Teen lifeguard gets $2,600 bill for saving drowning boy's life

reply to post by defcon5


So the solution? Either we stay in the US, and go into major debt. Or we move to a socialized place like canada, and get total crap medical attention. Wonderful choice.

How can we fix it? I am out of ideas, then again I am not in the medical industry.

reply to post by TKDRL


I don't know that anyone has the solution. Its a problem, which is why its being addressed ATM.

Another thing that should be mentioned is how medical billing works...
Hospitals, or any medical facility, is going to charge the maximum that they can, because they know that's not what they will get paid. They have arrangements that they negotiate with insurance companies as to what each service will cost. So even though they might charge you $10k for a bed in the hospital/night, they know that the insurance will only pay them $4k. Out of that you have an agreement with the insurance company as to what your portion is, which is normally 20%. You can get that lowered by buying better insurance, or buying secondary insurance.

Ummm.... what I don't understand is why the actual boy who was drowning didn't get the bill. Typically when I get hurt or get sick I have to pay the bill for any treatment, if I was suddenly hurt and got helped by a stranger I don't pass that bill onto the person who helped me, that is completely wrong. The parents of the drowning boy should be shouldering this bill if anyone.

EDIT: ok upon reading the source article it's apparent that the lifeguard actually went to the hospital and was treated because he had a headache. The costs they list were actually bills charged to the lifeguard for his stay at the hospital. Yes the bill is absurdly high, but he's not being unfairly treated compared to how anyone else would be treated. Being a hero doesn't make things free.

reply to post by Blackmarketeer


I'm pretty sure there's something called the Good Samaritan Law...Hold on one sec...

Yep, there is indeed. Had to look it up for the state of Oregon, though.

It appears that it only applies to medically trained people when rendering emergency assistance to another person in need. That sucks for him...should have let him possibly drown I guess?

That last statement sounds dumb, as it very well should. There was no mens rea or actus reus involved here and any court should have it dismissed. The judge should then look the suing party in the eye and say "If I ever see you flailing in the water, unable to swim, I'll be sure to let you drown if this is how you treat kindhearted people."

$2,600 for your life. What a deal. Some people would have killed for that exchange.

Got in a small car accident last year and taken 2 miles down the road to the hospital as a precautionary measure. No treatments administered, only a ride. Thankfully we are fully insured as they billed me $1400 alone for the ambulance ride and $1700 for my five year old to ride next to me in the same ambulance (not even on a stretcher). Never figured out that billing.

reply to post by psuxavier


The Good Samaritan Law covers you from being sued by the person you helped if you were to accidentally do more harm then good in the attempt. It also involves leaving a person at the scene, etc... It does not have any application in this story as no one is being sued. He's simply being billed by the hospital for the aid they rendered to him after the rescue.

reply to post by defcon5



Ah...I get it now.

Thanks for clearing that up, I misread the situation and the Good Samaritan law entirely.

I was billed for something once that wasn't my fault. I didn't pay and told them to stuff it. They did. End of story

reply to post by TKDRL


Yup, i'd rather bite the bullet than get bullied over a hospital bill I can't pay though..No reason to call 9-11 in an emergency anymore or it could cost you money you don't have!! Make a note of that everyone.. welcome to the new Russia, Komitat!
Don't you see they just wanted to raise everything once they got enough workers and money flowing all around the world and creating an endless amount of agencies to suck up all the taxpayers money so they can then turn around and spend more than what we ever bring in and turn us all into slaves over them spending all of your money that they have been gladly spending the # out of, until we start to notice, then they'll sell us all out, by selling our country to foreigners because they need more money and slaves for their bloodthirsty system!
Why are they allowed to spend endless amounts of the country's money without any retribution?
Are they doing it on purpose, so they can sell our country away?

i'm really hoping that not only do people come forward to donate a few bucks to help this kid pay the bill, but also that there's so much left over that his education is paid for. he deserves it. if anybody knows of a fund that's going where i can donate a few bucks, pls link me to it, thanks

Originally posted by Juggernog

Originally posted by antonia

Originally posted by Juggernog

Originally posted by antonia
reply to post by Juggernog

 

If you hit your head and you get a headache you better go to the doc. Certain brain injuries present themselves first as a headache.

So, the pounding waves gave him a concussion?

Yea, the ocean has enough force to do that.

um, i dont think so. maybe if you dive in from say 15 feet or so but not swimming in the surf.
Ive swam in the surf many times and in many sea conditions and not once have I gotten a concussion from the swells.

Oh well, forget it.
He still wasnt a hired lifeguard, so at this point hes just a citizen that did a good deed, maybe someone will step up and pay his bill but he shouldnt expect it just because.

edit on 4-8-2012 by Juggernog because: (no reason given)

]

Just because it hasn't happened to you doesn't mean it isnt possible. A wave broje my cousin's neck and killed him when he was 21.
This website should change its motto to 'Deny Ignorance, and arrogance'

reply to post by Blackmarketeer


That is one seriously f****d up country you folks have there

Wouldn't Obamacare help to put an end to such exploits!

reply to post by MDDoxs


Is this an ad/propaganda or staged news story for Obamacare? You'd think that people would chip in to pay the hero's medical expenses. But if they don't, Big Brother will have to.....(music plays)

Originally posted by Blackmarketeer


Only in America - home of the "best" health care in the world.

now.msn.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

Couldn't be more true!

Originally posted by McGinty
Wouldn't Obamacare help to put an end to such exploits!

No. Obamacare still continues to use private health insurance. Nothing re this particular billing would change under Obamacare.

Originally posted by TKDRL
reply to post by Blackmarketeer

 

Almost 2 grand for an ambulance is outright ridiculous. Extortion even. WTF does it run on, jet fuel?

Only in America.

Seriously Americans are screwed up about human values, at least the hospital and some "cough" people.

Lesson to learn:
If you saw somebody near death in America, stand and look as a witness (cost nothing!).

The guys parents need to pony up the money, or a good Samaritan, or some people who are outraged.

Since you people are so outraged set up a donation to get the bill paid. Boils down to bad parenting

Originally posted by sirnukeem
Boils down to bad parenting

if the ats rules didn't state that you had to reply properly to posts, i'd be speechless at your casual statement. how on earth do you get to that from a lad rescuing another lad?

Originally posted by Blackmarketeer

The emergency room bill came to $449. The physician's bill was $227. The 15-mile ride in the ambulance to Tillamook: $1,907. The total bill for saving a young man's life? Nearly $2,600.

Who hires lifeguards and doesn't provider medical insurance? Two anonymous people step up and pay it for him. Because the lifeguard was off-duty, he get's stuck with the medical bill for rescuing a drowning 12-year old. Next time you see someone drowning, ask yourself this - can I afford to rescue them?

Only in America - home of the "best" health care in the world.

now.msn.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

I absolutely love your sarcasm.

I'm not sure if the disgustingly overly-capitalist actions of the US are more frightening, or if it's the growing vested interest in the overly-religious-right and their resentment of logic and critical thinking.

Originally posted by desert

Originally posted by McGinty
Wouldn't Obamacare help to put an end to such exploits!

No. Obamacare still continues to use private health insurance. Nothing re this particular billing would change under Obamacare.

The problem is here:

Between Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security we are using up almost ½ the US yearly budget. If the government pays 100% for everyone’s healthcare, you're looking at another slice at least as big as the medicare section again. With tons of people not paying taxes because they are either on unemployment, retired, or don't make enough per year, and with most of the rich and corporations getting around taxes via using write-offs and capital gains, there is just not going to be enough money to cover everyone's healthcare. Right now, with the baby boomers all at retirement/medicare age, there are not enough people putting into the system to cover whats got to come out of it.

Obamacare seeks to put the expense burden back on the US public, who are already struggling, on the states, and to further force medical facilities to increase workloads for even less money per patient.

The government does not make any money, one way or another the money still has to come from us. Since neither the rich, nor their corporations want to kick in, and they can afford the lobbyists to ensure they have the loopholes to get out of it, that pretty much leaves the burden on the middle class again.