Give me your dollar!

Carl46 · June 3

I came home from burying my wife today to find a recorded phone message dunning me for payment of an ambulance bill that is on my desk and due two weeks from now, June 16. The provider is the Sisters of Mercy, an order of Catholic nuns who purport to be a nonprofit faith-based organization. This is what the USA has instead of a healthcare system.

I've been awake since 3 AM and I'll deal with these grasping people tomorrow. Rant over, thanks for listening.

jfkoc · June 3

Horrible. The nuns are running an ambulance service? Any chance this is a scam? In OKC we can opt to pay $3.65 a month on our water bill for ambulance service.

Biggles · June 3

it sometimes seems like a cruel sad world we live in. Don’t think the stairway to heaven will be with that lot. So very sorry for your loss.

l7pla1w2 · June 3

Sisters of Mercy, huh.

upstateAnn · June 3

Call. I received an outrageous bill for an air ambulance two ago. It was an error on Medicare’s part and cleared up after an hour’s conversation. Still, I felt Iike it was a kick in the pants, but it was unintentional.

Carl46 · June 4

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/244721#Comment_244721

Oh, they are real. Mercy Hospital is one of the major employers here and DW did ride in one of their ambulances on the day in question. Mercy Hospital was founded 100+ years ago when the nuns were actually nurses, sent here to establish a hospital where there was none. I'm just tired and grieving, and angry about being called about a bill that isn't close to being overdue per the due date on the statement.

I took a nap and brought in my mail and found a quality survey. Where they asked about the professionalism of their financial staff, I told them. Among other things I told them that if anyone asked if they were a Christian nonprofit, they should answer "NO."

JJ401 · June 4

It is strange that if the bill is not due yet, that they are calling about payment unless they need further info for billing.

Your wife was at Mercy Hospital. The ambulance company has Mercy in its name. But, that does not mean the ambulance is part of the hospital. They can be separate companies. The hospital may have no control over the ambulance company billing.

I am so sorry this phone call arrived at a stressful time.

blacksparky · June 4

So sorry you had to deal with this call after just saying good bye to your LO. I am not looking forward to saying good bye to my DW yet but if this happened to me I probably would have gone off on that caller. I hear stage 8 of this disease is a tough one and hoping you can get through it. 🙏🙏🙏

Carl46 · June 4

DW wasn't even in Mercy Hospital. I called 911 for help getting her up after she fell, the 911 operator sent Mercy ambulance, and they took her to Cox Hospital (another "nonprofit" but not faith based). Both Mercy and Cox are medical care conglomerates and have hospitals, ambulance services, nursing homes, hospice organizations, home health services, clinics, etc. Both employ lawyers and sue people who don't pay.

The recorded message on the answering machine referred me to the "Mymercy.net" web site to pay the bill, to a phone number to pay over the phone, etc. and said to disregard the call if I had made a payment in the past 30 days. It wasn't even a live caller, just a recorded message that went to my answering machine because I was attending a funeral. In other words, it was a dun.

Greedy SOBs.

Thanks, blacksparky. I'll get through it. I'm just tired of everyone having their hand out, as if my wife were a crippled zebra surrounded by a pack of hyenas.

Jgirl57 · June 4

so sorry carl46 for your loss and then needing to deal with bills. There really is no customer support anymore. Take the time you need to rest and grieve .

CindyBum · June 4

Grrrrrr. How awful.

Quilting brings calm · June 4

There are various companies that think it’s helpful to remind you to pay your bill- even if it’s not due yet. Sounds like the ambulance company is one of those. However, the automated process doesn’t take a patient’s death in to a decision as to when to start the process.

trottingalong · June 4

I’m sorry about the loss of your wife Carl and sorry for that phone call. It can be so overwhelming at a time like this. There’s a loss of compassion in our world these days. I find it harder and harder to reach a real human being when dealing with corporations and I hate the automated calls and now texts.

Marchbanks · June 4

So very sorry for the loss of your wife Carl. As far as the bill goes, if it’s in her name consider not paying it. If it’s in your name call and ask to speak with someone higher up the food chain and explain your frustration with the insensitive nature of the phone call and that you have posted about your experience on a national forum. My guess is that they will waive the fee. I would find a way not to pay it just on general principle.

On a selfish note, I hope you continue to contribute to this forum. Your posts have been very insightful and helpful for me. Wishing you strength and peace in the coming days.

ronda b · June 4

So sorry for your loss. Sending hugs. Don't let people like that get to you. You've been through enough. Easily said I know. Just take time to grieve in your own way.

Carl46 · June 4

Thank all of you so much for your kind words. It's OK, I was just tired and angry. I slept and ate and I am better now.

RetiredTeacher · June 5

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/73192/give-me-your-dollar

I am sorry you are having to deal with this, especially now. Sending healing thoughts and prayers during this very difficult timem

CampCarol · June 5

Carl, I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of your DW. You absolutely should not have to be dealing with this kind of trivial cr*p right now from such an insensitive company. I’m with Marchbanks on both points, although right now isn’t the best time to take on the nuns. Maybe after some time has passed, you can make a call and explain the anguish that their billing practices can potentially have on their customers and help spare somebody else from going through this. I do hope you stay on the forum, your posts are insightful. Sending thoughts and prayers your way as you transition into stage 8.

Carl46 · June 5

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/244845#Comment_244845

Thank you.

upstateAnn · June 5

I forgot to offer condolences. My sympathies.

Carl46 · June 6

Thank you, Ann.

I found the same recorded message on my answering machine when I came home today. If it rains hard tomorrow as predicted I may call, sit on hold for half an hour, and ask a human what their big rush is.

upstateAnn · June 6

That is why I did. $20,000 bill was whittled down to a $200 co-pay.

Karen711 · 5:15AM

Dear Carl- I’m so sorry for your loss! And I also agree with March Banks, I have appreciated your posts since I’ve been here. Best to you going forward!

Karen

Carl46 · 8:41AM

Thank you.

Give me your dollar!

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