Comments on: Solve For X. http://flotsamblog.com/2008/07/28/solve-for-x/ Deplorable solipsism? The new face of literature? Or merely a clever procrastination device... Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:02:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Helping Hoboken Moms Sell Their Condos » Paying rack rate vs. discount rate for healthcare http://flotsamblog.com/2008/07/28/solve-for-x/comment-page-2/#comment-351213 Helping Hoboken Moms Sell Their Condos » Paying rack rate vs. discount rate for healthcare Tue, 01 Sep 2009 06:05:37 +0000 http://flotsamblog.com/2008/07/28/solve-for-x/#comment-351213 [...] The goal of health insurers is to avoid expensive procedures and patients likely to cost them a lot of money. I once wrote a report detailing how HMO profits in New York almost exactly equaled hospital unreimbursed care in the same year. Patients can negotiate fees with physicians and hospitals, but they are unlikely to match the discounted rates achieved by health insurers because they don’t have leverage. Your average hospital stay costs $23k; few insurance plans cover more than 80% of expenses and they come with caps in coverage that are remarkably easy to exceed. [...] [...] The goal of health insurers is to avoid expensive procedures and patients likely to cost them a lot of money. I once wrote a report detailing how HMO profits in New York almost exactly equaled hospital unreimbursed care in the same year. Patients can negotiate fees with physicians and hospitals, but they are unlikely to match the discounted rates achieved by health insurers because they don’t have leverage. Your average hospital stay costs $23k; few insurance plans cover more than 80% of expenses and they come with caps in coverage that are remarkably easy to exceed. [...]

]]> By: bv http://flotsamblog.com/2008/07/28/solve-for-x/comment-page-2/#comment-275151 bv Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:37:09 +0000 http://flotsamblog.com/2008/07/28/solve-for-x/#comment-275151 I know this post is older now, but I just got to it (been going through the archives!) and holy CRAPOLA I cannot believe how much your bill was. I'm in Canada and we just don't get medical bills! Of *course* it was worth it but my god, how long will you be paying that sucker off? If it's not too rude/tacky to ask (and if it is, please ignore me!), how much of that will be left to you after the insurance covers its share? I know this post is older now, but I just got to it (been going through the archives!) and holy CRAPOLA I cannot believe how much your bill was. I’m in Canada and we just don’t get medical bills! Of *course* it was worth it but my god, how long will you be paying that sucker off? If it’s not too rude/tacky to ask (and if it is, please ignore me!), how much of that will be left to you after the insurance covers its share?

]]> By: katie http://flotsamblog.com/2008/07/28/solve-for-x/comment-page-2/#comment-233915 katie Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:54:53 +0000 http://flotsamblog.com/2008/07/28/solve-for-x/#comment-233915 Don't worry, you'll get to be smug when everyone else is moaning about the cost of college, you'll have already spent at least half her lifetime cost by the time she came home! Don’t worry, you’ll get to be smug when everyone else is moaning about the cost of college, you’ll have already spent at least half her lifetime cost by the time she came home!

]]> By: Erin http://flotsamblog.com/2008/07/28/solve-for-x/comment-page-2/#comment-233412 Erin Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:15:17 +0000 http://flotsamblog.com/2008/07/28/solve-for-x/#comment-233412 Oh, she is SO worth it. Look at the joy she is bringing all of us...she is providing free therapy. See, it's actually a savings. Oh, she is SO worth it. Look at the joy she is bringing all of us…she is providing free therapy. See, it’s actually a savings.

]]> By: Sheba http://flotsamblog.com/2008/07/28/solve-for-x/comment-page-2/#comment-233215 Sheba Thu, 31 Jul 2008 06:12:43 +0000 http://flotsamblog.com/2008/07/28/solve-for-x/#comment-233215 I love reading your blog (thanks for etting me read it) and I absolutely loved this entry. Simone is a cutie and looks like she will be a smart-witty-one like her mom. I think Simon saw that 900k hospital bill and it's giving her nightmares ;-) (BTW. My son is 3 months and he also has the teething and nightmare symptoms... Good to see he is not alone.) I love reading your blog (thanks for etting me read it) and I absolutely loved this entry. Simone is a cutie and looks like she will be a smart-witty-one like her mom. I think Simon saw that 900k hospital bill and it’s giving her nightmares ;-) (BTW. My son is 3 months and he also has the teething and nightmare symptoms… Good to see he is not alone.)

]]> By: susie http://flotsamblog.com/2008/07/28/solve-for-x/comment-page-2/#comment-233175 susie Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:35:44 +0000 http://flotsamblog.com/2008/07/28/solve-for-x/#comment-233175 Free child development lesson: If Simone is 10 weeks adjusted, then she is doing things that a 2 and a half month old can be doing and she can be doing things that a five month old can be doing as well. Teething and night-terrors can happen during any point during that span. I wonder what babies dream about that is so terrible, running out of milk maybe? And the staggering cost of Simone's bills - could have happened even if she wasn't an IVF baby. Given the outcome, I'd bet you'd do it all again. After robbing a bank, of course. Free child development lesson: If Simone is 10 weeks adjusted, then she is doing things that a 2 and a half month old can be doing and she can be doing things that a five month old can be doing as well. Teething and night-terrors can happen during any point during that span. I wonder what babies dream about that is so terrible, running out of milk maybe?

And the staggering cost of Simone’s bills – could have happened even if she wasn’t an IVF baby. Given the outcome, I’d bet you’d do it all again. After robbing a bank, of course.

]]> By: Betsy http://flotsamblog.com/2008/07/28/solve-for-x/comment-page-2/#comment-233120 Betsy Wed, 30 Jul 2008 03:09:11 +0000 http://flotsamblog.com/2008/07/28/solve-for-x/#comment-233120 About "screaming and crying while she was fast asleep" - another mom chiming in to say, yes, Ian did that, just a little later (see? Simone's just awfully advanced.) It freaked me out tremendously, but stopped as suddenly and mystifyingly as it began. Simone's pictures make me smile, smile, smile. About “screaming and crying while she was fast asleep” – another mom chiming in to say, yes, Ian did that, just a little later (see? Simone’s just awfully advanced.) It freaked me out tremendously, but stopped as suddenly and mystifyingly as it began.

Simone’s pictures make me smile, smile, smile.

]]> By: Marti from Michigan http://flotsamblog.com/2008/07/28/solve-for-x/comment-page-2/#comment-233119 Marti from Michigan Wed, 30 Jul 2008 03:06:09 +0000 http://flotsamblog.com/2008/07/28/solve-for-x/#comment-233119 I hope Medicaid, or whatever it is called in your State, will pick up the rest of those bills. Yikes! It costs so much to be healthy, stay healthy and have babies these days! Wow, Simone is so beautiful. She looks different now, a bit older and healthy. Enjoy every bit of her, every moment of her babyhood. It goes away so fast. My one and only is 33 years old now, and my grandkids are getting bigger - boys ages 10, 8 and 6, and a girl age 3. I treasure every moment with them. :) I hope Medicaid, or whatever it is called in your State, will pick up the rest of those bills. Yikes! It costs so much to be healthy, stay healthy and have babies these days!

Wow, Simone is so beautiful. She looks different now, a bit older and healthy. Enjoy every bit of her, every moment of her babyhood. It goes away so fast. My one and only is 33 years old now, and my grandkids are getting bigger – boys ages 10, 8 and 6, and a girl age 3. I treasure every moment with them. :)

]]> By: Flicka http://flotsamblog.com/2008/07/28/solve-for-x/comment-page-2/#comment-233108 Flicka Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:26:08 +0000 http://flotsamblog.com/2008/07/28/solve-for-x/#comment-233108 I have not seen the likes of those numbers since Sarge stopped having to be hospitalized every two weeks. I forgot how awful it can be. I'm so sorry. But Simone? That baby who sweeps Baby of the Week every single time? Can't put a price on that tiny life, that's for sure. Let the naysayers spout what they will; she's a miracle and the very finest of handiwork. I have not seen the likes of those numbers since Sarge stopped having to be hospitalized every two weeks. I forgot how awful it can be. I’m so sorry.

But Simone? That baby who sweeps Baby of the Week every single time? Can’t put a price on that tiny life, that’s for sure. Let the naysayers spout what they will; she’s a miracle and the very finest of handiwork.

]]> By: Kate http://flotsamblog.com/2008/07/28/solve-for-x/comment-page-2/#comment-233062 Kate Tue, 29 Jul 2008 19:49:56 +0000 http://flotsamblog.com/2008/07/28/solve-for-x/#comment-233062 She is worth every penny. And then some! Oh and my Lily gets those night terrors too. I'm not sure what causes them but they are heartbreaking. Thankfully they only last a few seconds. I don't think I could take much more than that. She is worth every penny. And then some!
Oh and my Lily gets those night terrors too. I’m not sure what causes them but they are heartbreaking. Thankfully they only last a few seconds. I don’t think I could take much more than that.

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