Article Tittle: American Way of Birth, Costliest in the World
The most wonderful event can happen in a hospital is giving life to newborn baby, you or the couple has finally become a father or mother. Hurray and congratulation! However, this excitement is not something you will see in this article, rather is the reversed of that slice of happiness. Ms. Martin before her pregnancy delivery, she started inquiring the expected pregnancy cost at her local hospital. The financial office was not very clear on how much it would charge her, but only gave her an estimate cost from 4,000 to 45,000$. Ms. Martin was upset on how they wouldn’t know her delivery cost, they are the hospital, and they should know. Meanwhile when she was trying to figure it out her estimated delivery cost, she received a couple bills for other visits. The bill consists of ultrasound scan and was asking for a discount when she already paid for a radiologist to read her test. Uninformed on how the bill is generated, she was charged for 935$ for the ultra sound test regardless if the machine was there for many years. Ms. Martin was outrageous and cheated by the system, she was confused on how “we” live in a first world country still receive an expensive bill for only giving birth to a new life? This bill (maternity cost) compare to other first world countries like Germany, United Kingdom, Switzerland, and France are not that expensive, even in third world countries, they received a better care and lower price for a healthy delivery. But the question for her is why in the U.S? It’s like everything has been label, everything has a specialist and are charging for absurd things that they shouldn’t.
From my own perspective view, I also feel that it’s very absurd and very disturbing on how the health care system and hospital bill works in the U.S. It’s like there is no one in charge of it to begin with, the price and bill are created based on what they wanted. This is insane and ridiculous with the system and set up, it’s like every specific thing is being charged in the hospital like what we have been discussing during the class. In my opinion, I think pregnancy to begin with they should not charge it excessively or none at all, after all the mother is giving birth to a new life and that new life is what keeps humanity alive. Human should be prioritized more important than money, however, for hospital, they value capital over humans’ lives. Then, where do humans belong to?
Fernando,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your NYT blog post about costly birth. Like yourself, I think it is outrageous that the hospital estimated the cost of birth to be between $4,000 and $45,000. Do you think price ranges like this example turns younger couples away from giving birth?
I also found that her surprise $935 ultra scan bill was pointless since she had previously seen a radiologist. I am starting to notice a common trend in these articles that doctors seem to be scheming ways to make more money. Great post.
Jakob
Fernando,
ReplyDeleteI agree. While I understand there have to be charges for giving birth, as these doctors and nurses are providing a service, it's exploitative to add these charges on the back end. I'll attach an article at the end that actually charged a couple $40 just to hold their baby after the birth! They had to pay just to hold their own baby. You're right, this is out of control.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/utah-hospital-charges-mom-dad-39-to-hold-baby/