$1,500 for a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)???

[NW Admin]

Not too long ago I had to visit the emergency room here in Ohio for a urinary tract infection. I sat... and sat... and sat some more... waiting... waiting. I waited for probably 2 hours in agonizing pain and having to run to the bathroom every 10 minutes. They finally take me to a room where I sit for yet another hour. By this time I am crying and can't sit still. I tell the nurse that I can't wait any longer and can they please give me something for the pain? They tell me no, I have to wait for the doctor. So I had no choice but to sit and wait. In the mean time, they had me urinate in a cup to run tests. Not to be too graphic, but the urine was full of blood and a clear indicator of a bacterial infection (I have had them before). So the doc finally shows up, is in my room for 3 minutes, tells the nurses "Yep, she has a raging UTI." He walks out, they give me some pills, and I leave. They attended to me for a whole 10 minutes, if not less.

So aside from the terrible service, I get a bill that says I owe about $300. Keep in mind I am self-pay and have no insurance. I had applied for financial assistance with the bill. I thought, "Well, I guess $300 isn't so bad." Then I get ANOTHER BILL. Now I have one from "the doctor" and one from "the hospital". This second bill was over $1,200!!!! I nearly had a heart attack!!! First of all, I didn't have that kind of money. Second of all, they didn't hardly do anything for me and they only saw me for 10 minutes! Where do they get off charging that much for a common urinary tract infection?? All they had to do was a urine analysis and prescribe antibiotics. I was infuriated!!! Plus, where was my financial assistance I applied for??? Luckily, I just barely met the income guidelines for income assistance and after waiting nervously for over a month, they finally told me I wouldn't have to pay for all of it. Thank goodness, because I would have gone even farther into debt for that. I feel bad for those who can't get the financial assistance because they just barely make too much money. It's just not right!

[CarolineWH]

On many policies there is an added $50 to your co-payment if you visit the Emergency Room....This is in addition to your other payment for the visit...Yet they never let you see the bill...The riduclious charges for just a dressing....A pill could run $12.00.....It is a never ending nightmare yet our system is so much better than many countries...You just don't want to get sick....