I may not have a gall bladder, but I am still overwhelmed with gall and bile!

[threeplusfire]

The cost of removing my gall bladder, according to the itemized hospital bill = $35,681.04. This does not include the $1400 emergency room bill, or bills from the surgeon, anesthesiologist, the pathologist, etc. Our ultimate out pocket costs remain to be seen, as bills continue to arrive. We have health insurance, through my husband's work, thank our lucky stars. Having insurance is no guarantee, though. I delayed going to the hospital at least an hour or two because I was frightened at what this could cost us out of pocket.

It took my father a decade to pay just for the costs of the birth of his two children. I don't think we had health insurance for years. I remember asking my mother once why we never went to the doctor, and her being angry with me about it.

Today at work I came across a number of reviews that began "I am an assistant to the regional manager of a small paper company..." I laughed a lot.

The hysteria and hyperbole over the idea that a sitting President will give a speech telling kids to stay in school is absurd. It's a speech about staying in school, for crying out loud. The fact that some people have their panties in a twist over the idea that their little darlings might hear the President speak - well. I think that says a lot more about the prejudices of those people than anything else.

Comments

[avidbeader.livejournal.com]

I so agree with you on that last paragraph. I've already seen one person on my f-list foaming about Obama's "socialist" agenda and indoctrinating young people. I pointed out that other presidents have addressed the schools and she claimed that she'd object to anyone "in politics" talking to her child without her permission.

I suspect she would have had a lot more respect for the office of the President if the election results had been different, but won't admit it.

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

It just seems so bonkers - I watched speeches from more than one president growing up and I don't recall this sort of uproar about it.

So much of the virulence directed at the President in the past eight months seems like poorly veiled racism.

[avidbeader.livejournal.com]

Honestly, it is racism but many people just won't admit to it.

And I meant to say so earlier, but I feel for you. I believe the bills surrounding the miscarriage I had last fall ended up being around $15000 and we paid around $1000 out of pocket. Yay for state-subsidized group plans. Darn that socialism. :P

[alainn-sorcha.livejournal.com]

My surgery cost around $25,000 and I ended up having to pay about $2500.

Only $1000 left to go!

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

Ooo, is there some crazy NC discount on gall bladders? Donate your gall bladder to science and get a coupon for 10K off your next surgery?

[cymry.livejournal.com]

literally, your money or your life. the disbelief and disgust choke me.

sure, the Canadian health system has some gigantic issues... but the American system seems far worse to me.

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

It's funny, no one I've ever met from Canada has ever said they would rather have American style healthcare.

What's scary is that this is the cost of a procedure for a non-life threatening condition. I've read that it can cost up to half a million for a heart attack.

[splix.livejournal.com]

When I was hospitalized for MRSA, the final bill was $335,000. I was uninsured at the time. If I hadn't chosen a teaching hospital [a totally random decision, more or less] and thus made myself sort of an observational guinea pig. I'd be utterly, utterly fucked. I wound up owing about $5000 in the end, which I'm still paying off, but it turns my stomach to think how freaking lucky I got, so to speak. I hope it turns out to be manageable for you.

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

That is so unbelievably scary - first getting sick and then the bill. That's more than twice the sticker price on our house... god. That hurts to think about.

[zombiechu.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I remember all my mom's "home remedies" to ailments because we didn't have health insurance. It's so sad that people who've never dealt with needing and not having are now making those decisions for us.

[locknestra.livejournal.com]

I remember reading on MSN about a thing they are trying in lots of hospitals about "hospital credits" since they are running so short staffed, patients can opt to do clerical tasks in exchange to pay for procedures.

The guy I had read about paid for a triple bypass with said credits. I don't know if you have anything like that in your hospital, but it might be worth looking into?