Got my hospital bills today, $30,000 for appendix removal, insurance settled at 10,000 (salary, solution)

[lionking]

Four bills arrived today, 30k attempted charge for a routine surgery though it was a emergency for me, but I was out the next day. What do you think? Correct or not? Granted insurance haggled the hospital down to 10k but even that is a little steep? I am responsible for 20% because insurance this year went from last of full coverage to 80/20 coverage afer deductible.

Would a hospital be willing to negotiate if it was "customer pay"? What happens or what are alternatives to someone just laid off and lost insurance and has this happen? 30k is a years salary for many, would payments reflecting to a persons income like$50, $100 or $200 a month be accepted if faced with such a high bill? What can be done to lower what medical industry is charging or should it be lowered?

[NYChistorygal]

I had an emergency appendectomy in June. I spent 5 days, 4 nights and my bill was $50,000. Insurance paid around $12,000.

[Theliberalvoice]

The Republicans here think it is your fault. You deserved it. Just don't sick or have emergencies. It is that simple.

Jeez.

[HappyTexan]

Brought son to emergency room with food poisoning..5 hour stay in emergency room with some type of medicine to calm stomach muscles and 1 intravenous.
Bill was near $5K ..insurance paid them $600 and said paid in full..I owe nothing.

[Chuckity]

If we're playing the one up game, my daughter once had a simple blood draw (one tube) done at the University of Chicago.

$2000.

[HappyTexan]

Originally Posted by Theliberalvoice

The Republicans here think it is your fault. You deserved it. Just don't sick or have emergencies. It is that simple.

Jeez.

Do you see a pattern here ?

What the hospitals bill and what the insurance pays.
In each instance the insurance pays way less than the bill and it's settled.

Could you do that without insurance ?

No..getting everyone insurance is not the solution because having insurance seems to be the problem.

[rbohm]

hospitals negotiate all the time for their services. in fact if you are willing to try, talk ot the hospital about the amount you have to pay that the insurance company did not and try to get that number reduced, or arrainge payments for the amount owed.

[HappyTexan]

Originally Posted by Chuckity

If we're playing the one up game, my daughter once had a simple blood draw (one tube) done at the University of Chicago.

$2000.

But what did the hospital bill and what did the insurance pay ?

[Cavaturaccioli]

Typically a hospital will charge a self-pay customer the same amount they get from Medicaid. The $30,000 figure is the so-called 'street price'. Insurance companies negotiate pre-determined pricing and it's always a good deal lower. Rather than suffer acute appendicitis and possible peritonitis, what was it worth to you for them to save your life?

[ergohead]

Originally Posted by Cavaturaccioli

Typically a hospital will charge a self-pay customer the same amount they get from Medicaid. The $30,000 figure is the so-called 'street price'. Insurance companies negotiate pre-determined pricing and it's always a good deal lower. Rather than suffer acute appendicitis and possible peritonitis, what was it worth to you for them to save your life?

Blood money - I like that.