clearaflagrantj posted...When I went to the ER a few months ago I got a mucus test and a chest X ray, the doctor told me that I had pneumonia and wrote me a prescription for antibiotics. I was billed out of pocket $1150.
BUT at some point another doctor, I don't know which one, came into my room and asked me a couple of questions. I answered them and he or she left and that was that. APPARENTLY that doctor was not part of the hospital, but was independent and worked in the hospital under contract. Just because I spoke to some random doctor that came into my room, I got billed an additional $480.
And it's not like I had a fucking choice in the matter. I read reviews from the group the doctor was contracted out of, they literally go from room to room, talk for a few minutes, leave, then send massive bills.
Healthcare is a fucking racket.
Your mistake was going to the ER instead of a walk-in clinic or urgent care when it most likely was nowhere near a life-or-death situation, just like the subjects of the article. Next time, just go to a walk-in clinic if the problem is fairly minor and can wait until the next morning when it's open or urgent care if you've got something bad but you are in no danger of dying from it. But for the sake of people actually needing emergency care, don't be one of those people that go to the ER just because they came down with a cold at night.
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Hmm...