Patients are overpaying for health care

I read with interest the Jan. 3 article “Hospital Sticker Prices” about the area health systems listing their charges for various procedures. As a recent patient of one of our larger local health systems, I have become convinced that our health care system is very broken. Within a span of two weeks, I was diagnosed with cancer, sent for tests, met an oncologist and was scheduled for surgery. What a whirlwind and how completely overwhelming. Fortunately for me, I have a wonderful surgeon and the other care providers were excellent.

I cannot say my experience was the same from a business aspect. Despite having very good insurance coverage, I was forced to pay upfront for my surgery or be denied care. Of course, I paid for the surgery. I have spent the past two months trying to get my over-payment back from the hospital system.

It has billed the insurance company over $65,000 for the outpatient surgery and care so far. The insurance company has repriced it to just over $23,000, including my share. Seems to me that a service is worth what a service is worth, regardless of how I am paying for it. The health care system is accepting the $23,000 as payment in full and is still making millions. So why are they billing $65,000? Does a plumber charge more to change your water heater depending on how or who is paying the bill? I think not.

How do our health care systems get away with this completely misleading and abusive practice? It has taken the power away from the patients to make care decisions for themselves. Health care has changed from a personal interaction to one of big business and the more confusing they can make it, the better for the health care giants.

MARY E. HOERSTER

Carnegie