beagleboy Posted April 14, 2008 Report Share Posted April 14, 2008 Back on Feb 14, I had a spinal fusion. The total time of the surgery was approx 3hrs. I just got a bill from the surgeon because my no-fault insurance has denied the bill. Hold on to your seat. The doctor's bill for the procedure came out to $43,000. What is wrong with this world when doctors could charge what they want? This is why this country's health and welfare is where it's at. This is totally ridiculous. Hopefully my health insurance will cover 80%. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Posted April 14, 2008 Report Share Posted April 14, 2008 wow that horrible. even 80% leaves you with a $8600 bill. Good lord. Good luck ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master_Chief Posted April 14, 2008 Report Share Posted April 14, 2008 Ouch. I hope you get it worked out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardwood_HD Posted April 14, 2008 Report Share Posted April 14, 2008 hope you get something figured out! 8600 would pay for a couple hunts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andrea Posted April 14, 2008 Report Share Posted April 14, 2008 I hope one of my kids goes to med school........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bowhunter56 Posted April 14, 2008 Report Share Posted April 14, 2008 this country , need universal health care...soon.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NS whitetail Posted April 14, 2008 Report Share Posted April 14, 2008 :eek: holy crap :eek: I had spinal fusion back in 2002, it took about 4 hours ----- thankfuly our health care here in Canada is free and it never cost me a cent. Well, we are taxed to death, so I guess we do pay in a round about way :rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted April 14, 2008 Report Share Posted April 14, 2008 this country , need universal health care...soon.. Will never happen with all of the illegals in this country. Sorry for the hyjack BB. Hope thing work out and you heal quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted April 14, 2008 Report Share Posted April 14, 2008 You can hardly blame the doctors IMHO. The whole medical system doesn't work in this country IMO. Thank God I have great insurance because I racked up over $200,000 in medical bills in 2006/07. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aksheephuntress Posted April 14, 2008 Report Share Posted April 14, 2008 ...I know this doesn't help your frustration ...but-( you might already know this..)...if you just pay religiously $10 /month, it will never go to collections...also-talk with the hospital admin./ the surgeon's groups and a lot of hospitals and doctors groups will wave a big block of the charges, especially if you make them an offer to pay a 1/3 or 1/2 in cash....just a thought... I really hope you get relief with this,Beagleboy.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leo Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 You can hardly blame the doctors IMHO. The whole medical system doesn't work in this country IMO. Thank God I have great insurance because I racked up over $200,000 in medical bills in 2006/07. Right there with you Tominator! I am certain I've passed the $500,000 mark since 2003. (The hospital gave me a free T-shirt... Whoo-Hoo!) Yes there were lawyers involved to get the insurers to pay their part. You have to get a lawyer with a situation as nasty as mine was. There was simply too much money involved for folks to blindly be signing checks. The doctors themselves don't get that much of the bill. Neither does the staff that assists them, nor the hospital. An amazing amount goes to cover insurance for the folks that worked on you and facility the work was performed at. This is in case anything goes wrong and you end up suing! It's boils down to one insurance company paying the premium for another. Your other insurer should have an "Out-Of-Pocket" maximum. Even if the 20% of the bill is more than that specified maximum, the maximum is all you pay. Some company policies are $2500 maximum out of pocket and some are more but it is likely significantly less than $8600. Depending on your current earnings a major medical expense may also be tax deductible. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 i'll disagree with the lawyer aspect, leo. each state has an insurance commissioner, to make sure insurance companies don't cheat on their policy. so, call the insurance commissioner, and you'll get results free. 75% of what you are about to pay goes to cover attorney fees when someone sues, and they lose. unless we get tort reform in this country, expect to pay and expect attorneys to make hundreds of millions.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdoc Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 Was the surgery not pre-approved prior to admission? Most of the time the hospital/surgeon's office will call your insurance prior for preapproval? I would check on that. I would also get documentation from your insurance and do as Steve suggested and contact your state insurance commisioner. If all else fails sometimes you can contact the hospital/surgeon and see if they will just accept what insurance will pay--the 80% (if they agree on that). good luck todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 It's times like this I'm glad I live in Canada. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OJR Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 this country , need universal health care...soon.. As bad as this situation is, we do NOT need universal health care!:( Look at the VA system and you will see what "government universal health care" is like in this country! It is horrible!:( I have paid out over $250,000 from my own pocket in my lifetime. Yep, it hurts but I have done it and now I have better coverage so I won't get hit with those kind of bills again!:mad: I have never had anything to do with the system in Canada, but from what I hear, you have to wait forever to get treatment sometimes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leo Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 i'll disagree with the lawyer aspect, leo. each state has an insurance commissioner, to make sure insurance companies don't cheat on their policy. so, call the insurance commissioner, and you'll get results free. 75% of what you are about to pay goes to cover attorney fees when someone sues, and they lose. unless we get tort reform in this country, expect to pay and expect attorneys to make hundreds of millions.... I wasn't trying to indicate Beagleboy needed a lawyer, I suppose it may appear that way. I agree, that's the direction you turn only when you have to. The two worst kinds of lawsuits you can be involved in, are ones you lose and ones you win One bill, one doctor and facility. The insurance commissioner and Maximum out of pocket should handle everything solidly. My case covered three different states and several different hospitals and doctors. It was pretty messy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HUNTINGMAN Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 I put doctors in the same class as lawyers,insurance companies,gas companies,they are rip offs who think they can charge whatever they want because it is something people have to have.Good luck and hope you feel better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DU_man_84 Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 thats insane, hope everything works out, but like they said 8600 is still, wow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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