Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
It is my personal experience that the slow arrival of EMTs and ambulances are a major deterrence to good medical care in many cases. Plus the cost is crazy high. I broke my arm badly in a store in 2004. The store people called 911 and EMTs were summoned. I asked the store people to get my friend to take me to the hospital since I could not drive. Everyone forced me to lay on the floor and wait 10+ minutes for the EMTs. Then when they showed up they said I needed a ambulance. Duh!!! So we waited some more. The EMTs could not give me any pain drugs or do any splinting. DUH!! My arm is crooked. I again ask my friend to drive me. The EMTs insisted I wait for the ambulance. So I set on the floor another 10+ minutes. Then the ambulance guys took 5 more minutes to load me to a stretcher. I could walk but was not allowed. Then I was finally taken 3 miles down the road to the local small hospital. Time elapsed about 35-40 minutes or maybe more. It should have been a 10 minute ride in my friends car. I was pissed and hurting bad. This slow stuff is not a good approach.. And it costs a bundle.
I would insist on a Uber if it happened again. It would be faster and cheaper and better medical care.
I would insist on a Uber if it happened again. It would be faster and cheaper and better medical care.
Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
My guess is that there are large local variations. In our urban jurisdiction, from what I see, EMTs and ambulances almost always arrive together. That the store (in your case) were insistent on calling 911, having EMTs and transport by ambulance, is common for just about any company, organization, church, etc. YOUR cost, YOUR pain, YOUR inconvenience are a distant second to the perceived or actual liability if they do not take such actions. I see that all the time.btenny wrote: ↑Sat Dec 16, 2017 10:58 am It is my personal experience that the slow arrival of EMTs and ambulances are a major deterrence to good medical care in many cases. Plus the cost is crazy high. I broke my arm badly in a store in 2004. The store people called 911 and EMTs were summoned. I asked the store people to get my friend to take me to the hospital since I could not drive. Everyone forced me to lay on the floor and wait 10+ minutes for the EMTs. Then when they showed up they said I needed a ambulance. Duh!!! So we waited some more. The EMTs could not give me any pain drugs or do any splinting. DUH!! My arm is crooked. I again ask my friend to drive me. The EMTs insisted I wait for the ambulance. So I set on the floor another 10+ minutes. Then the ambulance guys took 5 more minutes to load me to a stretcher. I could walk but was not allowed. Then I was finally taken 3 miles down the road to the local small hospital. Time elapsed about 35-40 minutes or maybe more. It should have been a 10 minute ride in my friends car. I was pissed and hurting bad. This slow stuff is not a good approach.. And it costs a bundle.
I would insist on a Uber if it happened again. It would be faster and cheaper and better medical care.
Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
The high costs to local jurisdictions of ambulance services are leading or have lead) to a fee/charge schedule to patients for such services. Since most health insurance pays some degree of the charges for ambulance services, the jurisdictions have decided to have a fee schedule and hit folks' insurance for the high charges. Then, in some cases, the uninsured are not charged.
Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
http://liveandletsfly.boardingarea.com/ ... one-costs/
American Airlines basic economy seat Vs Air force one : Huge cost difference.
The ambulance and Air Force one have additional capabilities beyond transportation.
American Airlines basic economy seat Vs Air force one : Huge cost difference.
The ambulance and Air Force one have additional capabilities beyond transportation.
Ram
Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
Oops, yes I meant ER of course.White Coat Investor wrote: ↑Fri Dec 15, 2017 10:25 pmIf patients went straight to the cath lab they'd be in there all alone at my hospital 90% of the time. Our cath teams certainly don't sleep in there. But somewhere big enough to have in-house fellows, sure, why not?bostondan wrote: ↑Fri Dec 15, 2017 4:57 pmI am a cardiology fellow at a major academic medical center. When it is a clear STEMI, patients go right to the cath lab and skip the OR. We do this to reduce door-to-balloon time, as you mentioned.livesoft wrote: ↑Fri Dec 15, 2017 3:48 pmHappened to a friend of mine. Right into cath lab. Lots of good hospitals and physicians around me. Of course, his incident was at a convenient time during a weekday.White Coat Investor wrote: ↑Fri Dec 15, 2017 2:20 pm Ha ha. What kind of OR are you planning to go to for your heart attack? You think the CT surgeon is waiting in there ready to do your CABG? I thought you worked in health care?
Your point, however, is right. If medics take you to the hospital for a heart attack and you've actually got a STEMI, it will reduce your door to balloon time compared to Uber transport as we'll activate the cath lab with a medic report of STEMI and the cath lab crew will start driving in. But skipping the ER...haven't seen it happen yet.
Ed is right though, most patients do go through the ER no matter what. The STEMI situation is unique.
And I assume you mean ER, not OR.
To clarify further, STEMI patients go straight to the cath lab mostly during daytime hours. If it is the middle of the night they usually go to the ER first, since it might take 15-20 minutes to get the cath lab going.
“There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.” - Elie Wiesel
Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
As a reminder, medical advice is off-topic. See: Medical Issues. Don't assume situations described here apply to you.
Please focus on the cost.
Please focus on the cost.
Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
Found this (article from 2016) https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/uber ... portation/
Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
I also see "emergency" triage patients brought in because of outpatient concerns. Huge strain on the healthcare system and not usually the patient's fault, usually just the result of ignorance of the system. When I take triage calls I tell patients to take a taxi and they get offended, explaining that they don't have the money. Then they take an ambulance.
This thread illustrates the possibility for an as-yet unknown type of transportation, a medical taxi. Via a traditional taxi or Uber/Lyft business model, this could allow cheaper abuse of emergency services and could protect private individuals from liability. EMS would still have to transport some from hospital to SNF, but the John Doe with back pain for 6 weeks could just take a taxi.
This thread illustrates the possibility for an as-yet unknown type of transportation, a medical taxi. Via a traditional taxi or Uber/Lyft business model, this could allow cheaper abuse of emergency services and could protect private individuals from liability. EMS would still have to transport some from hospital to SNF, but the John Doe with back pain for 6 weeks could just take a taxi.
Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
I made an interesting mistake to avoid an ambulance ride.
My GF’s kid got sick, she took him to Urgent Care, he was taken by ambulance to CHKD.
Fast forward a month and my kiddo is realky sick, I figure it is best to skip Urgent Care and go directly to ER to avoid the possibility of an ambulance ride. ( ER copay was $150) so I thought.... Exwife’s insurance changed to a high deductable plan.
I just finished paying a $2500 ER bill. Luckily they allowed monthly payments at zero interest.
For normal kid ailments it will be PCP, Urgent Care, ER in that order moving forward.
My GF’s kid got sick, she took him to Urgent Care, he was taken by ambulance to CHKD.
Fast forward a month and my kiddo is realky sick, I figure it is best to skip Urgent Care and go directly to ER to avoid the possibility of an ambulance ride. ( ER copay was $150) so I thought.... Exwife’s insurance changed to a high deductable plan.
I just finished paying a $2500 ER bill. Luckily they allowed monthly payments at zero interest.
For normal kid ailments it will be PCP, Urgent Care, ER in that order moving forward.
Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.
Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
On my insurance, an ambulance ride, out-patient surgery, physical therapy, and generic drugs are 100% covered. One of my dependents just had a pre-planned 3 hour surgery that was completely covered.
Uber would be more expensive than the ambulance. Life flight is 50%.
Uber would be more expensive than the ambulance. Life flight is 50%.
Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
I do not understand.StevieG72 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 16, 2017 10:28 pm I made an interesting mistake to avoid an ambulance ride.
My GF’s kid got sick, she took him to Urgent Care, he was taken by ambulance to CHKD.
Fast forward a month and my kiddo is realky sick, I figure it is best to skip Urgent Care and go directly to ER to avoid the possibility of an ambulance ride. ( ER copay was $150) so I thought.... Exwife’s insurance changed to a high deductable plan.
I just finished paying a $2500 ER bill. Luckily they allowed monthly payments at zero iterest.
For normal kid ailments it will be PCP, Urgent Care, ER in that order moving forward.
1. Why was it a mistake (of any kind) to skip the ambulance and go to the ER yourself?
2. Why are YOU 100% responsible for the $2,500 bill and not any falls on ex-wife?
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Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
There certainly would be a cost difference. When there is a serious injury, then there is a need for an ambulance.
Years back my wife driving a Buick got hit from behind by a compact at perhaps 25 mph in slow traffic. An ambulance came and checked my wife and grandson, both were found to be fine. I could not see any damage on the Buick, but the front of the compact got smashed up. My wife called me, and we decided I would drive both to an ER in a hospital to have them checked out more. The ambulance did not like that, but we thanked them. We did not understand why healthy people would need to ride an ambulance.
Years back my wife driving a Buick got hit from behind by a compact at perhaps 25 mph in slow traffic. An ambulance came and checked my wife and grandson, both were found to be fine. I could not see any damage on the Buick, but the front of the compact got smashed up. My wife called me, and we decided I would drive both to an ER in a hospital to have them checked out more. The ambulance did not like that, but we thanked them. We did not understand why healthy people would need to ride an ambulance.
Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
I live in a rural depressed economy area. The emergency room at a local hospital is always full of poor people with minor ailments. It is my understanding that they go there because they cannot afford to go to a clinic, and it is my understanding they cannot be turned down at the ER.
Slow and steady wins the race.
Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
I suspect there may be multiple reasons. Some may go there due to not having (or now knowing about) the importance of consulting a regular physician or provider. Some may just not have a clue about major vs minor ailments.Abe wrote: ↑Thu Dec 21, 2017 1:55 pmI live in a rural depressed economy area. The emergency room at a local hospital is always full of poor people with minor ailments. It is my understanding that they go there because they cannot afford to go to a clinic, and it is my understanding they cannot be turned down at the ER.
We live in a higher average income and educated area, although there are a lot of poor and uninsured people. I know several folks (middle income with health insurance) who choose to go to a Hospital ER vs. urgent care. That is the part I just do not get. One acquaintance has the identical Kaiser Medicare plan - and she chooses to go to a Hospital ER (3 miles from home) vs the Kaiser 24x7 urgent care (8 miles from home) for things that the Kaiser urgent care facility can handle just as well, or perhaps even better. Not me or my wife ....
Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
Although I retired in 2016, I have been a paramedic since 1980. There are a few points in this thread I wish to comment on.
Unless you need the services of an ER, anything else will be faster and cheaper.
Uber is no different than private car or taxi taking you to the ER. Generally though if you are well enough to use this option you could likely be treated at an urgent care or private physician's office. I do agree that in some cases you may actually need the ER and this is your best option depending on EMS arrival times.
It would be nice if ambulances could transport to an urgent care as that would relieve ER crowding somewhat. They don't because Medicare and private insurance will only pay for transport to the hospital and not an urgent care. Urgent care places are also not open 24 hours generally and they may require insurance/cash. The ERs are open 24 hours and must take everyone so that contributes to the overcrowding.
I have never, ever transported a patient directly to the OR or cath lab unless they were coming from another medical facility. Anyone coming from the prehospital environment gets seen in the ER, even if it only for a few minutes.
Unless you need the services of an ER, anything else will be faster and cheaper.
Uber is no different than private car or taxi taking you to the ER. Generally though if you are well enough to use this option you could likely be treated at an urgent care or private physician's office. I do agree that in some cases you may actually need the ER and this is your best option depending on EMS arrival times.
It would be nice if ambulances could transport to an urgent care as that would relieve ER crowding somewhat. They don't because Medicare and private insurance will only pay for transport to the hospital and not an urgent care. Urgent care places are also not open 24 hours generally and they may require insurance/cash. The ERs are open 24 hours and must take everyone so that contributes to the overcrowding.
I have never, ever transported a patient directly to the OR or cath lab unless they were coming from another medical facility. Anyone coming from the prehospital environment gets seen in the ER, even if it only for a few minutes.
Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
We don't use them because we have Kaiser 7x24 urgent care, but a growing area hospital "conglomerate" is buying up (and opening other) "urgent care" facilities in many locations around the area (Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington DC). There also seem to be still many small independent urgent care facilities as well. Until it was bought out by this large area hospital conglomerate, the nearby urgent care began offering and promoting itself as "primary care" as well.
Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
I can do one better. Long story short, one of our guys at work got hit by a car on the front lawn of a local hospital. Minor leg fracture, but they had to have an ambulance transport him the 1,000 feet to the ER doors.......$900 bill.harrington wrote: ↑Fri Dec 15, 2017 11:43 am My Parents are both 90 plus years old and live 5 houses from the hospital. We have had to call the ambulance many times through the years and the cost was $1200-$1600 each time. Luckily they have excellent secondary insurance and they paid nothing out of pocket.
Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
amazing ... or maybe notTSWNY wrote: ↑Fri Dec 22, 2017 10:44 amI can do one better. Long story short, one of our guys at work got hit by a car on the front lawn of a local hospital. Minor leg fracture, but they had to have an ambulance transport him the 1,000 feet to the ER doors.......$900 bill.harrington wrote: ↑Fri Dec 15, 2017 11:43 am My Parents are both 90 plus years old and live 5 houses from the hospital. We have had to call the ambulance many times through the years and the cost was $1200-$1600 each time. Luckily they have excellent secondary insurance and they paid nothing out of pocket.
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Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
If you have 24 hour Urgent Care, that's great. Almost all those facilities near me close at like 8pm. I've had to go to the ER not for the severity, but for the need to be treated immediately at night.
Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
Yes - most of such places do close at night. We are, indeed, fortunate (both financially and health/medical) to have 24 x 7 Urgent care facility access ...Earl Lemongrab wrote: ↑Fri Dec 22, 2017 3:59 pm If you have 24 hour Urgent Care, that's great. Almost all those facilities near me close at like 8pm. I've had to go to the ER not for the severity, but for the need to be treated immediately at night.
Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
Even better-TSWNY wrote: ↑Fri Dec 22, 2017 10:44 amI can do one better. Long story short, one of our guys at work got hit by a car on the front lawn of a local hospital. Minor leg fracture, but they had to have an ambulance transport him the 1,000 feet to the ER doors.......$900 bill.harrington wrote: ↑Fri Dec 15, 2017 11:43 am My Parents are both 90 plus years old and live 5 houses from the hospital. We have had to call the ambulance many times through the years and the cost was $1200-$1600 each time. Luckily they have excellent secondary insurance and they paid nothing out of pocket.
Got a call for a construction worker injured on the roof of the hospital. Medics arrive, package him up, take the elevator down to the ER.
Not sure if we billed for that because AFAIK you have to be transported in the ambulance for it to be billable.
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Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
Maybe you should have taken him out to the ambulance, driven him out of the ER parking area, and then around and right back in again.RMD3819 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 23, 2017 3:51 pmEven better-TSWNY wrote: ↑Fri Dec 22, 2017 10:44 amI can do one better. Long story short, one of our guys at work got hit by a car on the front lawn of a local hospital. Minor leg fracture, but they had to have an ambulance transport him the 1,000 feet to the ER doors.......$900 bill.harrington wrote: ↑Fri Dec 15, 2017 11:43 am My Parents are both 90 plus years old and live 5 houses from the hospital. We have had to call the ambulance many times through the years and the cost was $1200-$1600 each time. Luckily they have excellent secondary insurance and they paid nothing out of pocket.
Got a call for a construction worker injured on the roof of the hospital. Medics arrive, package him up, take the elevator down to the ER.
Not sure if we billed for that because AFAIK you have to be transported in the ambulance for it to be billable.
RM
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Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
I am missing the point here. If we are in a time is of the essence situation where possible care may be required en route, how could we debate the difference.
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Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
Last April I was coughing up "copious amounts of blood," as the EMT phrased it when calling ahead to ER. No thanks to UBER for that ride.
Similarly, I appreciated the EMTs splints and painkillers when I broke my leg in September.
Not a fun medical year.
Ambulances for the win. Use 'em when you need 'em.
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Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
I agree - such situations certainly justify an ambulance.MichaelRpdx wrote: ↑Sun Dec 24, 2017 3:04 pmLast April I was coughing up "copious amounts of blood," as the EMT phrased it when calling ahead to ER. No thanks to UBER for that ride.
Similarly, I appreciated the EMTs splints and painkillers when I broke my leg in September.
Not a fun medical year.
Ambulances for the win. Use 'em when you need 'em.
Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
Lucky you. Kaiser here in CA does not have 24x7 urgent care. Really wish it did. And during the limited hours, it's often not possible to get a same-day appointment anyway. It's basically useless. ER is the only way to go.
Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
I am surprised. There are, however, different Kaiser areas in CA - all with somewhat different plans.
I was under the impression that Kaiser in CA somewhat set the stage for new and improved Kaiser services. In this area (Washington DC - Baltimore MD), Kaiser had several Urgent care facilities evenings and weekends for many decades. Then, a few years ago (guess about 5 or so), they expanded to longer hours, many 24x7 and some of those were also CDU (Clinical Decision Units) where even very, very sick patients could be kept for up to 24 hours - just like a hospital. Here as well, for things your PCP can handle, it is common to be able to see your PCP the same day - or another PCP in the same location substituting. These emergency and urgent care facilities are (in my opinion) BOTH a health/medical as well as a financial benefit. On our Medicare plan, for example, going to a Kaiser urgent Care facility is only a $45 (same as specialist) fee - plus tests that may have normal charges.
Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
I live just outside of Manhattan and would rather use an Uber or a taxi to take me to the excellent hospitals in Manhattan. I've had experiences with ambulances refusing to transport family members to these great facilities and instead insisting on bringing you to the closer hospitals just outside of Manhattan where the care is quite substandard generally. Using Uber would give you the freedom to choose where you get your care.
Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
Yes, there is Kaiser Northern and Southern California. I'm in the former.dm200 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 26, 2017 12:33 pmI am surprised. There are, however, different Kaiser areas in CA - all with somewhat different plans.
I really wish this was the case here. I don't think I have ever had an emergency during the urgent care daytime hours. Mine tend to happen late at night, far away from any Kaiser facility, in another country or state . In which case I just submit the provider bills to Kaiser and wait about 2 months to get reimbursed. Longer if they deny and I repeat. I have never had a claim ultimately unpaid. This year I actually got a small claim paid twice as a result of resubmitting due to their initial denial. I didn't tell them. The billing side is the worst part of Kaiser, and I don't think they will ever figure it out.I was under the impression that Kaiser in CA somewhat set the stage for new and improved Kaiser services. In this area (Washington DC - Baltimore MD), Kaiser had several Urgent care facilities evenings and weekends for many decades. Then, a few years ago (guess about 5 or so), they expanded to longer hours, many 24x7 and some of those were also CDU (Clinical Decision Units) where even very, very sick patients could be kept for up to 24 hours - just like a hospital. Here as well, for things your PCP can handle, it is common to be able to see your PCP the same day - or another PCP in the same location substituting. These emergency and urgent care facilities are (in my opinion) BOTH a health/medical as well as a financial benefit. On our Medicare plan, for example, going to a Kaiser urgent Care facility is only a $45 (same as specialist) fee - plus tests that may have normal charges.
On the other hand, as an HIV patient, my GP is also an HIV specialist . And as long as he is working that day, I can usually see him same-day by just calling. Have gotten an appointment before less than an hour away and had to get dressed and beat traffic to make it. Kaiser facility is unfortunately on the west side of SJ, 15 miles away from the east SJ hills where I live. That doesn't help any for emergencies, but it sure is nice to almost always see your own doctor and not someone else.
Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
If you are able to take an Uber, though, you might not be in a true emergency. I would think there would be laws about where ambulances are allowed to take you. In general for a serious emergency they will bring you to the nearest facility geographically. If the emergency is not time-sensitive, they might bring you to the closest in-network facility, or in-network facility of your choice.Reubin wrote: ↑Tue Dec 26, 2017 11:54 pm I live just outside of Manhattan and would rather use an Uber or a taxi to take me to the excellent hospitals in Manhattan. I've had experiences with ambulances refusing to transport family members to these great facilities and instead insisting on bringing you to the closer hospitals just outside of Manhattan where the care is quite substandard generally. Using Uber would give you the freedom to choose where you get your care.
Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
This surprises me as it is the opposite of military medical/casualty evacuation doctrine, at least ~five years ago. As a helicopter pilots in Afghanistan we were instructed not to take casualties on-board unless we were certain that we could fly to a surgical team faster than a dedicated MEDEVAC helicopter could fly to the point-of-injury. Maybe our MEDEVACs were better trained/equipped to handle gunshot wounds than city ambulances, but I'm not sure I actually believe that. It seems to me that lights/sirens on the road would give the ambulance a distinct advantage too.2comma wrote: ↑Sat Dec 16, 2017 12:22 amTurns out in the study he was quoting, for puncture type wounds (severe stabbings and gunshot wounds) the mortality rate was actually higher if you called an ambulance. Apparently time was so critical having someone throw you into a car and get you to the ER overcame the ability of the EMTs to prevent you from bleeding out. Something to think about after you next knife or gun fight goes badly.
I think the hardest part of all this for laymen is knowing what is actually a worthy "emergency." Whenever I've gone to the ER, I've felt a little stupid afterwards, but when I made the decision to go I didn't know what was happening and I was scared (inevitably, in the middle of the night, sleep deprived, etc.). I would have been satisfied just to see the ER nurse/doctor and be told quickly, "you're fine, this can wait for your primary care physician" rather than getting a full battery of tests and treatments. To be honest, especially after reading comments by physicians here on Bogleheads, I don't even feel confident deciding between urgent care vs. ER.
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Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
do other insurers cover you anywhere in the world?madbrain wrote: ↑Sat Dec 16, 2017 3:42 am Had to go to the ER a month ago . My husband was out of the country. I was supposed to fly soon after. There was no one to drive me. I did not have uber setup. I was short of breath. Called 911 and got an ambulance. Was driven by EMT to the nearest Kaiser in-network hospital, which happens 15 miles away. Had zero wait. The ER did not keep me long, gave me some quick breathing treatment, cleared me to go home and travel, and basically kicked me out. I got an ambulance bill in the mail upon my return from Asia for ... $2,758.45 . Covered 100% by my insurer. And yes, this is only for transportation, not for the ER stay. I haven't gotten the EOB for that yet. I paid my $35 flat ER copay and may never see that EOB.
During my Asia trip, I suffered from food poisoning in Bangkok. After ruining an Uber driver's car due to vomiting, I had to be hospitalized for 2 nights with explosive diarrhea. One of the best hospitals I have ever seen. My husband was joking we should book that instead of the 5-star Conrad we were staying in (in which I spent only 3 nights instead of 5 due to hospital stay...). It is the 3rd time I get food poisoning in asia and the second time it brought me to the hospital. The bill for the 2 nights came to 60,913 Thai bhat, or $1873 as of today. Less than the ambulance ride in the US ! The nurses were very nice even though they had to change my adult diapers a number of times (finished one box). If you have to be get sick somewhere, Thailand is it. Much better service than at the Hanoi French hospital in Vietnam, for the same price per night. Still 5 times the price of the Conrad/night. But hey, I earned reward points on my Sapphire Reserve for those hospital bills. Now I just need to get Kaiser to reimburse, and that will take a few months to get paid back. Not my first time submitting foreign medical bills to them ! This time I also have another doctor bill for $265 in Ho Chi Minh as well the week before.
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Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
I don't know about other insurers. I have been with Kaiser for a very long time, nearly two decades, essentially the entire time I have lived in the US. On my Kaiser plan, I'm covered for emergencies anywhere there isn't a Kaiser facility within a reasonable distance worldwide. Not sure if this applies to all Kaiser plans or just mine. It's an HMO plan with a very large corporation. For all out of network claims, they apply the same deductible and copays as would have played if I was treated at their own facilities. Healthcare is usually cheaper in just about any other country on earth so it likely costs them less if I get sick abroad vs in the US. Then again, I have never gotten sick from food poisoning in the US, but this was the 3rd time in Asia.travellight wrote: ↑Thu Dec 28, 2017 9:28 amdo other insurers cover you anywhere in the world?madbrain wrote: ↑Sat Dec 16, 2017 3:42 am Had to go to the ER a month ago . My husband was out of the country. I was supposed to fly soon after. There was no one to drive me. I did not have uber setup. I was short of breath. Called 911 and got an ambulance. Was driven by EMT to the nearest Kaiser in-network hospital, which happens 15 miles away. Had zero wait. The ER did not keep me long, gave me some quick breathing treatment, cleared me to go home and travel, and basically kicked me out. I got an ambulance bill in the mail upon my return from Asia for ... $2,758.45 . Covered 100% by my insurer. And yes, this is only for transportation, not for the ER stay. I haven't gotten the EOB for that yet. I paid my $35 flat ER copay and may never see that EOB.
During my Asia trip, I suffered from food poisoning in Bangkok. After ruining an Uber driver's car due to vomiting, I had to be hospitalized for 2 nights with explosive diarrhea. One of the best hospitals I have ever seen. My husband was joking we should book that instead of the 5-star Conrad we were staying in (in which I spent only 3 nights instead of 5 due to hospital stay...). It is the 3rd time I get food poisoning in asia and the second time it brought me to the hospital. The bill for the 2 nights came to 60,913 Thai bhat, or $1873 as of today. Less than the ambulance ride in the US ! The nurses were very nice even though they had to change my adult diapers a number of times (finished one box). If you have to be get sick somewhere, Thailand is it. Much better service than at the Hanoi French hospital in Vietnam, for the same price per night. Still 5 times the price of the Conrad/night. But hey, I earned reward points on my Sapphire Reserve for those hospital bills. Now I just need to get Kaiser to reimburse, and that will take a few months to get paid back. Not my first time submitting foreign medical bills to them ! This time I also have another doctor bill for $265 in Ho Chi Minh as well the week before.
Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
I don’t get it. Why would anyone call an ambulance in a non-emergency situation?
Defining an emergency is easy. That’s when I think I am dying, or worse. If I’m wrong, so be it, I’ll eat the $1,600 or whatever it is.
JT
Defining an emergency is easy. That’s when I think I am dying, or worse. If I’m wrong, so be it, I’ll eat the $1,600 or whatever it is.
JT
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Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
You don't need to be dying to require safe transport to medical attention. I rode an ambulance a few years ago because I had a nosebleed that wouldn't stop. I couldn't safely drive and I'm not going to take a cab in that circumstance (and they might refuse the ride anyway).
Re: Uber vs Ambulance - HUGE cost difference
Your definition of "emergency" may be different than mine. The key here, in my opinion, is an "urgent" condition - but not an "emergency". Suppose, for example, you are large/heavy and fall in an upstairs bathroom and hit/twist your leg/foot in a way that you (or family) are 100% convinced is not "life threatening". In other words, without treatment you will not die in an hour or two or three.
BUT, you are in pain AND, for whatever reason, you cannot move yourself to have a friend/family member/taxi/uber take you for "urgent care". You would probably need EMTs (who normally come with an ambulance) to safely get you out.