Wall Street Weather

Hospitals to Underinsured: Pay Upfront

To Mark R: You do realize that if the information stated by the WSJ reporter was untrue that the hospital would sue the Journal for libel. I find it interesting that you fail to address the key issues in this piece such as insured individuals being charged full retail price for medical procedures. Just because you find it "hard to believe" does not mean it isn't true. I suppose you defend all the $million+ pay packages these "nonprofit" executives receive at the expense of the middle class. The poorest are taken care of because they have no assets. The wealthy are taken care of. It is the middle class who gets screwed because they have some assets. If you are as educated on the subject as you claim to be, then please comment on SA the federal law that cites turning away patients is illegal. I'm sure the WSJ would be interested. Please tell SA readers where you get your health insurance.

Hospitals to Underinsured: Pay Upfront

AmericanSphinx: Please explain how you acquired your health insurance. Was it through employment? Did you have to go through medical underwriting? I think it is important to understand whether a person who is critical of healthcare reform is so because they are guaranteed access to insurance already.

As for cost, part of the purpose of any consumer oriented health insurance is for the insurer to negotiate rates for services for their customers. Then the insurers and policy holders pay their portions based on the insurance contract.

The WSJ was not specific as to whether the hospital was “in network”, the rejection of the insurance was based on the policy limit.

Lastly, the hospital asked for payments in advance without the patient being able to approve each service on a line by line basis. Have you ever bought any other service by writing a blank check?