Mom Shares Her Son’s Crazy Surgery Bill To Show What Will Happen Under Trumpcare
With Trumpcare’s debut just around the corner, many Americans fear that their healthcare costs are going to become too much to bear. A New Jersey mom has bravely taken up arms against the pending changes by sharing the hospital bills she pays each month to care for her chronically ill son on Twitter, and her story is so powerful that it’s shaking the Internet.
Ali Chandra, a registered nurse by profession, was still pregnant with young Ethan when she found out he would be born with heterotaxy syndrome, a rare disease that causes vital organs to be arranged abnormally, and several heart defects. Ethan had his first open heart surgery just 6 days after he was born in July of 2014, and has undergone multiple procedures since then, most recently in late February 2017. Though most of Chandra’s expenses related to Ethan’s medical needs are covered by her insurance, that could change with the new healthcare plan soon to be implemented by the Trump administration.
The most damaging law proposed by the new Trumpcare bill is the “lifetime cap,” a limit on how much money any one person can claim through their health insurance plan. These limits were banned by the Obama administration, but they could be back on the table if the GOP moves forward with their current objectives. This means that children like Ethan will most likely be already maxed out as soon as the law comes into effect, leaving their parents to foot the bill out of their own pockets. “A lifetime cap on benefits is the same as saying, “Sorry, you’re not worth keeping alive anymore. You’re just too expensive,”” Chandra wrote on Twitter.
Both the mom’s photo of her last hospital invoice and her stream of tweets that followed have gone viral, gaining over 52 thousand retweets and over 79 thousand likes. Other parents identified with Chandra’s concerns, and stood in solidarity with her staunch opposition to Trumpcare. Follow her compelling story below, and tell us what you think in the comments.
More info: Hope for Ethan
People were quick to respond to her message:
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Btw: How is "lab chemistry" $15k and "sterile supplies" $10k? What are they doing in the lab?? And are the supplies sterilised in mineral waters taken from the peak of Mt Everest or something?? Can someone explain this madness? (That said, in Singapore, I've been charged $5 for "disposables" - which amounted to a single ice cream stick. I could have purchased a pack of them for like $1 and brought one myself.)
This tell you a lot about a crooked healthcare system. Insurance is just a tiny part in it. Building a just AND efficient healthcare system is something that pretty much all countries struggle with. It either is not just, or way too expensive. And in many cases, it is both. Alas.
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As a Canadian I can't even imagine having to pay for this. Unbelievable that people think this is the best way to live. This is not freedom.
After moving to Canada a couple of years ago, having a fairly healthy family with kids: My Canadian taxes are definitely less than my US taxes + health insurance premiums - and my health insurance coverage over the last few years turned to c**p. Add that to the fact that a doctor visit is going to cost $180 out of pocket and prescription co-pays are generally the same as _retail_ price in Canada, I'm saving a lot of money. From what I've seen with my family and a new baby since moving, the health care we need is easily as good and available as the US. (and costs nothing) It took me a couple of years to pay off the bills from my oldest son being born premature in the US (insurance covered 90%). My youngest son's costs? 0.
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The "Pro-Life" people are such bullshitters. They don't care about people's life, except for when they're embryos. Absolute nonsense.
Bob 2.0 How do you figure Pro-lifers have anything to do with insurance caps? How did you connect those dots because that is wacky. I'm Pro-life and know plenty of others and not a single one of them has ever expressed a desire to see insurance caps. The only people in favor of insurance caps are the shareholders of insurance companies. The only representatives or senators that would vote for ins. caps are the ones that are in those shareholders pockets. Quit trying to lump huge groups of people into one. It's stupid.
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So when someone else is paying the bill they can just make up numbers. Starting at the top, does anyone have a problem with $22,000 to rent a room for a week? Insurance is not our problem, the out of control medical industry is.
I agree ..Let's get to the root of the problem. It is the insurance companies that cover the Dr. , pharmacies, and then the medical facilities ....that is where the CAPS belong! Look at those fees....and justify just one of them.....ya, your right....there is not even one that is justifiable 😡😤😡
Load More Replies... Nobody should state what the new bill will do or not do until it's finished. It's still in the works and being adjusted. One thing the medical institutes should be attacked for is the unbelievable charges like I had during knee surgery. Charges for items that I never got or were used and ridiculous charges like $225.00 for bandages?? Same ones they used could be bought at CVS for 5 bucks each.
You are billed for your charges and those of the people who don't carry insurance and bilk the system of billions of dollars a year. If you don't know the system, don't point fingers. What you're billed is not what you pay.
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Her part was 500? That's an amazing bill. The problem is not Obamacare or Trumpcare, the problem is what the facilities are allowed to charge. It's absolutely ridiculous. You are even charged for the pillow, yes you bought it, but nobody takes them home. I had a surgery where they goofed and left me paralyzed and my part of the bill was 30,000! I paid them a total of 126,000 to end my life as I know it.
The problem is the number of people who carry no insurance but still demand care paid by taxpayers and only are willing to buy insurance when they're already sick or injured. And it's not necessarily because they CAN'T afford, they choose to blow their money on other things.
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It is not just about'insurance'. I am a a 2nd time breast cancer patient. I have finished the chemo, surgery, radiation and now am on a monthly pair of shots that cost $5000. Why? Why?! The total I have been charged for the entire ordeal is mind numbing. This is big business. Make no mistake. Someone is getting sickeningly wealthy at the expense of sick people. And it is not the doctor. My family menmber who is a doctor has to spend the equivalent of the 4-5 months total income to insure their practice. The lawyers who are suing are part of this huge debacle.
pro-life should mean life is valuable from conception to death, I'm pro life and I hate it when I see other pro lifers not caring about necessary, lifesaving healthcare
I saw the current bill proposal and I did not see a cap. Please show me where that is? My friends premiums went from $300 to $700 a month under Obama care.
The uncertainty under the possibility of a new law by the GOP has premiums going up. They are strangling Obamacare. They want it to die.
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'lifetime cap' Unbelievable. How can anybody actually consider this and still believe that they are normal human beings?
This is unbelievable. Health care should be a human right in every country in the world. Moreover, apparently, when Trump says "America first" he doesn't include "American sick children".
When he says America First, he means the top 1% and business. The guy doesn't give a c**p about 99% of this country.
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There is no Trumpcare. Medical costs are high largely due to goverment interference in the market. Obamacare has caused premiums to sky rocket. My Father had a pacemaker put in while vacationing in Holland. 5k for everything. The pacemaker would cost that alone in the us.
You know why it costs only 5K in Holland? Because the Dutch government is interfering. They dutch taxpayer pays for part of it and the government set the limits on how much the hospital can charge. By no means Holland, like any other West European countr,y has a free market when it comes to healthcare.
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AARP reported that in 2012 IIRC the US spent $8500/year/person (all sources of expenditure) on health care, while France spent $3500/year/person. France had better outcomes across the board. Why? Everyone has access, and the system doesn't have it's hands in your pockets everywhere you turn. Prevention is emphasized. The system tries to reduce costs rather than inflate them. And of course drug prices are not out of control because the drug companies don't own the government. Our so-called health so-called care so-called system is a naational disgrace.
I have to say, medical bills in the US are surreally high. Everything is easily twice as expensive as over here - and German medical services aren't cheap either. Who is getting all this money???
We wouldn't even be having this convo if congress had passed national healthcare when it had the momentum, voters would trust them if they didn't squander all our tax money on stupid c**p as both parties have done in the past. Yes we can afford if everyone, i mean everyone paid something into the system.
Money is more precious to these people than life, unless you're in the womb. Once you're out, you can go f**k yourself. Republicans are scumbags.
How can you say this? It's the most ridiculous statement on here and that's saying a lot. Since there is no such thing as Trumpcare how do people make these assumptions? You do know what 'assume' really does...makes an a*s of you and me! Never would wish what this lady is going through but seems like her anger is misplaced. The outlandishly high items on her bill are crazy. I would be at that billing department of that hospital in a flash no matter the insurance. I hate Obamacare and her bill reinforces that feeling because under Obamacare we all are allowing hospitals to rip us off. I am a healthy woman nearing retirement age and I have to pay exactly half of my income for insurance. HALF! Each month I have to decide between food and utilities. And that is with a $7500 deductible! I despise Congress for not coming up with a more equitable plan where everyone can survive. Mr. Trump is not our problem. If I starve or freeze to death this winter it be because of Obamacare and Congress!
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Can some one explain how the trumps new insurance would change it? I genuinely don't know because I don't follow the news closely
Apparently there may be a cap on how much you can claim on your insurance during your lifetime which, if it's about 1/4 million $ then her son has already gone past this level and will no longer be covered...so he will die.
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Yes that is a very large bill, and you are quite lucky to only have to pay $500.00, but I can guarantee you that the hospital did not get nearly that much. They contract with the insurance companies and the insurance company determines how much is paid to the hospital and how much the patient has to pay. The hospitals know that they will not receive nearly what they bill out. That is why you receive an EOB from the insurance company BEFORE you get your bill from the hospital. If you would take time to look at them, you would see that.
Travelled Europe & Asia, wealthy & impoverished countries. Pains me that my beloved USA has healthcare for the wealthy, not the working poor
If he was born with the condition, that is pre-existing so, of course, no one would have had to insure him. And since the republicans are turning back time, no doctor would have had to operate on him in the first place. What a wonderful savings for tax payers but mostly for the insurance companies and the rich bastards who would benefit from the money they would save by not having to chip in on universal health care. God bless America--right?
Not sure all is out in the open on this information given by the Mom regarding her son's care. It is DEFINITELY CRITICAL to get CLEAR INFORMATION FROM OUR GOVERNMENT - but that is NOT HAPPENING. Therefore, ALL OF US in AMERICA are facing TREMENDOUS amounts of being 'led down a path of the unknown'. WHY are we being told that the Obama Care has bankrupted the country. What 'proof' do they have. IF this 'new Trump medical scenario' is NOT MADE CLEAR TO "WE THE PEOPLE", who supposedly 'matter' to the President and his cohorts, WHY ARE WE NOT BEING GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY to have a VOTE in this???????? We may 'act like sheep', and we are being 'led to the slaughter', BUT THEY ARE CAUSING THIS TO HAPPEN, not "we the people". I rarely get involved in these things, but just the fact that they throw all the huge $$$$$ around, and so-called tax cuts, means NOTHING. If they value life, then what about those who CANNOT WORK and are on Medicaid (I am NOT one of those, fortunately).
After open heart under Obamacare we still had to pay around $10,000 ! So it's not all rosy for everyone!
No, the real reason that medical bills are so high is because hospitals know they can get away with it.
That Bill is insane!!! $22,000 JUST for staying at the Hospital for two weeks!? Is this hospital considered a 5* resort or something? I don't even know if 5* resorts charge that much!!! This is what happens when they are free to bill insurance companies...i have worked for many companies that deal with insurance companies, and when they find out that the bill is being sent to an insurance company and not the person, they PAD their bill BIG TIME knowing that the insurance company will have to pay it!! THIS is why insurance rates are so high in the U.S.! As a Canadian, i am thankful we don't have to do this...i am not saying our system is better, our healthcare is NOT free, we pay for it in our taxes, and we here in Ontario pay more in taxes than just about anywhere else in the world from my knowledge...BUT, would you rather pay in small increments (which is pretty much what our taxes are) for healthcare or would you rather get a $250,000 bill you need to pay at once. Insane. Wow.
Here are the facts people, under Trump care if you have high blood pressure check everything it can cause and know you will not be covered by your insurance because it will be PRE-EXITING, if you were told you had a heart murmur as a child and you get heart disease it is PRE-EXITING anything and everything will be PRE-EXITING!!!!! If your child for what ever reason is born with a problem it will be PRE-EXITING because they were born with it. If you go into the hospital and something happens because of someone else you won't be treated it has now become PRE-EXITING. Then add on the CAP which will include dialysis, stem cell, kidney transplant, cancer treatment and so on, so just think if they give you a million dollar cap a transplant, proton cancer treatment or dialysis while your waiting for the kidney will take care of that. Why because once you tell the insurance company that the laws that were put in place with Obama care are no longer they can say THAT IS NOT COVERED OR NEW CAP
Pre-existing (I'm assuming autocorrect failed lol. Hate when it does that!)
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the whole system is so sad-terrible-the us government does not and will not ever care about the people ever-the rich don't care and they help line the political pockets-this will never change and this child and other children will pay the price. protest fight things need to change from the top down. when the head of the fish is rotten.....
This can be misleading, there are so many variables, what are the deductibles, has she already met deductibles? how much does she have to pay for medical insurance? you can't just post something like this without stating all the variables. My deductible is $2750. this does not include what I have to pay for insurance, I am married but my husband has VA, no children, so many other variables.
When did government become responsible for your medical bills? If government is responsible for your medical bills then your friends and neighbors are paying your bills as the money comes from tax dollars. I do think that medical care is way over priced though. I have insurance but the deductibles are a killer but I pay them it is called personal responsibility.
I am so happy I don't live in the US. I recently had a hip replacement. It cost me $30.
I am so happy that I don't live in the US. I recently had a hip replacement. It cost me $30.
That's incredible. I have a story too... Several years ago I had brain surgery. This was CHOICE to do this. This hospital only does it 10x a year. I told the doctors and surgeons, before they started, that I was allowing them to fix my brain (putting me in a coma for a month) only if I could do it for free. They thought about it and agreed. Guess I was just lucky there. A year of testing before the surgery too.
I see where the problems are, it's the cost at the Hospitals. For starters: (2 wk. stay) 1/. Rm & Board = $22,526 2/. Coronary Care = $47.089 3/. Supply/Implants = $42,999 4/. OR Services = $40,489 5/. Lab/Chemistry = $15,098 6/. Sterile Supply = $10,566 7/. Blood/Storage = $8,334 8/. Pharmacy = $8,215 9/. Lab/Hematology = $6,584 10/. Echo Cardiology = $5,738 11/. DRUG REQUIRED DETAIL = $4,598 These are just the most expense of this young Lads stay, my question is WHY?? Take a good look at the expense for these Test/Items/Supplies/Storage/Rm & Board/Care, are they serious? Give a good explanation why? This is where we have to fight, it's the administration cost the Board has put on the cost to maintain life when one is sick, it's their LOVE of MONEY, and that is sinful.
God BLESS and hold your son in His healing Hands. The fees that are being charged by ins. companies, labs, hospitals, dr's offices and anything telated to medical care, has been spiraling out of control for decades. I'm a grandmother and I remember my parents have a similar conversation as a child. The itemized bill I received after giving birth to my first born, listed Tylenol @ .72x2. That was 41 years ago. Health insurance wasn't a "right" then and it's not now. The money that is wasted in this country, along with reducing the greed that drives medical prices so high, could afford unified healthcare. But our country simply can't continue spending money we just don't have.
could someone point out in the legislation i can find, https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr1628/BILLS-115hr1628eh.pdf , where it says limits lifetime limits? I cant find any
The Trump Plan does not do this and it also keeps the pre existing clause from ObamaCare...
Let me be the first to say condolence to the people of the US. It only proves that politicians do not work for the people they serve and the prolife people only care about fetuses not human beings.
Let me be the first to say condolence to the people of the United States. The politicians and the pro-life people only care about you when you are inside your mother's womb.
my wife just spent 3months in hospital in australia and not one bill from hospital or doctors under australias medicare
If you anywhere but the US, take this story as a warning. If someone (like a politician or ill-informed neighbor) is trying to tell you how much better healthcare is here in the US, ask yourself these questions: 1) What am I gaining by inserting an insurance company that make billions a quarter (United Healthcare in July of 2016 reported a quarterly profit of $46.5 billion) https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/health-insurance-industry-rakes-in-billions-while-blaming-obamacare-for-losses-110116.html . 2) How does making healthcare a for profit industry help me get better healthcare? In 2017, WHO (World Health Organization) the US ranks at 37. This is in the bottom of all developed countries. 3) Why do I want to pay more for worse healthcare. The US spends 17.6% of it's GDP (Gross Domestic Product) on healthcare. #2-4 are the Netherlands (12.0%), France and Germany (11.6%) (Source: OECD Health data 2012). If you think the US healthcare system is even okay, you are sadly mistaken.
How on earth does an EKG cost 360 bucks in the USA? I got one for 35 euro's the other day :O
Hooray for a socialist health system. If mum's were in this situation in Australia, their bills would be $0. The government would cover absolutely everything. I don't know how anyone affords healthcare in the US. It's very perplexing to most people out of the US at how the system was even developed and what president way back when allowed such a horrid big pharma/health insurance company controlled health system??
medicare ins australia only covers the basics, you would still need insurance just to be safe.
Load More Replies... Ok I saw the cap, but it's not $250,000 it's 1-2 million I don't agree with the caps
That's amazing. I'm so sorry, it must be hard seeing your son go through all theses surgeries and endless procedures but I promise it'll be worth it in the end.
Cheryl Lynn that's correctly stated hospitals are charging way too much their prices can come down saving everybody a lot of money
I think there is also a general misconception here about how insurance works. You could think of it more like a savings account. Based on your demographics and medical history, they charge based on the amount of coverage you're likely to need with them. This case would be a statistical outlier, so the company will pay out more than they will ever receive from this family. The problem with the argument here is that the bill will only end the requirement that insurers not put a lifetime cap on services, it does not impose a cap itself. That decision is still up to the insurer. If the insurer puts a lifetime cap on her son, she is free to seek her insurance elsewhere, and if insurance companies are forced to compete across state lines it means that they will have to offer better coverage options at lower prices or watch their clientele leave. They'd rather play than close, so she and her son may actually benefit. Note: I'm studying actuarial science which is used in insurance.
Trump called the healthcare bill "mean" - he confirmed that he said it. I'm not sure what this will mean (pun unintended) to his supporters - will they support it then or no?
He wants to ditch state covered healthcare and give it to private companies. Similiar system works in my country. When I was diagnosed cancer I was given treatment, rehabilitation and all that for free(except 800CZK=34USD per whole family per month). Private company has covered it all.
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Cost accounting takes fixed expenses (like property tax, nursing, janitorial, executive salaries, etc) and doles out the cost over all services rendered. This is how you also get the $50,000 toilets. Medical care is screwed up by for-profit entities. When I would go to the hospital, too many times to count over my 60 years of life, we would joke about how much it would cost. I have been incredibly lucky to have good health coverage. In the six months after my cancer diagnosis, just the hospital charged almost $250,000 (back in 1984-5); but they accepted less than $80,000 from the insurance company as payment in full. Had I not had insurance, I would have been expected to pay the full amount.
I call BS on her claim of $500 for 2 weeks in a hospital as normsl ACA health insurance. My husband had 1 visit to the ER and out patient procedure for a single kidney stone THIS MONTH under our ACA insurance, and we maxed out the deductible and out-of-pocket at $6,300. CT scan was $2,900 . . . After insurance contract it dropped to $2,100 and then was split 80/20 between insurance and us. My friend works at same hospital and had neck surgery and she only owed $500 . . . it is a perk of being a hospital employee ans NOT ACA.
Feel so lucky living here in Australia where I pay $5.30 for each prescription (and it caps when it gets to a certain amount and then it is free after that). I pay $1.30 for diabetes test strips and $5.30 for 30 syringes of insulin which lasts about 6 months. And I got a new blood sugar meter this week for nothing. The stent I had put in 2 years ago cost us $0.00. If we didn't have government health care in this country we would be stuffed. Hoping things do not change for the sake and health of everyone gets the proper care.
this is one of the reasons I wouldn't live in the US, people are not protected at all, any comparison of laws between the US and Europe shows how criminally in favour of big business the States are. And everything in the US is business and only business. A horrible country when it comes to any kind of care for its citizens, only cares for weapons and war and billionaires. I would advise you to move. Somewhere your taxes will be used for the good of everyone, including your son, from healthcare to education. If you stay in the US the bills for his care will leave you homeless :( I wish you all the best!
Worked in a few hospitals, had a car accident a few years ago, broken elbow, the hospital charged 10.00 for one Narco pain reliever. Insurance companies exist to make money, loss ratios are bad news for them. If you liberals want ACA so bad you should be able to keep it and then watch the premiums go up as they already have, you will pay higher deductibles as well, Trump needs to let ACA continue until it fails which it will.
I was on a cruise ship going around Australia when I ran out of meds. The ship's doctor quoted me a sky high price for my tablets however she kindly wrote me a script and I was able to get my meds for $20 - a big box of 200 tablets. Another time, again on a cruise ship but this time in the US, I ran out of meds and got quoted $15 for 1 tablet on the ship. The doc wrote me a script so I could get my meds ashore and they weren't much cheaper so I got just enough to cover me until I got home. Why such a difference in price? I am grateful to the national health service (NHS) in the UK. Perhaps big pharma needs to make drastic changes to its pricing to make meds affordable. With advanced technology, why such a high price for an x-ray or CT scan, etc? It's sad to see how the healthcare industry/big pharma is ripping people off. Medical care seems to be a luxury nowadays.
The GOP is NOT pro- life. They are PRO BIRTH. Once you're born, you're on your own
I have no problem th insurance caps. I don't understand how people in this country always want handouts. If he is so special to you, then you would have no problem paying for his operations and medical bills. Why should I have to suffer and pay for him, it's not my child. I pay for everything for mine and don't look for someone else to take care of my children. Step up and realize that you are part of the insurance problem.
Under ObamaCare (ACA), I am faced with a 300% increase above the 20-49% People are seeing. I live in the USA 4months out of the year, but because the Individual Mandate forces me buy Coverage for the 8months I am International (and can't use)...my Health Insurance (not Health Cost) would be UNAFFORDABLE! I can't get a Supporter of ObamaCare to explain how this is Affordable.
Trump are has not been voted on yet if you have paid anything you are paying on current healthcare. It will be awhile before ant decisions are made.
You know this chick is full of s**t. Private health insurance has ALWAYS had a cap! When private insurance runs out, the patient is put on Medicaid which pays for all expenses related to that specific illness. I know. I've been through it twice in my lifetime so far. This is just another "Let's Bash Trump" article. This woman is a nurse. She knows damned well how it works but wants to exploit her son's medical condition as a platform to bash Trump. Obamacare just about killed me with all the high deductibles and exceptions, but no one talks about that.
To hell with showing bills....have her produce the "Crystal Ball" showing her what/how an undeside, unfinished, almost nonexistant bill will affect us in the future....
One problem with health care is the hospital billing, maybe billing practices should be investigated. America does have a government ran health care system in place, the VA. A way to get health care under control would be to use the true cost of procedures, based on VA costs and allow other hospitals to charge no more than VA cost plus a reasonable percentage. Also putting a profit limit on insurance companies, if they exceed a certain amount impose penalties such as addition taxes or premium rebates to customers. Another idea would be to impose salary caps on hospital and insurance company big wigs. All these added together would reduce health care costs
Healthcare should be a right, not a privilege... National disgrace.
This is just proof that it is not an insurance problem this is a healthcare cost problem.Insurance companies would be glad to cover reasonable charges but when you see her bill they are ridiculous.We have to bring down the cost of what Dr's Pharmacutical companies and Hospitals charge patients.
I had a liver transplant prior to Obamacare and I had insurance. My hospital bill was 780,000 and the surgeon was 260,000 my out of pocket was 3500.00 and my lifetime cap was and is 5 million. I don't see where lifetime caps are going to affect this. Most people will never hit lifetime caps. Pre-existing will stay the same then lifetime caps will only apply if you stay with that same insurance for life.
The Government has a system in place called "Catastrophic Illnesse" That program takes over your medical bills in the event that there is no way for you to pay. Yes it is hard to get excepted into the program but it is there... We should all push to have that program extended to make it work for thousands more. Big Pharma and huge hospital conclomerets fight programs like this day in and day out.
Will be more than happy if you will Just make me a part of your struggle
American healthcare is beyond insane, and we here in the UK will get to experience the insanity too once our current government has their way. Your little boy is so gorgeous, but I'm thinking Trump will happily practise eugenics if it means sacrifice to the Holy, Almighty Dollar.
Under the Trump Plan Prohibitions on annual and lifetime limits Insurers are barred from setting a limit on how much they have to pay to cover someone. Pre-existing conditions policy Requires insurers to cover people regardless of pre-existing medical conditions and bars the companies from charging more based on a person’s health history.
https://www.facebook.com/NowThisPolitics/videos/1601485816549569/?pnref=story
Um, no. Popular vote was not trumps which means most of us did NOT vote for him. A*****e manipulated the system through the electoral college (which is an outdated system and should be revised or abolished completely).
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Stop with all of your damn lies! Do you sleep well after you scare people with these lies? This picture has been totally hijacked from someo
Where the f**k do these greedy yanks get these prices from, If these surgeons lived in Russia they would not earn one days pay a yank doctor gets in one year, and they have some of the best doctors in the world, You yanks are the greediest f***s alive on this planet and it is about time you were all stamped out of existance.
What health insurance plan does she have? Looks like a great plan. I doubt its an Obamacare plan. What is the deductible and co-insurance? Would she lose this plan under proposed new healthcare law?
ACA saved me 50% on premiums. High deductible, but better overall coverage. Many of my poor students & families got health insurance w ACA.
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The problem is not Trump! The problem is obama care period! It increased by 300% a month prior to Obama leaving office. This healthcare bill should have never been voted in through congress. Lets look at france, Anyone at anytime can go into the ER, OR or Doctors office and never see a bill. Why? This is because their citizens along with the government have agreed on higher taxes which would cover anyones hospital bill or expenses. Additionally their Doctors don't get paid in the millions over the years regardless of their specialty. We as nation are blind to what politician keep doing an that is they keep playing their political agenda and never get things done. I am speaking on the house/congress. Both Republicans as well as Democrats, they all are equally guilty. So let us please rethink how this health care bill effects everyone all the way around to include the people who cannot afford obama care and then get penalized in the little bit of tax money year end.
Hello! There is no "Trumpcare" yet nor do we know what it will look like. This is just a hit piece blaming Trump and conservatives for something that MIGHT happen in a Liberal fantasy but has not happened at all in reality. Why not use this story to lobby and inform legislators rather than falsely vilify a POTUS who thus far has caused none of the horrors invented by the authors? BoredPanda is much better when it stays out of speculative partisan politics.
There is a LOT wrong with this article. At first glance, she's not showing the insurance company write off which can be up to 65% of the initial charge. Also, she has no idea what the cap will be, if any. To assume for partisan reasons, that her child will "die" because of changes to the healthcare laws is disingenuous, at best. Insurance companies set their own caps. If she is purchasing from an exchange, she may very well end up with no coverage at all. Obamacare is dead.
And when you're tapped out, he'll got on Medicaid and you'll pay nothing. No insurance company can afford to pay claims of this size and will go to reinsurance but also is limited. The premiums anyone pays does not support claims of this magnitude and then it becomes a public liability. And remember this is under Obamacare. Why does everyone act like this is new? There have been caps on claims for over 30 years.
ACA removed caps. You don't know what you are talking about.
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First let me say I'm glad that your son made it through this extremely rough ordeal, but I still don't understand why it's anyone else’s responsibility except for you and your families to pay for your child's food, clothing, medical expenses, etc. At this point, no one knows what the new insurance will or won't do, all I know is that I had and could afford insurance before obamacare, now we go without just to have insurance. Maybe more of the free loaders need to be kicked to the curb and made to get a job so that the hard-working people (working 3 jobs) don’t have to spend all their time away from their own families just to continue to live pay check to pay check.
This is What it costs with insurance, What about the millions of Americans that don't have insurance? This is why I am glad I'm not an American. YOUR COUNTRY IS F****D
Actually Steven, no the insurance companies only pay a fraction of what the hospital charges because they work out "agreements" on what they will pay...Only those who don't have insurance are F****D by this....thus the reason insurance companies are rolling in the dough..
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Wow, lady, classic liberal "look at me" tirade. Aetna has pulled itself from all exchanges, so apparently you have your own insurance, and chances are you won't be using "Trumpcare" either. You should be ashamed for using your son's condition to get attention and sympathy, and to make a bogus point on something that will probably not affect you anyway. Most registered nurses have some pretty good benefits provided to them by their employers. Also, I would suggest you question the high cost of many of the items on your bill, but since you are in the healthcare field you are probably already aware of the outrageous costs of healthcare in this country, and are okay with it. After all, who wants to rock the boat of the industry that provides your bread and butter? I will pray for good health for your son. My family has suffered through similar situations, and I know how devastating and scary it can be. But don't capitalize on it with typical liberal BS.
Absolute b******t from someone who will not go without insurance under any administration.
You should probably read this: https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/health-insurance-industry-rakes-in-billions-while-blaming-obamacare-for-losses-110116.html ------ Time and host of other news agencies (like Forbes) tell a similar story. Facts vs Fable.
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You should get the medical attention you need because you're sick, not because your family is in a high income bracket.
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So you sell insurance, think that unregulated insurers will give you free or discounted health care, and that deregulation would solve everything? Really? We have a system in place to care of needs of the citizens when they aren't able to pay. It's called the government. And if the bastards were doing their jobs, we would eliminate the insurers (or at least regulate them more effectively). The reason there are so many regulations on insurers (and banks) is because at some time in the past, they have shown they can't be trusted to do their jobs. Just because you sell insurance doesn't make you an expert in insurance and regulations, nor does it give you a unique insight into the healthcare debate. What it does do is give you a vested interest in expanding insurance's role in healthcare and slants your view. To me, that is adding to the problem, not solving it.
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Because health care for it's citizens is part having a great country. Because I pay taxes and this is a good use of my tax dollars. By the way, you have an awful s****y view for someone that lives on taxpayer provided health care. All for me and none for you. You must be a Trump twat.
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I was also wondering about the $33,175 discrepancy in the bill, but it's silly to think that this would invalidate the point being made. The fact that even short stays in a hospital cost exorbitant amounts that would financially ruin an entire family is common knowledge. My girlfriend was recently in the hospital for a little over 2 weeks. Some medical monitoring was required, but no surgery was needed. The bill before medicaid was about $60,000. Afterwards it was $12. If this happened under Trump, it would have been ruinous.
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Seeing how you are so invested in fake news, lets talk about the ACA hurting insurance companies. https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/health-insurance-industry-rakes-in-billions-while-blaming-obamacare-for-losses-110116.html
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Have you even as much as LOOKED at that bill? With ACA, this family owes the hospital only $500. If ACA didn't exist, that bill would be a total over $231,115. Perhaps you would prefer getting a bill of nearly a quarter million Dollar instead of half a thousand?
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No one plans to have a child with debilitating medical issues, or to discover them as they grow up. Hospital care is extremely expensive - paying for the doctors, paying for the technology , and a whole list of things that make getting treatment unbelievably expensive. Even for a one-off surgery for the otherwise 'perfectly healthy' person with an inflamed appendix. Hospital care is beyond what 99% of America can plan to afford. Unless everyone with a child who has rare genetic issues or similar medical problems is a hidden millionaire, there is nothing irresponsible going on. I take the view that every sick child could grow up to fix one of the worlds myriad problems, and that all of them should be given the opportunity to do so. Perhaps I'm just baiting a troll here, but as someone to whom this affects personally in more ways than the average person could ever imagine, I think the only immature thing around here is you.
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Btw: How is "lab chemistry" $15k and "sterile supplies" $10k? What are they doing in the lab?? And are the supplies sterilised in mineral waters taken from the peak of Mt Everest or something?? Can someone explain this madness? (That said, in Singapore, I've been charged $5 for "disposables" - which amounted to a single ice cream stick. I could have purchased a pack of them for like $1 and brought one myself.)
This tell you a lot about a crooked healthcare system. Insurance is just a tiny part in it. Building a just AND efficient healthcare system is something that pretty much all countries struggle with. It either is not just, or way too expensive. And in many cases, it is both. Alas.
Load More Replies... As a Canadian I can't even imagine having to pay for this. Unbelievable that people think this is the best way to live. This is not freedom.
After moving to Canada a couple of years ago, having a fairly healthy family with kids: My Canadian taxes are definitely less than my US taxes + health insurance premiums - and my health insurance coverage over the last few years turned to c**p. Add that to the fact that a doctor visit is going to cost $180 out of pocket and prescription co-pays are generally the same as _retail_ price in Canada, I'm saving a lot of money. From what I've seen with my family and a new baby since moving, the health care we need is easily as good and available as the US. (and costs nothing) It took me a couple of years to pay off the bills from my oldest son being born premature in the US (insurance covered 90%). My youngest son's costs? 0.
Load More Replies... The "Pro-Life" people are such bullshitters. They don't care about people's life, except for when they're embryos. Absolute nonsense.
Bob 2.0 How do you figure Pro-lifers have anything to do with insurance caps? How did you connect those dots because that is wacky. I'm Pro-life and know plenty of others and not a single one of them has ever expressed a desire to see insurance caps. The only people in favor of insurance caps are the shareholders of insurance companies. The only representatives or senators that would vote for ins. caps are the ones that are in those shareholders pockets. Quit trying to lump huge groups of people into one. It's stupid.
Load More Replies... So when someone else is paying the bill they can just make up numbers. Starting at the top, does anyone have a problem with $22,000 to rent a room for a week? Insurance is not our problem, the out of control medical industry is.
I agree ..Let's get to the root of the problem. It is the insurance companies that cover the Dr. , pharmacies, and then the medical facilities ....that is where the CAPS belong! Look at those fees....and justify just one of them.....ya, your right....there is not even one that is justifiable 😡😤😡
Load More Replies... Nobody should state what the new bill will do or not do until it's finished. It's still in the works and being adjusted. One thing the medical institutes should be attacked for is the unbelievable charges like I had during knee surgery. Charges for items that I never got or were used and ridiculous charges like $225.00 for bandages?? Same ones they used could be bought at CVS for 5 bucks each.
You are billed for your charges and those of the people who don't carry insurance and bilk the system of billions of dollars a year. If you don't know the system, don't point fingers. What you're billed is not what you pay.
Load More Replies... Her part was 500? That's an amazing bill. The problem is not Obamacare or Trumpcare, the problem is what the facilities are allowed to charge. It's absolutely ridiculous. You are even charged for the pillow, yes you bought it, but nobody takes them home. I had a surgery where they goofed and left me paralyzed and my part of the bill was 30,000! I paid them a total of 126,000 to end my life as I know it.
The problem is the number of people who carry no insurance but still demand care paid by taxpayers and only are willing to buy insurance when they're already sick or injured. And it's not necessarily because they CAN'T afford, they choose to blow their money on other things.
Load More Replies... It is not just about'insurance'. I am a a 2nd time breast cancer patient. I have finished the chemo, surgery, radiation and now am on a monthly pair of shots that cost $5000. Why? Why?! The total I have been charged for the entire ordeal is mind numbing. This is big business. Make no mistake. Someone is getting sickeningly wealthy at the expense of sick people. And it is not the doctor. My family menmber who is a doctor has to spend the equivalent of the 4-5 months total income to insure their practice. The lawyers who are suing are part of this huge debacle.
pro-life should mean life is valuable from conception to death, I'm pro life and I hate it when I see other pro lifers not caring about necessary, lifesaving healthcare
I saw the current bill proposal and I did not see a cap. Please show me where that is? My friends premiums went from $300 to $700 a month under Obama care.
The uncertainty under the possibility of a new law by the GOP has premiums going up. They are strangling Obamacare. They want it to die.
Load More Replies... 'lifetime cap' Unbelievable. How can anybody actually consider this and still believe that they are normal human beings?
This is unbelievable. Health care should be a human right in every country in the world. Moreover, apparently, when Trump says "America first" he doesn't include "American sick children".
When he says America First, he means the top 1% and business. The guy doesn't give a c**p about 99% of this country.
Load More Replies... There is no Trumpcare. Medical costs are high largely due to goverment interference in the market. Obamacare has caused premiums to sky rocket. My Father had a pacemaker put in while vacationing in Holland. 5k for everything. The pacemaker would cost that alone in the us.
You know why it costs only 5K in Holland? Because the Dutch government is interfering. They dutch taxpayer pays for part of it and the government set the limits on how much the hospital can charge. By no means Holland, like any other West European countr,y has a free market when it comes to healthcare.
Load More Replies... AARP reported that in 2012 IIRC the US spent $8500/year/person (all sources of expenditure) on health care, while France spent $3500/year/person. France had better outcomes across the board. Why? Everyone has access, and the system doesn't have it's hands in your pockets everywhere you turn. Prevention is emphasized. The system tries to reduce costs rather than inflate them. And of course drug prices are not out of control because the drug companies don't own the government. Our so-called health so-called care so-called system is a naational disgrace.
I have to say, medical bills in the US are surreally high. Everything is easily twice as expensive as over here - and German medical services aren't cheap either. Who is getting all this money???
We wouldn't even be having this convo if congress had passed national healthcare when it had the momentum, voters would trust them if they didn't squander all our tax money on stupid c**p as both parties have done in the past. Yes we can afford if everyone, i mean everyone paid something into the system.
Money is more precious to these people than life, unless you're in the womb. Once you're out, you can go f**k yourself. Republicans are scumbags.
How can you say this? It's the most ridiculous statement on here and that's saying a lot. Since there is no such thing as Trumpcare how do people make these assumptions? You do know what 'assume' really does...makes an a*s of you and me! Never would wish what this lady is going through but seems like her anger is misplaced. The outlandishly high items on her bill are crazy. I would be at that billing department of that hospital in a flash no matter the insurance. I hate Obamacare and her bill reinforces that feeling because under Obamacare we all are allowing hospitals to rip us off. I am a healthy woman nearing retirement age and I have to pay exactly half of my income for insurance. HALF! Each month I have to decide between food and utilities. And that is with a $7500 deductible! I despise Congress for not coming up with a more equitable plan where everyone can survive. Mr. Trump is not our problem. If I starve or freeze to death this winter it be because of Obamacare and Congress!
Load More Replies... Can some one explain how the trumps new insurance would change it? I genuinely don't know because I don't follow the news closely
Apparently there may be a cap on how much you can claim on your insurance during your lifetime which, if it's about 1/4 million $ then her son has already gone past this level and will no longer be covered...so he will die.
Load More Replies... Yes that is a very large bill, and you are quite lucky to only have to pay $500.00, but I can guarantee you that the hospital did not get nearly that much. They contract with the insurance companies and the insurance company determines how much is paid to the hospital and how much the patient has to pay. The hospitals know that they will not receive nearly what they bill out. That is why you receive an EOB from the insurance company BEFORE you get your bill from the hospital. If you would take time to look at them, you would see that.
Travelled Europe & Asia, wealthy & impoverished countries. Pains me that my beloved USA has healthcare for the wealthy, not the working poor
If he was born with the condition, that is pre-existing so, of course, no one would have had to insure him. And since the republicans are turning back time, no doctor would have had to operate on him in the first place. What a wonderful savings for tax payers but mostly for the insurance companies and the rich bastards who would benefit from the money they would save by not having to chip in on universal health care. God bless America--right?
Not sure all is out in the open on this information given by the Mom regarding her son's care. It is DEFINITELY CRITICAL to get CLEAR INFORMATION FROM OUR GOVERNMENT - but that is NOT HAPPENING. Therefore, ALL OF US in AMERICA are facing TREMENDOUS amounts of being 'led down a path of the unknown'. WHY are we being told that the Obama Care has bankrupted the country. What 'proof' do they have. IF this 'new Trump medical scenario' is NOT MADE CLEAR TO "WE THE PEOPLE", who supposedly 'matter' to the President and his cohorts, WHY ARE WE NOT BEING GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY to have a VOTE in this???????? We may 'act like sheep', and we are being 'led to the slaughter', BUT THEY ARE CAUSING THIS TO HAPPEN, not "we the people". I rarely get involved in these things, but just the fact that they throw all the huge $$$$$ around, and so-called tax cuts, means NOTHING. If they value life, then what about those who CANNOT WORK and are on Medicaid (I am NOT one of those, fortunately).
After open heart under Obamacare we still had to pay around $10,000 ! So it's not all rosy for everyone!
No, the real reason that medical bills are so high is because hospitals know they can get away with it.
That Bill is insane!!! $22,000 JUST for staying at the Hospital for two weeks!? Is this hospital considered a 5* resort or something? I don't even know if 5* resorts charge that much!!! This is what happens when they are free to bill insurance companies...i have worked for many companies that deal with insurance companies, and when they find out that the bill is being sent to an insurance company and not the person, they PAD their bill BIG TIME knowing that the insurance company will have to pay it!! THIS is why insurance rates are so high in the U.S.! As a Canadian, i am thankful we don't have to do this...i am not saying our system is better, our healthcare is NOT free, we pay for it in our taxes, and we here in Ontario pay more in taxes than just about anywhere else in the world from my knowledge...BUT, would you rather pay in small increments (which is pretty much what our taxes are) for healthcare or would you rather get a $250,000 bill you need to pay at once. Insane. Wow.
Here are the facts people, under Trump care if you have high blood pressure check everything it can cause and know you will not be covered by your insurance because it will be PRE-EXITING, if you were told you had a heart murmur as a child and you get heart disease it is PRE-EXITING anything and everything will be PRE-EXITING!!!!! If your child for what ever reason is born with a problem it will be PRE-EXITING because they were born with it. If you go into the hospital and something happens because of someone else you won't be treated it has now become PRE-EXITING. Then add on the CAP which will include dialysis, stem cell, kidney transplant, cancer treatment and so on, so just think if they give you a million dollar cap a transplant, proton cancer treatment or dialysis while your waiting for the kidney will take care of that. Why because once you tell the insurance company that the laws that were put in place with Obama care are no longer they can say THAT IS NOT COVERED OR NEW CAP
Pre-existing (I'm assuming autocorrect failed lol. Hate when it does that!)
Load More Replies... the whole system is so sad-terrible-the us government does not and will not ever care about the people ever-the rich don't care and they help line the political pockets-this will never change and this child and other children will pay the price. protest fight things need to change from the top down. when the head of the fish is rotten.....
This can be misleading, there are so many variables, what are the deductibles, has she already met deductibles? how much does she have to pay for medical insurance? you can't just post something like this without stating all the variables. My deductible is $2750. this does not include what I have to pay for insurance, I am married but my husband has VA, no children, so many other variables.
When did government become responsible for your medical bills? If government is responsible for your medical bills then your friends and neighbors are paying your bills as the money comes from tax dollars. I do think that medical care is way over priced though. I have insurance but the deductibles are a killer but I pay them it is called personal responsibility.
I am so happy I don't live in the US. I recently had a hip replacement. It cost me $30.
I am so happy that I don't live in the US. I recently had a hip replacement. It cost me $30.
That's incredible. I have a story too... Several years ago I had brain surgery. This was CHOICE to do this. This hospital only does it 10x a year. I told the doctors and surgeons, before they started, that I was allowing them to fix my brain (putting me in a coma for a month) only if I could do it for free. They thought about it and agreed. Guess I was just lucky there. A year of testing before the surgery too.
I see where the problems are, it's the cost at the Hospitals. For starters: (2 wk. stay) 1/. Rm & Board = $22,526 2/. Coronary Care = $47.089 3/. Supply/Implants = $42,999 4/. OR Services = $40,489 5/. Lab/Chemistry = $15,098 6/. Sterile Supply = $10,566 7/. Blood/Storage = $8,334 8/. Pharmacy = $8,215 9/. Lab/Hematology = $6,584 10/. Echo Cardiology = $5,738 11/. DRUG REQUIRED DETAIL = $4,598 These are just the most expense of this young Lads stay, my question is WHY?? Take a good look at the expense for these Test/Items/Supplies/Storage/Rm & Board/Care, are they serious? Give a good explanation why? This is where we have to fight, it's the administration cost the Board has put on the cost to maintain life when one is sick, it's their LOVE of MONEY, and that is sinful.
God BLESS and hold your son in His healing Hands. The fees that are being charged by ins. companies, labs, hospitals, dr's offices and anything telated to medical care, has been spiraling out of control for decades. I'm a grandmother and I remember my parents have a similar conversation as a child. The itemized bill I received after giving birth to my first born, listed Tylenol @ .72x2. That was 41 years ago. Health insurance wasn't a "right" then and it's not now. The money that is wasted in this country, along with reducing the greed that drives medical prices so high, could afford unified healthcare. But our country simply can't continue spending money we just don't have.
could someone point out in the legislation i can find, https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr1628/BILLS-115hr1628eh.pdf , where it says limits lifetime limits? I cant find any
The Trump Plan does not do this and it also keeps the pre existing clause from ObamaCare...
Let me be the first to say condolence to the people of the US. It only proves that politicians do not work for the people they serve and the prolife people only care about fetuses not human beings.
Let me be the first to say condolence to the people of the United States. The politicians and the pro-life people only care about you when you are inside your mother's womb.
my wife just spent 3months in hospital in australia and not one bill from hospital or doctors under australias medicare
If you anywhere but the US, take this story as a warning. If someone (like a politician or ill-informed neighbor) is trying to tell you how much better healthcare is here in the US, ask yourself these questions: 1) What am I gaining by inserting an insurance company that make billions a quarter (United Healthcare in July of 2016 reported a quarterly profit of $46.5 billion) https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/health-insurance-industry-rakes-in-billions-while-blaming-obamacare-for-losses-110116.html . 2) How does making healthcare a for profit industry help me get better healthcare? In 2017, WHO (World Health Organization) the US ranks at 37. This is in the bottom of all developed countries. 3) Why do I want to pay more for worse healthcare. The US spends 17.6% of it's GDP (Gross Domestic Product) on healthcare. #2-4 are the Netherlands (12.0%), France and Germany (11.6%) (Source: OECD Health data 2012). If you think the US healthcare system is even okay, you are sadly mistaken.
How on earth does an EKG cost 360 bucks in the USA? I got one for 35 euro's the other day :O
Hooray for a socialist health system. If mum's were in this situation in Australia, their bills would be $0. The government would cover absolutely everything. I don't know how anyone affords healthcare in the US. It's very perplexing to most people out of the US at how the system was even developed and what president way back when allowed such a horrid big pharma/health insurance company controlled health system??
medicare ins australia only covers the basics, you would still need insurance just to be safe.
Load More Replies... Ok I saw the cap, but it's not $250,000 it's 1-2 million I don't agree with the caps
That's amazing. I'm so sorry, it must be hard seeing your son go through all theses surgeries and endless procedures but I promise it'll be worth it in the end.
Cheryl Lynn that's correctly stated hospitals are charging way too much their prices can come down saving everybody a lot of money
I think there is also a general misconception here about how insurance works. You could think of it more like a savings account. Based on your demographics and medical history, they charge based on the amount of coverage you're likely to need with them. This case would be a statistical outlier, so the company will pay out more than they will ever receive from this family. The problem with the argument here is that the bill will only end the requirement that insurers not put a lifetime cap on services, it does not impose a cap itself. That decision is still up to the insurer. If the insurer puts a lifetime cap on her son, she is free to seek her insurance elsewhere, and if insurance companies are forced to compete across state lines it means that they will have to offer better coverage options at lower prices or watch their clientele leave. They'd rather play than close, so she and her son may actually benefit. Note: I'm studying actuarial science which is used in insurance.
Trump called the healthcare bill "mean" - he confirmed that he said it. I'm not sure what this will mean (pun unintended) to his supporters - will they support it then or no?
He wants to ditch state covered healthcare and give it to private companies. Similiar system works in my country. When I was diagnosed cancer I was given treatment, rehabilitation and all that for free(except 800CZK=34USD per whole family per month). Private company has covered it all.
Load More Replies... Cost accounting takes fixed expenses (like property tax, nursing, janitorial, executive salaries, etc) and doles out the cost over all services rendered. This is how you also get the $50,000 toilets. Medical care is screwed up by for-profit entities. When I would go to the hospital, too many times to count over my 60 years of life, we would joke about how much it would cost. I have been incredibly lucky to have good health coverage. In the six months after my cancer diagnosis, just the hospital charged almost $250,000 (back in 1984-5); but they accepted less than $80,000 from the insurance company as payment in full. Had I not had insurance, I would have been expected to pay the full amount.
I call BS on her claim of $500 for 2 weeks in a hospital as normsl ACA health insurance. My husband had 1 visit to the ER and out patient procedure for a single kidney stone THIS MONTH under our ACA insurance, and we maxed out the deductible and out-of-pocket at $6,300. CT scan was $2,900 . . . After insurance contract it dropped to $2,100 and then was split 80/20 between insurance and us. My friend works at same hospital and had neck surgery and she only owed $500 . . . it is a perk of being a hospital employee ans NOT ACA.
Feel so lucky living here in Australia where I pay $5.30 for each prescription (and it caps when it gets to a certain amount and then it is free after that). I pay $1.30 for diabetes test strips and $5.30 for 30 syringes of insulin which lasts about 6 months. And I got a new blood sugar meter this week for nothing. The stent I had put in 2 years ago cost us $0.00. If we didn't have government health care in this country we would be stuffed. Hoping things do not change for the sake and health of everyone gets the proper care.
this is one of the reasons I wouldn't live in the US, people are not protected at all, any comparison of laws between the US and Europe shows how criminally in favour of big business the States are. And everything in the US is business and only business. A horrible country when it comes to any kind of care for its citizens, only cares for weapons and war and billionaires. I would advise you to move. Somewhere your taxes will be used for the good of everyone, including your son, from healthcare to education. If you stay in the US the bills for his care will leave you homeless :( I wish you all the best!
Worked in a few hospitals, had a car accident a few years ago, broken elbow, the hospital charged 10.00 for one Narco pain reliever. Insurance companies exist to make money, loss ratios are bad news for them. If you liberals want ACA so bad you should be able to keep it and then watch the premiums go up as they already have, you will pay higher deductibles as well, Trump needs to let ACA continue until it fails which it will.
I was on a cruise ship going around Australia when I ran out of meds. The ship's doctor quoted me a sky high price for my tablets however she kindly wrote me a script and I was able to get my meds for $20 - a big box of 200 tablets. Another time, again on a cruise ship but this time in the US, I ran out of meds and got quoted $15 for 1 tablet on the ship. The doc wrote me a script so I could get my meds ashore and they weren't much cheaper so I got just enough to cover me until I got home. Why such a difference in price? I am grateful to the national health service (NHS) in the UK. Perhaps big pharma needs to make drastic changes to its pricing to make meds affordable. With advanced technology, why such a high price for an x-ray or CT scan, etc? It's sad to see how the healthcare industry/big pharma is ripping people off. Medical care seems to be a luxury nowadays.
The GOP is NOT pro- life. They are PRO BIRTH. Once you're born, you're on your own
I have no problem th insurance caps. I don't understand how people in this country always want handouts. If he is so special to you, then you would have no problem paying for his operations and medical bills. Why should I have to suffer and pay for him, it's not my child. I pay for everything for mine and don't look for someone else to take care of my children. Step up and realize that you are part of the insurance problem.
Under ObamaCare (ACA), I am faced with a 300% increase above the 20-49% People are seeing. I live in the USA 4months out of the year, but because the Individual Mandate forces me buy Coverage for the 8months I am International (and can't use)...my Health Insurance (not Health Cost) would be UNAFFORDABLE! I can't get a Supporter of ObamaCare to explain how this is Affordable.
Trump are has not been voted on yet if you have paid anything you are paying on current healthcare. It will be awhile before ant decisions are made.
You know this chick is full of s**t. Private health insurance has ALWAYS had a cap! When private insurance runs out, the patient is put on Medicaid which pays for all expenses related to that specific illness. I know. I've been through it twice in my lifetime so far. This is just another "Let's Bash Trump" article. This woman is a nurse. She knows damned well how it works but wants to exploit her son's medical condition as a platform to bash Trump. Obamacare just about killed me with all the high deductibles and exceptions, but no one talks about that.
To hell with showing bills....have her produce the "Crystal Ball" showing her what/how an undeside, unfinished, almost nonexistant bill will affect us in the future....
One problem with health care is the hospital billing, maybe billing practices should be investigated. America does have a government ran health care system in place, the VA. A way to get health care under control would be to use the true cost of procedures, based on VA costs and allow other hospitals to charge no more than VA cost plus a reasonable percentage. Also putting a profit limit on insurance companies, if they exceed a certain amount impose penalties such as addition taxes or premium rebates to customers. Another idea would be to impose salary caps on hospital and insurance company big wigs. All these added together would reduce health care costs
Healthcare should be a right, not a privilege... National disgrace.
This is just proof that it is not an insurance problem this is a healthcare cost problem.Insurance companies would be glad to cover reasonable charges but when you see her bill they are ridiculous.We have to bring down the cost of what Dr's Pharmacutical companies and Hospitals charge patients.
I had a liver transplant prior to Obamacare and I had insurance. My hospital bill was 780,000 and the surgeon was 260,000 my out of pocket was 3500.00 and my lifetime cap was and is 5 million. I don't see where lifetime caps are going to affect this. Most people will never hit lifetime caps. Pre-existing will stay the same then lifetime caps will only apply if you stay with that same insurance for life.
The Government has a system in place called "Catastrophic Illnesse" That program takes over your medical bills in the event that there is no way for you to pay. Yes it is hard to get excepted into the program but it is there... We should all push to have that program extended to make it work for thousands more. Big Pharma and huge hospital conclomerets fight programs like this day in and day out.
Will be more than happy if you will Just make me a part of your struggle
American healthcare is beyond insane, and we here in the UK will get to experience the insanity too once our current government has their way. Your little boy is so gorgeous, but I'm thinking Trump will happily practise eugenics if it means sacrifice to the Holy, Almighty Dollar.
Under the Trump Plan Prohibitions on annual and lifetime limits Insurers are barred from setting a limit on how much they have to pay to cover someone. Pre-existing conditions policy Requires insurers to cover people regardless of pre-existing medical conditions and bars the companies from charging more based on a person’s health history.
https://www.facebook.com/NowThisPolitics/videos/1601485816549569/?pnref=story
Um, no. Popular vote was not trumps which means most of us did NOT vote for him. A*****e manipulated the system through the electoral college (which is an outdated system and should be revised or abolished completely).
Load More Replies... Stop with all of your damn lies! Do you sleep well after you scare people with these lies? This picture has been totally hijacked from someo
Where the f**k do these greedy yanks get these prices from, If these surgeons lived in Russia they would not earn one days pay a yank doctor gets in one year, and they have some of the best doctors in the world, You yanks are the greediest f***s alive on this planet and it is about time you were all stamped out of existance.
What health insurance plan does she have? Looks like a great plan. I doubt its an Obamacare plan. What is the deductible and co-insurance? Would she lose this plan under proposed new healthcare law?
ACA saved me 50% on premiums. High deductible, but better overall coverage. Many of my poor students & families got health insurance w ACA.
Load More Replies... The problem is not Trump! The problem is obama care period! It increased by 300% a month prior to Obama leaving office. This healthcare bill should have never been voted in through congress. Lets look at france, Anyone at anytime can go into the ER, OR or Doctors office and never see a bill. Why? This is because their citizens along with the government have agreed on higher taxes which would cover anyones hospital bill or expenses. Additionally their Doctors don't get paid in the millions over the years regardless of their specialty. We as nation are blind to what politician keep doing an that is they keep playing their political agenda and never get things done. I am speaking on the house/congress. Both Republicans as well as Democrats, they all are equally guilty. So let us please rethink how this health care bill effects everyone all the way around to include the people who cannot afford obama care and then get penalized in the little bit of tax money year end.
Hello! There is no "Trumpcare" yet nor do we know what it will look like. This is just a hit piece blaming Trump and conservatives for something that MIGHT happen in a Liberal fantasy but has not happened at all in reality. Why not use this story to lobby and inform legislators rather than falsely vilify a POTUS who thus far has caused none of the horrors invented by the authors? BoredPanda is much better when it stays out of speculative partisan politics.
There is a LOT wrong with this article. At first glance, she's not showing the insurance company write off which can be up to 65% of the initial charge. Also, she has no idea what the cap will be, if any. To assume for partisan reasons, that her child will "die" because of changes to the healthcare laws is disingenuous, at best. Insurance companies set their own caps. If she is purchasing from an exchange, she may very well end up with no coverage at all. Obamacare is dead.
And when you're tapped out, he'll got on Medicaid and you'll pay nothing. No insurance company can afford to pay claims of this size and will go to reinsurance but also is limited. The premiums anyone pays does not support claims of this magnitude and then it becomes a public liability. And remember this is under Obamacare. Why does everyone act like this is new? There have been caps on claims for over 30 years.
ACA removed caps. You don't know what you are talking about.
Load More Replies... First let me say I'm glad that your son made it through this extremely rough ordeal, but I still don't understand why it's anyone else’s responsibility except for you and your families to pay for your child's food, clothing, medical expenses, etc. At this point, no one knows what the new insurance will or won't do, all I know is that I had and could afford insurance before obamacare, now we go without just to have insurance. Maybe more of the free loaders need to be kicked to the curb and made to get a job so that the hard-working people (working 3 jobs) don’t have to spend all their time away from their own families just to continue to live pay check to pay check.
This is What it costs with insurance, What about the millions of Americans that don't have insurance? This is why I am glad I'm not an American. YOUR COUNTRY IS F****D
Actually Steven, no the insurance companies only pay a fraction of what the hospital charges because they work out "agreements" on what they will pay...Only those who don't have insurance are F****D by this....thus the reason insurance companies are rolling in the dough..
Load More Replies... Wow, lady, classic liberal "look at me" tirade. Aetna has pulled itself from all exchanges, so apparently you have your own insurance, and chances are you won't be using "Trumpcare" either. You should be ashamed for using your son's condition to get attention and sympathy, and to make a bogus point on something that will probably not affect you anyway. Most registered nurses have some pretty good benefits provided to them by their employers. Also, I would suggest you question the high cost of many of the items on your bill, but since you are in the healthcare field you are probably already aware of the outrageous costs of healthcare in this country, and are okay with it. After all, who wants to rock the boat of the industry that provides your bread and butter? I will pray for good health for your son. My family has suffered through similar situations, and I know how devastating and scary it can be. But don't capitalize on it with typical liberal BS.
Absolute b******t from someone who will not go without insurance under any administration.
You should probably read this: https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/health-insurance-industry-rakes-in-billions-while-blaming-obamacare-for-losses-110116.html ------ Time and host of other news agencies (like Forbes) tell a similar story. Facts vs Fable.
Load More Replies... You should get the medical attention you need because you're sick, not because your family is in a high income bracket.
Load More Replies... So you sell insurance, think that unregulated insurers will give you free or discounted health care, and that deregulation would solve everything? Really? We have a system in place to care of needs of the citizens when they aren't able to pay. It's called the government. And if the bastards were doing their jobs, we would eliminate the insurers (or at least regulate them more effectively). The reason there are so many regulations on insurers (and banks) is because at some time in the past, they have shown they can't be trusted to do their jobs. Just because you sell insurance doesn't make you an expert in insurance and regulations, nor does it give you a unique insight into the healthcare debate. What it does do is give you a vested interest in expanding insurance's role in healthcare and slants your view. To me, that is adding to the problem, not solving it.
Load More Replies... Because health care for it's citizens is part having a great country. Because I pay taxes and this is a good use of my tax dollars. By the way, you have an awful s****y view for someone that lives on taxpayer provided health care. All for me and none for you. You must be a Trump twat.
Load More Replies... I was also wondering about the $33,175 discrepancy in the bill, but it's silly to think that this would invalidate the point being made. The fact that even short stays in a hospital cost exorbitant amounts that would financially ruin an entire family is common knowledge. My girlfriend was recently in the hospital for a little over 2 weeks. Some medical monitoring was required, but no surgery was needed. The bill before medicaid was about $60,000. Afterwards it was $12. If this happened under Trump, it would have been ruinous.
Load More Replies... Seeing how you are so invested in fake news, lets talk about the ACA hurting insurance companies. https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/health-insurance-industry-rakes-in-billions-while-blaming-obamacare-for-losses-110116.html
Load More Replies... Have you even as much as LOOKED at that bill? With ACA, this family owes the hospital only $500. If ACA didn't exist, that bill would be a total over $231,115. Perhaps you would prefer getting a bill of nearly a quarter million Dollar instead of half a thousand?
Load More Replies... No one plans to have a child with debilitating medical issues, or to discover them as they grow up. Hospital care is extremely expensive - paying for the doctors, paying for the technology , and a whole list of things that make getting treatment unbelievably expensive. Even for a one-off surgery for the otherwise 'perfectly healthy' person with an inflamed appendix. Hospital care is beyond what 99% of America can plan to afford. Unless everyone with a child who has rare genetic issues or similar medical problems is a hidden millionaire, there is nothing irresponsible going on. I take the view that every sick child could grow up to fix one of the worlds myriad problems, and that all of them should be given the opportunity to do so. Perhaps I'm just baiting a troll here, but as someone to whom this affects personally in more ways than the average person could ever imagine, I think the only immature thing around here is you.
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