- cross-posted to:
- politics@lemmy.world
- cross-posted to:
- politics@lemmy.world
Committee to recommend patients should pay no more than $100 or 10% of a bill, depending on which is less
A committee chartered to find ways to stop ambulances from sending patients exorbitant bills is set to tell Congress that patients should pay no more than $100 or 10% of a bill, depending on which is less.
The recommendation, which still relies on the convoluted private insurance industry, comes as nearly half of all ambulance rides in the US result in a “surprise bill” of often hundreds of dollars.
“America has decided to use an insurance system to spread the risk among many,” said Patricia Kelmar, senior director of healthcare campaigns at US Pirg, a consumer advocacy group.
“But when it comes to ambulances, without a surprise billing protection, that risk isn’t spread – the person who needs the ambulance is paying a lot more than anyone else who has that insurance.”
I suppose you first have to cap what private ambulances can charge. No?
It’s either that or force every ambulance service to negotiate pricing with every insurance provider. Just like ERs you don’t really have a choice where you go (or who picks you up), nor exactly have the time to ask, “Are you in network?”
Our system is a mess.
That’s a cute way of saying our system is intentionally fucked up and hell bent on financially crippling everyone that isn’t the first class