Insurance question - -

[cathy]

My surgery was back in Feb. I never got any bill from the hospital - it went to the insurance company. It was for a ridiculous amount - over $47,000, of which my insurance company paid $28,000, their contracted amount.

I have a bill that I received a couple of months ago. This place seemed to have difficulty filing with my insurance company for some reason, but it seems the FINALLY were able to get the claim to Cigna. The bill is for what appears to be blood work the day before, of and after surgery:

80048 - Basic Metabolic Panel
82040 - Assay Serum Albumin
83738 - Assay Blood Magnesium
etc

Now - why would this be a separate charge and not part of the hospital bill??? Is this normal?

[spunky409]

I think that is normal to have laboratory services bill separately. I have been billed separately in the past. Gosh can't believe the surgery cost though.... seems insanely high.

[rkincaid]

My anesthesia bill was separate for some reason. I have BCBSNC. I ended up having to pay $1038 for the anesthesia from my surgery, even though I met and exceeded my co pay and co insurance. I'm with ya on the confusion....

[cathy]

Yes - I was charged separately for the anesthesiologist and of course, my surgeon's fee were separate. But I wasn't billed separately for xrays after the surgery, physical therapy at the hospital, visit from nutritionist, etc etc. I would have thought blood work would have been in with the hospital bill.

Kind of makes me wonder what in the world they charged $47,000 for?!?! Certainly couldn't have been for the luxurious accommodations! This was a very small, dinky little old hospital.

[Kim G]

Here is what I tell our patients: There will be a bill from the hospital, anesthesia, the surgeron, radiology, and labs. Sometimes there are can be others. Each is seperate and bills seperatly. It's sad but true! The hospital bills so much for so little!

[sassy46545]

Holy Cow Cathy...
My surgery was only $7650 and that included one night in a posh hotel, two nights in the hospital and free fills for life!

Tracy

Banded in Mexicali, Mexico by Dr. Alberto Aceves
9/14/07

[Kim G]

Holy Cow Cathy...
My surgery was only $7650 and that included one night in a posh hotel, two nights in the hospital and free fills for life!

Tracy

Banded in Mexicali, Mexico by Dr. Alberto Aceves
9/14/07

There are HUGE price cuts when you are self-pay even here in the states. I mean HUGE....it's sad that the hospital heck even doctors bill what their posted prices are to the insurance and because they have contracts they know they are only getting (normally) not even half of what they billed.

Health insurance....it's sad!