Glenn's split RETIREMENT

[cpaharley2008]

These exorbitant costs are the reason for our health insurance increased premiums. I wonder what the fees would have been if you had no insurance??

[Mike Lewis]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

You do have to watch ambulance rides in the US as well. I've had two of them, the first a helicopter between Nantucket Island & Boston (around 80 miles) - $13,634.00. The second was a standard ambulance from Buckskin Mountain State Park to Parker AZ, (13.4 miles) - $1640.73. I'm awfully glad my insurance covered most of each.

While visiting Orcas Island in the Puget Sound a few years ago I spoke to a resident about living there. She told me that emergency medical evacuations via helicopter to a mainland hospital were a big concern, as they cost $10,000. The residents of Orcas had set up some kind of insurance pool to pay for these. That's something to think about if one is considering retiring to an island.

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

You do have to watch ambulance rides in the US as well. I've had two of them, the first a helicopter between Nantucket Island & Boston (around 80 miles) - $13,634.00. The second was a standard ambulance from Buckskin Mountain State Park to Parker AZ, (13.4 miles) - $1640.73. I'm awfully glad my insurance covered most of each.

Wow. 16K. At least it was a helicopter.

My ambulance fee horror story: years ago my wife and daughter were rear ended at a stop light here in San Antonio. A guy in a red Chevy pickup just came at them and for whatever reason didn't stop. They happened to be in a Mazda Protege, which pretty much folded up when it got pushed into the car in front of it. They used the "jaws of life" to pry the car doors open and get them out. Neither my wife or daughter was hurt, but they were put on backboards and transported to the hospital anyway to check for whiplash or some spinal injuries. The hospital was 3/4 of a mile up the same street.

We received a settlement from the other drivers' insurance company which paid for all the medical. Months later, we received a bill from the ambulance company claiming they had only been partially paid. They had received $800 each for both my wife and my daughter's 3/4 mile trip. They wanted an additional $587 each. That means the ambulance bill for a single 3/4 mile trip to the hospital was $2774.

I wrote them a nice letter which concluded with the following sentence:

"In short, for all the reasons stated above, getting any more money out of me will be harder for you than getting hot butter up a wildcat's backside -- but you are more than welcome to try."

Never heard from them again.

[GerriJ]

Originally Posted by rbryan4

Wow. 16K. At least it was a helicopter.

I wrote them a nice letter which concluded with the following sentence:

"In short, for all the reasons stated above, getting any more money out of me will be harder for you than getting hot butter up a wildcat's backside -- but you are more than welcome to try."

Never heard from them again.

rbryan4, may I have your permission to use this remark to start my personal collection of practical responses to "governmentallity" requests.
Mark

[gbaglo]

I think it was probably his offer to bring the hot butter and the wildcat to their office that had the desired effect.

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by GerriJ

rbryan4, may I have your permission to use this remark to start my personal collection of practical responses to "governmentallity" requests.
Mark

Absolutely! Put it in your arsenal.

[Brian B-P]

Just because someone needs to say something good about government-run services...

I received a bill for an out-of-province ambulance trip, for hundreds of dollars. They had no online payment system, so I called them to talk about how to pay it, and how to ensure that I had whatever document I needed to claim reimbursement from my private insurer. Their response? "Oh, now that we know you have insurance we'll just bill them - you don't have to pay us." Excellent!

[kevin]

I work for an insurance company and we have horrible coverage. When my daughter needed braces he said it was 2600 total for all services involed. I said to him can we talk privately and we did I said here 1500 dollars cash he took and it was done deal. I have health insurance which I pay for high rate but its mainly for a serious event. Sad country really, spend 10 years in military, go to school, and get a good job which work hard but the reality is that I am just a number I tell my daughter all the time nobody owes you anything. I am just thankful to be working

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by kevin

When my daughter needed braces he said it was 2600 total for all services involed. I said to him can we talk privately and we did I said here 1500 dollars cash he took and it was done deal

That used to be common in windshield replacements - one price for the insurance company, and another for the private customer. I would call it fraud: the vendor (glass shop, or orthodontist) is fraudulently claiming to the party with deep pockets (the insurer) that the price is higher than it really is. I don't like being used to commit fraud.

It could also be tax evasion - taking cash "under the table" and not recording it in the books so the income is not declared, and no tax is paid on it. I don't like being used to commit tax evasion, either. A variation is theft-by-employee: I was offered a special price for a cash purchase with no receipt from a used auto parts business, which means the guy behind the counter was offering to steal it from his employer and fence it to me, pocketing the cash. When someone offers a special deal like this, I look for a more legitimate business to deal with.

But maybe that's just me...

[rbryan4]

I dunno. I wouldn't read too much into it. I've negotiated with insurance companies before for a better deal, and I don't see much difference between that and what Kevin describes. I'd say 'good for you' because he negotiated a good deal with cash. Insurance is just a product like anything else, and like anything else, negotiation can get you a better deal. Having said all that, I'm no fan of the insurance industry, and I think they have plenty of fraud to go around.

As to your scenario with the under-the-counter auto parts, yeah, that's obvious fraud, and I wouldn't do it either.

[mk1549]

Originally Posted by rbryan4

I dunno. I wouldn't read too much into it. I've negotiated with insurance companies before for a better deal, and I don't see much difference between that and what Kevin describes. I'd say 'good for you' because he negotiated a good deal with cash. Insurance is just a product like anything else, and like anything else, negotiation can get you a better deal. Having said all that, I'm no fan of the insurance industry, and I think they have plenty of fraud to go around.

As to your scenario with the under-the-counter auto parts, yeah, that's obvious fraud, and I wouldn't do it either.

Like Donald Trump says, "Everything is negotiable"

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by rbryan4

I dunno. I wouldn't read too much into it. I've negotiated with insurance companies before for a better deal...
Insurance is just a product like anything else, and like anything else, negotiation can get you a better deal.

This wasn't negotiation for insurance coverage, it was a deal for orthodontic work.

Originally Posted by mk1549

Like Donald Trump says, "Everything is negotiable"

Sure. All sorts of transactions are negotiable.

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

This wasn't negotiation for insurance coverage, it was a deal for orthodontic work.

Even better. He negotiated with the Orthodontist. I don't really see the issue. If I'm a better negotiator than the next guy, I get a better deal. Just like buying a car.

[Not so Big Al]

Originally Posted by Floating Cloud

Canadians cannot be reimbursed for medical care if out of the country? Even emergency treatment? You would have to have private insurance for that?

It depends on where in the world you go. In Europe extra insurance is cheap, you can take care of it with a credit card that includes this insurance. The U.S. is the most expensive place in the world, that I know of, to visit.

[Fox hunt]

The insurance company pays a discounted rate for health care services. asking for the same discount when you pay privately is fair. Nobody pays what the hospital charges except private payers who don't negotiate. All health care in the USA is marked up. charges are discounted by commercial payers government payers etc... They don't pay full charges - not saying it's a good system

[Ray N]

I recently had top and bottom dental implant surgery; when we were told the price my wife simply asked if there were any discounts available. The lady immediately said that they could give us ten percent off. A savings of close to $500 simply for the asking.

[Donna D.]

Once there was a rather lengthy thread going over on the CasitaForum about asking about discounts. There are folks that will ask and those that won't. But, we all know it's going to be no, unless you ask. Keep bucks in your pocket, ask. IMHO

[kevin]

just realized I posted the following in the wrong thread. Just felt I had to say this as I take pride in my profession and the profession I represent


I take a lot pride in working for an insurance company as an adjuster and would never do anything to comprise my job. As a divorced dad, I am required to pay a lot of money for expenses that should be divided by both parents in my opinion. That said asking for cash discount is no different then the Dr accepting a discount from a insurance carrier, as others have pointed out. I enjoy this forum and I am excited about ordering a trailer soon. I just felt this needed to be said Hope to see many of you soon in the future

[Donna D.]

Good for you Kevin! I think we should all be proud of our professions. I live in free America, not lashed to my job, I'm there by choice. I think folks that don't like what they do, should just move along... kinda like if you don't like your choice of trailer... move along.

[float5]

Originally Posted by Not so Big Al

It depends on where in the world you go. In Europe extra insurance is cheap, you can take care of it with a credit card that includes this insurance. The U.S. is the most expensive place in the world, that I know of, to visit.

I assume you mean that a Canadian health insurance company will charge you less for medical trip insurance to go to Europe than the U.S.? The U.S. is not the most expensive place in the world to visit.

I would suppose that there are far more claims on Canadian insurance by Canadians going to the U.S. than Europe and I would suppose that that is because there are far more trips by Canadians to the U.S. than Europe. Don't know how much higher U.S. medical costs are compared to Europe or how much that plays into it.