RRRRRAAAAARRRGGGGHHHHHH!!!

[MartyS (Gromit)]

Really, what is an overdose of D even supposed to do?  Your body can only use so much of it, or any vitamin, all the extra is pointless.  If you are deficient in one the proper course is to take several doses a day.

[wurwolf]

Vitamins, you say? I have a long running feud with my mother over their efficacy. She wastes at least a hundred dollars a month on them.

That is way too much money.  Hope she doesn't take too much of certain ones like A.  You can overdose on certain vitamins, mostly the oil based ones that stay in your system for many days.

And taking a lot of most of the other ones is simply a waste, the excess just goes down the drain, and makes your kidneys work harder for no reason.  Occasional extra vitamins can help if you are sick or stressed, but taking a lot of them all the time really is a waste.

Maybe she is spending a lot on joint supplements?  Those things do help but are way overpriced.

And Im:  $5K deductable, I guess that insurance is only good for big stuff like surgery.  It really stinks that insurance to cover stuff like what you got costs hundreds of bucks a month...

There is no arguing with her about this. She is firm in her belief that they do her good. She's not buying cheap Walmart vitamins, either, but high-priced supplements she gets from a "doctor" (read: quack). I don't know exactly what she takes, but there is a lot and she thinks of them as a cure all. One of the reasons my niece contracted spiral meningitis, according to her, is because she doesn't take vitamins.

My mother has no explanation as to why I am fairly healthy at 48, despite the fact I don't take vitamins.

[Darth Geek]

Vitamins, you say? I have a long running feud with my mother over their efficacy. She wastes at least a hundred dollars a month on them.

That is way too much money.  Hope she doesn't take too much of certain ones like A.  You can overdose on certain vitamins, mostly the oil based ones that stay in your system for many days.

And taking a lot of most of the other ones is simply a waste, the excess just goes down the drain, and makes your kidneys work harder for no reason.  Occasional extra vitamins can help if you are sick or stressed, but taking a lot of them all the time really is a waste.

Maybe she is spending a lot on joint supplements?  Those things do help but are way overpriced.

And Im:  $5K deductable, I guess that insurance is only good for big stuff like surgery.  It really stinks that insurance to cover stuff like what you got costs hundreds of bucks a month...

There is no arguing with her about this. She is firm in her belief that they do her good. She's not buying cheap Walmart vitamins, either, but high-priced supplements she gets from a "doctor" (read: quack). I don't know exactly what she takes, but there is a lot and she thinks of them as a cure all. One of the reasons my niece contracted spiral meningitis, according to her, is because she doesn't take vitamins.

My mother has no explanation as to why I am fairly healthy at 48, despite the fact I don't take vitamins.

And I am sure, according to her, you would be even HEALTHIER if you did take vitamins.

[Lembach]

I just take these Kirkland Signature Daily Multi Vitamins & Minerals Tablets every other day or so (ie. When I remember to take them) and that covers the guilt of not eating healthier for me. No idea if they improve the quality of my life.

http://www.amazon.com/Kirkland-Signature-Vitamins-Minerals-500-Count/dp/B002RL8FCU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365205443&sr=8-1&keywords=daily+vitamins+Kirkland

[anais.butterfly]

I just wouldn't pay it. Hospitals and doctor's offices overcharge, the American insurance and health care system is a fucking joke, and I doubt anything is going to change it.

So rip up the bill and throw it away. How many Americans are in debt? Now, you are just normal.

[MartyS (Gromit)]

Just...fuck, man. I don't even know what to do about this.

Is it all from one hospital?  Call them up and find out if it can be lowered, if not then ask if a payment plan can be set up, that might get them to lower it.   Insurance companies negotiate for lower bills after the fact, you have to try and get the same deal on your own.

[LucasM]

I'm no lawyer, but that sounds kinda malpraticy.

I have no idea about this, and I'm reluctant to add legal fees to what we already owe.  I don't think the tests she ordered would fall under malpractice, and those are what are costing me money, and I'm sure my reaction to the vitamins is a weirdly unusual case (and it was never determined that this was what happened anyway, or at least never admitted to me that it was; all that was said was that it was "chemically induced.").  So I doubt anything would come of this.

Just...fuck, man. I don't even know what to do about this.

Prior to thinking about a lawyer, you could discuss it with the doctor who fucked up.  It is unlikely that something would come of it, but you never know.

At the very least, see if you can set up a payment plan for any balance.  [EDIT: looks like while I was typing, MartyS said the same thing, in more detail, and with something I didn't think of (simply asking for a discount).]  Ask about a 'hardship rate' (though you may not qualify, depending on your income).

If it comes to the worst, pay something like $10 a month on it.  Someone advised me to do that with a massive charge (from an auto-related thing the insurance refused to pay).  Apparently if you are paying SOMEthing each month they can't submit your bill to collections agencies, and are less likely to report it on your credit score.

And, though you likely know this already (and probably don't want to think about it), if you are having a baby, your deductible will - in all probability - get covered with everything from prenatal visits to delivery (presuming delivery is prior to 11:59:59 on Dec 31).  So the $5G is probably going to be money now, for this, or later for 'pre-baby stuff', I suppose.

[anais.butterfly]

I still say just don't pay it. Did anyone read that article in Time Magazine about just how fucking much hospitals overcharge. They don't deserve that money. If it was possible, I would have you sign the bill over to my name, and I wouldn't pay it.

I am ready to take a stand!!!! I just haven't been in the hospital recently.

And I need my meds too much to boycott taking them.

Health Care in this country is so fucked.


Ok, so apparently your wife is preggers. Now I have no idea what you should do. Although...plenty of people have babies while in debt.

[Edward J Grug III]

Health Care in this country is so fucked.

Get it together, America.

[Lembach]

[Mrs. Dick Courier]

Doctors charge more if you have insurance.  Had a cat scan myself not too long ago and without insurance total was under 4000.  I got that cut down a little more since I was unemployed at the time. At my job its similar, though the amounts are a lot smaller.  Say an eye exam is 85 without insurance.  If you had insurance you pay your deductiblee and we bill 140 this may seem unfair but with insurance we're lucky to get 85 sometimes. Insurance is picky and you have to overcharge to break even.

The real problem is the insurance companies.

[LucasM]

[CLARIFYING NOTE: the little strip says I "like" that statement... I simply agree with it (especially the last line/paragraph.]

[Bob]

Well, as everyone has said, these doctor bills and insurance bills are quite confusing/expensive/annoying.... and sometimes.....100% correct.   

Do you have any lawyers (like PrePaid Lawyers) that you can briefly talk over and see what they think you should do?   I am sure they see more of this stuff all the time.

[k1]

Ugh. Started off my day with someone no showing their appointment. My next one was an hour later basically next door so I sat in my car for a bit and went to the next one. Only to discover that I had just inspected that house 2 weeks ago. So I didn't need to sit around. I could have actually been getting work done that I would get paid for. But now I have a half hour until my next appointment on the other side of the city. So today is pretty much a waste other than maybe an hour I can squeeze work in later on before I have to get the kids.

[Mrs. Dick Courier]

Series of unfortunate events this morning.  Overslept, cat puked in my show, hole in my pants.  Still on time for work at least.  But its slow with three no shows, plus our expensive camera isn't working.  Mondays....blegh.