Your Opinion: Care and costs of treatment

Dear Editor:

Recently on a trip out west I increasingly felt ill. On the plane I was in considerable discomfort. Visiting family, finally, after a few hours on the ground I had to admit I was not getting better.

First we tried to be seen at a clinic that would see new patients. We spent 15 minutes filling out a medical history form and two minutes with a nurse who said there was no way they could assess my illness. I needed an emergency room. Should they call an ambulance? Well, no my family could take me. They suggested a specific hospital which was totally new. This was not as convenient as an already established hospital more centrally located in the city and which was noted for its quality care. However, we went to the recommended hospital.

The care there was excellent. I was in an examining room in less than five minutes. Nurses and doctors came and went frequently but something was always happening. Tests were arranged and drugs administered. In about three hours a reasonable diagnosis was given, a course of treatment proposed and a much improved patient was sent on his way. This was a demonstration of what can be so right about American health care.

Six weeks later the other shoe dropped. This is the wrong part of American health care. This is about costs. I have asked many people to speculate at this point what my charges were for this event. They all are off the mark. My charges were $17,600. My health insurer paid $14,000 plus and I paid $1,400.

About ten years ago I had a serious health event that was billed at $100,000. My insurers paid (in network) about $40,000 and I paid $600 at most. Today this would be much different. I would have to pay much more.

If you have health care coverage in America on average you pay over $8,000 per person in insurance every year. If you do not have health care and you have experiences as I have mentioned, you will be stuck with the sticker price of the event. Can you pay $17,600 for a three-hour ER visit? If not you could lose your home and be bankrupted.

Missouri Republicans complain about Obamacare which is increased insurance coverage but what are their solutions to prevent economic disaster for the uninsured? I see only dithering. Real Missourians need real solutions.

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