Had my first medical bill last week!
Aug 9th 2017, 7:08 am
#46
Grumpy Know-it-all
Joined: Jul 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 8,928
Re: Had my first medical bill last week!
Last time I was in the US for any length of time I got really ill, just the blood tests alone cost $1,300. Anyway after all the drugs and visits to the doctor it ended up costing around $2,000. Came back to Calgary, had all the same tests done, got the same drugs, cost CAD$13. And the drugs it has to be said were nothing special and were still fantastically cheaper.
Aug 10th 2017, 5:58 pm
#47
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 4,525
Re: Had my first medical bill last week!
Well it finally happened. It was my own fault, I made a silly mistake in my garage and sliced my left thumb open across the knuckle. It was deep but normally I'd just tape it up, however as it was across the knuckle I guessed it needed stitches which it did.
Got the bill on Friday, I was hoping it would be no more than $500, but it came out at just under a $1000! In the short time I've been working I've already saved just about enough to cover it in my HSA so it's not the end of the word, I'm just angry at myself for doing it.
I'm all better now and the hospital staff were great, but it's certainly taught me a lesson! If not the pain then the financial penalty!
Got the bill on Friday, I was hoping it would be no more than $500, but it came out at just under a $1000! In the short time I've been working I've already saved just about enough to cover it in my HSA so it's not the end of the word, I'm just angry at myself for doing it.
I'm all better now and the hospital staff were great, but it's certainly taught me a lesson! If not the pain then the financial penalty!
Aug 15th 2017, 3:01 pm
#48
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 40
Re: Had my first medical bill last week!
I went on a trip to Japan on holiday. Whilst I was there I got a MRI in a private practice as I know in the U.S. they charge a stupid sum.
Used the H.S.A. a total bill of $300
Just goes to show that for profit healthcare is a farce.
So yeah try to live near Canada and Mexico if you want to go to the hospital...
Used the H.S.A. a total bill of $300
Just goes to show that for profit healthcare is a farce.
So yeah try to live near Canada and Mexico if you want to go to the hospital...
Aug 15th 2017, 3:35 pm
#49
Concierge
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,383
Re: Had my first medical bill last week!
Really? I was traveling in Nova Scotia with my Canadian husband and I got sick. The hospital refused to see me so we wound up at a small and ugly urgent care place with a doctor with an accent thicker than molasses with a bad attitude. The cost to me was over $400 for the exam, no blood work, looked at my throat, listened to my lungs and was through and he then refused to prescribe the meds I needed and prescribed what he decided was the better drug. That cost me $115 at the pharmacy and I didn't get better. When I got back to the US I went to my own doctor, got the drug I had suggested to the Canadian wanna be doctor and it worked beautifully.
Aug 15th 2017, 3:42 pm
#50
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,017
Re: Had my first medical bill last week!
I went on a trip to Japan on holiday. Whilst I was there I got a MRI in a private practice as I know in the U.S. they charge a stupid sum.
Used the H.S.A. a total bill of $300
Just goes to show that for profit healthcare is a farce.
So yeah try to live near Canada and Mexico if you want to go to the hospital...
Used the H.S.A. a total bill of $300
Just goes to show that for profit healthcare is a farce.
So yeah try to live near Canada and Mexico if you want to go to the hospital...
Aug 15th 2017, 3:47 pm
#51
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,865
Re: Had my first medical bill last week!
Canada spends 11% of its GDP on healthcare compared to 17% in the US. So, definitely "not cheap" but definitely cheaper than the US.
Aug 15th 2017, 5:51 pm
#52
Account Closed
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: Had my first medical bill last week!
I went on a trip to Japan on holiday. Whilst I was there I got a MRI in a private practice as I know in the U.S. they charge a stupid sum.
Used the H.S.A. a total bill of $300
Just goes to show that for profit healthcare is a farce.
So yeah try to live near Canada and Mexico if you want to go to the hospital...
Used the H.S.A. a total bill of $300
Just goes to show that for profit healthcare is a farce.
So yeah try to live near Canada and Mexico if you want to go to the hospital...
Walk in clinics are generally under $200 for a visitor though if you just need to see a doctor, but hospitals charge a small fortune to non-residents and some hospitals may require a deposit upfront.
Even if you have travel insurance, some hospitals won't direct bill and require the patient to pay upfront and then recoup money from the insurance company.
Aug 15th 2017, 8:51 pm
#53
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,017
Re: Had my first medical bill last week!
If your not covered by a provincial health plan, expect to pay a pretty nice sum of money if you access a hospital in Canada, or need an ambulance.
Walk in clinics are generally under $200 for a visitor though if you just need to see a doctor, but hospitals charge a small fortune to non-residents and some hospitals may require a deposit upfront.
Even if you have travel insurance, some hospitals won't direct bill and require the patient to pay upfront and then recoup money from the insurance company.
Walk in clinics are generally under $200 for a visitor though if you just need to see a doctor, but hospitals charge a small fortune to non-residents and some hospitals may require a deposit upfront.
Even if you have travel insurance, some hospitals won't direct bill and require the patient to pay upfront and then recoup money from the insurance company.
Aug 15th 2017, 9:17 pm
#54
Just Joined
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 25
Re: Had my first medical bill last week!
That is definitely true, and a lesson I learned nearly nine years ago - a poison ivy rash, which I scratched at because it itched like hë11, got infected and led to blood poisoning, three nights in hospital, minor surgery under GA, .... and a $20,000 bill. 
Thankfully I "only" had to pay 10% of that. 
We switched to HD insurance just six weeks later, but although that means now I would have paid around $3,000, it would come painlessly out of my HSA a/c. .... Mostly I learned to not be blasé about even minor skin wounds, and apply antiseptic to scratches, cracks, cuts, and pretty much any other skin-penetrating injury, frequently until healed.
Thankfully I "only" had to pay 10% of that. We switched to HD insurance just six weeks later, but although that means now I would have paid around $3,000, it would come painlessly out of my HSA a/c. .... Mostly I learned to not be blasé about even minor skin wounds, and apply antiseptic to scratches, cracks, cuts, and pretty much any other skin-penetrating injury, frequently until healed.
We just arrived and my husband is in the throws of sorting out medical insurance. We have Blue cross through my husbands employer but could you please explain HSA account?
Appreciate any help 😬
Aug 15th 2017, 9:24 pm
#55
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2015
Location: NC, USA (ex Yorkshire)
Posts: 4,375
Re: Had my first medical bill last week!
Typically in these cases the employer will setup the account with some financial institution and may contribute some cash to it.
Money is then taken out of each pay check pre tax and deposited in the account.
You are given a debit card to spend the money on health care expenses - not just seeing a GP, but also dentist or vision.
You keep all the receipts for 6 years and tell IRS your spending on tax return.
The money in a HSA is yours forever and isn't lost at the end of year (like some plans).
There is more to it, like investment, but that's the basics.
Aug 15th 2017, 9:28 pm
#56
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,439
Re: Had my first medical bill last week!
Because an HSA is such a good deal you are limited as to how much you can put in each year, but like a private pension, the money is yours to keep if you don't use it, and it is not tied to your employment or to your medical insurance. A husband and wife can both contributed each year, though based on my experience, one of you is only allowed to make half the maximum contribution.
Last edited by Pulaski; Aug 15th 2017 at 11:10 pm.
Aug 15th 2017, 11:02 pm
#57
Concierge
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,383
Re: Had my first medical bill last week!
Aug 16th 2017, 1:07 pm
#58
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 31
Re: Had my first medical bill last week!
Me and my bank account slowly breaking by dental costs here. It's crazy and doesn't help that I need a significant amount of work done.
I have the best dental plan my employer offers and that's still terrible and only covers $1800 a year which is quite frankly nothing.
Seriously considering going to Mexico and having the work done!
I have the best dental plan my employer offers and that's still terrible and only covers $1800 a year which is quite frankly nothing.
Seriously considering going to Mexico and having the work done!
Aug 16th 2017, 1:33 pm
#59
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2015
Location: Denver, CO.
Posts: 1,523
Re: Had my first medical bill last week!
I was in a pretty bad car accident a few years ago and my face met the dashboard and at a fairly high speed and for whatever reason the dentistry work I had done in the U.K. was complete and utter dogshit so I now need a number of crowns and implants.
Aug 16th 2017, 5:22 pm
#60
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2015
Location: Near Lynchburg Tennessee, home of Jack Daniels
Posts: 1,381
Re: Had my first medical bill last week!
I am a retired US dentist. Keep in mind that crown and bridge and implants poorly done can be worse than none at all. This type of treatment depends not only on the skills of the dentist but also on the dental lab and the quality of materials used.