Unhappy with hospital charges

I wish to express my horror at the cost of emergency health care. Recently whilst shopping in Kalispell, my 21 month-old son fell and sustained a cut above his eye. Not being of medical background I had no idea of the severity of the wound and rushed him to the nearest Emergency which was KRMC. The staff were courteous and did an excellent job of putting in seven stiches.

At no point, however, was cost mentioned and no alternative venues suggested. I expected the cost to be around $400 ( and thinking this was too much!). I was appalled when I recieved a bill for $1247.50 (of which our insurance covered $106).

This is the price of a whole year of my daughter's preschool education! And not the kind of money we have just lying around. In fact, my husband has had to take another job to help pay the bill. I have since spoken to a number of people who have had similar experiences. I am horrified that now I must stop to think if my child is sufficiently sick or injured to risk the immense cost of taking them in for treatment. The government seems to have no problem paying billions of dollars on bombs to blow up the citizens of Iraq - why can't it put such funds to much better use, caring for the children of America, who are, of course the future of this nation!

Rebecca Robertson

Whitefish