Dear So and So

[Catrin]

Eeek Laural, hope you get to feeling better soon.

Dear Hospital Emergency Room,

Thank you for sending me your bill today and kindly telling me you have billed my insurance. Except....what did you DO that was worth $2,300 All you did was to wash the dog bite with peroxide, give me a tetanus shot, put on a massive dressing that fell off as soon as I walked outside. Are you aware I have to pay 20% of that bill? Well, good bye any hope of vacation this summer away from home...

Guess I am not used to this kind of sticker shock, I knew it would be expensive but not THIS much! Oh well, your ministrations probably did keep me from an infection that would have likely been nasty - given how long it took for the wound to respond properly - so I guess I really shouldn't complain. Wish I knew who the dog owner was.... sigh.

[Owlie]

Catrin, I cut myself with a bread knife back in March, not terribly deeply. Who knew that flushing it with saline, a tetanus shot (needed it anyway), and the application of medical-grade super glue (which sloughed off after a day--the NP who treated me said she'd put on enough for a week...) costs $1200? I could have sent DBF to Walmart for a tube of normal super glue and done it myself. (And mixed up physiological saline solution...)

[Catrin]

Yikes, that was an expensive cut! I couldn't have cleaned it out myself though - and animal bites should be cleaned properly but still... The actual charges for the supplies was $300 with an "emergency room fee"'of $2,100. I guess it costs that much to walk into the door...

[Biciclista]

wow, THAT is expensive first aid

[snapdragen]

Yep - ER visits are very expensive. My little 2 1/2 hour visit for my gall bladder was about $2600.

[OakLeaf]

And you haven't even got the doctor's bill yet ...

[bmccasland]

I have selective memory loss of my ER bill from the bike wreck last year - but it included x-rays, knee brace, and crutches. Seemed it took a couple of months for my portion of the bill to come.

Shall we compare tomorrow's surgery bill???

[snapdragen]

I have selective memory loss of my ER bill from the bike wreck last year - but it included x-rays, knee brace, and crutches. Seemed it took a couple of months for my portion of the bill to come.

Shall we compare tomorrow's surgery bill???

Oooh!! Oooh! Let's compare! Mine was $28,000. Outpatient surgery.