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October 12, 2008 10:20:55 AM CDT

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Mennonites, Amish Battle Hospitals Over 'Inflated' Bills

Posted Jun 28, 08 12:36 PM CDT in US,  Arts & Living,  Science & Health 

(Newser) – Jesse Martin shuns health insurance and government aid, although nine of his kids are seriously ill. Like other self-sufficient Pennsylvania Mennonites, and Amish too, Martin avails modern medicine for the fatal diseases that are ravaging their families—but is hard-up to pay the bills, which Martin claims are inflated. "I just want to pay bills that are reasonable and fair," he says.

His story reveals the rosy financial state of nonprofit hospitals, which admit to raising prices to fund improvements, from new facilities to high executive salaries. But area hospitals say they are through negotiating and want Martin to sell his land—valued in the millions. "They don't understand our ways," Martin said. "If we sell the farm, sure, we can give them the money, but what do we have then?"

Source Wall Street Journal

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Old Order Mennonites shun government aid and insurance, forcing them to foot expensive medical bills.   (AP Photo)
Mennonite mother Dorothy Martin with her son, Bryan, who suffers from a rare genetic disorder called Crigler-Najjar syndrome.   (AP Photo)
Amish men are seen in front of the schoolhouse where a gunman killed five girls and injured five more before shooting himself, in Nickel Mines, Pa. Oct. 2, 2006.   (AP Photo)
Two small children peak out of the back of a buggy along Mine Road in Monday, Oct. 1, 2007, in Nickel Mines, Pa.   (AP Photo/ Daily Local News, Tom Kelly IV)
An Amish woman and two children walk down the driveway of an Amish farm Monday, Oct. 1, 2007, in Nickel Mines, Pa.   (AP Photo/ Daily Local News, Tom Kelly IV)
A bright blue glow radiates from the second floor the house of Mennonite farmer Luke Martin, whose son is ill. The community has a high rate of genetic diseases.   (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
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medicine  • hospitals  • insurance  • Amish


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