Thank you Medicare. (Don't read if your health insurance is lacking)

[question everything]

Spouse had an open heart surgery, was in the hospital for 11 days, including 3 days at ICU.

Hospital charges are $88,000 and our copay is $1,000. Yes, we have it, set aside the stimulus payment.

Did not have any copay for the surgeon, nor the anesthesiologist, not for the three weeks rehab center.

The rest are $3.00 here, $4.00 there for X-rays.

One reason may be the unique arrangement where the local health insurance that provides Medicare Advantage also owns the large clinic and hospital and where all the healthcare providers are in the network.

Yes, of course we pay monthly insurance premiums and Medicare payment is deducted from the Social Security payment but they never reach these amounts..