February 06, 2017
Most people know getting sick doesn't pay, but a college student learned that lesson the hard way when he received a hospital bill after seeking treatment for a cut finger in Philadelphia.
According to Vox, Matt Anderson was a 19-year-old student at a local college last summer when he reportedly racked up $2,782 worth of services at the Chestnut Hill Hospital emergency room. A steep price to pay for what the hospital classified as a "simple procedure" and he claimed consisted of some liquid stitches and a bandage.
So, how did this happen? A sink full of dirty dishes and bad timing. Anderson sliced his finger on a knife and arrived at the emergency room around 11 p.m. Per the report:
"One reason the fees were so high? Because the clock ticked past midnight as Anderson waited to see a doctor, Tri-County Emergency Physicians (the doctor group that appears to staff the emergency room) billed his insurance for two days rather than one. The rest of the bill came from Chestnut Hill Hospital, which owns the emergency department."
Sure enough, the bills provided by Anderson show that he was charged $332 for a "simple procedure." However, doctors tacked on fees for being in the medical facility on two separate days. Anderson claims the visit lasted a total of 20 minutes but admits it occurred when the clock struck midnight.
His family hasn't had any luck appealing to the medical provider's common sense. More from Vox:
"The hospital bill has gone into collection, as Matt’s father, Todd Anderson, attempts to negotiate for a lower price. Their insurance plan has a $4,000-per-person deductible, which means the family is responsible for the entire thing."
Neither provider opted to discuss the matter to the outlet but unwittingly offered a reminder to absent-minded college kids and rest of the mistake-prone world: Take extra care and avoid an emergency-room visit at all costs.
Read the full account over at Vox.
