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Thread started 07/01/17 2:08pm

lust

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A question re medical emergencies in the U.S for tourists.

Weird question I know but but I've got this mate who was recently in Miami from New Zealand and he and another mate of his were blind drunk one night. Man 2 was unable to walk back to the hotel so my mate tried to fireman lift him over his shoulder but missed his shoulder and the guy landed on his face on the concrete. Worried about concussion he called an ambulance and they spent a night in hospital having cat scans.

My limited knowledge of U.S hospitals had me imagining the bill would be unbelievable and travel insurance unlikely to cover it due to the alcohol.

I asked him and he said, "dunno, we just left the next morning"

So my question. Is that normal or did he unintentionally do a runner?

My fear is he'll end up getting a bill for many thousands of
dollars in the next few weeks having forgotten that they took all his details.
If the milk turns out to be sour, I aint the kinda pussy to drink it!
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Reply #1 posted 07/01/17 2:46pm

luv4u

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Whenever I plan a trip to the USA I take out additional out of country health care to cover me from Day 1 of my trip till my return home. God forbid I end up sick or in one of their hospitals. They will stick you with a biggie bill.


It is always a wise thing that no matter where in the world one travels that taking out "out-of-country" health care coverage.

canada

Ohh purple joy oh purple bliss oh purple rapture!
REAL MUSIC by REAL MUSICIANS - Prince
"I kind of wish there was a reason for Prince to make the site crash more" ~~ Ben
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Reply #2 posted 07/01/17 2:52pm

lust

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Yeah he had travel insurance which has unlimited medical cover but they tend to not cover you if drunkeness caused your injury.

Regardless, I'm confused as to how they just left without any hospital bill.
If the milk turns out to be sour, I aint the kinda pussy to drink it!
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Reply #3 posted 07/02/17 7:04am

luv4u

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lust said:

Yeah he had travel insurance which has unlimited medical cover but they tend to not cover you if drunkeness caused your injury. Regardless, I'm confused as to how they just left without any hospital bill.


Must of been his medical coverage or someone made a mistake. Be thankful no bill.

canada

Ohh purple joy oh purple bliss oh purple rapture!
REAL MUSIC by REAL MUSICIANS - Prince
"I kind of wish there was a reason for Prince to make the site crash more" ~~ Ben
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Reply #4 posted 07/02/17 12:44pm

lust

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luv4u said:



lust said:


Yeah he had travel insurance which has unlimited medical cover but they tend to not cover you if drunkeness caused your injury. Regardless, I'm confused as to how they just left without any hospital bill.


Must of been his medical coverage or someone made a mistake. Be thankful no bill.



Seems like the latter then. Lucky lad.
If the milk turns out to be sour, I aint the kinda pussy to drink it!
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Reply #5 posted 07/02/17 12:46pm

luv4u

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lust said:

luv4u said:


Must of been his medical coverage or someone made a mistake. Be thankful no bill.

Seems like the latter then. Lucky lad.


Agreed

canada

Ohh purple joy oh purple bliss oh purple rapture!
REAL MUSIC by REAL MUSICIANS - Prince
"I kind of wish there was a reason for Prince to make the site crash more" ~~ Ben
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Reply #6 posted 07/03/17 6:02pm

sonshine

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lust said:

Yeah he had travel insurance which has unlimited medical cover but they tend to not cover you if drunkeness caused your injury.

Regardless, I'm confused as to how they just left without any hospital bill.

There's no way they would have a bill prepared to present to them that quickly. Rest assured he will receive a bill in due time. These things take time. The various providers need to submit their services to the data entry folks at the hosp (via dictation/transcription), then the coders prepare the charges to submit the claim to the ins co. The ins co processes the claim and remits the payment or denial of the claim to the hospital. They process this info and in turn bill the patient for the remaining balanced owed, if any.
It's a hurtful place, the world, in and of itself. We don't need to add to it. We all need one another. ~ PRN
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Reply #7 posted 07/04/17 1:27am

lust

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sonshine said:

lust said:

Yeah he had travel insurance which has unlimited medical cover but they tend to not cover you if drunkeness caused your injury.

Regardless, I'm confused as to how they just left without any hospital bill.

There's no way they would have a bill prepared to present to them that quickly. Rest assured he will receive a bill in due time. These things take time. The various providers need to submit their services to the data entry folks at the hosp (via dictation/transcription), then the coders prepare the charges to submit the claim to the ins co. The ins co processes the claim and remits the payment or denial of the claim to the hospital. They process this info and in turn bill the patient for the remaining balanced owed, if any.


I see. He might get a nasty surprise then. Not sure how good they are at chasing overseas people for payment though once they've left the states.
If the milk turns out to be sour, I aint the kinda pussy to drink it!
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Reply #8 posted 07/04/17 9:14am

luv4u

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lust said:

sonshine said:
There's no way they would have a bill prepared to present to them that quickly. Rest assured he will receive a bill in due time. These things take time. The various providers need to submit their services to the data entry folks at the hosp (via dictation/transcription), then the coders prepare the charges to submit the claim to the ins co. The ins co processes the claim and remits the payment or denial of the claim to the hospital. They process this info and in turn bill the patient for the remaining balanced owed, if any.
I see. He might get a nasty surprise then. Not sure how good they are at chasing overseas people for payment though once they've left the states.


Since he had health coverage he should check to see if he can submit the bill (if he gets one) to the health coverage people to pay it so it should not come out of his pocket.

canada

Ohh purple joy oh purple bliss oh purple rapture!
REAL MUSIC by REAL MUSICIANS - Prince
"I kind of wish there was a reason for Prince to make the site crash more" ~~ Ben
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Reply #9 posted 07/04/17 12:34pm

Lammastide

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If your friend's policy won't cover the particular situation, making him liable for only a small copay, he can expect to be on the hook for all associated costs. And he can expect those costs to include...

* Ambulance transport (possibly from a service provider other than the hospital; I've seen this go up to $900)

* Emergency room fees

* Doctor or doctors fees

* Diagnostic and test fees (About $500 to $1200 for the CT scan alone in Miami)

* Fees for any medications administered

Your friend may get the pleasant surprise of something on the low end, but he'd probably be smart to prepare for nothing south of, say, $2000. To your point, though, I'm not certain what capacity there'd be to collect from someone in New Zealand.

[Edited 7/4/17 12:57pm]

Ὅσον ζῇς φαίνου
μηδὲν ὅλως σὺ λυποῦ
πρὸς ὀλίγον ἐστὶ τὸ ζῆν
τὸ τέλος ὁ χρόνος ἀπαιτεῖ.”
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Reply #10 posted 07/04/17 2:29pm

lust

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Lammastide said:

If your friend's policy won't cover the particular situation, making him liable for only a small copay, he can expect to be on the hook for all associated costs. And he can expect those costs to include...



* Ambulance transport (possibly from a service provider other than the hospital; I've seen this go up to $900)


* Emergency room fees


* Doctor or doctors fees


* Diagnostic and test fees (About $500 to $1200 for the CT scan alone in Miami)


* Fees for any medications administered

Your friend may get the pleasant surprise of something on the low end, but he'd probably be smart to prepare for nothing south of, say, $2000. To your point, though, I'm not certain what capacity there'd be to collect from someone in New Zealand.

[Edited 7/4/17 12:57pm]




Thanks for that. I think if he does get a nasty surprise the cover may work as the drunk guy didn't hurt himself. It was another drunk guy that dropped him on his head. The guy hurt could then perhaps be covered as it wasn't his fault.
If the milk turns out to be sour, I aint the kinda pussy to drink it!
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Reply #11 posted 07/04/17 2:31pm

lust

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As for the ambulance cost. Uberulance could be a good business model. 😂
If the milk turns out to be sour, I aint the kinda pussy to drink it!
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Reply #12 posted 07/05/17 4:36am

prb

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lust said:

As for the ambulance cost. Uberulance could be a good business model. 😂

Uberulance
falloff

seems that i was busy doing something close to nothing, but different than the day before music beret
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Reply #13 posted 07/05/17 12:50pm

lust

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prb said:



lust said:


As for the ambulance cost. Uberulance could be a good business model. 😂

Uberulance
falloff



Yeah, no training needed. Just a van, a gurney and a rudimentary understanding of a defibrillator!
If the milk turns out to be sour, I aint the kinda pussy to drink it!
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Reply #14 posted 07/05/17 4:52pm

luv4u

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lust said:

prb said:

Uberulance
falloff

Yeah, no training needed. Just a van, a gurney and a rudimentary understanding of a defibrillator!

bandaid don't forget the bandaid lol

canada

Ohh purple joy oh purple bliss oh purple rapture!
REAL MUSIC by REAL MUSICIANS - Prince
"I kind of wish there was a reason for Prince to make the site crash more" ~~ Ben
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Forums > General Discussion > A question re medical emergencies in the U.S for tourists.