Originally Posted by Varius

I got a lovely $12,000 bill for 2 nights in the hospital on basic IV here in NYC last week.

(I got Rhabdo from tearing my quads at wrestling).

I hadn't gotten insurance yet was was weighing the various options for non-residents.

However, being smart and all, I told them that they should definitely give me a discount for allowing myself to be used as a case study for their student doctors (it was at NYU teaching hospital / urgent care - and I had at least 8 student doctors studying me).

They cut my bill down by 75% to $3000.

Then I told them if I pay it up front in cash, what can they do. They can take another 20% off, bringing it to $2400.

So from $12000 -> $2400 in 5 minutes without insurance, isn't that bad.

However, I don't find it cool, that while being treated, they refused to tell me any costs at all, even ballpark. They said often if they tell patients, the patients leave and if they die the hospital is liable.