Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Health Care and the Bitter Side of Adulthood

Yesterday's mail brought the BILL.

Boy came home sick in early September. Really sick. I took him to the urgent care where boy forked over $140.00 and learned that he had strep throat.

Antibiotics at Walmart: $11.00

Priceless

Except...

Four days later, in the wee hours of the morning he was pale, shaking, and sick, sick, sick. He wasn't getting better. If anything he was getting worse.

Beloved took him the ER.

Boy is nineteen and just completed his internship with Bible Teaching Inc. Boy has no insurance. Boy is not eligible for government funded health care. Boy is screwed.

At the ER they pumped him full of fluids. They ran a bunch of tests and declared to him that he has Mono and strep. Fabulous.

Then the bill came.

IV Solutions $136.50
Lab Chemical $43.00
Lab Immunology $45.00
Lab Hematology $57.00
Lab Bacteriology/Microbiology $200.00
Lab Urology $32.00
ER Services $1228.50
Other therapeutic services $381.15
Professional fee ER $803.00

Grand total $2926.15

Oh, but wait, I forgot! They also gave him an "uninsured discount".

Whew!

Uninsured discount and other adjustments -$351.14

Total balance due $2575.01

Boy is just sick over it. He really is.

He'll have to apply for financial aid, but we all know that unless you are a welfare recipient you are just out of luck.

Boy is still home sick and not working because he has MONO! Hello!

It's the bitter side of adulthood; the hoop jumping. The cold hard facts of being uninsured and not having the funds to cover the bill.

Been there. Done that.

I feel so sorry for him. Adulthood is no picnic. Once he enrolls in school, it won't be a big deal, our insurance will cover him. It's this in between time that stinks.

And it's the one thing I was most worried about: Being uninsured.

Thank God he didn't break something!

Oh, and just so you know, we are not in favor of Obamacare. I've seen the way the government takes care of business and I don't want them taking care of me.

Not to mention, and this isn't a political blog but, I thought the Dems were into less government....

I'm just sayin'

6 comments:

Barrie said...

Annie, yikes! That's a huge bill. I so miss living in Canada with socialized health care. So miss it.

Patti said...

many hospitals will knock off up to 50% off if you call them and ask for an adjusted bill. AND you can get payments with no interest. he names the monthly price and BOOM! done. try it at the very least...

Island Rider said...

I have a 23 year old who is uninsured. I worry as well.

Sandcastle Momma said...

Patti is right. He can call and offer them a set amount (50% or even a little less) and they'll take it. They know that if he's uninsured this will be their only chance at getting any money at all.
Hope he feels better soon!

Kristen said...

"Just say" away, girl! Woot! I am sorry about the ridiculous hospital bill. But it could be worse!

Dawn Parsons Smith said...

I completely relate to this...My husband's employer got rid of the family insurance last year. Thank God, my husband is still covered...

However, both kids were sick last week and I shelled out over $500! I am NOT in favor of Obamacare either. I would just like to find an insurance company that doesn't want to charge us $2,000 a month for coverage!

Hope he feels on the mend soon!

{hugs}