high I think you will get a better understanding why something like "merely watching you sleep" is not an accurate gauge.  Best wishes. 

[GuyScharf]

In my own case... 3 years ago, I had an 'out patient' surgery at a local hospital to remove a kidney stone , they billed my insurance company $23,700.00.  Plus ....

When I see statements like this, I always wonder: What did the insurance company pay? When I look at my Medicare statements, I always see that Medicare authorized and paid amount is only a fraction of the amount billed, and some ancillary services that are billed aren't paid at all.

When I had a CABG and about a 12-day hospital stay, I think Medicare paid about one-quarter of the billed amount. When my wife got a power wheelchair two years ago, the amount paid was about one-third of the amount billed.

[Superstar]

When I see statements like this, I always wonder: What did the insurance company pay? When I look at my Medicare statements, I always see that Medicare authorized and paid amount is only a fraction of the amount billed, and some ancillary services that are billed aren't paid at all.

When I had a CABG and about a 12-day hospital stay, I think Medicare paid about one-quarter of the billed amount. When my wife got a power wheelchair two years ago, the amount paid was about one-third of the amount billed.

Very true.  No one, insurance companies or self pays ever pay the full listed charge. They negotiate.