Monday, November 14, 2005

Price Gouging--Reprise

As you may recall, in a previous post Wang suggested that he was shamelessly and egregiously overcharged for a post-hurricane hospital visit. He also suggested that the insurance company would say the reasonable charge for the services rendered is a half or a third of what the hospital billed, and the hospital would accept their determination. I'm going to have to admit that he was wrong about that.

He got he bill from the hospital today. Here's what it said:

Billed Balance 21,808.23
CON ADJ HMO/PPO (PATHWAYS) 16,218.72CR
BLUE CROSS PAYMENT 4,430.07CR

Account Balance 1,159.44
Estimated Insurance Liability 0.00
Patient Responsibility 1,159.44


They didn't say a reasonable charge was a half or a third of what the hospital billed. It was a fourth.

So if Wang's experience is any indication, all those uninsured folks who get taken to the emergency room get billed an unconscionable FOUR TIMES the reasonable price.

And these are the same folks who are telling Congress that they need special legal protections to save them from all those greedy trial lawyers.

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5 Comments:

Blogger Laurie said...

Jack, you take care of good ol' Wang Chi. I can tell by the audio clip and by this post that the BTILC attitude will carry on here at the House of Pancakes.

Tuesday, November 15, 2005 5:57:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I want my Wang back.

Tuesday, November 15, 2005 4:48:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I had a crush on Wang. :(

I also have a trial lawyer (meaning, I'm sort of a plaintiff in a lawsuit). He signs his emails like this: "Imagine if the government took David's slingshot away and gave it to Goliath. Now you understand tort reform."

Wednesday, November 16, 2005 11:52:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Happy Thanksgiving, Wang, er... Jack! ;)

Wednesday, November 23, 2005 11:04:00 AM  
Blogger Barbara In Caneyhead said...

Poor Wang! But you are absolutely right about what they expect us poor uninsured people to pay. I believe they have a vicious cycle going. Charge high prices the uninsured cannot afford to pay. Lose money. Charge more higher prices hoping some poor slobs will sell their daughters to pay the bill, and it goes on and on.

Sunday, November 27, 2005 2:02:00 AM  

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