Affordable Healthcare: Unaffordable Healthcare Insurance

k">is always the amount billed minus the “patient
According to the California Health Care Foundation 45savings” minus any insurance reimbursement and
million Americans are “uninsured.” Even further,amounts “not allowed.”
100% of American’s are essentially uninsuredMark my word, essentially, you will require major
on the 1st day of January, every year, and theysurgery or you will have a significant accident that
remain so until they have met theirresults in enormous bills before you will meet your
deductibles—something that insurance companiesdeductible—if you are still even able to meet this
are increasingly making an impossible thing to do. Howamount at all. And until you exceed this amount, you
much did you spend last year? Are you reallyare a cash paying patient. Make no mistake about it.
covered? Here are some statistics that you may findSee for yourself. In my case, the amount applied to
alarming. If you think you have healthcare insurance,the deductible for the above transaction was:
here are a few simple questions you might ask$11,569.20 - $9,869.20 - $11.00 = $1,689.00.
yourself: Have you met your deductible? If so, whatIf you are still a non-believer, I can show you the bill
were your out of pocket costs for the year? Howon April 4, 2003 for $766 where I paid $266 and only
much did you and your employer pay for your$84.26 was applied to the deductible. I have many
healthcare insurance last year and what did you getmore examples and I’m sure that if you pay
for it? And where is your money going? According toattention, you will find plenty of your own.
the California Health Care Foundation[1] 45 millionBut can you really afford to pay cash for
Americans are “uninsured.” While this numberhealthcare?Absolutely! What you can’t afford,
may seem alarming, consider the fact that 100% ofis healthcare insurance. If you have a family, you
American’s are essentially uninsured on the 1stalready know that this is true. If you are
day of January, every year, and they remain so untilsingle—maybe, but why throw your money down
they have met their deductibles—something thatthe toilet when you can get so much more for your
insurance companies are increasingly making anhard earned cash!? I have a wife and 4 kids. To pay
impossible thing to do. You owe it to yourself to find$6,000.00 in premiums and miscellaneous fees this
out the actual costs of healthcare in order to makeyear is simply unacceptable. I’m joining the
intelligent decisions about what you CAN afford. Hereranks of the uninsured and I have a good job! I just
are some more statistics that you might find alarming:called Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital to get an
1. In 2004, the average healthcare premiumupdate on the cost of a c-section. Low and behold,
employers were charged for a family of fourthe cash price for a c-section is $3,000.00. You can
averaged $9,950[2].call yourself.
2. By 2006, it is predicted that the average annualBut what if you get injured and have massive bills?
family insurance premium will reach $14,500[3].You have too much to loose.
3. National surveys indicate that the primary reasonOf course you do. Hopefully, however, you are not
for being uninsured is for the simple reason thatignorant enough to believe that your healthcare
insurance is not affordable[4].insurance company is going to bail you out under
4. There are more Americans (50%) who are nowthese circumstances. If for some God forsaken
worried that they cannot afford their healthcarereason you are hit by a truck and spend 2 months in
insurance than there are (42%) who report beingthe hospital accumulating millions of dollars in bills, I am
worried about not being able to afford theirafraid that you will still be in a pickle because your
healthcare[5].insurance carrier is sure to sue the trucker’s
How do bills get paid?Don’t be fooled by theinsurance carrier etc. for the next 10 years while the
difference between billing and reimbursement. Yourcollectors come after you for unpaid bills.
insurance company will readily send you a copy ofYou owe it to yourself to get smart and stop giving
the amount that was billed for your latest healthcareyour hard earned cash to this scandalous industry.
encounter. What was actually paid—ifPlease feel free to comment on this story for a lively
anything—however, is actually another story and itdiscussion!References
would behoove you to find this out for yourself. Let1. California Health Care Foundation, Health Care Costs
me give you an example.101 -- 2005. Mar 2, 2005.
On October 6, 2003, the hospital sent a bill to my2. The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Employee
insurance carrier (Blue Cross of California) in theHealth Benefits: 2004 Annual Survey. Sept 9, 2004.
amount of $11,569.20 for “Inpatient Services”3. Simmons, H.E. and M.A. Goldberg, Charting the Cost
related to an uncomplicated c-section and a 2-dayof Inaction. National Coalition on Health Care, May,
stay. My insurance carrier “discounted” the bill2003.
by $9,869.20 to $1,700.00. This is the “fair and4. The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Health Care
reasonable” amount they “pay” for thisWorries in Context with Other Worries. Oct 4, 2004.
service. But wait, who paid? I did! This claim put me5. The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, The
over my deductible for the year by whopping $7.70.Uninsured: A Primer, Key Facts About Americans
The amount applied to a member’s deductiblewithout Health Insurance. Nov 10, 2004.