The insurance or the hospital?

Dear Editor,

One does not usually pay much attention to the absurdity of the health system until the insurance stops covering the bills. Some time ago, the company I work for switched to a less-inclusive health insurance plan because the increasing costs of the original coverage. As a result, a 50-minute visit to the LAMC emergency room with a sprained ankle last month cost us more than $900.

The visit included an X-ray, the application of a splint and a pair of crutches. Just for being there, we were charged close to $300. The application of the splint, which is a plastic device with Velcro straps that takes anybody less than a minute to apply, cost $133.

We were very pleased with the treatment, which was very professional and courteous – until we got the bill, that is. It would have been inappropriate if I had been asking the doctor the price of various items and procedures and yet I wish I had, which would have made it look like I had come there for shopping.

I am not sure whom to blame – the hospital or the insurance company, but I am sure this is not right. I can’t even imagine how people with even worse or no insurance coverage, lesser income and bigger families deal with the health system in this country.

Michael Barkhudarov

Los Alamos

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