CT Scan? That'll Be Five Hundred Bucks....Up Front!
Stan Grimes
January 06, 2009
"Five Hundred up front before we can admit you for CT-Scan," the lady at the business desk said dryly. "Five hundred?" I couldnīt believe it. "Yes sir.ī
Thatīs basically how the conversation went. I have bee trying my best to give birth to a kidney stone and have been feeling much like someone in the throngs of the birthing process (by the way Iīve only been told how it feels to give birth). Five hundred bucks, can you believe it? If I had five hundred bucks Iīd give it to my utility company for a natural gas bill, which Iīm sorely behind on.
Please understand this. I have insurance. No, Iīm not one of these folks that can walk into a hospital and flash my Medicaid card and have free brain surgery and I donīt judge that sector of our population, but five hundred bucks "up front?" Do they think Iīm going to climb off the CT-Scan table and make a run for the border? Itīs a ten-minute procedure. Heck, all I want is to give birth to my new kidney stone with as little discomfort as possible.
Is there something wrong with our healthcare system? What do you think? I have watched people get in front of the line for so long Iīm tired of it. Before you know it, youīre going to go to a grocery store and take a number to see the office personnel who then will examine your checking account to make sure you have enough money to buy those bananas you eat with your cereal. After youīve bought those bananas someone will follow you home to ensure those bananas werenīt a gift for your impoverished neighbor.
We no doubt have to have hospitals, doctors, equipment, nurses, and clean surgical rooms, but this is getting crazy. Several years ago I had to have a hernia sewed by a doctor. He did a great job. Except about a year ago I noticed the hernia is back and doing fine, thank you. Can I get a refund? I went to the doctor and told him about the hernia. He said, "Sure I can fix it up real nicely," but no refund? Why not? Donīt I have a receipt for all the charges my insurance (very small amount by the way) and I paid? If so why canīt I get a free surgery for the botched one? Thatīs how it works at Wal-mart.
Instead of lavish buildings called hospitals why not warehouses like Samīs Club. "Say, if this brain surgery doesnīt work," asks I, "can I get a refund?" "Sure," says the cashier.
You can test drive a new car, but you canīt test drive your new gall bladder surgery. What gives here? Someone wake me up from this nightmare.
Thatīs basically how the conversation went. I have bee trying my best to give birth to a kidney stone and have been feeling much like someone in the throngs of the birthing process (by the way Iīve only been told how it feels to give birth). Five hundred bucks, can you believe it? If I had five hundred bucks Iīd give it to my utility company for a natural gas bill, which Iīm sorely behind on.
Please understand this. I have insurance. No, Iīm not one of these folks that can walk into a hospital and flash my Medicaid card and have free brain surgery and I donīt judge that sector of our population, but five hundred bucks "up front?" Do they think Iīm going to climb off the CT-Scan table and make a run for the border? Itīs a ten-minute procedure. Heck, all I want is to give birth to my new kidney stone with as little discomfort as possible.
Is there something wrong with our healthcare system? What do you think? I have watched people get in front of the line for so long Iīm tired of it. Before you know it, youīre going to go to a grocery store and take a number to see the office personnel who then will examine your checking account to make sure you have enough money to buy those bananas you eat with your cereal. After youīve bought those bananas someone will follow you home to ensure those bananas werenīt a gift for your impoverished neighbor.
We no doubt have to have hospitals, doctors, equipment, nurses, and clean surgical rooms, but this is getting crazy. Several years ago I had to have a hernia sewed by a doctor. He did a great job. Except about a year ago I noticed the hernia is back and doing fine, thank you. Can I get a refund? I went to the doctor and told him about the hernia. He said, "Sure I can fix it up real nicely," but no refund? Why not? Donīt I have a receipt for all the charges my insurance (very small amount by the way) and I paid? If so why canīt I get a free surgery for the botched one? Thatīs how it works at Wal-mart.
Instead of lavish buildings called hospitals why not warehouses like Samīs Club. "Say, if this brain surgery doesnīt work," asks I, "can I get a refund?" "Sure," says the cashier.
You can test drive a new car, but you canīt test drive your new gall bladder surgery. What gives here? Someone wake me up from this nightmare.