And people are saying I'm the one disconnected with reality. Lets break it down then, I earn 11.75 an hour, my takehome pay is approximately $350 a week after taxes. My rent for my 1100 sq ft apartment is $650 a month- (rather cheap yes, the apartment is a historic brick building with 8 units above a storefront, 3 of the other units occupied by co-workers, so we are a community), electric- $50-60 during non-heating months, almost $200 during heating months due to baseboard heaters (overtime typically covers this increased cost- overtime which is fortunately seasonal, as I work at an online orders retail distribution center), $40 a month for water, $60 a month for car insurance, a Stafford Student loan that is $250 a month, $40 for cable internet (no cable TV), cell phone I'm on a family plan I bought the "smart phone" the monthly bill is a gift from my family, but its low as I have a 2GB data plan and rarely utilize half of it even, no landline. The rest goes into groceries, gas, kitty litter, and cat food for my 2 cats, I admit I spoil them, I buy a rather expensive brand for health reasons (appx 35 dollars for 3 weeks worth), for my groceries, I don't eat out very often, I purchase good, healthy meals that I prepare, but do buy quick things like frozen pizzas and TV dinners for work nights as I work my 40 hours in 3 whole days. I have a 550 dollar limit credit card that is about 50% utilized at any given time.
The offered health insurance plan from my employer that would be anywhere near worthwhile costs about $50 a paycheck (a WEEKLY paycheck) if I'm not mistaken (it was a few months since I looked at the documentation). Where are the gold toilets disney "kid"? And I believe the plan requires 1800 in out of pocket costs a year before the co-pay kicks in. Hardly a worthwhile insurance plan.
Yes, I chose to go to the ER at 330AM rather than chance waiting until 8AM and hope I was still alert enough!. Foolish of me!
Probably the only meaningful response in that mess. Thank you for the insight. I still intend to challenge the billing under the Fair Debt Collection Act (or whatever applicable laws may be in place), as I believe the care was of inferior quality. If we were discussing a used car, my opinion is I was "sold" a lemon, considering my illness never fully subsided and re-emerged with similar severity. And no, I'm not looking to cash in with a malpractice lawsuit, its merely I do not believe this amount is justified for the services provided. Hospitals are a business after all. businesses provide services to consumers, sub-par services do not deserve full price payments. Again my "opinion", as established I have many of.