Bitten by a Copperhead in Virginia (health insurance, costs, law)

[WKWVA]

Hello, i was bitten by a copperhead 3 weeks ago in virginia. This snakle was concealed in some leaves down by a creek. I was in the hospital a total of 26 hours. While there, i received 4 iv treatments of crofab, some pain meds and anti-biotics. The statement from my insurance co. Arrived several days ago and i was horrified to learn that the hospital had charged $128,000.00 for my treatment. The ins. Co stated that they had paid over $78,000.00 for their part. This is nothing short of robbery. I may have been delerious while in the hospital but i don't remember seeing them wearings guns and masks.

[badger74]

Well, what's your life worth? Ever try to milk a snake? Here is a discussion of treatment costs for snakebites--some are very similar to yours.

Snakebite cost - Experts Forum at VenomousReptiles.org

[RVA-Jsn20]

wow was it really necessary to go to the hospital? Copperhead bites are typically not fatal

[Nebat]

God that's awful! Sorry to hear about first, the snake bite and second the outrageous medical bill. That is horrifying. Unfortunately that is the state of our health care and insurance industry. One big fat rip off only to milk money from those that can't really afford it. And here I thought that your right to affordable healthcare would be a basic inalienable human right, not a privilege for the elite.

[South Jersey Styx]

Wow, I never knew snake bites cost so much.

Does the hospital/facility have "charity care"? It is a program that can help pay/offset the costs to the patient. Typically it would benefit those without health insurance, no savings, etc. I believe you have to get the treatment first, and then apply into the program. I hope this can help.

[Pandoras]

I am surprised it cost so much because Copperhead bites are fairly common in Virginia. Which part of the state did this occur in?

[Canine*Castle]

Originally Posted by RVA-Jsn20

wow was it really necessary to go to the hospital? Copperhead bites are typically not fatal

Many things are "typically not fatal", but one still might need hospital care. By the way, the bites of the copperheads are usually not fatal to adults. My great-nephew was bitten in Texas by one when he was young and was care flighted to a hospital in the DFW area.

Check out the photos in the link below. I believe I truly would want to be in a hospital should this happen to me.

Copperhead Snake.com

[cat1116]

Originally Posted by WKWVA

Hello, i was bitten by a copperhead 3 weeks ago in virginia. This snakle was concealed in some leaves down by a creek. I was in the hospital a total of 26 hours. While there, i received 4 iv treatments of crofab, some pain meds and anti-biotics. The statement from my insurance co. Arrived several days ago and i was horrified to learn that the hospital had charged $128,000.00 for my treatment. The ins. Co stated that they had paid over $78,000.00 for their part. This is nothing short of robbery. I may have been delerious while in the hospital but i don't remember seeing them wearings guns and masks.

Charged $128,000.00 Holy cow !!!!!!

[badger74]

The way hospitals work is they have a crazy sticker price that nobody really pays and then a price they negotiate with the various insurers. A typical discount is 30-50%. The 39% discount in this case is normal.

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by WKWVA

Arrived several days ago and i was horrified to learn that the hospital had charged $128,000.00 for my treatment. The ins. Co stated that they had paid over $78,000.00 for their part. This is nothing short of robbery. I may have been delerious while in the hospital but i don't remember seeing them wearings guns and masks.

My guess is you'll end up owing next to nothing. Health care pricing is like furniture store pricing where nobody, particularly no insurance company is going to pay the stated price. I think there's a law against balance billing which may protect you but most insurance policies have a maximum out of pocket provision that's at most a few thousand. You should call your carrier and the hospital to find out what you really owe. Better than needlessly fretting while you wait for the bill.