BrandweekNRX: Is Michael Moore Lying? The Wall Street Journal doesn't think so. Watch WSJs mini-Sicko!

November 30, 2007

Is Michael Moore Lying? The Wall Street Journal doesn't think so. Watch WSJs mini-Sicko!

As Medical Costs Soar, The Insured Face Huge Tab

Jim Dawson Hit Cap After Hospital Padding; The $1.2 Million Bill

By JOHN CARREYROU November 29, 2007; Page A1

MERCED, Calif. -- One day in late July, Jim Dawson happily returned home. He had spent the previous five months in the hospital battling an infection that nearly killed him. The phone rang shortly after Mr. Dawson and his wife, Loretta, entered their house.

It was the hospital. California Pacific Medical Center was calling to remind the Dawsons that they owed it $1.2 million.

Jim Dawson survived a catastrophic illness only to face a $1.2 million medical bill.

Mr. Dawson, 61 years old, had health insurance through his employer, but had maxed out his plan's $1.5 million lifetime cap halfway through his long hospital stay. In addition to the bill from CPMC, Mr. Dawson owed tens of thousands of dollars more to scores of doctors who were involved in his care. Mr. Dawson and his wife's combined assets totaled a fraction of their medical debt.

"I had never thought in a million years that anything like that could ever happen," says Mrs. Dawson.

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Comments

What a miraculous story. Several things jump out at me when I watch this. First is the amount of inflation for the products and services the hospital renders. If hospitals didn't charge 3000 times the actual cost of a pair of leggings, people could afford to pay their bill.

The second thing that jumps out at me is how fast the hospital deleted the patient’s debt as soon as the WSJ began asking questions. Hospitals know that it is outrageous to charge $927 for a pair of leggings, and that if it gets taken to trial, it will be a difficult task convincing members of the public and jurors which will likely view themselves as potential paying patients, that these are legitimate charges.

Posted by: Cary | December 05, 2007 at 04:23 PM

A standard - and unprescribed - vitamin pill cost $75 on a friend's bill, and that was just the beginning. It was not possible to cancel the TV service either - which she was in no condition to watch and didn't want on at all. There were so many ways of soaking the patient it was sick, and the floor wasn't even cleaned properly with visible debris. And that was a major teaching hospital.

Posted by: Idris | December 07, 2007 at 03:51 PM

Another one sided article for communistic healthcare from John Carreyrou and Wall Street Journal. BOOOO!!!

Posted by: Sue | December 08, 2007 at 04:48 PM

RxPop.com supports Michael Moore!

SiCKO - his latest creation clearly demonstrates how badly our nation's Healthcare System is failing (cherry picking or not).

Perhaps Universal Healthcare is a system to be admired? Canadians often complain that they have long wait times when visiting the doctor's office, clinic or hospital.

Personally, I'd rather experience long wait times than no care at all.

It's no secret that people don't seek professional healthcare in the United States due to financial worries and reasons.

Universal Healthcare promotes going to the doctor with no financial drawbacks.

So what does Universal Healthcare mean to you?

Before you place your votes in the upcoming '08 elections be sure to know the facts. You can watch a nice collection of videos featuring politicians speaking out on the Healthcare Crisis in the United States at, http://www.rxpop.com/politics.asp.

Posted by: William Hill | December 21, 2007 at 03:42 PM

We have so many paranoid people in America. Anytime some service is to be provided by the government, the critics aka righties, are so quick to tag it as "commie" or "communist." I've been to Canada and I don't see any hammer and sickles flying above their capitals. Whether you like Michael Moore or not, take his "documentaries" for what they are, "Info-tainment"; to provide information and cases in an entertaining and humorous manner.
When you step back and look at the billions of dollars insurance companies make, it's likely not because of great customer service or quickly payment of claims...let's face it, it's because they are being unethical in putting their customers priorities dead-last.

Posted by: Jason | December 27, 2007 at 04:56 PM

Regardless of the opinion anyone can have about Michael Moore's films, there is a lot each and every consumer can do: get informed. The internet provides a wealth of information to fight back against injustice.

Posted by: Compare prices | April 16, 2008 at 06:40 PM