Is This Why Health Insurance Is So Expensive?

[waverunner234]

I have to go for surgery Friday morning and a 4 day stay in the hospital + a week in a physical therapy center after that. I was just informed of everything that was going to happen and all about the hospital and therapy center and so on.

I must say I’m probably lucky to be in a brand new hospital that was completed just a year ago of so, but I was stunned to see all the luxury they provide on a personal level. From a private room for everyone till big flat screen TV with built in internet service and free “movie as you go” channels.
Not just meals in your room but a full “restaurant like” room service 24/7.
And an on-going list of other amenities.

And the hospital itself? It just breathes the whole atmosphere of being in the most luxurious hotel you’ve ever been.
I’m not totally sure but I think they will charge my health insurance for intensive care (first day) $25,000 per day and $5,000 per day after that.
What I mean to say is that after surgery and being sleepy I could just settle for much less. Just a TV, a book and I’ll get through those days. But there is really no choice other than living the expensive life.

I guess that’s part of why health insurance is so expensive.
You used to have a say in this yourself (a choice of private / non private room but I guess that’s history?)
What’s your experience?

[CuteOldGuy]

It's been awhile for me, but I shared a room and had a small TV with a pillow speaker. Crappy food, like high school.

But hey, get well soon! Hope you pull through just fine!

[waverunner234]

Originally Posted by CuteOldGuy

It's been awhile for me, but I shared a room and had a small TV with a pillow speaker. Crappy food, like high school.

But hey, get well soon! Hope you pull through just fine!

Thanks COG, I'm sure I will. Hey maybe I'll just get addicted to the luxury.
And maybe I should smuggle some cash with me, so I can call this cutie I have in mind and do a BJ under the sheets? That would be funny and a "once in a lifetime" experience.

[Guest040616]

Originally Posted by waverunner234

From a private room for everyone till big flat screen TV with built in internet service and free “movie as you go” channels.
Not just meals in your room but a full “restaurant like” room service 24/7.
And an on-going list of other amenities.

Hmmm, are you sure it is a hospital? This sounds like the S. Texas ranch I get to hunt trophy deer and quail on every year!

[waverunner234]

Originally Posted by bigtex

Hmmm, are you sure it is a hospital? This sounds like the S. Texas ranch I get to hunt trophy deer and quail on every year!

Yep, if you ever need surgery and want to be treated like you've never been treated before, just ask to go to Sharps Memorial Hospital, only the hunting is not in their standard program. Or...... maybe hunting for the nurses?

[TexTushHog]

Hospitals are finding that "room service" type food is cheaper, I'm told. Lots less food ends up being prepared and wasted. Plus, if quality is high, patients families and visitors eat while there and food become an source of income, not a cost center. doesn't seem to make much sense to me, but it's what I've heard.

And remember, we're the only place in the world where health care is a marketable commodity. There ate several choices for hospital services in big cities. Your choice is going to be governed by what you can see, what you hear from other patients, etc. So amenities are important for marketing purposes. Sometimes, even if they have to scrimp where it counts, which you don't see. For example, did you do research on the infection rates of your hospital? Can you tell us as much about that, or their rates of compliance with evidence based "best practices" as you can about their room service and the TV's? Everybody sees the decor. Very few do the Internet research on the health care stats

[CPT Savajo]

Get well soon. Healthcare isn't cheap and it goes a long way to have coverage, with all of the amenities you described it seems like they may be adding a luxury tax somewhere on that bill. I hope you don't get your penis intubated, penile catheterization! They'll have you on some good meds if they have to. Maybe you'll get lucky and get a young hot nurse taking care of you, that'll atleast boost morale.

[Whirlaway]

With bedside internet access; I hope you feel well enough to continue to make our lives miserble (with your dumbass comments).....

speedy recovery WR.......

[waverunner234]

Originally Posted by Whirlaway

With bedside internet access; I hope you feel well enough to continue to make our lives miserble (with your dumbass comments).....

speedy recovery WR.......

Thanks, I'm already looking forward to continue to make your life miserable.
That was just the motivation I needed.

[waverunner234]

Originally Posted by TexTushHog

Hospitals are finding that "room service" type food is cheaper, I'm told. Lots less food ends up being prepared and wasted. Plus, if quality is high, patients families and visitors eat while there and food become an source of income, not a cost center. doesn't seem to make much sense to me, but it's what I've heard.

And remember, we're the only place in the world where health care is a marketable commodity. There ate several choices for hospital services in big cities. Your choice is going to be governed by what you can see, what you hear from other patients, etc. So amenities are important for marketing purposes. Sometimes, even if they have to scrimp where it counts, which you don't see. For example, did you do research on the infection rates of your hospital? Can you tell us as much about that, or their rates of compliance with evidence based "best practices" as you can about their room service and the TV's? Everybody sees the decor. Very few do the Internet research on the health care stats

Oh yes, I did my research.
This is from Wikipedia:

Awards

In November 2007, Sharp HealthCare was awarded the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award by the United States National Institute of Standards and Technology. Sharp was one of five organizations to receive the award, which is the nation’s highest Presidential honor for quality and organizational performance excellence.
Sharp was the first health care provider in California and the eighth in the nation to receive this recognition.
Other awards bestowed on Sharp HealthCare include:
• In 2011, Sharp was named among top integrated health care networks in California and the nation in an annual survey conducted by SDI, a leading health care data analyst. Sharp ranked No. 1 in California and No. 13 nationally.
• Sharp HealthCare ranked in 5th place in the large company-size category of California's Best Places to Work program
• Sharp HealthCare named one of the nation's "Most Wired" health care systems by Hospitals & Health Networks magazine for the 11th consecutive year
• Readers of the San Diego Union-Tribune named Sharp as San Diego's "Best Hospital" for 2010, the fourth year in a row Sharp has received this honor
• Sharp HealthCare is named one of Modern Healthcare's Best Places to Work in Healthcare
• In 2011, Morehead Associates named Sharp HealthCare the 2010 Apex Award Winner for Workplace of Excellence for outstanding commitment to employee engagement [1]

[waverunner234]

Originally Posted by CPT Savajo

Get well soon. Healthcare isn't cheap and it goes a long way to have coverage, with all of the amenities you described it seems like they may be adding a luxury tax somewhere on that bill. I hope you don't get your penis intubated, penile catheterization! They'll have you on some good meds if they have to. Maybe you'll get lucky and get a young hot nurse taking care of you, that'll atleast boost morale.

Maybe I can just order the young hot nurse.
But they don't have my favorite drink on the menu, I'll have someone bring that for me. (50/50 gin/orange juice)

[IIFFOFRDB]

Get well soon you DOUCE. LOL. I'm sure this California hospital will be bankrupt soon and the taxpayers will foot the bill. But in the mean time you enjoy and really Get Well soon. So you can get back to that taxpayer subsidised Golfcart. LOL.

[waverunner234]

Originally Posted by IIFFOFRDB

Get well soon you DOUCE. LOL. I'm sure this California hospital will be bankrupt soon and the taxpayers will foot the bill. But in the mean time you enjoy and really Get Well soon. So you can get back to that taxpayer subsidised Golfcart. LOL.

Thanks, and your memory is excellent.
I'll need that Golfcart now more than ever coz my surgery is a hip replacement.

[hookem69horns]

Hospital Hotels are the new fad ... and while they effect Health Insurance costs to some degree, Insurance Fraud remains the biggest driver of costs ... as far as hospitals, depending on who you ask or what publication you read, 70-80% of the patients seen through the ER don't have Health Insurance so the hospitals have to make those losses up on the 20-30% that do have Health Insurance ... ever wonder why two 500mg of Tylenol cost $15.00 in a hospital but you can get 100ct of the 500mg at CVS for less than $10.00 ...

And best wishes for a speedy recovery!

[waverunner234]

Originally Posted by hookem69horns

And best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Thanks