A few weeks ago, I was taking an evening constitutional when, out of nowhere, a wayward bat flew into my face. Fortunately, no biting occurred by either party, and after we collected ourselves and exchanged information, we parted ways with no ill will between us. Being the cautious type, I chose to seek medical council. Bats are frequent carriers of rabies, and I quite enjoy being alive. Little did I realize that I was about to encounter the true blood sucker: not the bat, but the American Healthcare System.
I arrived at the hospital and was advised to receive the rabies vaccine. I obliged, being the #trustscience resistance lib that I am. After all, I opted for the better employer-provided insurance plan available to me. How bad could it be? I received three shots: in the arm, the leg, and the butt. However, there was a secret fourth shot: one directly in the wallet.
After three more shots spread out across as many visits, I got the bill. I could feel the joker makeup materializing on my skin as I read the amount: almost $40,000 before insurance, of which I owed almost $6,000.
Reader, if the hope of this treatment was to prevent me from frothing at the mouth, all efforts were unsuccessful. I was shocked. Surely, this must be a mistake. I reviewed the bill with someone familiar with the putrid, demonic world of medical billing. No mistake was to be found. They actually called the insurance company to negotiate on my behalf. No dice.
Despite spending over $100 on insurance each month, I’ve been saddled with an exorbitant debt that will take months to pay off. For no reason other than to add to my mental anguish, I looked up the CEO of my insurance company. Rather than finding the old west style wanted posters of this clear outlaw I expected to encounter, I found only LinkedIn posts lauding her #girlboss nature, effusive accolades and awards, and a spot on Forbes’ most powerful women list. This for an individual whose livelihood is based on withholding potentially lifesaving healthcare from those who need it for exorbitant costs.
An economy, on paper, should be built on the production and sales of goods. Unfortunately, we live in hell, where instead of an economy, individuals are arbitrarily saddled with debt to be paid off in installments.
It’s too late for me. I exist now not as a human, but as a half-alive creature writhing in the churning maw of the healthcare-based debt creation machine. But perhaps, through voting blue no matter who, asking politely, and owning enough republicans in epic debate, future generations may have some of their medical debt forgiven, granted they are a Pell grant recipient who opens up a business serving an underprivileged community for three years. Then, and only then, will this nightmare be over and we will be free to walk again with dignity and humanity intact.
There is hope.
In March of 2020 I got a fever of 103 somewhat after returning from Vegas.
I went to the hospital as this was the start of covid shit going crazy. Tents set up at the hospital, crazy procedures, etc. I go in, they take a look, and they think it might be strep instead. They test for strep, confirm, and then send me off.
That cost me over 2000 dollars lol. Well might have, I haven't paid a fuckin dime.
There was another time in 2015 I went to the hospital with insane stomach pain. 2 days of absolute gut wrenching pain. They clearly did not believe my pain level, and I couldn't find my insurance card. Somehow they couldn't find me in any system either. By this time I'm basically out my fucking mind in pain. They take xrays, said I was constipated, gave me laxatives and sent me on my way. I get home take them, and nothing. Next day my parents pick me up and have a copy of my card. By this point I am sure I am dying. As soon as I show my card they kick to high gear, give me morphine and give me a bed in the hospital. Turns out I had pancreatitis and they actually sent me home with that shit. It was an extremely bad case and I spent 12 days in the hospital. So yeah no shit I was constipated my stomach literally was not functioning. This cost me 12k. I haven't paid it.
Death to Healthcare executives and insurance executives. Absolutely fuck them to death. Cretins.
What a nightmare. I'm really sorry that this happened to you.
Can you say more about not paying that bill? I've already had run ins with American healthcare, with comparable outcomes, and I don't understand the consequences of not paying the bill.
Well in theory I think it can be garnished from wages, but I would assume it would have to be substantial enough to pursue in court. I would say mine probably are not substantial enough (definitely not certain lol but they haven't served me and it's been years).
In reality it's just been an ongoing credit hit but whatever my student loans do that too, as I am not paying those either.
To be honest it's mostly been me just ignoring shit and continuing on with my life. Which while easier may or may not be advisable In the long run, but fuck em.
Have you spoken to the hospital? I presume they're the ones billing you, no? They have two main sources of revenue; insurance and patients. Your insurance only has one; you, so of course their position is no mercy. For the hospital, though, patient revenue is a lot harder to collect and they likely get less than a dime on the dollar on average. If you can beat what the collection agency to which they'll sell your debt will pay, also far less than the nominal amount, they might just take that and call it a day. Maybe not, but worth a shot. Good luck.
None of the above is an endorsement of the status quo and we need a communist revolution; just trying to help a comrade.
This is all great advice and I have spoken to the hospital. They more or less told me to go fuck myself. Worth a try, though!
PSA for future and for readers - Urgent Care if you have them nearby. Not the ones in strip malls either. Actual urgent care from hospital group.
They can patch up / get shots / perscribe meds / diagnostics at much better rate than emergency rooms. As for shot costs with normal docs office it should be mostly covered by insurance. At least one would think it's far cheaper for the insurance company for preventive shots than it is debilitating disease. Then again the entire system is a Pandora's Box of fuck your attempt to save you ATM pay pig blood bag! #girlboss. #lookingUP
Actual urgent care from hospital group
Even this can be a scam. Some hospitals charge ER prices at what you would think are urgent cares, with the excuse that it is an “Hospital Outpatient Department” and not an urgent care.
Explanation by a doctor: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.danielleofri/video/7384180499675106603
NYT article: https://web.archive.org/web/20240805145106/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/17/opinion/medical-bill-trap.html
I found a YouTube link in your comment. Here are links to the same video on alternative frontends that protect your privacy:
Ok we need to do communism but leave you out of it because we need more rants like this. Seriously, real funny stuff
And on a more serious note I'm sorry about that comrade, that shit sucks so fucking much. When an employer offered me health insurance I read through it and, foreseeing a situation exactly like this, said "you want me to pay this much money and then I'm still gonna have to pay that much money at the hospital under certain circumstances? Fuck that"
Thank you, I humbly accept the title of jester of communism, just as Trotsky did before me.
And thanks. This has been a genuinely upsetting experience, as it occurred during a time when I was really beginning to get ahead on my finances. I’ve been vacillating between thinking, “there’s nothing you can do about it, so you just need to accept it” and “accepting it is exactly what they want you to do so they get away with this theft. You need to do something about this injustice. Act!” But unfortunately, there’s no action to be taken. Much like someone being robbed at gunpoint, my choices were cough up the dough or risk potentially dying. In a way, I guess this kind of proves that capitalism is indeed the most efficient economic system - how much more streamlined does it get than just directly robbing people like this?
oh shit, i've been through the bat thing. last place i lived, they'd get in through the fireplace and then my cats would try to catch them. one managed to evade the cats but that meant that i had to get rabies shots as you described. one of the worst experiences of my life waiting hours and hours in the ER for the first round of "dont get rabies" shots and then several trips back to an outpatient clinic to get the rest of the rabies series. shit absolutely sucked.
Great to meet a fellow rabies survivor. Lot of coincidences here - maybe too many. Could the bats possibly be on the insurance company’s payroll, strategically dive bombing unsuspecting people for a cut of that sweet, sweet vaccine revenue? Very concerning - looking into this.
Ever since they took Dracula's castle away he's had to resort to all sorts of underhanded schemes to get by.
i just got a flashback to when a bat flew in through the furnace of the place i was renting in college. i called the police (not 911....probably) and the guy just swatted the bat out of the front door with his bare hands.
In reality, bats contract rabies far less than other animals. Less than 1/2 of 1% of all bats may contract the disease.
batworld.org/rabies-infodont know about your state. in mine they cannot garnish your pay for insurance bills. they can go after assets, which i have none. so i never pay. i just dont answer unknown numbers.
in other words, my medical debt is contributing to the slow destruction of the healthcare system in this country and i dont care.
in over 40 years i have not paid over $125k in medical debt, most of which is now fallen off my credit and is no longer collectable.
Fuck that shit. Fuck those fuckers.
I don't know for sure if this will help, but hopefully. If the hospital is a non-profit they have to offer Charity Care and may have to forgive your bills depending on how much you make.
Hey at least your got a funny story out of it. Obviously this sucks but I enjoyed your writeup!
