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Originally Posted by monoloco
That almost sounds like the plan I have except I have to fork over the first 3000. The one thing I found out that really pisses me off is that the hospitals charge a lot more if you don't have insurance and you are paying out of your own pocket. The insurance companies will only pay so much for any given procedure but the hospitals can charge the general public what ever they want. I have a buddy who had a heart operation and the hospital sent him a bill for 120k, he did some research and found out that the insurance companies only have to pay around 70k, so he offered to settle with the hospital for 70k cash and they flat turned him down and demanded the full amount. So now he is in court. I have found that you can negotiate with doctors though.
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Hospitals probably don't charge cash customers more. Nobody does, it makes no sense. Perhaps your friend has something else going on or you were mistaken.. Or you live in weirdo land. Any business will charge more when a 3rd party is involved b/c of the hassle. such as......insurance, credit card co (discount at gas stations for cash for example)
Regardless, he can apply for hardship and have it paid for or at least reduced unless he's super wealthy. Or he can just not pay it.
Forking over the first 3k is not a bad plan anyways, a comprehensive plan for you and a spouse will run many people in the mid 2k/yr anyways....if not more. Depends on the state.