.In the ER they have to treat lot of uninsured and illegal people,so hospital has to pass the cost to the paying folks.My life was saved by ER trauma surgeon after the auto accident,my cost was only $4500, I am thankful to that doctor.
Interesting. In 1983 I had a ruptured (gangrenous) appendix... emergency surgery, a week in the hospital... total bill was just under $4,000. It seemed like a huge figure at the time, but it was "only" about 15% of my annual salary as an entry-level engineer in 1983, whereas your bill would represent something like 150% of an entry-level engineer's annual salary in 2005.
I had exactly the same problem a few years ago, was rushed to a private hospital here in Hong Kong and had emergency operation followed by 6 days in a private room. The total bill was HK$ 88,000 (US$ 11,500) of which insurance, BUPA, paid HK$ 70,000. Looking at some of the horrific amounts being discussed here for medical treatment I reckon we live pretty well out here, especially with a basic rate tax around 14% only rising to 20% for amounts over US$ 150,000 a yr. (Zero capital gains tax too)
I still haven't hear a valid argument as to why I should pay for health care for some lazy couch potato. As far as illegal aliens are concerned, if they want health care they can go the F home!
An ER needs 24/7 infrastructure and many doctorâs to handle many people with life threatening injuries. A doctorâs office needs only a receptionists. Its all overhead. In Chicago Walgreenâs and Wal-Mart stores are setting up little medical clinics run by nurses. They will treat colds and flu's for $25. Obama should push this for his plan
Canada and austrialia have only 20 million people. Equal to metro New York city. Much less complicated to pay for a health system for 20 million then for 350 million.