My hospital bill was around $60,000. and the (total) doctor bills came to about $30,000. MRI scans and so on added another $10,000. to the total so I usually say that my AN cost about $100,000. in all. My medical insurance paid almost all of it. I paid about $3,000. 'out-of-pocket' for co-pays and deductibles. I'm not complaining. My medical insurance (including dental coverage) costs around $2500. per year. It looks like a bargain, now.
If you don't have medical insurance coverage, you are personally liable for the costs. This should not be surprising. Nothing is free, especially expensive medical care by highly-trained doctors and nurses as well as the use of the facilities of a modern hospital, which can cost millions to establish. Were I not insured, I would either mortgage my home, as 'OMG16' did or, if absolutely necessary, file for bankruptcy based on insurmountable, unforeseen medical bills. Those with 'government' insurance, as in Canada, usually pay higher taxes to the government (federal and provincial or territorial combined) which often equals (or sometimes exceeds) what the privately (employer-based) insured U.S. patient pays for his or her medical coverage, all of which tends to obscure the real cost for the coverage to the Canadian patient that 'never receives a bill'.
In the U.S., there are many state-specific programs for helping with unexpected medical expenses, however, they are usually restricted to the statistically poor and not available to the average, employed person or family who, it is assumed, has other resources available (insurance and/or credit) to help them pay for their care. This is why it is imperative to at least carry basic medical/health insurance, if possible. Those who do not, especially if employed, are probably going to end up filing for bankruptcy if they are struck with a medical emergency, such as a previously-undetected acoustic neuroma tumor. At least they have that unpalatable option available. No one wants to be burdened with insurmountable debt or be sued by a hospital or physician for debts they cannot possibly pay. Bankruptcy may be anathema to most of us but it must be a welcome option if you're uninsured and have a six-figure medical bill confronting you.
No matter where you live, health care, especially for something relatively complicated, such as AN surgery, is going to be expensive. Because 100 years ago health care was primitive and life expectancy was not much over 50 years, I prefer to be living in the west in 2008 and have the advantage of excellent medical care, at a price - the annual medical insurance premium plus deductibles and co-pays - that I can afford.
Jim
