My wife had an appendicitis surgery last month and we got a bill for $32,000? She was in the hospital for 5 days....
Share your medical bill experience………..
2006-07-11 06:15:45 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
you should have jumped on the first plane to Scotland my friend they do it for free,,
the reason for the price difference between you and india is quite simple,, salary
the greedy rich middle class american surgeons are on about 500 thousand dollars a year and the hard working indian doctors are on 30 thousand a year,,
the costs of the opp is the same my friend
about two hours of a trained doctor to fix a very simple problem,, the rest of the time is recovery only and the price charged is a disgrace,,
hope you had insurance,,
good luck and good health for the future
2006-07-11 06:22:44 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
One important factor is the enormous cost American MD's and hospitals have to pay for liability & malpractice insurance.
Because we live in such a sue-happy time with so many sue-happy people, the only way doctors can survive is to purchase these huge insurance policies, the cost of which is passed on to the consumer.
Sophisticated technology, equipment, and medicines are other factors which drive up the cost of health care to stratospheric levels.
Finally, a part of it is nothing more or less than pure human greed to make as much money as we possibly can. Without the option (or knowledge of options) of any alternatives, people feel resigned to pay these fees - it works like a monopoly in the world of business.
Is this all fair? No it isn't. But unfortunately, it is presently the way things are.
2006-07-11 06:29:43 · answer #2 · answered by whabtbob 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Great question!
My brother in law is an doctor. He lives in a mansion that would put Sadaam to shame.
Billing, in the medical field, has a series of middlemen who all have to be paid. Sometime follow the paper trail of your bill.
I had a hernia surgery about a year ago and the billing went as follows:
Doc does the surgery and charges for it.
Doc owns the surgery center and charges himself (and me for it)
Doc is part owner of a "local HMO" and they get a piece of the action... doc gets paid again.
Then doc sends billing out under another first name and charges for additional services.
The medical mercenaries in America have created such a thick corporate veil it's almost impossible to see how many people are atacking charges on your bill, before you even get it.
Gratefully, most of our doctors reside in gated communities so the mass wealth is not too visible. It's just a shame we can't figure out a way to lock their gates from the outside.
Hmmm, that gives me an idea!
2006-07-11 06:23:52 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you looked at what the average yearly income is in the USA versus India?
Average Household income in India in 2003 was $530.
Average household income in the USA in 2003 was $43,318.
Looking at that way, the numbers aren't that far away. Costs almost a years worth of wages in either country.
ADDITIONALLY, the US doctors have to worry about lawsuits which is not a significant concern in India.
Doctors in India have a very good standard of living (as a whole) just as doctors in the USA do. Don't be fooled into thinking it's because US doctors are greedy. The dominant factor is the cost of living difference between the two countries.
2006-07-11 06:19:59 · answer #4 · answered by Steve 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the USA we love to sue everyone for anything. People think lawsuits are the ticket to free money and so instead of there being only legitimate lawsuits for valid reasons, people will sue you for looking at them cross-eyed!
So doctors have to have expensive medical malpractice insurance. And hospitals have to have expensive medical malpractice insurance. And lawyers stand ready to sue anyone with deep pockets (lots of money) at the drop of a hat.
Thus, we can't afford anything in the country any more.
2006-07-11 06:21:02 · answer #5 · answered by kja63 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It has to do with the exchange rate. A traffic tricket in India is 800 rupees. Most ppl there can't afford that. But to us, that's only 20 bucks, chump change.
2006-07-11 06:19:06 · answer #6 · answered by icee85_76 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
5 days is a long stay for that, she had complications-that always cost more. In India it may be much cheaper, but there are too many things here that have to be paid for that you do not have in India-like liability.
2006-07-11 06:21:32 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well I'm not a doctor. But I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night.
2006-07-11 06:18:31 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Surgeons in America have a lot more overhead they must pay - the hospital takes their cut, and there is also malpractice insurance, and on and on and on...
2006-07-11 06:18:34 · answer #9 · answered by Rockmeister B 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because the people who monitor the medical community are all doctors.... who refuse to take away the licenses of bad doctors..
so our courts have awarded huge mal-practice sums of money... so insurance has skyrocketed in price... so all medical prices have skyrocketed
hmmm.. because the doctors in charge.. like to make money.
2006-07-11 06:20:32 · answer #10 · answered by ♥Tom♥ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋