Emergency Room Cost Overcharges

If you have been billed an excessive amount for emergency room treatment at a major hospital, you may be the victim of emergency room overcharges. An emergency room bill for uninsured patients is often much greater than the emergency room cost or ER bill that is submitted to an insurance company for the same ER treatment. If you have an emergency room medical bill dispute, attorneys are currently investigating excessive emergency room fees and ER overcharges.

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Uninsured Emergency Room Cost

Most everyone knows that receiving emergency room treatment may be expensive, but sometimes it is unavoidable. People end up in a hospital ER for a number of reasons: they don’t have a regular doctor; their heart is pounding; they have suffered an injury; a dog bite or a severe allergic reaction requires immediate attention.

Whatever the situation, patients who are uninsured and don’t qualify for Medicare, Medical or other state-provided coverage can see emergency costs anywhere from 2-4 times the rate of insured patients for the same exact ER treatment. This practice is not only grossly unfair, but it often impacts those least able to pay such excessive ER charges. As a result of over-billing, uninsured patients end up leaving the emergency room with bills that are completely out of proportion to those people with medical insurance for the same ER treatment rendered.

More than 46 million Americans do not have health insurance. When these people are unable to pay outrageous emergency room overcharges, they can become harassed by collection agencies, have their credit ruined, or even wind up in bankruptcy court.

ER Charges for Uninsured Patients vs. Insured Patients

Hospitals nationwide charge their so-called grossly inflated “retail prices” to their uninsured patients, whereas insured patients typically are charged rates 50-75 percent less. This means that uninsured patients end up being billed for emergency room care at double or triple the rates charged to the insurer of the patients sitting right next to them in the ER, for the exact same treatment. emergencyroomcosts

For instance, an uninsured patient may be billed $15,000 for a single overnight stay, which includes diagnostics—scans, x-rays, etc.—any treatments, and drugs. But an insurance carrier will typically be charged $3,000-$5,000 for the exact same stay and treatment. The same is true with minor injuries, such as a dog bite. In such a case, an uninsured patient might be charged $800 for a few shots and stitches, whereas the insured patient's carrier is charged $250.

While attorneys advise ER patients to check their hospital admission agreement and inquire as to potential charges before signing on the dotted line, unfortunately, in a true emergency, careful review of the emergency room admission agreement may not be feasible. As such, an uninsured emergency room patient may simply wind up at the mercy of high emergency room costs and only realize his excessive emergency room bill later on when it's too late.

Emergency Room Overcharges Lawsuits

Approximately 1 million patients received refunds or hospital bill adjustments under class action settlements reached between the years 2006-2008. Hospitals paid back almost $1 billion to patients who were overcharged, mainly by providers of emergency medical care.

If you have been overcharged for emergency room treatment at a major hospital, or you have paid way more than you feel was justified by the amount of treatment received, an experienced attorney can help you to seek reimbursement of the excess charges.

Emergency Room Overcharging Legal Help

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Last updated on Feb-21-12

EMERGENCY ROOM CHARGES ARTICLES AND INTERVIEWS

When Emergency Room Charges = Hospital Overcharges

Providence, RI: The issue of emergency room charges may appear to be a symptom of all that is wrong with the current status quo in the American health care system. However, the observation does little to defray the frustration over emergency room costs, when determining the actual cost of a service is next to impossible [READ MORE]

Emergency Room Overcharges Almost Caused a Stroke

Shelby, NC: Steve thought he had a pinched nerve in his neck and was getting chiropractic treatment but when one side of his face went numb, Steve figured he should go to the emergency room—just to make sure he wasn't having a "mini-stroke." He was OK, but the Emergency Room overcharges almost gave him a stroke!
[READ MORE]

Emergency Room Bills Targeted in Hospital Fraud Study

London, England: Suspicions that five private hospital groups in Britain are operating a money-making cartel which includes raising emergency room bills have led to an investigation by the Competition Commission, according to The Telegraph [READ MORE]