I spent half that time in Critical Care (much of that on a ventilator, a small amount sedated), and most of the rest in a specialist neuro-rehab unit. I would have died otherwise.
Fortunately it cost me nothing - Thank Bevan for the NHS - but if I were in the US I imagine I would be financially crippled!
Also don’t know the answer, but another anecdote.
I was admitted to the ICU where I stayed for about a month, not on any ventilator or any other machines except an IV drip (the medication was very dangerous and needed that level of surveillance). However, I was taking up space, so I was transferred to the next level down, where I spent another month on nothing but just that one IV medication. In total I had two non invasive heart surgeries during my time there.
For basically just room, board, babysitters, and the medication, I was billed over $650,000. I was 26 at the time, in college, no job, living off savings I’d accrued in the military…
Yeahhhh.
deleted by creator
With opium
And a $100,000 bill.
So cheap!
More likely you just would not have been kept in hospital four months here. Somehow we have the combination of highest cost and also cost-cutting schemes.
To answer your question - $18,000 I guess, if I got lucky and the insurance worked correctly. That’s the alleged max out of pocket for the insurance I pay for at work.
According to https://nchstats.com/average-cost-of-hospital-stays-in-us/ the average cost for inpatient care in the United States is 3,025 dollars.
4 months of 30 days multiplied by 3,025 is equal to 363,000 dollars without insurance.
That is an entirely believable number to me.
If you spent 4 months in a U.S. hospital and didn’t die, you would spend the rest of your life wishing you did.
The average cost of a hospital stay in a U.S. hospital is about $3,000 per day, but it varies significantly by location. So long stays like yours might cost between $250,000 and $500,000.
If your insurance covers it (and about 92% of Americans have health insurance), you’d be looking at your annual out of pocket max, which the law caps at $18,000 for family plans or $9,000 for individual plans, but which most people on employer sponsored plans (around 60% of Americans) have out of pocket maxes around $4,000 to $5,000. Source
So for most Americans, your hospital stay would’ve probably cost the individual patient about $5,000. Insurance would’ve paid another $350,000.
But for some Americans, they’d be looking at a $360,000 bill and then would just file bankruptcy, start over with close to a net worth of zero, at least for non-exempt assets (people generally get to keep their homes, cars, and retirement accounts in bankruptcy so it won’t actually be starting from zero if you’re well into a middle age in the middle class).
Or worse, the hospital would realize they’re not getting paid, and then would find a reason to kick you out as soon as you’re stabilized. They have to keep you alive even when you can’t pay, but don’t have to treat you beyond that for free.
With the recent changes to the medical insurance landscape in America, and thousands upon thousands of people losing their jobs due to various factors, your 90% figure is pretty generous. Add in the fact that most insurance is tied directly into employment, Americans have much less options than the rest of the free world, unless you are filthy rich.
Excellent answer
And if you do have insurance and get a bill over a few thousand, there are pretty good odds insurance will deny paying for it and drag you through many levels of confusing and auto-denied appeals over the course of 6+ months! Even if your procedure is clearly covered in your summary plan description or required by law.
And this is why Brian Thompson got what was coming to him.
Agree 100% except one thing to be a little picky, the insurance doesn’t pay the full 350k like ever, that’s the list price they have negotiated prices with the hospital that differ, and if your ask the hospital bursar/collections you can get a cash price that’s usual less as well.
do you loose your house if you file bankruptcy?
generally, no
There are a huge variety of factors but one I think people tend to forget: your state of residence
Massachusetts or Hawaii, you’d prob not be much worse off than your current situation. Most states, you’d likely owe whatever your insurance plan’s out of pocket maximum. In most of the Southeast and Texas, you’d probably be launched into the sun
All the screwed. And now as of this month medical debt will be part of your credit reports, so good luck on getting a home loan or job
Why on earth would debt effect getting a job? My employer doesn’t know my credit rating.
Mortgage and loans I understand but not the job bit.
Credit history is often included in US background checks
That’s bonkers. My employer has No reason to know my credit rating and unless I’m working in some kind of ‘protected’ industry not sure why I would require a background check.
They changed the law so medical debt can go on your credit score.
I get that. I don’t get why my employer should be aware of it though.
I’m speculating here, and don’t think for a second I’m in favour of this, but probably so your employer knows how desperate you are for a job and therefore how much they can push you.
Or how likely you are to steal money, especially in a role with access to cash or bank accounts.
Unless you got a couple of million bucks in your bank account…. Super fucked
Or have good insurance.
Even then how whats your deductible or your out of pocket cost before insurance kicks in and then your doctor will have to prove you needed it they might stick you with a bill anyway and 4 months in IC will likely be $5009-15,000 per day maybe more depending on any surgical procedures. The land of the free run by the POTUS- Pedo of the United states, what a great time to be dying
Haven’t seen anyone mention maximums. Sometimes insurance plans will straight up stop covering you after a certain price. Like, for the rest of your life. Imagine running up a cancer treatment bill in your teenage years and being cut off until you either die or somehow live long enough to get a job with different insurance.
Holy fucking shit just burn the whole industry to the ground at this point.
Your first stop would be a bankruptcy lawyer.
if you can afford one lol.
Jury Nullification
Hmmm. Probably like $500,000. It would be cheaper, but good affordable rates are only available to insurance companies. But with a GoFundMe plan you might save up to a $50,000. Best bet is to get on the evening news with you in total shambles. The good news is you can haggle hospitals here, no joke. Not acceptable anywhere else in the US unless you’re buying something hot.
Buying something hot
Your mum?
My brother smashed and broke his thumb.x ray, er visit, blah blah blah. They call him a month later to talk about payment. I cant remember how much, he had shit insurance though. He said, I’d love to pay, but I can only afford 20 a month. I’m willing to pay 20 a month for the rest of my life. Hospital told him dont worry about it. We got a fund for that.
Yeah, that’s good to hear
I’m not from the US, but I’ve heard someone from there explain the system.
When you go to hospital, and get a bill of $250.000 your insurance company will cover let say $50.000. You will get a bill for $1.200 and the rest will be declared by the hospital to their insurance company as damages.
It’s super weird, I still don’t get it but apparently this is how it works in most cases, or as I’m told.
I don’t know the answer to your question, but I will say that I’m glad you’re still here with us, friend
