RW> Times have changed, Roger. When I was in the hospital in 2003, the bill
RW> was $22,000 and my insurance paid about 1/4 of that and the hospital
RW> wrote off the rest. The only charge I had was from a lab worker who was
RW> called into surgery to take a biopsy. He eventually got paid by my
RW> insurance. This time, the bill was $18,000 just for 2 days of observation
RW> and my total out of pocket was $40 co-pay. Then two weeks later I had to
RW> go back and stayed for 3 days of observation, which cost about $20,000
RW> and
RW> my out of pocket was $65. Best part was they gave me a prescription that
RW> will enable me to stay out of the hospital and that prescription is free.
 
After watching the movie Critical Care, with James Spader, Kyra Sedgwick,
Albert Brooks and Helen Mirren, I've made sure that no hospital will touch
me.  That may sound foolish to some, but they'd have to see the movie
first. Also, I can buy any Rx I need cheaper online than I'd have to pay
for locally (unless the time factor is critical) and that's why I don't
have Part D.
 
RW> BTW, the food wasn't anything to write home about and it certainly wasn't
RW> plentiful, but I did manage to lose 3lbs on it.
 
That was the only hospital I've been in where the food was good.  It was
Southern Baptist in New Orleans and they also had an excellent medical
staff.  Nowadays, their food is probably more like I imagine prison food is
today and I have no idea what the medical staff is like.  I can only vouch
for them when I was a patient there Thirty-one years ago.
 
 
Regards,
 
Roger

... Patience and time do more than strength or passion.
--- D'Bridge 3.43