Tim Metz

Review of Desert Regional Medical Center

So this is one thing that's wrong with the Health ...

So this is one thing that's wrong with the Health Care system. I was billed a $200.00 co-pay when I went in for about 8 to 10 minutes. I fell and sprained my knees on Saturday morning. On Sunday I was in a lot of pain with swelling, so I wanted to be checked out to make sure no ligaments or anything was torn. The closest Urgent Care for Kaiser insurance is in Indio, an hour away from my house. So they told me I could go to the emergency room. I went in and the nurse called me immediately before I even finished filling out the half page check in form. I was seated in a little room right behind the check in desk. They took my blood pressure, asked me some questions and the doctor felt my knee and told me that it appeared to be just a sprain, but to wait a few more days to see if it felt better. They wrapped it in an ace bandage and told me to keep it elevated and iced. When I went to check out they said my co-pay was $200.00 and that the "doctor would bill me separately for his service". When I asked how much the entire visit was they said, "I can't tell you that". I can't imagine that it would even COST $200.00. Maybe I'm crazy but it seems like the co-pay is more than the entire bill should have been. So if I'm getting a separate bill from the Doctor, what was that $200.00 for??? Now, not only are my knees in pain, I now feel sick BECAUSE of the ER visit.