OT My emergency room "doctor bill"

chipchik wrote: "You are paying for the use of the facilities that are offered to you weather you use them or not."

OK, so I go to my lawyer because I got a speeding ticket. His fee for the speeding ticket is $150. (true, it really is his fee.) But does that give him the right to charge me another $600 for his bankruptcy fee, or $800 for his LLC fee, or $5,000 for his divorce fee, or $250 for his will fee -- because I might need them also?

In my business, I charge clients for exactly what I do for them, not for the work they "might need" later.

And regarding "not paying the bill" to protest. Indeed they will send it to collections. Your only chance to fight it so it doesnt go to collections is when the bill is first presented and this is how the medical business has you by your cajones.

Is there a way to "protest" without it going on your credit report? Yes. A close friend from the "business side of health care" told me to take advantage of the "payment plan" offered on the bill.... and send them TEN DOLLRS A MONTH. If the bill "stands" that is exactly what Im going to do. And there is no interest, no fees, no penalties. They will have to mail me a statement each month (yes, theyll pay for the processing) and I will use my bank to send them, at no cost to me, a ten dollar payment. In the meantime, I will file a complaint with the State regulators.

So, they send it to collections. Tell collections the charge is unfair and you're not paying the bill. They can't charge you whatever they want. The fees have to be reasonable and customary and valid. If you didn't get the service then the charge is fraudulent. Insurance companies contest charges every day. No reason for you to not challenge it, too.

snidely, I am going to challenge it. but I have a "perfect" credit report and I don't need some junk over a $1200 medical bill on it. I think my ten dollars a month payment to them will keep the hounds away while I challenge the bill through appropriate channels. The doctor is entitled to something-- $100, $200 --- so I will look at the $10 a month payment as a downpayment on what would be a fair fee.

edited to add: Ive also been in contact with the hospital, and thats the last time Im going to that hospital. It is not close to my home -- and I went there for the convenience of my transplant surgeon. It would have been much easier to go to my local hospital, which is a very fine hospital, which is only about four miles from my home and is where my regular physician is.

This is exactly the reaction they count on when they send out their crazy bills.

I've had Aetna for the past 5 years and I love them. They pay very quick and tell me exactly what I'm responsible for. I get almost no surprises.

The best thing is to not get sick.

Glad you're feeling better.

Hey Money, send me your address so I can send you a bill for the advice I've given you on this board. I'm sure we can work out a $10/month payment plan so that I won't have to ruin your credit rating.

More than 72 hours have passed, and hoops2 still can't support his claim. I don't think he can.

I think he probably made it up because he wants it to be true, and now he's tricked himself into thinking it's true.

I hope he's right, but I don't think he is.

As the piece further states, even of the 70% of the 46 million Americans without care, the 'vast majority' were satisfied with what they got.

You need to scroll up, this issue's been addressed.

Yes, Americans like their doctors. That's not the issue. The issue is whether Americans like the health care system that they and their doctors try to work within.

I personally receive great care when I'm at my doctor's office. Yet I am not at all satisfied by this country's health care system. Do you understand?

Go back a couple days, you'll see why there's still nothing showing that, pre-ACA, 70 plus percent of Americans liked their health care system.

Kaypea, if your advice were worth ten bucks I'd be happy to send it to you.

If 70+% of Americans are satisfied with their medical care, by extension they have to be satisfied by the system that provides the care.