A Clinic Story

 About five weeks ago....I had Shingles (bad)....on the forehead....spending 6 days in a local Wiesbaden clinic. The way Tricare (my mil-health-insurance) works.....I pay a portion up front, then present itemized bill....getting paid back (roughly 4 weeks later).

Well....I had to talk to the clinic guy today....who manages the bill business.  I won't mention the name of the clinic.

I was expecting a itemized bill this week.....to present to Tricare. 

I visit 'Karl', and he says....it won't be for a while.  There's this story.

Karl works in a 2-man office....the 2nd guy (junior employee)....left....about a month before I entered the hospital.  In the way that Karl told the story....this guy (I'll give him the name 'Woody').....had been slow in getting bills out...maybe going back to the fall of 2025.....real-slow.

Woody had lost interest in the work, and frankly....seemed not to care.  Gen-X guy (I didn't say it to Karl, but it probably explains the lack of attention.  

So....Karl keeps the patients coming in and making money for the hospital...but without Woody (or his replacement)......the hospital is not receiving the money.

I asked Karl...about the replacement.

Well...he/she has been hired, but won't arrive till mid-July. Then there's training. Then there's stuff to clear up from 2025.....then I'll eventually get my bill for Tricare.

Why this all matters?    The bill is roughly 7,500 Euro....of which I had to pay 50-percent (with my Visa-card). Luckily, because of 'Donald'....it's been a great investment year (don't say this to my wife).  So I can pay the 50-percent myself, and quietly wait to be repaid.

I asked Karl....so when will my bill come? Well....he finally says....probably late August....meaning I pay the remainder  around the end of September,  and Tricare will reimburse me by late October.

I told this story to my brother.....who related he often gets lab bills...10 to 12 months after the 'event'.  I shake my head.....the system is crapped up.

How many bills is the Clinic sitting on....via the private patients?  I would imagine at least 300 of us.  Way over a million Euro....maybe two to three million.

This  Woody-position a candidate for AI?  I think so.