General Discussion

evilhime

(372 posts)

81. A couple of things

Tue Jul 17, 2012, 02:59 PM

Jul 2012

I heard about the option of calling the hospital and asking what it would cost if you pay cash. . . and that the price difference is huge! I'm not sure if that covers overnight stays, but here is some more info about it: http://www.thehappymd.com/medical-bills-going-down-if-you-pay-cash-way-down/

Personally we found a similar story. My husband had cancer surgery. We had pretty good insurance through his employer fortunately. When the bill came from the hospital it was $135,000; when we received the insurance accounting for what was paid, the amount paid and accepted by the hospital was $31,000. I don't recall how much we had to spend but it was in the neighborhood of about $2,000 as our "share". How is this even close to equitable? It's like the old Gallagher bit about banks charging you an overdraft fee - so you are being charged more of what they already know you don't have.

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My Hospital Bill was $119,000 for 5 days [View all] 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