"Pleading your case on medical bills is a sound policy" by Bina Venkataraman, Globe Correspondent | February 18, 2009
I guess the broken hand didn't allow me to play the violin for them. I guess that's why my pleading didn't work. All I got was a sorry, nothing we can do (click).
.... If you are struggling to pay your medical bills, you are not alone. But you might be missing an opportunity to haggle with your doctor, dentist, or even the hospital billing department to get a better deal....
WHY should we have to HAGGLE about HEALTH CARE?
What sort of SICK SOCIETY is this?
Please watch: Sicko
The best way to keep out-of-pocket medical expenses low, of course, is to have insurance and to choose treatments and doctors in your insurance company's network. But....
That's a PRETTY BIG BUT!!!
When all else fails, you can, and you should, negotiate directly with the billing department of a hospital or clinic to have your bill discounted or to get charity services. But Cohen says if you seek public assistance or insurance coverage first, you will improve your chances of successfully haggling for lower medical bills.
Why should you have to HAGGLE over HEALTH CARE?!
Also see: Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks
Oh, yeah, the elderly are going to enjoy the horse-trading, huh?
What are the secrets to negotiating a lower medical bill? The Access Project recommends the following:
Think and act ahead.
Right, I'm planning on getting hurt or having a disease.
Pay in cash. This will both increase your likelihood of getting a discount and protect you from credit card and other forms of high-interest debt.
They are kidding, right?
Make a personal connection.
Pfft! Tried that, didn't work!
Write a letter to follow up on your request.
Pfft! Didn't try that, ain't gonna try that!
Why, so they can crumple it up and throw it in the wastebin.
Be persistent.
Hasn't worked on 9/11 Truth, the occupations, or anything else!
Nevertheless, I WILL STILL BE HERE!
There is also another way to save money on healthcare, that doesn't involve haggling over price. Just seek out lower cost medical services at the start....
Why should we have to?
I WANT SICKO-STYLE HEALTH CARE right fucking now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You can also see if you qualify for free medical care at one of the state's community health centers. For details go to www.massresources.org, click on Health Care Programs, and then Health Safety Net. The safety net is available to residents of Massachusetts who are underinsured or who do not have insurance, regardless of citizenship status.
Yeah, ILLEGALS can GET HEALTH CARE that I have to PAY a PENALTY for if I'M NOT REGISTERED FOR IT!!!
--more--"
Had enough STINK-STANK INSULTS from the Boston paper today?!!
