JW>BA> In 2004 I spent 3 days in a hospital and the bill was $49,000
JW>BA> Tricare - which I call Medicare for the military - paid a total
JW>BA> of about $18,000 of all of that and the providers wrote off the rest
 
JW> Interesting. Here, the total cost would have been lower and would
JW> have been covered 100%, with my share being zippo.
 
JW> So do providers ever attempt to collect the shortfall from the
JW> patient? I read about medically caused bankrupcies...
 
Absolutely!  I noticed when I became eligible for Medicare, an office visit
to my doctor, whom I've had since 1982, went up.  So, in essence, he is
still collecting from me and Medicare.  I actually questioned him about
that and he shied away from answering, which told me that they all do it. 
I call it double dipping, but the proper name for it is stealing.
 
 
Regards,
 
Roger

... It's a chain saw. I always carry one for emergencies.
--- D'Bridge 3.43