The teacher charged $ 109,000 for a heart attack despite health insurance addressing Congress
A high school teacher who was charged $ 109,000 after a heart attack spoke at the White House and called on Congress to break the medical bills.
Drew Calver, 44, who teaches history in Austin, Texas, was invited by President Donald Trump to his announcement in the Roosevelt Room on Thursday.
Trump called for legislation that would end the practice of having a patient arrive at the hospital for an emergency, only to be treated by a non-network doctor who leaves them with a huge bill.
Then he asked Calver to speak about his experiences.
The married father of two, who is insured, discussed how he was taken to an off-network hospital and got double what he earns in a year after his heart attack in 2017.
“I feel like I’ve been exploited at the most vulnerable point in my life, so I hope Congress hears this call to take action, close the loopholes and work towards that transparency,” he said. Thursday according to ABC news.
Drew Calver, 44, a high school teacher who was billed $ 109,000 after a heart attack, was a guest president Donald Trump at the White House and called on Congress to break the medical bills. Pictured: Trump makes comments while Calver and his wife (far right) listen
A father of two, Calver suffered a heart attack in April 2017 and was taken to St. David’s Medical Center, which was outside of his insurance network but closest to his home in Austin, Texas. Pictured: Calver, left, with wife Erin
“For too long, surprise bills, which is a huge problem in this country, have given some patients thousands of dollars in unexpected and unjustified charges,” Trump said at the meeting.
“Not a pleasant surprise, a very unpleasant surprise.”
In April 2017, Calver was at home with his eldest daughter, after which his wife, Erin, went to the store with their youngest daughter, then six, reported. Kaiser Health News and NPR.
He was in his bedroom when he was overwhelmed with excruciating chest pain and fell to the floor.
Calver called on his daughter for help and a neighbor rushed him to St. David’s Medical Center in Austin, the nearest hospital to his home.
In the cardiac department, medical tests showed that the fit and apparently healthy swimming coach had a blockage in his left anterior descending vein (LAD), which required emergency surgery.
Commonly known as a ‘widow heart attack’, it is the same type that famous actor and director Kevin Smith suffered in February 2018.
It occurs when LAD, which carries blood to the heart, is almost or completely blocked. Without emergency care, it is almost always fatal.
Because the hospital had no network and Calver’s insurance paid only $ 55,000, he was left with a balance of $ 108,951.31
This bill shows a specified list of costs, including over $ 10,000 for his hospital room. Calver was charged just under $ 3,800 for five ECG tests, according to the bill
Even when Calver was being prepared for a procedure to place four stents in the clogged blood vessel, he asked hospital staff if his health insurance would cover treatment, since St David’s had no network.
The staff assured him they did and told him to relax. The operation was a success, and Calver was released four days later, KHN-NPR reported.
But a month later, the six-digit hospital bill arrived by mail.
St David’s had charged Calver $ 164,941 for his surgery, hospital stay, and room costs. Aetna had covered $ 55,840.
This meant that Calver had a balance of 108,951.31. The amount included more than $ 42,000 for the stents, two of which were billed at $ 19,000 each and $ 10,000 in chamber costs.
Initially, he said he thought a mistake had been made by the hospital or his insurance company.
Shortly after, the family received phone calls from debt collection agencies requesting payment.
After the story gained national attention, St David agreed to lower Calver’s bill to $ 332.29. Pictured: Calver with one of his daughters
Calver was subject to balance billing, which happens when insurers pay for emergency care, inside or outside the network, but because the insurer and the hospital cannot pay a price, the hospital bills the patient. Pictured: Calver, second from right, with his wife and two daughters
Time after time, Calver and his wife explained to the collectors that they did not have the resources to pay the amount in full, but that they were never offered financial aid, KHN-NPR reported.
The Calvers were subjected to practices known as surprise accounts and balance invoicing.
Surprise bills are when patients go to a hospital within their insurance network but are treated by a non-network doctor.
Balance billing occurs when insurers pay for emergency care, inside or outside the network, but because the insurer and the hospital cannot agree on a price, the hospital bills the patient.
Calver says his annual income is about half of the $ 109,000 balance.
“They’re going to give me another heart attack from this bill,” he said. “I can’t pay this bill on my teacher’s salary, and I don’t want it to go to a debt collection agency.”
After the story got national attention, NPR reported that Calver received a new bill from St David’s, which was reduced to $ 332.29.
“It feels great that this is over for me and my family, but it’s not just about my bill,” Calver told the agency. “I don’t think a consumer should experience this.
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