“I hope this email finds you well.”
I posted a screenshot of the exchange to a friend group as a haha and instead got called a K@ren and an asshole.
I was definitely irritated by the email intro and generally HATE American healthcare. I am able to afford the surgery, but recognize that many, many people in my country would struggle to deal with the bill.
I responded to the guy with a whole fartload of sarcasm and thought I might get them to change such an atrocious intro to a surgery patient. I still doubt that any surgery patient is found well by a bill for it.
Anyways, AITA?
*Here are the emails:*
***Surgery Center:***
*Dear Mr. \~Me\~,*
*We hope this email finds you well!*
*To assist you in calculating your procedure costs we are providing you with information regarding your estimated financial responsibility at the Surgery Center of \~blah blah blah\~*
*Estimated financial liability is calculated based on the specific procedures that have been scheduled by your physician. Due to medical necessity and/or specific plan limitations this amount is subject to change. Based on benefits verified with your insurance carrier, your co-insurance, remaining deductible and/or facility co-pay your estimated personal financial responsibility is $thousands. This amount will be due the day of the procedure.*
*Please note, you will receive multiple bills for your procedure: one from your physician, one from the surgery center, one from anesthesia and/or one from pathologist.*
***My response:***
*Sir,*
*An email has never once in my entire life found me well which informs me that I am about to owe three thousand dollars, in triplicate, for a necessary surgery.*
*Additionally, why would someone who is going into surgery be found well by your email?*
*I appreciate the information. However, I’ve felt more tone appropriateness from a pickpocket before they fleece me.*
*I hope this email finds you well, as well. Can’t wait to pay!*
YTA. “I hope this email finds you well” is a general polite intro in email communication. That person was sending you a polite email with the intent of informing you of the bills.
You harped on that phrase like it was an intentional insult. Your friends were right.
YTA. While you’re justifiably angry, the poor administrator that sent the email is not going to be able to make any meaningful changes to the sorry state of the American Healthcare system. Complaining about a common introductory statement on an email isn’t going to fix the underlying issue, and it does unfortunately make you the asshole in this situation.
…Do you think the receptionist who sent the email decided how much you’re going to pay?
YTA
If you have an issue with the amount, take it up with your insurance.
This person was simply being professional. You responded like a Grade A AH.
And if the amount comes in lower than expected, a person could be found well.
You are aware that the statement refers to your life as a whole and not your feelings on the particular email, right?
YTA. You’re being mean to someone who has nothing to do with determining health care costs at all. It’s like cursing out the cashier at the supermarket because you don’t like the prices there.
“I hope this finds you well” is simply a form of greeting. When someone says “How do you do?” do you take that literally too? Your response was embarrassing. YTA.
YTA. You worsened the day of a person just because part of their job is to inform customers of their imminent costs.
It’s not their fault that you need surgery and that you are about to have a bunch of new bills. If you don’t want to deal with the bills, then don’t have the surgery.
You’re now about to go under the knife of people that you were rude to. It is probably unwife to make people dislike you when they’re about to cut into you.
YTA “I hope this email finds you well” is a very common start to a communication, your dislike of it doesn’t make it inappropriate. Our IT team always responds to enquiries with “Greetings of the day” which personally I don’t like but I don’t get upset about because it’s just their usual script and it’s in no way offensive.
Honestly the fact you’ve got upset about a standard email greeting makes you come across as a little unhinged. What next, are you going to berate someone for signing off with “kind regards”?
You are totally the AH.