ANOTHER "COST" STORY

I was out in New Zealand a month ago and my sons fatherinlaw told me an interesting story. An American woman was injured whilst on a pacific island . She was flown to New Zealand where she had extensive repairs to a multiple complex fracture. She paid the bill to the New Zealand hospital. On return to America she decided to have the worked checked at her local hospital. They xrayed the repair, took a look at the xray and the doctor said the repair was perfect and she was fine. She then received a bill from the american hospital. It was four times, yes four times the amount she paid for the the actual work to be done in New Zealand. She was totally shocked. All that money just for a look !!!

2 Comments

Does NOT Surprise Me ~

by Carolyn65 - 2009-12-06 01:12:02

I can not/do not fly, so will never have to worry about a foreign Dr./Hospital ~ ha-ha. I want my, at least, one foot on the ground. My daughter is a "jet setter".

This does not surprise me in the least. Getting something done from any American insurance office, Dr., hospital, and the like, just feels like I am having to "bend over backwards", "pulling teeth", etc. I have been fighting with BC/BS PPO business office in Dallas, TX for 4 months now. I undoubtedly owe them $100.00 as a form statement was sent to me. I politely wrote back and asked for a simple itemized list an/or what the $100.00 fee was for. I had been to doctors and the hospital several times, but the date on the statement was 4/16/09 & that did not match any of my records. They never wrote me they rec'd. my 1st, 2nd NOR 3rd correspondence of the same request. I assured them I did want to pay what was owed by me. The 3rd $100.00 bill/statement from them said I would be turned over to the "collection agency" even though I had written each time for my simple request. MY big mistake was I was sending MY correspondence in regular envelopes from home. The last correspondence (the 3rd), I folded my simple, same request to fit THEIR business envelope like as in a payment envelope. Lo & behold ~ BC/BS got the only correspondence they said they had rec'd. from me ~ ALL just because it looked like a money envelope and not just a personal envelope to, oh, well, just one of their every day clients!

Long winded me again, Yes, BC/BS has been good to me, but I do pay them almost $1,300.00 quarterly for just me, a widow. Now, Uncle Sam, wrote me & said I am old enough (HOW dare him!) to receive Medicare (NOT) ~ I am waaayyy to young IF you do not look at my birth certificate ~ Have great Holidays & 2010,
Carolyn G. in TEXAS ~ WAY TO GO UT HORNS!

Interesting

by J.B. - 2009-12-06 12:12:46

Interesting story Pete.

Too bad our government can't afford the trillion $ cost to pay for a health care program for our citizens. Come to think of it we may be able to do that if our government wasn't so hell-bent on trying to play good Samaritan to the rest of the world. For example why do we need to be fighting two nation building wars under the guise of protecting our country, or have troops stationed in Germany, Korea, Japan, England and only God knows how many other countries.

If only we could get that bunch of lame brains in Washington to understand that charity should start at home.

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