Cyoerpope wrote --

I've seen a surgery bill knocked down to 20% of the original 4/5 thrown away)

A few years ago I was in a minor bike accident, motorist cut me off at a corner making a turn, and fractured my left shoulder.
The receptionist in ER was shocked when I said I had no insurance and
paying out of pocket. She asked several people if I could do that.
Long story short, I got my ER, doctor and bone doctor bills. They were X amount, less cash, and the total was less than half what insurance would be charged.
It was actually cheaper for me.
Health insurance would be several hundred a month, for who knows how long before I used it. The total cost to me was about $1,000.

IMO, laws are made just to befuddle & require always more lawyer hours to resolve the problems they create.

Ya got that right!
Joe
--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v3.0pr5
* Origin: Fidonet Since 1991 www.doccyber.org bbs.docsplace.org (1:135/392)

A few years ago I was in a minor bike accident, motorist cut me off at a corner making a turn, and fractured my left shoulder.
The receptionist in ER was shocked when I said I had no insurance and paying out of pocket. She asked several people if I could do that.
Long story short, I got my ER, doctor and bone doctor bills. They were X amount, less cash, and the total was less than half what insurance would be charged.
It was actually cheaper for me.
Health insurance would be several hundred a month, for who knows how long before I used it. The total cost to me was about $1,000.

Wow! So this is why our negotiation department always tell us in operations to put our clients through as self-pay (I've learned most major hospitals have a sizable pool paid by charities to go towards self-payors who can't afford the bills. Since we've stopped working for the insurances, we regularly access these
for our clients.

Only HMO managers should ever have to pay full price for medical care!

Your friend,

<+]:{)}
Cyberpope, Bishop of ROM
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Linux
* Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757.2)

Cyberpope wrote --

Wow! So this is why our negotiation department always tell us in operations to put our clients through as self-pay

I had to take Medicare when I retired and went on SS. And I was
penalised for NOT taking it at 65 and waiting a year.
Joe

--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v3.0pr5
* Origin: Fidonet Since 1991 www.doccyber.org bbs.docsplace.org (1:135/392)

Cyberpope wrote --

Wow! So this is why our negotiation department always tell us in operations to put our clients through as self-pay

I had to take Medicare when I retired and went on SS. And I was penalised for NOT taking it at 65 and waiting a year.

Why would you wait? Too many nosy hoops to jump through?

In half of Canada, you pay nothing, & just have a government health card to show.

The other half's provinces charge a fee based on income level for 100% coverage of the basics. (some services still have a user fee; you'd call it a copay, I think)

For our clients, I would telol the doctor to colect the copay firtst then presenmt us an invoice show8ing it as paid & the remainder we'd pay right away by Visa. . .

Hospitals love us, cuz they get a chunk of money & got to close a billing file. (it's all about closing the files); doctors we pay in full; hospitals we generally negfotiarte tyhe bill dowen by 30%-80% off. . . (mot of that was just fluff, padded onto the real bill, for free money & to support those who skip out entirely)

Is your Medicare sufficient for most needs? Do you contribute to it in fees at all? Easy to access(just show a card?)

Whereabouts are you? In most big cities we can give you a doctor in your home for $300/visit. Generally show up within an hour of you asking for one.

Your friend,

<+]:{)}
Cyberpope, Bishop of ROM
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Linux
* Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757.2)

Cyberpope wrote --

I had to take Medicare when I retired and went on SS. And I was penalised for NOT taking it at 65 and waiting a year.

Why would you wait? Too many nosy hoops to jump through?

No hoops, just register on line.
But I worked till I was 66 rather than retire at 65. Since I worked and didn't retire I was penalized.

In half of Canada, you pay nothing, & just have a government health card to show.

Ain't nutting free. Someone (taxpayers) are paying.

Is your Medicare sufficient for most needs? Do you contribute to it in fees at all? Easy to access(just show a card?)

I've never used it.
I am blessed with good health.
I go to health fairs for seniors at times and everything comes out
normal. No highs, no lows, just in the middle.
I'm on no meds, no problems.
They can't believe someone my then age (late 60s, now early 70s) is like that.
I thought of getting a physical at one time but figured they would poke
and prod until they found something wrong. I'd rather not know.

Whereabouts are you? In most big cities we can give you a doctor in your home

Now there's a MEMORY!
Home doctor visits? You gotta be kidding. :)
Joe
--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v3.0pr5
* Origin: Fidonet Since 1991 www.doccyber.org bbs.docsplace.org (1:135/392)

No hoops, just register on line.
But I worked till I was 66 rather than retire at 65. Since I worked and didn't retire I was penalized.

Here they love this because when you work, you're contributing to the national pension fund. You can take it as early as 55, but then you are penalized.

In half of Canada, you pay nothing, & just have a government health card to show.

Ain't nutting free. Someone (taxpayers) are paying.

Of course, but because all contribute when they have income, those without means are fully covered. The key is when I go for anything, doctor's visit, ER visit, tests, day surgery, major surgery, long hospital stay, I am not dunned for even a nickel. My taxes do not change; I don't get dinged in any way.

Naturally, I know that it's paiud for by all of us who work & contribute but that's a better way, IMO, than being individually hit for everything as it happens, regardless of your current financial means.

It's a good setup, up here -- & guaranteed by the Constitution.

I thought of getting a physical at one time but figured they would poke and prod until they found something wrong. I'd rather not know.

That & some doctors work for kickbacks on pharmaceuticals :(

Whereabouts are you? In most big cities we can give you a doctor in your home

Now there's a MEMORY!
Home doctor visits? You gotta be kidding. :)

Nhope, we have thousands of doctors signed up to provide home visits to our clients gloibally, including USA & Canada.

In USA, depending on location, it'll cost you $300-$500USD.

We average charging a fee of $400 worldwide per visit for our clients.

I wasn't quick to believe it either, but I know for a fact, as we send them out daily.

I find it fun to call up a doctor on his cellphone & say, "Good morning, Bob, sorry to wake you, but can you see a patient in this hotel/neighbourhood?" & normally he'd be there within the hour.

I got buymped upstairs so I'm not in Operations now, so not making those calls. Now I'm contacting doctors worldwide to establish working aghreements with them so they'll see our clients in hotels/vacation homes/etc for a price we can make some thing from. I'm currentlyu working in Hungary, having just finished Scandinavia (I was cold just researching them! Next I'll probably head badcj to Africa, but it's tough there as so many places are at war. We've medevaced clients out of war zones before, but it's never cheap!

Your friend,

<+]:{)}
Cyberpope, Bishop of ROM
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Linux
* Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757.2)