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Carole Lapp

I was kicked off MRMIP (Major Risk Medical Insurance Program) because I had been on it too long.  My premiums went from $800 a month to $1,000 a month in about 6 months.  So in Feb. 2004, I joined the uninsured in California.  At that time I was 61. 

Of course something happened right away.  On March 27, 2004, I broke my ankle; really broke it.  Finally in April I was able to schedule surgery to have plates and pins put in my ankle. 

Without any insurance, I made arrangements with the hospital to pay a fee of $3,100 for my surgery, which included a 23-hour stay and the anesthesiologist.  Someone at the hospital made a big mistake and issued an insurance billing, which they sent to me.  That billing was for a WHOPPING $19,696.77. 

Needless to say I was shocked.  I called right away to the hospital and they called me back in about an hour and told me to disregard the billing.  I can’t even imagine the mark-up here. 

There needs to be some real reform, when a hospital has to bill over $19,000 in order to get $3,000.  Something is terribly wrong here. 

I did survive the next 3 1/2 years, and will finally get insurance in Oct. 2007, at age 65.  Thanks for letting me vent.

field poll
There is Widespread Support for Reform
81% of voters agree with the statement "it should be public policy that government guarantee that all Californians have access to affordable health care insurance or other health care coverage."
Source: Field Poll, "California Voter Views of the Health Care System (Part 1 of 2)," January 3, 2007.
did you know?
71 percent of Californians are worried about the rising costs of health care premiums, deductibles, co-payments. A similar majority (71%) is worried about being able to pay the costs of their health care premiums, deductibles and co-payments. Concerns about having access to quality doctors and health service services (68%) or having to wait or put off getting needed care (67%) are also cited by greater than two in three voters statewide.