Sunday, October 18, 2009

Unending medical hell, part the latest, plus a bunny

It's now been sixteen months since I was hospitalized and, in order to commemorate the event, I received a letter from a team of lawyers looking to collect on a bill from the first day I stumbled (literally) into the Deathstar Healthcare and Anal Rape Billing system. I'm following their instructions and sending the lawyers a letter requesting verification and documentation for this bill, but I'm sure it will turn out to be legit. It's probably the idiotic hospital that screwed up some of the billing (again). For added fun, Deathstar sent me an updated bill showing I only have two payments remaining until they're out of my life, and then they followed-up with a threat to turn my account over to collections if I don't pay immediately. Plus which my insurance company shows they are attempting to bill me again for something else just as soon as they can get their paperwork straight. I'm making it a person goal to attempt to get these people out of my life for good by the end of this year.

People talk about our healthcare system, but do we even have a system? We have a market for healthcare and a few (very few) laws protecting the public, which vary greatly from state to state, but I don't think that counts. But when you live in a Jebus-intense state like Georgia, you understand that if you claim our healthcare isn't already the greatest in the world (and therefore impossible to improve) then the terrorists will have won.

For some reason, cat ears are in amongst young Japanese women. I saw several wearing them at JapanFest, including one who wore a tail as well.

Bunny!

Kitty bunny!

12 comments:

Robin said...

I'm so sorry you have to go through this, I hope it ends soon. We are in so much debt in so many areas that I fear shit will start to rain soon.

Me said...

I wish I knew what to tell you on the health care billing system. There's little winning or beating it regardless of how fantastic one's insurance is or isn't.

Hit 40 said...

I have seen the bills too. The insurance companies and hospitals love to kick you while your down. Just exhausting.

I am all for national health care. In trade...

how about we end welfare?? I work. Let's all work. We can all be given some kind of work for the unemployment or welfare check.

Don't say I am being a meanie. I have relatives who live off of welfare and make a sport out of unemployment breaks.

Unknown said...

We used to have something called "workfare" in Stamford, even the drunks could do something for a buck...
But now it will take a highly skilled college degree to do that with all the unemployment.
I assume, Grant, that all the overtime you are doing is taking down your bills, so you can be hospitalized still again.
It all sucks.

Kira said...

There should be a statute of limitations on billing somebody for a hospital stay. It's almost like you go there and six months later, they say, Oh Crap! He's almost paid this off! We've got to charge him for something else!

I need to get some kitty ears for Ari. I bet she'd love that.

Grant said...

Robin - I rain shit all the time since the antibiotics took hold.

Marsha - healthcare is one of those bizarre businesses where they can grow their own business just by telling you that you need more of what they have. Alternately, they can just keep billing you for the same stuff. However, I will say that Aetna has done a good job of keeping them honest and making them reduce their charges.

Hit 40 - we could offer people the choice to either work for their money or be indoctrinated into the military. You'd see a lot fewer welfare cases that way.

Whitemist - I noticed one thing the doctors did not recommend was taking time off to recover. They understand that no work = no money for them.

Kira - just to be safe, you should get kitty ears for both kids. That will avert any fighting over them.

Kerry said...

I just don't know what to say. I am amazed at how hospitals/doctors bombard you with bills and none of them can be explained. I swear I've been double or triple billed for things in the past. The hospital bills you then the doctors and then technicians or some company, etc. Its such BS. Good luck straightening it all out.

Grant said...

Kerry - if anyone wants to reform healthcare, they could start with a law that requires the hospital to get their entire bill together before they attempt to charge you anything.

April said...

It's my understanding that ALL Japanese women love Hello Kitty. I think that's to blame for the kitty ears trend. Not that it's not cute and all, I'm just sayin'.

Grant said...

April - it's been a popular trend for a long time in Japan, mostly among schoolgirls. My J-sensei admits that all of her school supplies were plastered with Hello Kitty regalia (she's currently 34)(she looks 12 from a distance).

Monogram Queen said...

I think they've always been a week bit obsessed with Hello Kitty haven't they?

Grant said...

Monogram Queen - it's been going at least 15 years with no signs of slowing.