by Michael Allen

Created on: March 16, 2007   Last Updated: April 18, 2007

Visiting the doctor is a nightmare that only humor can soothe like a balm. You wait an hour because your knee needs attention. It has been bothering you for weeks. When the doctor comes in, he tells you to take Motrin and prop your foot up as much as possible. Here's your bill.

"$300? For what? I could have told me that!"

But, it could have been worse. Don't you know that doctors get some kind of kickback from pharmacies for medicating their patients? They get kickback from referrals! Some greasy doctors will keep you sick long enough to put their kids through college. Didn't you know that? If you have insurance, you are a walking money machine. A doctor's ATM.

In fact, the entire medical system knows it has no competition and is a monopoly in and of itself in all practical terms. But, it provides a necessary service and it capitalizes on that. It capitalizes so much that it can literally charge you anything it wants for any time it even looks in your direction.

You walk into the emergency room. "You" Walk Into "It" - $150

A nurse takes your blood pressure $72.50

You get a Band-Aid $25

You See a Doctor! - $Whoa

You need surgery ! - $Uh, nice knowing you! Do you have any assets? Babies? Mentally challenged brothers? Hot sisters?... Any chance you know Bill Gates?

When you are overcharged or feel you are overcharged, you should write a letter to the hospital administrator and let them know you dispute the bill. When you hear nothing back from them, and they will do that, they WILL not send you a reply, you call the administrator and set up an appointment. Have a copy of the letter if you indeed get that appointment. If not, shake it up! Don't let it drag out for months or years. Make it happen in weeks at the most. Take it public. It makes a great letter to the editor in your local paper. It's the story networks will pick up if they need a filler story. They always need a filler story. Contact information for Broadcast Networks and Cable Networks can be found at http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/networks/main.asp.

Hey, have fun with it. It's either that or pay the bill and never say a thing. Tuck your tail between your legs and never complain about another thing as long as you live, because complaining don't solve problems. Actions do!

What could happen is that you will have your fallacious charges dropped. That's what you wanted anyway. If enough people start following this procedure, it will force the medical system into a dialog where they will actually have to produce a schedule known to the public of services and charges patients can expect. If we follow through with the dialog, we can actually apply pressure to more realistic terms and payment schedule.

Guaze - $Mere pennies

Doctor - $25

Surgery - $An hourly rate plus any disposal medical supplies used

Pipe dream - $Priceless

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