@sandguy
yes...everything is negotiable to a point...insurance WILL eventually pay the hospital a negotiated amt...whereas the individual may or may not pay..usually individuals pay around 40-70% of what they owe...if one is on Medicaire then 80% is paid...( with Medicaire) hospitals will eat what isnt because in most cases, Medicaire pays close 90% of the real cost..with some profit..the rest is fluff-but hospitals and docs, nurses et al- are ok with it cause they do get a nice check every two weeks..maybe not exactly what was billed but good enough...but if you believe everyone will get the same level of care..no. and now going forward, those without money-illegal or just poor- will get stablized and sent home...hospitals simply do not have the beds or man power to treat all who drift into their ER anymore...too many and you gotta make X amt to keep your doors open...and the doors are gonna be more open for those with good insurance or lots of $$$$$. the charitable stuff for the masses cannot be sustained.