Tue Jul 17, 2012, 12:09 PM

My Hospital Bill was $119,000 for 5 days

I just got the itemized bill from my hospital stay last month. It is the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen. Now mind you I had a wonderful experience while I was in the hospital. My husband had the same surgey (GallBladder removal) at another local hospital and he had the absolute worst experience. My husband was in the hospital for 3 weeks. I was there for 5 days. But our hospital bills were exactly alike. How is that even possible?? His bill was $110,000 in 2005. I can't believe the costs have gone up that much in 7 years.

Here are a few items I found interesting:
* Accomodations - $4500 (I could have stayed at the Breakers for less money)
* Pharmacy - $35,000 (I know I had some good drugs, but WOW)
* OR Costs - $30,000
* Sterile Supplies - $7500

And here is the kicker. I have insurance, so these items were all negotiated down to 1/10 the cost. My insurance company paid $11,000 and the bill is done. So those people without insurance don't get a negotiated rate?? How can someone afford that without insurance?? And how are they allowed to get that much of a discount??

At the end of the day, I've met my deductible for the year ($2800). Still not sure how I'm gonna pay for that, though. But hopefully I can make installment payments . . .

And finally I want to thank the Affordable Care Act of 2010. My company before 2011 had a lifetime limit on medical of $100,000 and a yearly amount of $20,000. I might be paying a ton more money out of pocket without ObamaCares!! If more people would actually read what is covered they would see that this is a good thing for this country. If people would stop listening to Talking Heads who know nothing and actually learn for themselves, this country wouldn't be as angry as it is.

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124 replies	Author	Time	Post
My Hospital Bill was $119,000 for 5 days (Original post)	RockaFowler	Jul 2012	OP
It is all a scam. Nothing but a scam and they even admit it is a scam.	CBGLuthier	Jul 2012	#1
My girlfriend without insurance is going through this right now	RockaFowler	Jul 2012	#3
My wife just spent 3 weeks in the hospital	DJ13	Jul 2012	#17
It's all monopoly money to them.	Spitfire of ATJ	Jul 2012	#27
prices seem to be just made up, pulled out of thin air	Liberal_in_LA	Jul 2012	#68
You can negotiate with the	Smilo	Jul 2012	#73
If you examine it logically, that's really very small comfort what you're saying.	Selatius	Jul 2012	#119
But this is all we have at the moment.....	Smilo	Jul 2012	#123
I hope she understands her rights.	girl gone mad	Jul 2012	#99
Apparently the uninsured are supposed to stiff the hospital.	Sirveri	Jul 2012	#118
Yes a scam along with senior housing/Assisted and Nursing homes.	glinda	Jul 2012	#10
Those $5 Q-Tips really add up.	lpbk2713	Jul 2012	#2
$5 each??	RockaFowler	Jul 2012	#4
Not to mention the $10 aspirin.	lpbk2713	Jul 2012	#6
Some how this reminds me of Scrushy and Siegelman. During the run up to imprisoning those two, Mr.	midnight	Jul 2012	#78
Here's one answer to one of your questions -	enlightenment	Jul 2012	#5
Thanks for this	RockaFowler	Jul 2012	#7
95% of uninsured hospital bills are never paid.	Ms. Toad	Jul 2012	#47
here is his next article on How to avoid getting gouged by hospital bills	dixiegrrrrl	Jul 2012	#65
Wrong post	Monk06	Jul 2012	#111
These charges are outrages, my son had a sesiar..stayed in the er for an hour and was charge 2100usd	uponit7771	Jul 2012	#8
When my wife had abdominal surgery	NickB79	Jul 2012	#9
Maybe they did and ultrasound for a patient that didn't have insurance	hughee99	Jul 2012	#18
Oohh, I never thought of that!	NickB79	Jul 2012	#19
That's all fine and good until a guy gets a pap smear listed in his medical history.	Spitfire of ATJ	Jul 2012	#38
Not a guy - but my (female) spouse	Ms. Toad	Jul 2012	#50
Maybe they used a tricorder	Spitfire of ATJ	Jul 2012	#88
Good thought - but don't you at least have to be close to the facility? n/t	Ms. Toad	Jul 2012	#96
Musta beamed her in while she was asleep.	Spitfire of ATJ	Jul 2012	#97
I was charged $325 for an ultra sound in a doctor's office that never happened... just	1monster	Jul 2012	#41
did you tell your insurance company about that?	dixiegrrrrl	Jul 2012	#51
Sad that this is all too common...	Phentex	Jul 2012	#55
Only 1% of all coverage has a lifetime limit of less than $1 million	leveymg	Jul 2012	#11
For many that negotiation is called bankruptcy.	SoutherDem	Jul 2012	#12
The fraud provisions are still allowed under the ACA...	girl gone mad	Jul 2012	#100
I thought it had to be proven to be real fraud	SoutherDem	Jul 2012	#102
when they know you have insurance, the billed amount is largely funny money.	unblock	Jul 2012	#13
Everybody knew all along that this is the problem.	woo me with science	Jul 2012	#14
+1 The fucked up thing is	progressoid	Jul 2012	#16
Got three words for you. Insurance Finance Reform.	Autumn	Jul 2012	#30
Plus, some want us to be unthinking cheerleaders for insurance reform with the mandate instead of	AnotherMcIntosh	Jul 2012	#35
+1 n/t	area51	Jul 2012	#114
Funny you mention this -	Hell Hath No Fury	Jul 2012	#15
Mine was laproscopic, too	RockaFowler	Jul 2012	#26
That's not unusal	Sgent	Jul 2012	#64
Don't pay retail - in anything	AngryAmish	Jul 2012	#20
You know that at $11,000.00	Rainforestgoddess	Jul 2012	#21
Any other company that would submit a fraudulent bill	Dustlawyer	Jul 2012	#22
I just had a shocker from my ER visit last month	LynneSin	Jul 2012	#23
How about when you are lying on the operating table?	Phentex	Jul 2012	#40
This whole 'in-network/out-of-network' stuff is bullshit	LynneSin	Jul 2012	#43
We never get a hospital or doctor bill up here	riverbendviewgal	Jul 2012	#24
You know I was in Canada for the first time a few years ago....	LynneSin	Jul 2012	#25
I think in Ontario where I am, the tax is 13 percent on things like sunglasses	riverbendviewgal	Jul 2012	#44
Watch out - freepers want to move to Canada	LynneSin	Jul 2012	#45
I read that too..	riverbendviewgal	Jul 2012	#52
Never happen	rationalcalgarian	Jul 2012	#93
Like the list	Maynar	Jul 2012	#110
Oh... right	rationalcalgarian	Jul 2012	#117
Does Canada now exempt "junk food" from the GST?	Art_from_Ark	Jul 2012	#122
Another of our Canadian DUers says Obamas reform was a victory for us.	Autumn	Jul 2012	#33
Perhaps you will	riverbendviewgal	Jul 2012	#48
I know I can do an Internet search, but want to ask, is immigration to Canada an easy thing to do?	RickFromMN	Jul 2012	#95
I googled.	riverbendviewgal	Jul 2012	#108
What is crazy is you get a bill like that showing the system is a mess and you praise the ACA.	dkf	Jul 2012	#28
Did you even read the post? But for the ACA she'd be bankrupt. nt	SunSeeker	Jul 2012	#34
It's not a long term solution. Those outrageous numbers	dkf	Jul 2012	#106
fees /charges for all doctors/hospitals should be posted on the internet nt	msongs	Jul 2012	#29
How come your insurance was able to get a 1/10 discount?	ryan_cats	Jul 2012	#31
I wonder that, too	RockaFowler	Jul 2012	#46
Cash customers have an interesting situation....	radhika	Jul 2012	#57
are you the person who posted this on DU several weeks ago?	renate	Jul 2012	#107
Thanks for the post. And keep spreading the word about Obamacares! nt	SunSeeker	Jul 2012	#32
... yes, I like that added-S to the word... certainly fits	tomm2thumbs	Jul 2012	#83
I love it myself	RockaFowler	Jul 2012	#84
I'll do it as well -- as it will annoy my entire family. :))))	tomm2thumbs	Aug 2012	#124
I was thinking about that the other day	ecstatic	Jul 2012	#36
Did both of your gallbladders explode?	Dreamer Tatum	Jul 2012	#37
My wife is scheduled for gallbladder surgery in two months	DJ13	Jul 2012	#39
Ouch!!	RockaFowler	Jul 2012	#42
Gallbladders can be diseased from gallstones and infection. Infection can cause the gallbladder	Tess49	Jul 2012	#53
I'm glad your surgery went well -	Ms. Toad	Jul 2012	#61
almost as ridiculous as five people within the same circle of acquaintances all having the same surg	LanternWaste	Jul 2012	#62
I believe every word of it.	Rozlee	Jul 2012	#66
My wife had hers taken out. Three days in hospital.	progressoid	Jul 2012	#72
My cousin had to stay in for 5 days after hers	gollygee	Jul 2012	#75
Thank you for your diagnosis, Dr. Internet	NickB79	Jul 2012	#90
I think I will need to have that surgery soon	graywarrior	Jul 2012	#49
My wife	littlebit	Jul 2012	#54
I am so sorry for your loss, but am glad you don't have to cope with that bill! hugs	GreenPartyVoter	Jul 2012	#101
My 6 hours in the ER back in May was $7K+	hobbit709	Jul 2012	#56
Our care to date for this year:	Ms. Toad	Jul 2012	#58
The Battle for Healthcare Has Just Begun	riverbendviewgal	Jul 2012	#59
I posted it on Facebook, too	RockaFowler	Jul 2012	#60
Between Rush and Fox, my conservative friends and family appear to be hypnotized.	juajen	Jul 2012	#85
the medical industrial complex.	pansypoo53219	Jul 2012	#63
Just got a bill for $65,500 for three days	nichomachus	Jul 2012	#67
yep. major discount.	Liberal_in_LA	Jul 2012	#70
outpatient surgery last year, 3 hours in hospital, total bill was $20K	Liberal_in_LA	Jul 2012	#69
Here is a contrast	madokie	Jul 2012	#71
I feel ya!	RedStateLiberal	Jul 2012	#74
Last month I was in the hospital from 4:00 p.m. until	asjr	Jul 2012	#76
$74,000 for one night	Auggie	Jul 2012	#77
Two thousand dollars for two hours in an emergency room,	woo me with science	Jul 2012	#89
Dude, ya gotta stay away from the mini-bar.	tclambert	Jul 2012	#79
That's what my husband said	RockaFowler	Jul 2012	#80
My wife was on Dilaudid in the hospital	DJ13	Jul 2012	#86
A couple of things	evilhime	Jul 2012	#81
almost the same for my parents	siouxsiecreamcheese	Jul 2012	#82
Can we get this to go viral?	garthranzz	Jul 2012	#87
$66,000 for pacemaker	LynnTTT	Jul 2012	#91
My boss is notorious for not paying	Smilo	Jul 2012	#92
I had a similar BS billing when I had my heart attack in Dallas last year	DFW	Jul 2012	#94
Innocent people will go to jail....	ThatsMyBarack	Jul 2012	#98
hospitals base their rates on what medicare will pay	madrchsod	Jul 2012	#103
The issue is not all of ObamaCare. It's one tiny segment thereof - the individual mandate.	Zalatix	Jul 2012	#104
Same thing when I had my appendix out. Bill was monstrous, Insurance paid a fraction	harun	Jul 2012	#105
ObamaCares. I like it. First time I've heard that one. n/t	wakemewhenitsover	Jul 2012	#109
I really feel sorry for Americans what the have to pay to get health insurance. From another thread.	Monk06	Jul 2012	#112
A friend just got his whole gallbladder operation covered at a FANCY university hospital free	flamingdem	Jul 2012	#113
It would be interesting to see just how that money is distributed once paid.	gtar100	Jul 2012	#115
I spent a few hours in the emergency room last month due to kidney stones	rl6214	Jul 2012	#116
Actually, that doesn't seem that high...	joeybee12	Jul 2012	#120
$900 for a 20-minute chat with a doctor	nichomachus	Jul 2012	#121

Response to RockaFowler (Original post)

Tue Jul 17, 2012, 12:12 PM

CBGLuthier (12,723 posts)

1. It is all a scam. Nothing but a scam and they even admit it is a scam.

They overcharge and then negotiate.

Obviously the original prices are what the rest of the world would call fraudulent.

SCAM.

My Hospital Bill was $119,000 for 5 days

1. It is all a scam. Nothing but a scam and they even admit it is a scam.

3. My girlfriend without insurance is going through this right now

17. My wife just spent 3 weeks in the hospital

27. It's all monopoly money to them.

68. prices seem to be just made up, pulled out of thin air

73. You can negotiate with the

119. If you examine it logically, that's really very small comfort what you're saying.

123. But this is all we have at the moment.....

99. I hope she understands her rights.

118. Apparently the uninsured are supposed to stiff the hospital.

10. Yes a scam along with senior housing/Assisted and Nursing homes.

2. Those $5 Q-Tips really add up.

4. $5 each??

6. Not to mention the $10 aspirin.

78. Some how this reminds me of Scrushy and Siegelman. During the run up to imprisoning those two, Mr.

5. Here's one answer to one of your questions -

7. Thanks for this

47. 95% of uninsured hospital bills are never paid.

65. here is his next article on How to avoid getting gouged by hospital bills

111. Wrong post

8. These charges are outrages, my son had a sesiar..stayed in the er for an hour and was charge 2100usd

9. When my wife had abdominal surgery

18. Maybe they did and ultrasound for a patient that didn't have insurance

19. Oohh, I never thought of that!

38. That's all fine and good until a guy gets a pap smear listed in his medical history.

50. Not a guy - but my (female) spouse

88. Maybe they used a tricorder

96. Good thought - but don't you at least have to be close to the facility? n/t

97. Musta beamed her in while she was asleep.

41. I was charged $325 for an ultra sound in a doctor's office that never happened... just

51. did you tell your insurance company about that?

55. Sad that this is all too common...

11. Only 1% of all coverage has a lifetime limit of less than $1 million

12. For many that negotiation is called bankruptcy.

100. The fraud provisions are still allowed under the ACA...

102. I thought it had to be proven to be real fraud

13. when they know you have insurance, the billed amount is largely funny money.

14. Everybody knew all along that this is the problem.

16. +1 The fucked up thing is

30. Got three words for you. Insurance Finance Reform.

35. Plus, some want us to be unthinking cheerleaders for insurance reform with the mandate instead of

114. +1 n/t

15. Funny you mention this -

26. Mine was laproscopic, too

64. That's not unusal

20. Don't pay retail - in anything

21. You know that at $11,000.00

22. Any other company that would submit a fraudulent bill

23. I just had a shocker from my ER visit last month

40. How about when you are lying on the operating table?

43. This whole 'in-network/out-of-network' stuff is bullshit

24. We never get a hospital or doctor bill up here

25. You know I was in Canada for the first time a few years ago....

44. I think in Ontario where I am, the tax is 13 percent on things like sunglasses

45. Watch out - freepers want to move to Canada

52. I read that too..

93. Never happen

110. Like the list

117. Oh... right

122. Does Canada now exempt "junk food" from the GST?

33. Another of our Canadian DUers says Obamas reform was a victory for us.

48. Perhaps you will

95. I know I can do an Internet search, but want to ask, is immigration to Canada an easy thing to do?

108. I googled.

28. What is crazy is you get a bill like that showing the system is a mess and you praise the ACA.

34. Did you even read the post? But for the ACA she'd be bankrupt. nt

106. It's not a long term solution. Those outrageous numbers

29. fees /charges for all doctors/hospitals should be posted on the internet nt

31. How come your insurance was able to get a 1/10 discount?

46. I wonder that, too

57. Cash customers have an interesting situation....

107. are you the person who posted this on DU several weeks ago?

32. Thanks for the post. And keep spreading the word about Obamacares! nt

83. ... yes, I like that added-S to the word... certainly fits

84. I love it myself

124. I'll do it as well -- as it will annoy my entire family. :))))

36. I was thinking about that the other day

37. Did both of your gallbladders explode?

39. My wife is scheduled for gallbladder surgery in two months

101. I am so sorry for your loss, but am glad you don't have to cope with that bill! hugs