Anyone ever received a bill for medical care after a half marathon or marathon

I received medical care after the Peachtree Road Race. I was standing near the finish line trying to get rid of a side stitch, and volunteers rushed me to the medical tent even when I insisted I was fine. A doctor laid me down on a stretcher, removed my shoes, and rushed over to get my finisher's shirt. I think they were looking for something to do.

Anyway, I got no bill for medical services.

Maybe your friend can review the race materials to see what it says about medical care and payments.

I know someone that was taken to a hospital after a race and she received bills. I believe she had insurance but I remember her ambulance bill being a pain in the butt for some reason.

It seems if you receive care at the tent and released, there would be no charge. Isn't that part of the marathon fee? Maybe each race is different.

Usually, care in the medical tent is free. Of course going to a hospital will be very expensive. If they ask for your name and address, don't give it to them! This seems like common sense. (Although I guess they can get it from your bib number.)

Anyone who gives you a bill for something you didn't agree to is a con artist and a criminal.

J.R. wrote:

Anyone who gives you a bill for something you didn't agree to is a con artist and a criminal.

Absolutely, unless it was written in clear language under the race guidelines. As soon as they asked for my address, that would have set off red flags.

I often use medical services, and surprisingly I just got a medical bill from the NYC Marathon. They reasoned that if they had the marathon I would have used the services.

I paid because I didn't want anyone to think I was cheap and I felt bad for those who lost their homes.

They are forwarding the bills for the generators to the Breezy Point Business District. They say if the marathon was cancelled because Breezy Point needed generators then the Breezy Point BID should pay for the generators.

Conundrum wrote:

I often use medical services, and surprisingly I just got a medical bill from the NYC Marathon. They reasoned that if they had the marathon I would have used the services.

I paid because I didn't want anyone to think I was cheap and I felt bad for those who lost their homes.

You can't be serious. That would be like the local strip club sending me a bill in advance even though I had not gone yet, but would likely go in the near future.

Conundrum wrote:

I often use medical services, and surprisingly I just got a medical bill from the NYC Marathon. They reasoned that if they had the marathon I would have used the services.

I paid because I didn't want anyone to think I was cheap and I felt bad for those who lost their homes.

LOL

J.R. wrote:

Anyone who gives you a bill for something you didn't agree to is a con artist and a criminal.

If I am ever unconscious and in need of medical care, I really hope that the ER doctor will just assume that I'll be willing to pay the bill and will go ahead and treat me. I'd rather pay for something I didn't agree to than die in the hospital parking lot over commitment to some ideal of fairness.

JohnQuincy wrote:

Usually, care in the medical tent is free. Of course going to a hospital will be very expensive. If they ask for your name and address, don't give it to them! This seems like common sense. (Although I guess they can get it from your bib number.)

this is what I was thinking, a hospital was the race sponsor and I would think that medical care in a medical tent post race would be covered as part of the race entry fee. The fact she was billed seems pretty scamish to me.

skyhigh wrote:

You can't be serious. That would be like the local strip club sending me a bill in advance even though I had not gone yet, but would likely go in the near future.

skyhigh, you are pretty sharp. Did you vote for Obama?

One time I finished a race, and a guy in a lab coat told me that based on the dilation of my pupils, I needed an emergency prostate examination.

I received a knock on my door from a guy in a fur coat a few days later. He said I owed him $200 in cash.

Some of the marathons I've registered for have stated that I would be responsible for the cost of ambulance rides, hospital stays, etc. if they were needed.

Care in the tent, though, I would have thought was free. Maybe if they did something Dr-like, like hooking me up to an IV, I could see them possibly billing, but just to let you lie down while they check your vitals and give you some fluids doesn't sound like it should be billable.

Does it smell funny to you? wrote:

Some of the marathons I've registered for have stated that I would be responsible for the cost of ambulance rides, hospital stays, etc. if they were needed.

Care in the tent, though, I would have thought was free. Maybe if they did something Dr-like, like hooking me up to an IV, I could see them possibly billing, but just to let you lie down while they check your vitals and give you some fluids doesn't sound like it should be billable.

totally understand needing to pay if you have to get to the hospital, that makes sense, but yeah, BASIC stuff in a post race medical tent should not cost anything.

Sadly many races require you to sign in the waiver that you consent to any medical care they deem necessary from whatever provider they choose and that you are responsible for the bills.

.....they don't mention that the medical provider(of their choice) is also the race sponsor....

SMH...SHADY

Sadly many races require you to sign in the waiver that you consent to any medical care they deem necessary from whatever provider they choose and that you are responsible for the bills.

.....they don't mention that the medical provider(of their choice) is also the race sponsor....

SMH...SHADY

lol. Only in America.

They sometimes have massage at the end of races in the UK but you have to pay as far as I'm aware. At the end of a hilly half marathon one time I felt particuarly sick but I just sat on the edge of a skip on someones driveway for 10 minutes rocking backwards and forth.