>>A diner hostess, she had no health insurance, and decided to ignore her problem.
Months later, after landing a job with the Dallas city government, Ms. Barton went to a public hospital and was diagnosed as having gallstones. But she put off treatment again, because her Aetna health insurance plan had yet to kick in.
Then one evening in August 1995 - a week before her coverage was to take effect - she couldn't sleep. Barely able to move, Barton had her roommate drive her to a hospital emergency room. She was operated on hours later.
The hospital bill came to $12,000 - Barton finally paid it off last year with another $5,000 in interest. Had her insurance been in effect, Aetna would likely have settled the bill for about half what she was originally charged.<<
going from a diner hostess to a city gov't employee...
this person obviously has to be of limited income. truly sad that she did not look into having the hospital bill reduced.
we had an employee who, a couple of years ago was still in the probationary period (insurance wise) and his wife had a "minor" medical problem that required emergency room, and follow up visits....the final bill was in excess of $10,000..
he came to us for a loan after he informed us that he had allowed he didn't maintain his cobra....we contacted our attorney and he filed a compromise settlement with the hospital and the doctor bills for less than $5000. we loaned him the money to pay the bill, and now withhold his loan payment from his paycheck (with interest)
the article states that "only the uninsured" pay the full price and that may be true in most instances, but i really behooves the uninured to contest legally the amounts...
Few patients know what their options are, and many end up paying full price because they believe there is no other choice
they really need to become educated about their choices.
disheartening to see the working poor paying full freight...but if they don't speak up for themselves, it's doubtful anyone else will....as illustrated in ms. barton's situation. |
