Please Everyone Read This

[SQUEAKS]

Please everyone read this and then e-mail the governor of the state of Florida with your comments if you disagree with the excessive charges.

I just got off the phone with Leila and she has talked with lifeflight regarding her bill.
They are charging her $11,378 for transporting her 42 miles to Tallahassee from Greenville. They didn't tell her they also picked up 2 more passengers from horse accidents in Madison County on the same flight. This could possibly be why Grace and Ellis drove to Tallhassee Memorial Hospital and got there before lifeflight.

They have a license to steal is the only way anyone could view this large of a bill.It cannot cost over $11,000 to fly someone 42 miles. Did they also charge the other passengers the same amount?

Leila had no choice to make they took her on their decision not hers. is this not kidnapping? Is this not a violation of civil rights? Life,Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness? I think I will make up a card and carry it in my wallet that says Do Not Under Any Circumstances transport me to any medical facility except by horseback. By the time I get there there might not be any $11,000 bill to pay just funeral expenses.

Leila and Ellis are not in good spirits so if anyone can help no matter how small the amount, please e-mail them or call them.

This is WRONG.:confused:

Thank you

Bob

[JimHannah]

Welcome to the American medical system. Victimized by accident or disease, and then victimized again.

[JennLM]

It is the same charge for someone out here to get life flighted to Vegas.

Heck right now the local doctors can't even set a broken arm... they will send you to Vegas.

I do think if they picked up other people the bill should be split up. Yes, I do think it's an insane amount. They charged me over $500 for a 1/2 block ride in an ambulance to the hospital in Cali. Nuts, I tell ya.

[Mrs. E.]

Jim, so very true. A few years ago, I was in a car accident and my car got T-boned. I was in the hospital for 48 hours. My bill, just for the hospital alone was over $23,000.00. Usually your car insurance only covers $10,000.00. It was nice to be alive but all that money.
Good luck with the medical system. I think Leila could make some arrangment with the hospital about payment. If they know you have no insurance hospital will help you file a claim for payment with the state.

[JimHannah]

Hi Jenn,
Off topic, but you missed some good rides this weekend.
Jim

[CarolU]

Okay..so where is everyone who wants to argue why this 'system' is better then Canada's????

We have a great comparison in an accident a year ago there. No $11K bills!!!

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As for Leila, she needs to contact the state and hospital and see what kind of help they can offer with that bill NOW. A good friend here lost his house, car, kid's college fund, everything trying to pay his hospital bills and still had to declare bankruptcy. He could have declared earlier and saved his house and car.

[lisa l aka marci]

A lot of times, hospitals and such will make arrangements and lower bills - BUT you have to talk to them SOON.

Also, at least in NY - even if you only pay $10- toward a bill a month, no action can be taken against you, no finance charges etc.......I have been doing that for YEARS with a doctors bill from when I had no insurance......maybe next year it will be paid off!

[Mo.D]

Can you or Leila post her paypal info for everyone?Your friend,Moniece

[SQUEAKS]

I wanted to find out why lifeflight services were so expensive, so I called the hospital and the woman I talked to told me that the hospital does not own the services, but they are contracted out to private companies and the hospital has no say over what they charge.There are she belived 4 different companies serving the hospitals in the area.
I thanked her for the information and she gave me some names of those companies.She also agreed that the charges seemed quite high for just a trip from Greenville to Tallahassee. She suggested contacting each company and getting a quote before you may need the service to help decide which one your family and relatives might prefer.She also said she thought the lifeflight companies are on a call roster much like tow trucks are in many areas and are called in order automatically when one is needed. The hospital cannot give preference to one over the other.

Just thought you might like to know.

Bob

[paintedhorizon]

I've posted this on numerous threads, but with the hospitals, you must, as soon as possible, ask about indigent care or charity. Go do this right away and you may not even have to pay a cent!