NHS costs

robfosters · 29 Apr 2012 at 16:56

Initially I was very surprised that he didn't have travel insurance, but he told me it was so expensive for his conditions that he chose to just pay for his treatment and his US medical insurance would reimburse him.

He looked like he had a few quid. Lives in LA, a place called Marina Del Rey.

Xordium · 29 Apr 2012 at 16:57

dowie said:
I think in the US they simply deny treatment at some hospitals unless you can show you've got cover or have the means to pay.

We do that here. I have been in the situation where we refused to treat someone because they could not pay. The ethical, professional and financial position being that we were responsible for ensuring she was safe to travel not start her on an expensive treatment regime. Strangely enough all the hospital managers disappeared for that one and declined to be the one to tell the lass and her parents she would have to go back to Africa where we knew she would not have a real chance of living beyond her teens. Always makes me laugh that the people who say "deny them all treatment" would in all likelihood never have the balls to actually look such a family in the eyes and tell them the consequences.

Minstadave · 29 Apr 2012 at 17:06

You should see how much a few days of ECMO costs! It's over 5 figures a day.

I've seen quite a few people billed for their treatments over the last few years, and if you talk to the management it's largely futile, no one can afford it and they just return home and disappear.

meghatronic · 29 Apr 2012 at 17:49

That seems cheap.

dowie · 29 Apr 2012 at 18:00

Xordium said:
We do that here. I have been in the situation where we refused to treat someone because they could not pay. The ethical, professional and financial position being that we were responsible for ensuring she was safe to travel not start her on an expensive treatment regime. Strangely enough all the hospital managers disappeared for that one and declined to be the one to tell the lass and her parents she would have to go back to Africa where we knew she would not have a real chance of living beyond her teens. Always makes me laugh that the people who say "deny them all treatment" would in all likelihood never have the balls to actually look such a family in the eyes and tell them the consequences.

Fair enough but I doubt you're going to deny treatment for anything immediately urgent (such as the guy in the OP happening to require treatment while on holiday) and so still have the issue of some of these bills going unpaid (AFAIK its not exactly uncommon for such a bill to be issued to say an African and for it to not be paid) - but yes I can see why some sort of pre-planned/lengthy treatment would be denied, however I understand that the US is a bit less flexible in this regard and will deny treatment in some circumstances even when fairly urgent.

tres · 29 Apr 2012 at 19:11

Moses said:
It's now called the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card). It doesn't necessarily entitle you to free treatment... basically, you get what a local would be entitled to (but can claim back some costs on your return to the UK).

Thank you, that's what I meant. I keep the (free) card in my wallet, you can apply for one any time

LordSplodge · 29 Apr 2012 at 19:21

Fenris said:
No, welcome to the actual cost of medical treatment and why we should be far more thankful for the existence of the NHS.

...and why we should be really worried about the Conservative governments plans to "improve" the NHS.

Destination · 29 Apr 2012 at 19:28

LordSplodge said:
...and why we should be really worried about the Conservative governments plans to "improve" the NHS.

Yes we should be worried as many people have absolutely no idea of just how much they cost taxpayers with their attitude and their inability to do anything for themselves regarding treatment and controlling things such as diet.
The amount of superblobby diabetics who moan to me about needing toes etc off like it isnt their own blinking fault in the first place.
Talking type 2 here not those with genetic predisposition to it, who tend tomhave much better control in the first place.

Xordium · 29 Apr 2012 at 19:32

dowie said:
Fair enough but I doubt you're going to deny treatment for anything immediately urgent (such as the guy in the OP happening to require treatment while on holiday) and so still have the issue of some of these bills going unpaid (AFAIK its not exactly uncommon for such a bill to be issued to say an African and for it to not be paid) - but yes I can see why some sort of pre-planned/lengthy treatment would be denied, however I understand that the US is a bit less flexible in this regard and will deny treatment in some circumstances even when fairly urgent.

Yes in the case of the OP he was most likely in diabetic crisis and therefore unplanned. If he just turned up with problems related to his transplant then that would be more suspicious but the chances are that would not have been a 2 days stay more likely a 5 day stay.

The onus is on making people safe and able to travel back. Certain conditions though once you have started then it would be unethical to stop which is why these things need to be sorted out before that path is commenced which is down to good work at places like Hillingdon with its proximity to Heathrow etc.

Mr-White · 29 Apr 2012 at 19:32

Sounds a bargain, I wish I was on pay as you go with the NHS. I still have to contribute despite having private medical insurance

MW

semi-pro waster · 29 Apr 2012 at 19:46

dowie said:
Fair enough but I doubt you're going to deny treatment for anything immediately urgent (such as the guy in the OP happening to require treatment while on holiday) and so still have the issue of some of these bills going unpaid (AFAIK its not exactly uncommon for such a bill to be issued to say an African and for it to not be paid) - but yes I can see why some sort of pre-planned/lengthy treatment would be denied, however I understand that the US is a bit less flexible in this regard and will deny treatment in some circumstances even when fairly urgent.

I don't know offhand if it has gone through yet but there were proposals that anyone who would be subject to immigration controls and who owes more than £1,000 to the NHS would not be allowed to enter or remain in Britain until they had paid off their debt. Source.

Destination · 29 Apr 2012 at 20:29

Sounds reasonable.
You owe the people a debt, why on earth should we allow reentry, would be madness to do so.

robfosters · 29 Apr 2012 at 20:59

I forgot to mention. He had to surrender his passport until the bill was paid.

chriscpritchard · 29 Apr 2012 at 22:25

Mr-White said:
Sounds a bargain, I wish I was on pay as you go with the NHS. I still have to contribute despite having private medical insurance

MW

That'll be because you'll be using NHS facilities for a lot of your private healthcare. Any emergencies you'll be using the NHS, any complications you'll be transferred to an NHS hospital, to be treated by... the NHS! the private component only really covers routine procedures, anything more complicated (or urgent) comes under the NHS!