(no subject)

[winterbadger]

A recent email from my insurance company divulged this information (estimates only, they hasten to add, in a footnote) as an incentive to get us to make sure we use in-network providers.

In network/Out of network

Doctor visit
$18/$96

Colonoscopy
$870/$2,388

Five-day hospital stay
$1,750/$19,750

I can't think of any word to describe that last, especially, other than "outrageous". If the hospital can afford to sell that service to the insurer at the in-network rate, what possible justification can there be for charging a different patient more than ten times as much for THE SAME SERVICE?

IMO, we are rapidly approaching the point where offering medical services as a for-PROFIT entity should be made illegal.

Comments

[azbound.livejournal.com]

I think what's crazy is how they've made it so complicated. It's why I'm a fan of (though God knows it has its issues) Medicare. It's a very realistic assessment of costs.

[winterbadger]

Agreed. It's a pity we can't just expand Medicare to cover everyone.