Important Healthcare Information

Hey y'all,

This is specifically for people in the US healthcare system.

If you are getting a test or procedure done, ask them what the cost is without insurance. It may end up being significantly cheaper.

I had to go get a basic metabolic panel blood test today and they were going to charge me $350. When I asked what the cost was without insurance, it was $100. Mind you, I have good insurance. It's around $1500 a month.

This has happened multiple other times with different people that I know. Just asking could save you a significant amount of money.

xilliah ,
@xilliah@beehaw.org avatar

You pay 1500 a month for health insurance??

W-T-F

🤯

Why do you even care about the money?

cowboycrustation OP Mod ,
@cowboycrustation@lemmy.blahaj.zone avatar

I'm under my mom's insurance and her work pays for it out of her paycheck. It also includes dental. I've got two other siblings under the same plan. Money is tight.

Zorsith ,
@Zorsith@lemmy.blahaj.zone avatar

Family plans are significantly more expensive than individual ones as I recall, sadly. And then folks wonder why nobodies having kids...

Nia_The_Cat ,
@Nia_The_Cat@beehaw.org avatar

Also, if your hospital is registered as a nonprofit (most in the US are) ask for the charity program if you ever have to go in. I recently got an ~$80k bill written off 100% due to my income being less than 200% of the federal poverty line. It may only cover what the hospital alone does and not partner companies like radiologist, Anastasia, etc. or your doctor if they aren't directly a part of the hospital. This is not from a charity fund, it's money that the hospitals are required to provide assistance with to maintain tax-exempt status, and they get reimbursed for it in some cases.

The level of writeoff varies on your income. Usually if you make less than 200% of the Federal Poverty level (For 2024 that's anything less than $30,120) you can possibly get a 100% writeoff, and if you make more you can still get a large percentage taken off

Most hospitals have a 240 day time limit to apply for it so if you've recently had a big hospital bill I'd recommend checking into this, in some cases you can get it even if you have insurance that didn't cover the full amount, and get refunded for the portion of the bill you've already paid if your write off is big enough, or bills you still have even if they are currently sent to collections.

https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/financial-assistance-policies-faps

cowboycrustation OP Mod ,
@cowboycrustation@lemmy.blahaj.zone avatar

Does anybody know why this is the way it is? It sounds absolutely insane to me.

eya ,
@eya@lemmy.blahaj.zone avatar

Capitalism

onevia Mod ,
@onevia@lemmy.blahaj.zone avatar

You answered it in your first sentence.

The US healthcare system. 🙄

cowboycrustation OP Mod ,
@cowboycrustation@lemmy.blahaj.zone avatar

I love you American healthcare system thank you for making everyone broke and in debt for basic medical care and lining the hospital CEO's pockets thank you insurance companies for price gouging and lobbying Congress thank you for this 100% fair and ethical system that I'm forced to navigate 😍🥰🤗

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