Ringo Deloof

Review of Maui Memorial Medical Center

I was as a tourist on Maui and I have some trouble...

I was as a tourist on Maui and I have some trouble with my hearing after scuba diving. I wanted a check-up just to be sure.
I was in the ER for a little under 45 minutes (Including paperwork) a doctor examined me for 5 minutes (besides some standard tests executed by nurses.)
The staff was very helpful and I was confirmed by the doctor that all was OK and I got some prescripts.

I know it was going to cost me going to the ER so to be sure I took 400$ from the ATM before going to the ER.
The lady doing the payments let me know it was 500-ish dollar. I paid her the 400 cash I had and she said the bill was going to be send for the last 100-ish us$ to my home address. Which I think was very expensive but no problem to pay the bill.
I got all the paperwork signed off.

So far so good.

Now a couple of months later I get a letter from the hospital. Basically an envelope with 2 letters in it, the same bill but 2 different dates.
The letter states that I have to pay over 800US$ and that nothing has been payed yet. No mention about the 100$ that still needs to be payed.

They know I can't go to court with this, hiring a lawyer in the US would cost me more. I think sending the 2 letters in one envelope is some sneaky trick so they can say that a reminder has been send already?

If this go to trail and I get convicted by not showing up in court, next time I enter the US I'll probably have to pay a small fortune in costs.

Leaving me with no choice of paying over 800$, This feels like extortion to me. "scoring an easy dollar since he don't has a choice anyway."

As a tourist: Go there if it is really really necessary, the medical staff is great and they will help you in a very professional way.
But be aware for the finance department afterwards!
This leaved me paying over 1200 us$ for 40 minutes basic examining = 30us$ a minute where I was in waiting most of the time.