Today on the Price is Right: We've had all the theory about how much all this stuff cost, so let me give you a real example of a recent bill and let you try to guess what the actual hospital bill was. This is only the hospital bill. After a couple of days, I will actually give you the answer.

This Kentucky patient was being treated for blood clots, went through the emergency room, was admitted and was an inpatient for 8 days in the heart and lung section of the hospital. No surgery. Winner is the one that gets closest to the actual bill without going over and will receive 1000 rep points providing we get more than six guesses.

Good luck with your guess!

...probably low

$65,001 (the and 1 is for the sake of Price is right humor.) hehehe

I''m not going to be hard on anybody on this and you should not feel embarrassed if you're way off. This is not easy to do because hospitals are going to charge different rates for the same services. I'm really just curious to see if you would be in the ballpark of the actual charges or if maybe your hospital charges a way different rate perhaps based upon where you live.

Was "this patient" in ICU? What kind of inpatient medication and how often? Any diagnostic treatments while inpatient? And was he insured? (Are we being asked to total the ENTIRE bill, or just "his" copay?)

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"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer."

--President-elect Barack Obama
November 5, 2008

No ICU. I'm not going to give you the specific treatment. But treatment was very routine for this kind of illness. This is the entire bill before insurance.

8 days, treatment but no surgery, hmmm.

I'll say 45k.


It's things like this that make "Health savings accounts" a joke though.
Unless you can save up a couple million and not get cancer, you'll still end up bankrupt.

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Obama/Biden 2008

$34,999

Might as well throw out a number.

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"It is no crime to be ignorant of economics, which is, after all, a specialized discipline and one that most people consider to be a 'dismal science.' But it is totally irresponsible to have a loud and vociferous opinion on economic subjects while remaining in this state of ignorance.

--Murray Rothbard

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skinny. A liberal is just a libertarian who hasn't studied economics.

I'll say $165,000.

__________________
"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer."

--President-elect Barack Obama
November 5, 2008

I spent 10 days in the Hospital with Gas Gangrene in my right foot. 1 surgery, 3 times a day in the Hyperberic chamber + loads of expensive anti-biotics. 3 Out patient surgery's for pins, screws and skin grafts, minimal physical therapy and the tab came to $265,000 in 1994 dollars.

I'll guess $250,001!

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