Taking the suggestion of rebeleyeball, who reminds us that we need public healthcare because stuff happens - that even with "coverage," many of us are paying a lot out of pocket - I thought I'd share my experience, strength and hope on unanticipated medical expenses.
Four months after being "let go" without cause by a major Pittsburgh corporation, I developed painful duodenal ulcers which went undiagnosed for more than 2 weeks. I was losing weight, and felt rotten most of the time.
One night, the pain in my gut was so great I asked a friend to drive me to the ER. I still had my corporate insurance card and would be "covered" by COBRA if any medical expenses were high enough to warrant my putting the COBRA premiums on a credit card. That night in the ER, I was examined scattershot, given a pepto-type beverage and sent on my way.
The very next evening, the pains were even worse. In agony, I called my mother who picked me up and drove me the ER. This time, the ER got an abdominal surgeon on the case.
Between exhaustive queries about possible appendicitis, the ER surgeon offered something for the pain. A non-narcotic pain-killer, I told him, is the only kind I want; I'm in recovery and don't want any narcotics. He ordered some Tylenol-type thing and I was admitted to the hospital, where I stayed FIVE WHOLE DAYS before doctors ordered the oral scope to look into my stomach, whereby they found the ulcers and quickly ordered an effective treatment.
But, until that scope, I wasn't getting any better. I was getting worse. The non-narcotic pain med gradually lost ALL of its effectiveness. I wasn't eating much. Jello, I think. I was wasting away. I didn't smoke throughout that week, nor did I crave a cig.
DAY TWO. I send Mom to my apartment to get my credit card and COBRA paperwork. I tell her exactly where to find them. The deadline for COBRA acceptance was two months off, I explained. My hospitalisation would be covered. She returns shortly, whereupon I make out a credit check for the full amount of the COBRA premiums for the months of April, May, June and July. Slap a stamp on that, and ask Mom to mail it.
My own doctor shows up on DAY TWO, also. She offers moral support and does, really, nothing, except tell me that she's conferring with the surgeon.
So, TWO DAYS IN, and I've already charged more the $450 onto a credit card just to cover my premiums up to that time through COBRA. That, plus $250 deductible and 20 percent copays, let's see. TWO ER visits, TWO doctors, admission to the hospital, drugs ordered, phone line open.
DAY THREE. The pain in my gut is again so great that I urge the nurse to get my doctor on the phone and have him order a more effective pain treatment. To my surprise, the doctor calls my room, and tells me there really isn't a more effective non-narcotic pain killer; he's prescribing MORPHINE. I had never had a pain med stronger than Percodan (or Quualudes if you want to go back that far). I'm in recovery. And he's putting me on Morphine? This is while he's still working entirely in the dark, because he hadn't ordered any tests yet to see what's wrong with me. I'm starting to fear the worst. Cancer? AIDS?
Now, the morphine makes me sick to my stomach. It took the pain away, alright. And I didn't feel high at all, thank goodness (still on the bandwagon). But I did hurl my Jello, and lots of bile, too.
So, DAY FOUR. The surgeon tells me he's ordered the scope test... FOR TOMORROW.
DAY FIVE. Scope test confirms duodenal ulcers. Treatment starts immediately.
DAY SIX. My condition improving. Will be discharged tomorrow if still improving.
DAY SEVEN. I go home, feeling much better, and greatly relieved that I'm not dying.
SEVEN DAYS in the hospital for an easily-diagnosed and easily treated minor abdominal condition.
The AVERAGE DAILY COST, just for the hospital charges - not the doctors - is more than $1000 per day. How much of that will insurance cover?
About HALF.
On top of the $700 out-of-pocket up front, I still owed more than $3,400 just for the hospital. And that hospital bill doesn't include the FIRST ER visit, which insurance would not cover. I complained to the hospital that the FIRST ER charge should be waived because I should have been admitted that first night, not the next. They claimed to have done nothing wrong the first night, and I was too relieved I wasn't dying to fight that extra $150.
So, $700 plus $3,400, plus $150, equals $4,250. Plus, doctors bills, phone bill, etc., my costs are easily approaching the $7,000 hospital bill. And it's a good thing I didn't take an ambulance. That would have cost an additional $1,500 for each trip.
What if I had still been employed? Well, I would have avoided the $450 premiums, but little else. I still would have had to pay the deductible and copays.
If the scope test had been ordered that first night, I probably wouldn't have been admitted in the first place. Or if so, I would have been sent home probably the next day.
Instead, I had to go $7,000 deeper in debt while not having a job AND WHILE I WAS "COVERED."