Warning about UCLA student medical care

<p>Our D needed a moderately-involved operation and wanted to have it at UCLA med center. We also could have had it done through our employment-based health insurance. We said ok, go with UCLA, and it was a big mistake. </p>

<p>First thing is that neither the surgeon or the medical staff tells our D what to expect in recovery. She goes through high levels of pain and worries that something went wrong, only to find out that this pain was normal. Someone easily could have told her, she didn't know. Thankfully, the operation seems to have gone ok otherwise. </p>

<p>Second thing is that our D has since been harassed by numerous unaccountable bills and bill collectors hired by UCLA who have come looking for money. They are still calling a year and a half after she paid the full amount of her co-pay for the operation and treatment. It takes literally hours to try to talk to these people, who then agree that nothing is owed. Then a little while goes by and the bill collectors start calling once more. </p>

<p>UCLA supposedly gets high rankings for on-campus health care. But if we had to do it over again, we would keep our D away from them for anything more serious than a flu shot.</p>

<p>The UCLA hospital is a public hospital like any other. It has no relation to “student medical care”. Student health care is through the Ashe Health Center. If you go to the hospital that is not “on-campus health care”.</p>

<p>Sounds like another case of where the patient expects the the hospital and insurance to do all the work. Remember it’s the responsibility of the insurer to make sure their questions are answered and bills are understood and paid.</p>