Too broke for the ER, patients flee

Recession forces many to leave 'against medical advice,' doctors say

In hindsight, maybe Jesse Ashlock shouldn't have walked out of the New York emergency room last summer, only a couple hours after being knocked unconscious in a Brooklyn bicycle crash.

Medical crews told him he needed a blood test, chest X-rays and probably a CT scan to check for head injuries. And he certainly should have had treatment for major road rash, including raw scrapes on his face, neck and hands.

But the 31-year-old editor for a design magazine was between jobs, briefly without health insurance and afraid of being stuck with a sky-high hospital bill. The doctor on duty dismissed Ashlock's questions about cost, telling him she was "a physician, not an accountant," he said.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30628634/

Comments: 10

Sheryl L. May 11, 2009, 2:04pm EDT

just walking into the ER can cost $1000.

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Debby C. May 11, 2009, 2:07pm EDT

Isn't this just a sad sad commentary on our national health care crisis. I'm trying to figure out how to afford a doctor visit (my insurance changed) just so I can get a refill on one of my prescriptions....

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Lee P. May 11, 2009, 2:15pm EDT

Oh my. Oh my. Good case reason for national health care.

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Teresa W. May 11, 2009, 2:18pm EDT

I had an emergency room visit that cost more than $7,000 when I had severe pain in my side. I thought it was appendicitis but it turned out to be worse actually, an ovarian mass that had to be removed via surgery. I had the surgery at a different hospital at a later date though.

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Holly K. May 11, 2009, 2:24pm EDT

That wasn't very nice of the doctor. People are very scared right now. Even doctors should understand that.

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Marilyn M. May 11, 2009, 3:24pm EDT

Every hospital has social workers who can help patients figure out how to pay for services. There are many programs available that people (and especially doctors) don't know about. And if there are no programs available, you can always work out a payment schedule with the hospital and as long as you make regular payments, it won't affect your credit. But most people go so the hospital, then ignore the bills and end up having to declare bankrupcy.

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Sheryl L. May 11, 2009, 3:33pm EDT

Our hosp has a finanial aid department and I have used it. I qualified for my hosp bill to be paid in full while the community health clinic said I made $56 too much for aid from them and that bill cost me over $1000.

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