re: Medical billing nightmares: anybody want to share stories?

Yes, I went through a horror story about 15 years ago. Broke my arm and didn't have insurance. Broke it on a Sunday afternoon, and knowing I didn't have insurance and wanting to avoid the ER charges, I was going to wait to go to my family doctor the next morning. The pain became unbearable so I broke down around 10 Sunday night and went to the ER. Paid $100, got some x-rays, a couple of vicodin, a splint, and instructions to go see an orthopedist the next day. A week later get a bill for around $5k, just from the ER. The next day get a bill from the ER doctor for another $1k. Long story short, went back and forth with the billing department on why I got 2 separate bills when the ER doctor was an employee of the hospital, and why the bills were so high. 6 months later, and after sending it to collections despite assuring me they wouldn't, they agreed to settle both bills for $2k total.

I know it's a controversial topic, but the saga is why I support some form of a single payer system. Granted, most of the saga was my own fault(not having insurance, engaging in an activity where I could get hurt, etc.) but the mercy your're at when you go get medical care without insurance is frightening and shouldn't happen in a country this advanced.