Family charged $33,000 medical bill for using chopper. | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 75504861 Ireland 05/12/2019 01:35 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
MarPep User ID: 77634284 United States 05/12/2019 01:37 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | This child could easily and safely been transferred by ground. That should have been $5-6000 or less. Sometimes ER crew over-reacts and calls air-ambulance. And ER crew may have been up to their ass in alligators, with no ground crew available at the time. Last Edited by MarPep on 05/12/2019 01:41 PM _______________ They let me off with a warning and a couple of bullet holes. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 77638878 United States 05/12/2019 01:40 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
BRIEF User ID: 39607259 United States 05/12/2019 01:43 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Phillip J. Fry User ID: 77115948 United States 05/12/2019 01:47 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 77638878 United States 05/12/2019 01:48 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward (OP) User ID: 76814121 United States 05/12/2019 01:50 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
BRIEF User ID: 39607259 United States 05/12/2019 01:51 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Yeah but i mean if you need it its like being free you know what i mean? I see how people for socialism lie to themselves... I never forgive and I never forget I am a licensed firearm holder. I will, under protection of law, use lethal force if attacked. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 77222832 United States 05/12/2019 01:51 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | brief you are disgusting for bragging about how it won't break you The national rate of savings is what should embarrass YOU. again you are disgusting Truth be known, he's probably a welfare parasite. People that try to brag and boast online are normally the opposite of what they're boasting about. |
Jungleboogie User ID: 76648271 Canada 05/12/2019 01:52 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
BRIEF User ID: 39607259 United States 05/12/2019 01:54 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | ... Quoting: Anonymous Coward 1159767 brief you are disgusting for bragging about how it won't break you The national rate of savings is what should embarrass YOU. again you are disgusting Truth be known, he's probably a welfare parasite. People that try to brag and boast online are normally the opposite of what they're boasting about. lol or not I never forgive and I never forget I am a licensed firearm holder. I will, under protection of law, use lethal force if attacked. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 76884150 United States 05/12/2019 02:01 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 77640804 United States 05/12/2019 02:03 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
BRIEF User ID: 39607259 United States 05/12/2019 02:07 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | That's because your Brief. More could be said, all true, but not appreciated (by you that is). When you are on the verge of sudden death count your money and see how much boasting you do. I generally know my net worth on any given day...of course it fluctuates. I never forgive and I never forget I am a licensed firearm holder. I will, under protection of law, use lethal force if attacked. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 42555665 United States 05/12/2019 02:21 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | So who should pay for it instead? We the people? Fuck that, this isn't russia. Why do people expect everything to be free? Quoting: Anonymous Coward 54547252 I will bet big money that if dis waz beez a frickin kneegrow fambly it would have been covered somehow!!!! Yoo feelz mee? These fine folks just checked off the wrong box on the insurance form! Of course everyone ignores this inconvenient truth instead of correcting it, and instead to bitch about the medical profession... The middle class is paying 4-5 times what it should cost in order to build in the costs for the scumbag, gibsmedat crowd. They probably need chopper rides for overdoses and gunshots frequently and weez beez payin fo all dat. |
Midwest Skeptic User ID: 77374864 United States 05/12/2019 02:23 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Medical Helicopter Flights are expensive as HELL. Shoot I was charged $1500 for a ground ambulance transfer from a clinic to the hospital, about 6 miles, and they didn't do squat or even provide an EMS crew, just a cab ride. Here a 5 mile flight from hospital to hospital is about $12,000 - $15,000 and a 25 mile flight from an outlying area of the urban area to one of our trauma centers or for a heart attack usually runs $25,000 to $35,000. If you have to go 50 to 60 miles plan on $50,000. The cost of Air Ambulance Services is VERY HIGH ... which is why you need to check with your insurance company to see what your coverage is. IF your area is ONLY served by one air ambulance service you can usually buy insurance for flights on THEIR helicopters for a very reasonable fee ... but that won't cover you if you are driving elsewhere and another company provides your ride. Having known several people who are ONLY ALIVE because of helicopter air ambulances being able to get them to a Level 1 Trauma center ASAP so they could immediately go into surgery I am not going begrudge the $50,000, or more, it cost EACH of them to get them to a location where their lives were saved. You ALWAYS have the right to turn down an Air Ambulance Ride ... but then you have to deal with the consequences (and parents can turn it down on behalf of their children), and those consequences can include DEATH or permanent injury) (had a teenager on our ski race team who had a bad accident and may have broken his back ... they could have put him on an ambulance for a ride to the nearest city, about an hour's transit - and he thus WOULD NOT GET the Nerve Saving injection if his spinal cord was actually cut which can actually save one's ability to walk in the future , or they could pick him up right there and fly him, at a cost of $40,000+ direct to the trauma center. The Ski Patrol EMS's wanted the helicopter, the dad agreed, and he went straight to the Trauma Center via helicopter. Ended up NO serious injury other than badly pulled and bruised muscles and a badly twisted back, BUT his dad had NO REGRETS paying his deductable share of that helicopter ride - several thousand dollars - since if it had been as bad as they thought he might be it would possibly have been the only way to save his being able to ever walk again in the future) It is expensive as all get out to run those medical evacuation helicopters ... and to keep them on call 24/7. Don't want to pay for a ride in one even if teetering on death? Then tell everyone that you are refusing to ride on one ... and put it in your billfold signed and notarized, etc. etc.) |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 77452409 Canada 05/12/2019 02:31 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 19778563 United States 05/12/2019 02:39 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | - $33,000 for a medical flight? I'm calling B.S. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 40169223 They are over-charging for that service. The entire medical and pharma industry continually engages in price gauging, charging extreme amounts of money, way beyond what a drug or service is actually worth. - All children and young adults age 21 and under should automatically be covered by some form of universal health insurance. Working adults can pay their own way, but children should be covered. I heard a radio report on chopper use, and the person featured on it was billed $50,000 .... Our system is broken. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 77534636 United States 05/12/2019 02:51 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Isnt it part of capitalism for the citizens to negotiate these costs? I dont mean those using it, I mean all citizens? Quoting: Anonymous Coward 77534636 The "capitalism part" is if someone thinks they can do the same job for less---then do it. Or go broke trying. The hospitals choose who airlifts for them and would never allow a competitor to reduce thier bottom line. The most anti capitalist people in this country reside in the Big corporations. They detest competition and purchase politicians to tailor policies to benefit them. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 77534636 United States 05/12/2019 03:03 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | It is not uncommon to see 40,000 and 50,000 dollar charges. Looking around it appears insurance usually on cover a fraction of the bill. Also, looking at the profits, one such company made 100 million in profits last year. They pretty much charge whatever they want and they do not have any competition because their usually the only game in town. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 77374864 United States 05/12/2019 03:12 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | It is not uncommon to see 40,000 and 50,000 dollar charges. Looking around it appears insurance usually on cover a fraction of the bill. Also, looking at the profits, one such company made 100 million in profits last year. They pretty much charge whatever they want and they do not have any competition because their usually the only game in town. Ditto the local Fire Department which charges $6,000+ to get you 30 miles to the nearest Trauma Center whereas if you went by car it would only cost $10 in gasoline!! Talk about RIPPING PEOPLE OFF ... the local Fire Departments now have it down to a science!! $6,000 for a trip your friend could do for you for only $10!! |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 46311418 United States 05/12/2019 03:14 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Penny Peppers User ID: 45904129 United States 05/12/2019 03:26 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 28698215 United States 05/12/2019 03:27 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | i thought the med-evac choppers were only supposed to be used for dire emergencies where every hour counts? Quoting: Anonymous Coward 48024189 pretty soon you'll illegals faking injuries on the border and demanding chopper evac as a way of getting into the country It happens all the time here in AZ. [link to www.breitbart.com (secure)] And other states: [link to www.foxnews.com (secure)] |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 28698215 United States 05/12/2019 03:28 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | i thought the med-evac choppers were only supposed to be used for dire emergencies where every hour counts? Quoting: Anonymous Coward 48024189 pretty soon you'll illegals faking injuries on the border and demanding chopper evac as a way of getting into the country It happens all the time here in AZ. [link to www.breitbart.com (secure)] And other states: [link to www.foxnews.com (secure)] nothing new here. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 76983000 United States 05/12/2019 03:31 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 1148772 United States 05/12/2019 03:33 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | So who should pay for it instead? We the people? Fuck that, this isn't russia. Why do people expect everything to be free? Quoting: Anonymous Coward 54547252 The chopper company ceo says they charge only $2000 for people on medicaid while they charge more than $6000 for people on medicare. Why is there a difference in the bill ? This type of shit is all too common. I have heard multiple stories like this from our local hospital. Less than 20-minute flights and the bill is over $40,000. These companies should be ashamed of themselves. They are taking advantage of people during a moment of crisis. Those charges are strictly for cooking the books. No insurance company on the planet is going cover that bill. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 77272669 United States 05/12/2019 03:38 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Pelledan User ID: 32751542 United States 05/12/2019 03:44 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | It’s a scam. In our city they call medi flight all the time. The people are flown 70 miles to OKC where they are treated and released the same day. Our local hospital used to do everything, broken bones, heart attacks, etc. But now if your airbag deploys you’re going on a chopper. Now explain to me how I can rent a chopper for $600 an hour in Kauai but 30 minutes in Oklahoma is over $30,000? Quoting: docsquat Malpractice Insurance for in flight medical team vs. a half drunk chopper pilot. Smithenhouser, The Living Librarian |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 77617169 Netherlands 05/12/2019 03:48 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | 40k seems a bit much. But this idea that state of the art medical care should be free is retarded. If you want your life saved by the best trained people in the world with the best material it is going to cost. I mean many people spend over 40k on a car to impress their neighbors. Many people spend that to study the drums for a year or two. But spending a lot of money to have your life saved is suddenly unfair? Sounds like childish whining. |