Will hospitals/doctors EAT you alive if you don't have health INS.?

Question

I need a circumsicion and they've told me it will cost around $8.000-10.000, just because my co-pay is sky-high.
How could they take advantage of poor people in need????

Answer 1

As much as it seems like they're taking advantage of you, there are a lot more costs involved than most people realize. Anytime someone performs a medical procedure on you, you are basically putting your life into their hands. You trust that they've had enough training and experience. You trust that all of the equipment used is sterile. You trust that they are following all standard practices. Even simple things like making sure there is electricity for any equipment that needs it can get expensive (a standard UPS around $70 jumps to almost $500 when it is medical grade, for otherwise equivalent performance). All of these costs have to be paid somewhere. In the U.S., that typically comes from the patient or their insurance.

My recommendation would be to see if there's some way they can either lower the cost or spread it out. My local hospital offers a good discount if you pay up front (removes the worry of billing and possible collections, which are NOT cheap). You can also get a smaller discount for making payment arrangements before the procedure.

Answer 2

Yea verily brother! They even will refuse service if there are not any compensation. If the need for the procedure is really a health risk, there is probably a way to get some kind of preferred discount or freebie for the operation. Talk it over with the social service of the hospital. If it is religious than your priest or Rabbi will help.
Spartawo...

Answer 3

welcome to the messed up world of American health care, where the patient's needs don't matter, what matters is the almighty dollar. Suggest you make arrangements for monthly payments BEFORE you have the procedure done.

Answer 4

You are generally dead before they start eating.


Seriously though, that price seems excessive. You should ask around for other estimates.