Can You Top This One?

Monday December 8, 2008

Categories: Public Issues

All of us, I suppose, have stories about our medical system. But this one from our son is better than anything we've ever had. Lukas and Annika recently gave birth to a son -- Aksel -- and this is the medical bill's explanation of benefits that Luke and Annika received after they submitted the hospital receipts:

"We have reviewed your claim and have deemed the birth of Aksel a necessary medical procedure."

Mighty kind of them, don't you think?

Who's got some stories like this?

Comments (23)

posted by Scot McKnight @12:20am Permalink email icon

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H.S.

December 8, 2008 8:48 PM

Oh, and I have a relative who is a primary care doctor who is strongly considering shutting down his medical practice because of the hassles in dealing with insurance companies.

Eileen

December 9, 2008 8:36 AM

I deal with insurance companies in my counseling practice every day. They seem to always second guess the clinician as to what really constitutes "medical necessity." Insurance companies often deny claims willy-nilly thinking if you give up it they are that much more ahead. It is a tiring and labor intensive process to get them to cough up what is due you. if you call an insurance company you get an automated phone option list that often seems to direct you to the wrong option. After about 30 minutes of figuring out which option to select you get a customer service person that has no clue what you are asking or how to direct you to get the answer you are seeking but tells you he will connect you with a supervisor and then you are disconnected. Phone calls to insurance companies often take over an hour to get simple answers like quotes of benefits. We wonder why health care is so expensive - chasing down claims is part of the cost of doing business.

Some things they do seem funny but in my opinion insurance companies are no laughing matter!

Bill

December 9, 2008 11:29 AM

In 1985, we had our second child in the car. When the hospital bill arrived, they charged us a $500 fee for the delivery room. When I called them on it, the lady patronizingly said, "oh, young man, you don't know the costs of having a child today." To which I responded, "no, you are unaware that we had our child in the car and therefore we never used the delivery room." Her response, "oh, I heard about you." They eventually removed the charge from our bill. Interestingly that the ob/gyn also gave us a discount since his work load was less than expected. And if you really want a laugh, ask me what his name was!!!

eleanor

December 9, 2008 3:52 PM

We had been caring for my father-in-law at home for eight years. A week before he died, his needs became greater than what we felt capable of administering to, so we enlisted hospice. Their evaluator came to our home and said they couldn't take him just yet because he was not "actively dying."

A few days later they determined he was, so he spent 1.5 days at hospice before he passed away.

Liam Byrnes

December 15, 2008 6:49 AM

http://www.liambyrnes.co.uk

Friends of ours recently had a baby, during delivery at a local hospital there were some complications, so they had to transfer her to a larger hospital north of where they were. They sent the husband and mother of our friend giving birth ahead in the car whilst our friend having the baby was transported by ambulance. The Ambulance driver got mixed up and drove to a city south of where they were and she had her baby upon arrival, then had to call her husband and tell him they were in a different hospital and she had already had the baby! Only in UK...in the US people would sue, in the UK people just shrug.

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Scot McKnight is a widely-recognized authority on the New Testament, early Christianity, and the historical Jesus. He is the Karl A. Olsson Professor in Religious Studies at North Park University (Chicago, Illinois). A popular and witty speaker, Dr. McKnight has given interviews on radios across the nation, has appeared on television, and is regularly asked to speak in local churches and educational events. Dr. McKnight obtained his Ph.D. at the University of Nottingham (1986). Click to continue reading Scot McKnight's Bio...

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