the Price of Hospital Stays

A family member for whom I am responsible was hospitalized in the local hospital. They were in a coma and never regained consciousness. The room was a semi private room but no one ever was put in the other bed. This gave us, the family, the opportunity to stay in the room with our loved one. Nurses and different doctors came in at all hours.

I feel the service was good and they cared and were kind to our loved one. As for all the doctors coming in, I was never asked if it was all right or even told what they were here for. We did receive a bill for each and everyone of them. The patient was diagnosed with a stroke and we were told they would probably not regain consciousness again. So why keep sending in different specialists if only to bill us for nothing. Hospice did come in and help us put a stop to all this. After our loved one passed on, we received the bill and I requested an itemized bill. The hospital had charged for things and services never received. Three meals a day were charged even though the patient was comatose. They charged for sanitary napkins, the patient was a male. When I contacted them I was told they do this all the time to help compensate for those that don't have insurance or can't pay.

Whenever you or a family member are admitted in a hospital, always ask for an itemized list of services. Do this even if you have insurance. Question every line of charges.