What would you give up for universal healthcare?

[Frank Newgent]

Distance isn't an issue as much as the condition of the patient and need to carry crew and equipment to deal with any potential problems.
Also speaking of plane versus helicopter which is the major expense difference, all else being equal.

I'm not arguing that the bill you are facing is trivial or unconcerning, merely that it doesn't sound radically out of line with many other medical procedures and processes routinely ordered and carried out on a daily basis.

I disagree. What I have is anecdotal but speaking with others who've been airvaced it sounds like a more normal amount would've been maybe $10,000.

You assert paying $36,000 for a 2 person 42 mile Air-Vac helicopter doesn't sound radically out of line and back that up with a quote that $35,000 is the norm for a 2500 mile Med-Jet flight.

Guess I'll see what the amount is that insurance pays them.

What seemed especially predatory to me was that I was told I had to sign and agree to pay this amount in full (should insurance refuse) before the claim could be proocessed.

 

[Caper]

I think I asked this before but don't remember getting an answer.

What is stopping a very liberal state like California from going it alone and just having instate universal health care?

 

[Trakar]

I disagree. What I have is anecdotal but speaking with others who've been airvaced it sounds like a more normal amount would've been maybe $10,000.

You assert paying $36,000 for a 2 person 42 mile Air-Vac helicopter doesn't sound radically out of line and back that up with a quote that $35,000 is the norm for a 2500 mile Med-Jet flight.

Guess I'll see what the amount is that insurance pays them.

What seemed especially predatory to me was that I was told I had to sign and agree to pay this amount in full (should insurance refuse) before the claim could be proocessed.

I'd be interested in seeing what is paid as well. From what I can tell lift-off fees for most helicopter medevac transports run from $6,000-12,000 and the the per mile costs are from $80-150. I know on ambulance charges outside of a local area, patients are often charged round trip mileage rather than one-way mileage, with some systems using a zone coverage, instead of actual mileage charges. Any other care or issues coming on top of this baseline cost. A lot depends upon how the charges are calculated, and what area of the nation you are in. in some areas 10-15k is the average baseline but in others it can easily run closer to 20k, add any special care or in-transit care and you are easily up into the range you are talking about. Insurance companies are good at negotiating costs, I doubt many ever pay full cost of medical bills, with 10-20% being common and 50-70% probably being average. So yes, if you care to, please do post the amount the insurance company pays. Other than this I sincerely hope that your insurance does cover this, it is a frequently un-covered expense. Additionally, my best wishes for your wife's outcome, that sounds like a potentially devatating injury.

 

[RandFan]

I think I asked this before but don't remember getting an answer.

What is stopping a very liberal state like California from going it alone and just having instate universal health care?

Nothing. FWIW they provide better coverage than most states. After I lost my job California provided me with health insurance (Orsa/Healthy Way LA). I was forced to move to Nevada to keep from being hospitalized and couldn't get coverage. While there I got sick and racked up $20,000 in medical bills as Nevada would not provide me with insurance. When I got back to California I had insurance again.

 

[Trakar]

I think I asked this before but don't remember getting an answer.

What is stopping a very liberal state like California from going it alone and just having instate universal health care?

It would be very difficult for any state to implement on its own. Possibly Alaska could using its oil dividend fund and due to low population numbers and geographic isolation.
There would be a lot of problems with trying to establish this in an isolate region within the whole. Many localities, counties and states do offer indigent care systems, for those who qualify. And emergency rooms aren't legally able to turn patients with injuries away.