Alcohol Intoxication Medical Bills. WTF???

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So, I went on a weekend trip with my friends to Atlantic City. To make a long story short I took advantage of the happy hour at a local bar. I had at least 7 drinks, but was able to groggily leave the place. I stumble down the board walk and eventually make it to a casino bathroom. I try to find some peace, but I would pick the stall that has a broken door. I was completely wasted. I couldn't get out of the stall. My friends told me that the janitor saw me there and because I couldn't leave had the ambulance come pick me up. They cart me away. Everything pretty much is a blur until when I wake up. I have the IV taken out and walk out of the hospital.

I got the bills in the mail and OMFG. I had no idea medical fees would be so much for alcohol intoxication. First, the ambulance was over $700. Then there is some random for for $1447 (So close to the magic number) . Then there is a doctor's fee of 336. And finally a pee test for $6. How could it possible cost that much? I don't know much about medical fees. The hospital is in another state. Are they allowed to charge me all of these fees for alcohol intoxication. It seems extremely steep. What should I do?

*edit* I have two options. The family's medical insurance or arrange a payment plan with the hospital. I hope insurance will help with this, otherwise I will be paying this off for years to come.
 
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[quote name='Gamehead']Are they allowed to charge me all of these fees for alcohol intoxication.[/QUOTE]

Yes.

[quote name='Gamehead']What should I do?[/QUOTE]

Pay them and don't act like a fucking idiot again.

Emergency room care is expensive, and having "at least seven drinks" was a choice you made. You may not have been the one to call 911, but it's not like you can dispute the fees or anything like that. Besides, if you weren't able to get off of a fucking toilet, it's pretty clear you needed to be there.
 
Pay the fucken fees ya fucken Lush.

Hualing yer wasted ass all over the place and making sure you aint dead or raped in a bathroom stall is reason enough to pay them what they're owed.
 
[quote name='Gothic Walrus']

Pay them and don't act like a fucking idiot again.

[/quote]

I totally agree with this. Its time to own up for what you did....get piss drunk and worry some poor janitor that you were going to die on his floor.

Time to man up and pay what you owe.

TBW
 
I had a kidney stone a few weeks ago and went to the hospital. For some pain medicine and 2 xrays I got a bill for 5 grand.

Its highway robbery.
 
and people say I'm a drunk . . .

at least I can:

a) have 7 drinks and barely be buzzed.

b) always find my way home

Although the other day I did mysteriously wake up in this girl's basement without any recollection of how I got there :X
 
The thing that actually bothers me is that the fees seem so disproportionate to the services rendered. My friends were with my the entire time. I wasn't close to dying. Then didn't save my life. I am sure they knew why I was in the hospital. It wasn't some mystery that they would need to run lots of tests to solve. It seems like that stacked on various fees that may not have been necessary. I don't mind paying for a mistake, but this is ridiculous. And 700 for an ambulance ride 3 blocks is /sigh. I should have paid some random person 100 to carry my ass the three blocks.
 
[quote name='-Never4ever-']and people say I'm a drunk . . .

at least I can:

a) have 7 drinks and barely be buzzed.

b) always find my way home

Although the other day I did mysteriously wake up in this girl's basement without any recollection of how I got there :X[/quote]

Congratulations
 
Put it into this perspective. That fee is a SMALL price to pay compared to the price you would have had to pay if you A. Drove home drunk, crashed, killed someone or yourself or B. Had some stranger take advantage of you in some form.
 
[quote name='Gamehead']The thing that actually bothers me is that the fees seem so disproportionate to the services rendered. My friends were with my the entire time. I wasn't close to dying. Then didn't save my life. I am sure they knew why I was in the hospital. It wasn't some mystery that they would need to run lots of tests to solve. It seems like that stacked on various fees that may not have been necessary. I don't mind paying for a mistake, but this is ridiculous. And 700 for an ambulance ride 3 blocks is /sigh. I should have paid some random person 100 to carry my ass the three blocks.[/QUOTE]

Hospitals aren't in the business of ripping people off. Believe it or not, medical care is expensive because, even if they know that you're drunk off of your fucking ass, they have to make sure there's nothing else wrong so that you don't die.

One of my friends ended up in a similar situation last year, and his bill was upwards of $2,000. What you're paying is not exorbitant or inflated - it's normal.
 
Yeah, it's cool if you want to be a drunk asshole and have your friends babysit you, but think about that janitor, I mean, his life isn't bad enough, what with living in Jersey and all and he thinks you're going to die on his bathroom watch, I don't think so. So fuckin shut the fuck up and pay what you owe. It's not Alcohol Intoxication Medical Bills. Think of it as "I'm a fuckin' retard that gets trapped in a stall and blacks out" Public Fines.
 
[quote name='Gothic Walrus']Hospitals aren't in the business of ripping people off. Believe it or not, medical care is expensive because, even if they know that you're drunk off of your fucking ass, they have to make sure there's nothing else wrong so that you don't die.

One of my friends ended up in a similar situation last year, and his bill was upwards of $2,000. What you're paying is not exorbitant or inflated - it's normal.[/QUOTE]

I see. I haven't had to deal with their type of experience before. I am not much of a drinker and neither are my friends. I'm also a guy, so the whole rape things isn't a factor for me. I know it could happen, but it is not likely.
 
[quote name='Gamehead'] I'm also a guy, so the whole rape things isn't a factor for me. I know it could happen, but it is not likely.[/quote]

:rofl:

let us know if your butt hurts next time you do this ok?
 
[quote name='JimmieMac']Yeah, it's cool if you want to be a drunk asshole and have your friends babysit you, but think about that janitor, I mean, his life isn't bad enough, what with living in Jersey and all and he thinks you're going to die on his bathroom watch, I don't think so. So fuckin shut the fuck up and pay what you owe. It's not Alcohol Intoxication Medical Bills. Think of it as "I'm a fuckin' retard that gets trapped in a stall and blacks out" Public Fines.[/QUOTE]

It amazes me how some of you people manage to get yourselves so worked up, throwing f-bombs as if they were nothing. I was hoping this topic would be more rational and mature. Adding fuck fuck and another fuck doesn't add anything to what you say. Come on guys there are more words in the language than obscenities.
 
A tale of cheap ass drinking gone totally awry.

That $40 you saved on drinks during happy hour really multiplied on you
 
[quote name='JimmieMac']That's how most of my posts go. Deal with it. fuckin fuck.[/QUOTE]

Please don't post anymore in this thread. You're shaking the train off it's tracks.
 
[quote name='jlarlee']A tale of cheap ass drinking gone totally awry.

That $40 you saved on drinks during happy hour really multiplied on you[/QUOTE]

This is one of the funniest things I have read in a long time. That happy hour really got me.
 
I don't get this story at all, were your friends so wasted they couldn't call a taxi? 7 drinks was all it took for you to get so messed up you couldn't get off a bathroom stall? Please tell me it was at least straight liquor :lol: I understand you're pissed about this but you screwed up, let this be a very expensive lesson about why you need at least one person to remain sober , someone had to babysit the drunks. And that was one cheap pee test.
 
Now another question:

Is your insurance accepted by the hospital or did they take it as no insurance?

If your insurance pays for it, then you might only have to pay something as low as 100 bucks for this incident. Since I have never been drunk and sent to the hospital I am not sure about this. I don't know how insurance companies deal with Alcohol Intoxication and if your covered by it.
 
[quote name='coolsteel']I don't get this story at all, were your friends so wasted they couldn't call a taxi? 7 drinks was all it took for you to get so messed up you couldn't get off a bathroom stall? Please tell me it was at least straight liquor :lol: I understand you're pissed about this but you screwed up, let this be a very expensive lesson about why you need at least one person to remain sober , someone had to babysit the drunks. And that was one cheap pee test.[/QUOTE]

I was the only one wasted. We didn't think of calling a taxi. I am not sure why. I didn't realize how expensive medical bills for something like this could be. I am sure my friends didn't either. A taxi would have solved my problem. Well it's too late to worry about this now. I don't drink often so my tolerance must be pretty bad. I guess i'm a light weight.
 
[quote name='Gamehead']Please don't post anymore in this thread. You're shaking the train off it's tracks.[/QUOTE]

You're not familiar with JimmieMac, are you?
 
You know, I guess my first question is: were you drinking at the bar alone?

If not, how come your friends (with you at the hospital the whole time, no less) didn't think that maybe, just maybe, you weren't okay to move around on your own? Regardless of your tolerance level, being unable to leave a bathroom stall under your own power is a pretty bad sign, and the janitor had a duty to call for help. So, again, where exactly were your friends when all this was going on?

Anyway, yes, medical bills are expensive, especially ambulance and emergency services. You get on people here for tossing around f-bombs, but I reiterate that you were UNABLE TO LEAVE A PUBLIC RESTROOM STALL UNDER YOUR OWN POWER and are on a message board complaining about the medical bills incurred. Generally speaking, most people don't have a great deal of tolerance for that. Take responsibility, pay the bills, and quit complaining.

Think of it as a nice reminder to either not drink so much or, if you do, make sure your friends actually care enough to keep an eye on you.
 
[quote name='ITDEFX']Now another question:

Is your insurance accepted by the hospital or did they take it as no insurance?

If your insurance pays for it, then you might only have to pay something as low as 100 bucks for this incident. Since I have never been drunk and sent to the hospital I am not sure about this. I don't know how insurance companies deal with Alcohol Intoxication and if your covered by it.[/QUOTE]

I think one of my family members has insurance. Someone told me that because I am a full-time student I could receive something to aid my medical bills.

If only they hadn't approached me as soon as I woke up. They were asking for me information. I couldn't respond well. My friends had gone back to the hotel and took my ID with them for some reason. With a few more minutes of rest they would have sent the bills to Anthony Carmello in Denver Colorado.
 
[quote name='Gamehead']I was the only one wasted. We didn't think of calling a taxi. I am not sure why. I didn't realize how expensive medical bills for something like this could be. I am sure my friends didn't either. A taxi would have solved my problem. Well it's too late to worry about this now. I don't drink often so my tolerance must be pretty bad. I guess i'm a light weight.[/QUOTE]

Yeah just pay it and from now on drink a 12 pack a day on weekends , should do wonders for that stamina ;)
 
Derailing the thread? Nobody is going to tell you any different. You can't handle your booze. You freaked out a janitor. You gotta pay your lumps. End of fuckin story. Jesus fuckin Christ, what's wrong with you?
 
[quote name='Gamehead']It amazes me how some of you people manage to get yourselves so worked up, throwing f-bombs as if they were nothing. I was hoping this topic would be more rational and mature. Adding fuck fuck and another fuck doesn't add anything to what you say. Come on guys there are more words in the language than obscenities.[/quote]


Well, if it's the profanity that bothers you, let's do a little editing,...

[quote name='JimmieMac']Yeah, it's cool if you want to be a drunk[ard] and have your friends babysit you, but think about that janitor, I mean, his life isn't bad enough, what with living in [a cesspool] and all and he thinks you're going to die on his bathroom watch, I don't think so. So [just quit your belly-aching] and pay what you owe. It's not Alcohol Intoxication Medical Bills. Think of it as "I [like to eat glue and have to wear floaties in the pool]" Public Fines.[/quote]


Yep, I do believe his message still rings true.
 
[quote name='Gamehead']With a few more minutes of rest they would have sent the bills to Anthony Carmello in Denver Colorado.[/QUOTE]

Yes, because I'm sure they would have believed you. :roll:

If you're trying to redeem yourself at all, you aren't doing a very good job.
 
Hate to be the orderly who had to..... uh you know to you to get you to pee in a cup.

That's some scary shit right there. Who knows where the finger went...
 
Jesus Christ you people can't take a joke. The Anthony Carmello thing was a joke. That name would ring a bell for most people that's why I used it. You people are just jumping at the chance to come down on someone without even thinking. I am not going to avoid the bill. The main point of the thread was to learn why the bill was so high. And someone replied to that point.

Jumping in the thread with "shut the fuck up pay the bill be a man." Doesn't do anything. Don't use me as a way to boost your e-peen.
 
[quote name='Gamehead']I think one of my family members has insurance. Someone told me that because I am a full-time student I could receive something to aid my medical bills.

If only they hadn't approached me as soon as I woke up. They were asking for me information. I couldn't respond well. My friends had gone back to the hotel and took my ID with them for some reason. With a few more minutes of rest they would have sent the bills to Anthony Carmello in Denver Colorado.[/quote]


Well your going to have to talk to the insurance company anyways and see if they will cover it. If they don't, work with the hospital to come up with a payment plan. You don't want to have a collection agency harass you and have you credit messed up for this incident. The hospital/insurance company will most likely tell you the same thing, pay the bill, learn your lesson and don't do this again.
 
[quote name='ITDEFX']Well your going to have to talk to the insurance company anyways and see if they will cover it. If they don't, work with the hospital to come up with a payment plan. You don't want to have a collection agency harass you and have you credit messed up for this incident. The hospital/insurance company will most likely tell you the same thing, pay the bill, learn your lesson and don't do this again.[/QUOTE]

Yep yep. This seems like the best course of action. Thanks for the help.
 
[quote name='-Never4ever-']and people say I'm a drunk . . .

at least I can:

a) have 7 drinks and barely be buzzed.

b) always find my way home

Although the other day I did mysteriously wake up in this girl's basement without any recollection of how I got there :X[/quote]

I always think it's hilarious when people brag about how many drinks they can have without feeling anything. I mean, it's one thing to be such a lightweight that you get fucked up on half a beer and a shot of peach schnapps, and it's quite another thing to drink a 12er and only feel slightly buzzed.

Personally, I would hate it if it took more than 7 drinks to get a buzz going. For one, it would be crazy expensive just to get drunk, especially at a bar. And second, that's a lot of pointless calories you have to consume to achieve any kind of fucked-up-edness. And then it's just not worth it.
 
[quote name='NeoFrank1']
Personally, I would hate it if it took more than 7 drinks to get a buzz going. For one, it would be crazy expensive just to get drunk, especially at a bar. And second, that's a lot of pointless calories you have to consume to achieve any kind of fucked-up-edness. And then it's just not worth it.[/QUOTE]

Yes, having a heavy resistance to the effects of alcohol can have it's drawbacks, especially in the situation you described. In other situations, however, it's a great characteristic to have.

Getting back on topic, OP needs to either pay the bill or arrange payment plans and stop being such a dumb-ass in the future.
 
obviously you need to start drinking more. if youre blacking out and going to the hospital from 7 drinks, well thats a problem. start at home, so you dont have these problems, every week have a little more. eventually youll be able to drink an 18 pack. roll with that for awhile, then try tackling a 5th of rum or jager. if you can kill that and not black out, then you win.
 
If you have insurance, use it. If not, call them up and ask for the billing department and you can usually get the fees cut by a 1/3 or more. Yea, hospital fees are out of control, it's all fine and dandy if you got insurance, but for someone who doesn't one visit will sink the financial ship. My dad who went to the ER last year, no insurance and didn't make much so he couldn't afford any insurance or anything got billed over five thousand dollars, and they didn't really help at all.
 
[quote name='Gamehead']It amazes me how some of you people manage to get yourselves so worked up, throwing f-bombs as if they were nothing. I was hoping this topic would be more rational and mature. Adding fuck fuck and another fuck doesn't add anything to what you say. Come on guys there are more words in the language than obscenities.[/QUOTE]

You certainly set the bar high for that one by getting piss drunk and trapping yourself in a bathroom stall.
 
Not much else to say other than "Welcome to healthcare in the US"

Beyond that, you don't need to work up your tolerance. Just know your fuckin limits and consider this a lesson learned.
 
Next time you do that, give your friends your identification and tell them not to give the staff the right information. They won't be able to charge you and you'll be fine.
 
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[quote name='Gamehead']Jesus Christ you people can't take a joke. The Anthony Carmello thing was a joke. That name would ring a bell for most people that's why I used it. You people are just jumping at the chance to come down on someone without even thinking. I am not going to avoid the bill. The main point of the thread was to learn why the bill was so high. And someone replied to that point.

Jumping in the thread with "shut the fuck up pay the bill be a man." Doesn't do anything. Don't use me as a way to boost your e-peen.[/quote]
Do you mean Carmelo Anthony?
 
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