Irritable Patients

Got my blood test today - haven't found out the count (or last weeks for that matter) but I'm sure it's fine.

The waiting area for the lab was packed full - I was 8th down the list of people not yet helped - so I took a seat and stared into space. A man in the room, late 30s, self important - was being so pissy. Kept looking at his watch then sighing LOUD - then he'd stand up and look at the sign in sheet - then sigh again - then mutter LOUDLY "this is ridiculous"...at one point he yelled out "I have TESTS you know!!!"

Now, I'm sorry...it's ALWAYS busy waiting for your lab draw...They tell people to get to the lab 1 hour before your appointment and I've never waited that long. So Mr. Impatience - get there earlier next time!

They called his name and then a second later called my name. His lab tech couldn't get blood out of him so I had to wait while my lab tech stuck him... The whole time he's grumbling about how long it's taking. Well...I'm sure he would rather them not rush...

Just irritates me...most of the people at the hospital are so nice and just know that waiting is part of the deal...every once in a while you get a snarky patient - and they just look like asses...

No one will jump on your bandwagon!!!

On another amusing insurance note: I haven't been billed by the hospital pretty much all year. I owe them at least $300. My insurance pays 90% of the negotiated amount and I pay the other 10%...so it works like this:

Hospital bills out $100 for a lab test
Insurance negotiates a price of $30 for lab test
Insurance pays $27 (90% of $30) to hospital
I get billed $3.00 for lab test from hospital.

My insurance has worked this way for 2 years and I'm still not getting billed correctly. The hospital is charging me 10% of the billed amount. So that would be $10 for a lab test instead of the $3. This wouldn't be a huge deal except I get these tests every week.
52 x$10 = $520
52 x $3 = $156

bottom line - definitely keep all of your correspondence from your insurance company.