7/25/2007

Hospital bills up by 10% to 30%

Across the board increases of hospital bills from 2005 to 2006. Average bill size of C wards gone up from $858 to $1112, B2 wards from $1094 to $1,284, B1 from $2,736 to $3193 and A wards from $3473 to $3830. Maybe should take the numbers with a pinch of salt and wait for someone to verify that they are accurate, huh? And 1% of C ward patients paid $9,071 while B2 paid $8.813. Now this definitely requires more checking as the numbers are unnatural and unbecoming. The good news is that all these are still affordable. And the Boon Wan is looking closely at it to monitor and manage the inflation of medical costs. Who is causing the inflation? Although they are claimed to be privately run hospitals, operating for profit I supposed, they are in many ways a monopoly or a cartel. Can anyone force them to increase their cost and fees?

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

The word 'affordable' has lost its significance and meaning in the minds of the lower income group.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

it is not important what this word means to the lower income group.

it is now just a convenient catchphrase to be uttered to justify whatever increases.

Anonymous said...

The explanation is people love to fall sick and they love to stay longer in hospitals, so naturally they have to pay more.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

actually this is true. the hospitals are now more comfortable and luxurious than a 5 star hotel.

and no need to pay some more. charge it to medisave or insurance. afterall the medisave money cannot be touched and is destined to go to the beneficiaries after death.

Anonymous said...

This is true? Are you the one who says "I look silly?".

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

now, where is this 'i look silly' comes into the picture?

Anonymous said...

Was that the one who said that many sick people love to remain in hospitals rather than go home after getting better. That's where the 'I look silly' come into the picture.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

i read that as being cynical by anonymous. he does not think people really love to fall sick and enjoy staying in hospital.

the literal meaning and the intent are quite different.