With chest pains and breathing difficulties I was taken to the emergency room of a local hospital in Tacoma Washington on January 2nd of this year.  I was subsequently diagnosed with a heart attack and given bypass surgery on two arteries.  Due to complications I spent six weeks in that hospital.

After getting out and on my way to recovery I got four bills for the stay - which did not include any doctor fees.  One of the bills was for $463,000.  Yes that's right.  Four hundred and sixty-three thousand dollars.  On the front page of the invoice it indicated that my Medicare and Aetna supplemental paid all of that but about $250.  Had I not had insurance I would have been in the poor house.

My monthly Medicare plus Aetna health insurance premiums are right at $390.  I'm in my eighties and if I live to be one hundred and eighty my insurance premiums would never pay that bill.