Hospitals in USA are big scam - lost father-in-law

[Galactus]

10 minutes ago, bankris said:

Boss, not disregarding your suggestion. But, visitor's insurance is a total scam in itself. Our inlaws have visited almost 8 times in the last 10 years.. since the time my wife was single and was doing her masters in Texas. But, it was never useful.. Every time they escape paying bills with some or the other reason.. 

We know who are working for such insurance companies.. They themselves feel very bad that those companies cheat people by taking huge premiums, paying for nothing. 

Infact, you get huge discounts from hospitals if you say you have no insurance. With the name of visitors insurance, you won't get any discounts from hospitals and on top those insurance does not pay for anything.

there are some expensive ones that had good reviews and in-network with UHC, need to choose such plans, again, thats why I have mentioned that these could be hit and miss and I do agree that a lot of the cheaper ones do not honor claims well.

 

[bankris]

Friends.. I'm did not post here to get sympathy from you all. I posted it so that other members can have information that there are services to send bed ridden people to India. You just need to be ready to pay massive amounts. We didn't have that information and so we suffered. Had we known about those air medical services few weeks before, my father-in-law would have been alive today...

All these TANA, ATA etc organizations may be good.. but, to our bad luck, we couldn't get help in time. And, I wilfully never got involved in such organizations as I felt they are mostly caste-based. They were originally started with good aim, but eventually got corrupted with caste agenda.

 

[bankris]

3 minutes ago, Galactus said:

there are some expensive ones that had good reviews and in-network with UHC, need to choose such plans, again, thats why I have mentioned that these could be hit and miss and I do agree that a lot of the cheaper ones do not honor claims well.

 

When my wife was single and her parents visited, she paid $1500 per month for visitors insurance. Would you consider that as cheap?

[Konebhar6]

I am so  to hear about your loss. It must have been very painful for your family. 

My parents came here a few years back and my dad had stroke 3 yrs before that. American doctors just follow a protocol or a data flow diagram for analysis. Anything that falls beyond that, they don't treat. Can't blame them as they fear sue/legal battles. I had great experience taking dad to a chinese accupressure clinic. The old guy is a master in needles and brought back a lot of life in hand/leg. One time looking at my sinus condition during allergy season, he treated me for free and one needle cleared/cleaned all my sinuses.

[bankris]

4 minutes ago, Konebhar6 said:

I am so  to hear about your loss. It must have been very painful for your family. 

My parents came here a few years back and my dad had stroke 3 yrs before that. American doctors just follow a protocol or a data flow diagram for analysis. Anything that falls beyond that, they don't treat. Can't blame them as they fear sue/legal battles. I had great experience taking dad to a chinese accupressure clinic. The old guy is a master in needles and brought back a lot of life in hand/leg. One time looking at my sinus condition during allergy season, he treated me for free and one needle cleared/cleaned all my sinuses.

There was an Indian Patel PCP doctor who helped us a lot.. Checked my father-in-law every now and then for almost zero cost.. gave many expensive medicines free of cost.. even guided us to a local chinese Radiology center for cheaper X-rays.. they charged only $60 for some of the X-rays.. where the hospital was asking more than $800 for same X-ray

[bankris]

This all happened at the end of May of this year. I really didn't want to post this sad news in here. But today i saw a post about an emergency room visit experience. So, I thought it would be useful for others to know how the hospitals in USA are and also it will be helpful to people who really are looking for such emergency air medical transport services. 

[Konebhar6]

2 minutes ago, bankris said:

There was an Indian Patel PCP doctor who helped us a lot.. Checked my father-in-law every now and then for almost zero cost.. gave many expensive medicines free of cost.. even guided us to a local chinese Radiology center for cheaper X-rays.. they charged only $60 for some of the X-rays.. where the hospital was asking more than $800 for same X-ray

American hospitals are a scam man. India is much better. Indian hospitals do all sorts of unnecessary tests but at least they diagnose issues. 

I recommend people to look at Acupressure. The chinese doctors wife was also a acupressure specialist in Pregnancies. Looks like they have very good treatment to treat women who can't get pregnant. On my advice, my friend took his wife and she got pregnant with in 2 months. They were 40 yr old. 

[Konebhar6]

Just now, Konebhar6 said:

American hospitals are a scam man. India is much better. Indian hospitals do all sorts of unnecessary tests but at least they diagnose issues. 

I recommend people to look at Acupressure. The chinese doctors wife was also a acupressure specialist in Pregnancies. Looks like they have very good treatment to treat women who can't get pregnant. On my advice, my friend took his wife and she got pregnant with in 2 months. They were 40 yr old. 

I meant acupuncture and not acupressure. 

[TriStateBabu]

6 minutes ago, bankris said:

This all happened at the end of May of this year. I really didn't want to post this sad news in here. But today i saw a post about an emergency room visit experience. So, I thought it would be useful for others to know how the hospitals in USA are and also it will be helpful to people who really are looking for such emergency air medical transport services. 

I am so for all the mental and financial pains bro. I hope you and your family recovers soon from this. About the hospital,who is responsible for the 300k$ hospital bill now , do they waive it off since the person who signed passed away?

[Konebhar6]

2 minutes ago, TriStateBabu said:

I am so for all the mental and financial pains bro. I hope you and your family recovers soon from this. About the hospital,who is responsible for the 300k$ hospital bill now , do they waive it off since the person who signed passed away?

Similar incident with my friend family and they did not pay a dime. My friend advised me to only give parents details and their insurance card/details everywhere.

But I have same doubt as you. We sign the application form when we apply for H4 i think that says we will take care of all expenses including medical. Are we not obliged to pay this? Can someone throw light on this?

[WigsandThighs]

1 hour ago, bankris said:

My father-in-law came to the USA last November. Suddenly he fell ill, and we took him to urgent care.. they charged $800.. gave him some medicines.. after a few days his condition worsened.. we took him to urgent care, and they asked us to take him to emergency. They admitted him in the hospital.. for four days and sent him home as his condition is stabilized.. he fell ill again in 10 days. went to emergency.. they admitted him for 15 days now and sent him home.. on the day they discharged him, we noticed he had lost hearing... and told the same to Doctor, and they neglected.. after coming home.. we realized he got severe ear infection.. lot of discharge from ear.. he was again admitted to hospital for 15 days.. and discharged.. after coming we noticed he has a lot of  rash on his head... and nurse came home and checked and confirmed it is shingless.. now again admitted to hospital for over a month...HE became very week and lost all muscle as didnt have solid food for almost 3 months by now.  Only liquid food.. Doctors couldn't diagnize what is the actual issues.. they did lot of MRI scans.. CT scans .. Chest Xrays... could not find anything.. They gave a lot of steroids... medicines.. anti-biotics.. We suffered a lot for 4 months.. with new born.. both me and my wife working and my father-in-law in hospital.. It was hell..

Finally, he passed away in hospital at the end of MAy.. The total bill came to $300,000.. Hospitals in USA are a big scam..

At any point had we taken my father-in-law to India, he would have survived.. Doctors here are very slow.. Laws are so that Doctors can't take independent decisions to give aggressive treatments.. Some of the Doctors are Indians and they themselves agreed that had it been in India, he would have survived... 

We couldn't take him to India coz none of us have stamping.. plus didn't get the passport yet. We asked many people and posted in many facebook groups that if there is anyone who can take them, we can pay the full charge... But, no luck..

 

Upon an extensive search in the internet, we found there are companies who transport such patients across countries after getting necessary approvals from doctors and airlines, and airports. Basically bed to bed service. They take patients from the hospital bed in USA to hospital bed in India.. They take care of everything.  But we came to very late.. They have 3 options. We hired the company called Air med services (https://airmedgroup.com).

1. Book a private air ambulance - $200,000 - They will send the patient in private jet with a doctor and trained nurse and equipment (oxygen, emergency medicines etc)

2. They will book 9-10 seats in the commercial airline to place a stretcher. A trained nurse will go with patient with all necessary equipment. This costs $60,000.

3. They will book a first class/business class seat in commercial airline and a trained nurse will accompany the patient with all necessary equipment. Any where between $20,000 to $30,000.

AS soon as we came to know about this service, we booked them by opting #3 option and paid $25,000. 

They booked the flights and contacts both source hospital (USA) and destination hospital (Vizag), checked the patient condition, got all necessary instructions from Doctors, approvals from airlines, ambulances from hospital to airlines were arranged.. But, unfortunately, two days before his travel , his condition went very bad and he passed away.. Our lives shattered, we didn't know what to do.. 

We complained to doctors hospital management.. we know there is obvious negligence from hospital side at every step.. They themselves know it.. They even asked if we want to do a autopsy.. But, we rejected. HE already suffered a lot in hospital. We didnt want his body to be cut.. We creamted him in here itself in USA (After speaking to his immediate family) in India.. My wife is his only child. 

The hospital could not sign on his death certificate until now. Its been almost two months now.. Usually, Death certificate will be signed within 2 weeks.. 

Hospitals and insurance companies are a big scam here in USA.. India is far better and far advanced than USA now a days.. Plus USA hospitals are very short-staffed now... 

Sorry all for the long post.. But, I guess this will be helpful for our Indian community.. HAd we know about that Air ambulance services 2 months before, we could have transfered him to India and he would have been alive.. 

He came to USA as a normal person.. now he is no more.. He is 67 years old.. no bad habits.. had been yoga guru for almost 2 decades.. he ahs been actively doing yoga all along.. a chemical engineer.. At that age also, he used to play with local Indian guys.. he was very passionate about Cricket and Tennis.. All guys used to be surprised that he is able to run and play cricket at that age.. better than many other guys.. 

HE is very educated and has knowledge in every field including medical.. He used to read about medicines that were given in hsopital and he himself told us that if he is in the hospital for long with such medication, he will not see India soil.. he will die in USA itself and that's exactly is what happened.. 

He never allowed us to sign any document in the hospital for responsibility.. Even in such abd health he signed himself in all documents..This really helped us.. We are not liable for any hospital bills as he signed himself.. Other wise we would have to pay $300, 000 bill now. 

Sorry to hear bhayya..

[Jatka Bandi]

1 hour ago, bankris said:

Dude, i live in a very small town where you hardly find any Indians... forget about caretakers.. We even hired a nanny for my toddler.. paying massive amounts.. she switches the TV on for the kid and sits with him.. nothing more.. 

dude, I am not faulting you. Just giving suggestions. Small town ayina midwives vuntaru. Infact akkade ekkuva vuntaru. Open your circle if you are limiting to Indians alone.

[Jatka Bandi]

1 hour ago, bankris said:

I tried to call the so-called TANA etc people with the numbers I found on the website.. but never heard back from anyone.. Even called some SEWA organizations. It happened on Friday.. We were in shock.. we didn't know what to do next.. have spent massive amounts already.. Found a crematorium in a nearby big city and called a priest from that city's temple and got all final rites done.. tried to call many friends.. but not much people attended.. 

Life Lessons - Deal with situations yourself.. do not expect help from anyone. If you get help, be happy else.. no regrets. be prepared to deal yourself the situations.. 

My father-in-law had a massive number of friends in India. But, he went alone in this foreign land.. The only respite is that his both grandchildren are with him during his last minutes.. 

I alone know how much we struggled in the last few months.. Lots of money gone.. no peace.. anger on doctors.. hospitals.. frustration.. helplessness.. and not to mention guilt..that we couldn't save him.. 

I am surprised to hear they did not respond. Did you leave them a voicemail? Those people do step up in crisis situations.

Are you contemplating legal action against the hospitals? Anni times hospital veltunte, Indian consulate ni ventane involve cheyyali.

[vishwavihar]

tappuga anukovoddu not to single person, its for all of us

em india lo bathakalera...

manaki manchi job income vasthe USA is great antamu,

Akkada edina jarigithe INDIA is great antamu.

 

[Jatka Bandi]

7 minutes ago, vishwavihar said:

tappuga anukovoddu not to single person, its for all of us

em india lo bathakalera...

manaki manchi job income vasthe USA is great antamu,

Akkada edina jarigithe INDIA is great antamu.

 

memu analeka na? The person will be in mourning and regrets. Losing a person when you are handling alone is not easy. Let's not make him regret more.