http://www.whatsbestnext.com/2009/12/whats-not-best-hospital-billing/ Leadership, productivity, vocation, and theology Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:24:08 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://www.whatsbestnext.com/2009/12/whats-not-best-hospital-billing/comment-page-1/#comment-3423 Chris Sun, 06 Dec 2009 02:14:52 +0000 http://www.whatsbestnext.com/?p=2872#comment-3423 Again, I can identify completely. And the way some providers deal with people whose bills keep constantly coming due to chronic or life-threatening illnesses are definitely not best either! Again, I can identify completely. And the way some providers deal with people whose bills keep constantly coming due to chronic or life-threatening illnesses are definitely not best either!

]]> http://www.whatsbestnext.com/2009/12/whats-not-best-hospital-billing/comment-page-1/#comment-3419 Luke Carlson Sat, 05 Dec 2009 19:56:03 +0000 http://www.whatsbestnext.com/?p=2872#comment-3419 We had the same issue, only our bill said that we had 3 visits to the nursery. The only problem was that he only was in there 2 times. Insurance would have just picked it up, but out of principle I fought it and got it removed. But did I get a "thank you" from the insurance company? I think you know the answer. If everyone had to pay out of pocket you can bet people would go through their bills with a fine tooth comb. We had the same issue, only our bill said that we had 3 visits to the nursery. The only problem was that he only was in there 2 times. Insurance would have just picked it up, but out of principle I fought it and got it removed. But did I get a “thank you” from the insurance company? I think you know the answer. If everyone had to pay out of pocket you can bet people would go through their bills with a fine tooth comb.

]]> http://www.whatsbestnext.com/2009/12/whats-not-best-hospital-billing/comment-page-1/#comment-3417 Larry Sat, 05 Dec 2009 18:47:13 +0000 http://www.whatsbestnext.com/?p=2872#comment-3417 You're correct that the cost of health care is partly a function of health 'insurance'. Any time the person who pays the bill is disconnected from the person receiving the product or service, the incentive to keep the cost low evaporates. If new parents were the hospital's real customer, rather than the insurance company, and were being asked to pay $100/minute out of pocket for a nursery stay, I bet the cost would begin to drop dramatically! You’re correct that the cost of health care is partly a function of health ‘insurance’. Any time the person who pays the bill is disconnected from the person receiving the product or service, the incentive to keep the cost low evaporates. If new parents were the hospital’s real customer, rather than the insurance company, and were being asked to pay $100/minute out of pocket for a nursery stay, I bet the cost would begin to drop dramatically!

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