Medicare patients end up owing huge hospital bills if they enter under "observation" status instead

[KentuckyWoman]

44. This happens on regular insurance too. - Always Ask.

I know someone who had a heart attack, ended up in bypass, out in 4 days. Was never ADMITTED. Only observation. When he got the $300 co-pay EOB from Humana he called the insurance company... no... I was admitted. Nope, observation - you owe.

It was a small amount considering the the cost of heart bypass and a value of life. He was in recovery with no energy to haggle. He just paid it and moved on.

A year later his wife had bronchitis from hell and ended up in the ER - really serious trouble breathing. They said they were "just waiting for a room upstairs". Sure enough, they planned to hold her for observation. He said if they could not admit her then we need to find a hospital that will and have her transported. He was told Humana had stipulated the terms of her staying so he called Humana. It took few hours of stress that didn't need to be an a call to Humana from the Pulmonology department, but they got it done.