Holy Cow! Just got the hospital bill for my surgery!

[Trixie007]

Actually, it's the explanation of benefits for outpatient surgery - a whopping $24,731.96!! I can't wait to see the itemized bill that shows where all those charges come from... It's so true that uninsured people pay more for medical care, which is sad. The "allowed" charges were limited to $10,714 of the billed amount. Thank God I didn't have inpatient surgery! I was only at the hospital for 11 hours total, and this doesn't include the surgeon's bill... can't wait to get that too.

[Willy13]

Actually, it's the explanation of benefits for outpatient surgery - a whopping $24,731.96!! I can't wait to see the itemized bill that shows where all those charges come from... It's so true that uninsured people pay more for medical care, which is sad. The "allowed" charges were limited to $10,714 of the billed amount. Thank God I didn't have inpatient surgery! I was only at the hospital for 11 hours total, and this doesn't include the surgeon's bill... can't wait to get that too.

And this is our great healthcare system? Yeah right. That much for 11 hours of work. That is outrageous! I dont care if our healthcare is the best in the world. If the average citizen can't afford it, then it is completely useless.

[ready2puke]

Geez Trixie, what did you have done? Get all your insides taken out and put back in again...almost 25k...are they nuts.?

[Trixie007]

I had a hysterectomy, so they only took stuff out... I particularly want to know why "medical equip/supply" is over 8k! And prescription drugs $717 - I had a "calming cocktail" ha-ha in the OR prep, morphine in the IV (was off that by about noon), saline, one measly little percocet, and one IV shot of something for nausea. I told DH I can't wait to see what they charged me for the apple juice, jello & crackers that I couldn't keep down... Also, by doing this as outpatient, I'm guessing I saved about 2k of out-of-pocket costs. Told DH he's lucky I could remember that and stick to my guns to get out of there after surgery!

I am grateful that they took such good care of me, but besides the HUGE numbers, what really strikes me is how the same surgery would have cost 14k more for someone who was not fortunate enough to have insurance.

[StartingOver08]

I am so glad that you are fine and are recovering from your surgery. I am also glad that you have insurance, Actually Trixie, you would also be surprised to know that if the uninsured person attempted to get treatment the hospital runs their credit first - finds out if they have the money to pay (up front!) for the treatment and then will refuse treatment if the person can not pay in advance (or charge it).

I had that happen to me with cancer. I was uninsured at the time and diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer. I was refused treatment at at area cancer hospitals (becuase the cost was going to be well over $400k and I did not have that either in the bank or avail on credit cards). Apparently, unless you are under the poverty line, the hospitals can then refuse treatment! According to the hospitals I spoke with it is a financial decision - they do not have to treat anyone if they do not have the resources to pay - even if it is an emergency. So be glad you have insurance because our health system is terrible. (My ex-husband came to my rescue - he remarried me and put me on his group policy and I was able to obtain treatment - we are still married now, 4 yrs later).

[Trixie007]

Wow! That's insane! I thought they had to treat people for emergencies. I'm so glad for you that your ex-DH came to your aid, kudos to him!

[StartingOver08]

Wow! That's insane! I thought they had to treat people for emergencies. I'm so glad for you that your ex-DH came to your aid, kudos to him!

Yeah, me too. But not so. Especially in the case of a fatal illness, then you are not around to work out a repayment plan! It is pretty insane. Thank goodness for hubby...

[Flamingo]

Actually, it's the explanation of benefits for outpatient surgery - a whopping $24,731.96!! I can't wait to see the itemized bill that shows where all those charges come from... It's so true that uninsured people pay more for medical care, which is sad. The "allowed" charges were limited to $10,714 of the billed amount. Thank God I didn't have inpatient surgery! I was only at the hospital for 11 hours total, and this doesn't include the surgeon's bill... can't wait to get that too.

Why do you think it's called "managed care?" Before managed care and contracted rates, hospitals and doctors were in a free for all. Those without insurance, however, can usually "bargain" with the hospital or doctor to get their rates lowered somewhat.

[DaisysMom]

I had a hysterectomy, so they only took stuff out... I particularly want to know why "medical equip/supply" is over 8k! And prescription drugs $717 - I had a "calming cocktail" ha-ha in the OR prep, morphine in the IV (was off that by about noon), saline, one measly little percocet, and one IV shot of something for nausea. I told DH I can't wait to see what they charged me for the apple juice, jello & crackers that I couldn't keep down... Also, by doing this as outpatient, I'm guessing I saved about 2k of out-of-pocket costs. Told DH he's lucky I could remember that and stick to my guns to get out of there after surgery!

I am grateful that they took such good care of me, but besides the HUGE numbers, what really strikes me is how the same surgery would have cost 14k more for someone who was not fortunate enough to have insurance.

OMG!! I can't believe you had a hysterectomy and were released 11 hours later. I know that it was better financially, but that was a major surgery. Our system is so screwed up. We need reform so bad!

D...

[Trixie007]

OMG!! I can't believe you had a hysterectomy and were released 11 hours later. I know that it was better financially, but that was a major surgery. Our system is so screwed up. We need reform so bad!

D...

Well, it was my choice and the doctor supported it, but if I had changed my mind during recovery, they had a room ready for me to check in. I didn't want to rack up a huge bill and have to BK it so close to filing. Also, it's amazing what they can do now that they couldn't do 5 or 10 years ago! I thought this was becoming fairly common to do as an outpatient surgery now, but none of the nurses had seen anyone do it, and I don't think they really believed I would either.

[arkienurse]

I am sitting here literally, with my mouth open. I have been an OR nurse for 13 years. I have never, I repeat NEVER seen someone go home the same day after having a hysterectomy. If you don't mind my asking, what type of hysterectomy did you have?
And I don't think we have the right to turn someone away for emergency life saving type treatment. Guess for some reason cancer treatment/ transplant isn't considered an emergency( need a smily for heavy sarcasm). I do think we need to fix the system, but don't particularly care for the ideas I have heard so far. But I can't think of a way to fix it myself.

Oh, and btw, my hats off to you for going home so soon after major surgery. I can remember 13 years ago, it was unheard of for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal with a scope) to go home the same day. Now we do it routinely, you have to have a complication to stay overnight. And when I had my first baby 15 years ago, she was born during the Superbowl, we went home on a Tuesday, so 3 day stays were typical. With my last one, 6 years ago, we were out of there in 24 hours literally

[Flamingo]

I don't know if it is a state by state thing but in our state, it is posted everywhere in all ER's that you cannot be turned away if you do not have insurance. Our state has a fund that covers those without insurance and need emergency care. Of course with the large population here of illegal immigrant workers, that account gets depleted very quickly and certain hospitals go over their allotment depending on how close they are to the immigrant population(s). It is a major problem but you cannot, at least in our state, be turned away in the emergency room if you do not have insurance.

[AngelinaCat]

'Hub has to have a hernia operation, but it can't be done as an 'office visit' because of prior surgeries for prostate cancer and a skil-saw accident. The doctor he was referred to wouldn't touch him because of the BK, and the fact that we had no money for the co-pay either for him or the hospital he was affiliated with.

We were told to go get on the waiting list at a hospital that serves 'indigents'. That was just lovely to hear.

So 'Hub has to wait until he is 65 and on Medicare. Then, we were told, "they HAVE to take him." Fortunately, age 65 will happen this March. He has been waiting with this hernia gradually getting worse for more than a year.

[StartingOver08]

.
We were told to go get on the waiting list at a hospital that serves 'indigents'. That was just lovely to hear.

Yes. I found out that you have to qualify to be 'indigent' (at least here in S FL) and you have to prove you make less than $16k/yr for at least 2 yrs prior to having an emergency. To prove it you show tax returns. Anything over that amount and you do not qualify!

[junker]

years ago in california i was purchasing surplus military equipment on a military base, and the forklift driver dropped a file cabinet on my foot and broke my ankle. when the ambulance came i told them i had no insurance and please take me to a va hospital, they said they had to take me to nearest hospital, that hospital said they would only stabilize me, and would not treat the ankle. so i sat in a wheel chair for about 12 hours until some one could come and get me and take me to the county hospital in the county i lived in to do a operation and put pins in ankle, btw i did sue the govt for that and settled for 25k for ankle.