Hospital bills

[Granbonny]

My sister just called me and asked me if I had a face-lift in the 17 hours she was in the hospital for 2 stents put in.. total bill she received today just for that..$37,000 ..she went in earlier that morning in another hospital for a Cath of heart..where they found 2 blocked arteries...and sent her by ambulance to this larger hospital an hour away..Now..she stills has to receive that bill..plus ambulance ride and 2 visits this past week to another doctor for her huge hematoma..where the sheath was put in.....Still not doing good due to swollen foot from the hematoma.......We are thinking now at least $50,000 for everything.she only gets $1,000 a month from deceased hubby's S.S. and makes about that a month from her part-time work at Red Cross....minus her tax..... she is hoping they (insurance will pay 80% and maybe because she makes less. the hospitals will cut her bills?I was with her the 17 hours and saw no way for $37,000..only saw her have 1 heprain drip and a morphine shot?when they removed the sheath..In fact..they forgot to bring her breakfast and I had to go to the hospital cafe and get her something to eat. I'm sure she will ge more bills. from other people. just awful...Bonnie

 

[geebee]

You are right - that is a ton of money. However, keep in mind that the insurance will probably only "allow" about 1/2 of the bill, pay 80% of that allowance and indicate your sister should pay the remainder.

Most hospitals give credit based on income. Sometimes they will "forgive" the entire amount not paid by insurance or cut it drastically. Be sure she knows to apply for such a credit. It has saved my finances many times.

 

[Harrybaby666]

Wow Bonnie!!!!! I guess it's a sign of greed...

Wow Bonnie!!!!! I guess it's a sign of greed...

When I was admitted at the end of September for a bad bout with Angina, they had told me that they were "certain" that I hadn't had a heart attack-yet they insisted that I stay and have another cardiac cath done-now mind you, I was admitted on a Thursday night, and they could have done the cath the next day if they thought it was that urgent, instead of my having to stay in the hospital over the weekend before they did the cath on Monday morning and discharging me that afternoon.....my bill was over 21,000...just for the 3 days I was in plus the cath expenses on top of that....the hospital I was in is one that is "for profit" so I can see why they would say I needed to stay over the weekend-more money for their pockets. Anyway, I just wanted to lend my support to you and your sister and have you all in my prayers ((((((((((((((Hugs))))))))))))) Harrybaby

 

[Lynlw]

I've seen ton of bills since Justin was born, he had 1 cath, heart surgery and pyloric stenosis surgery, before he made it home at 5 weeks old. And after his 2nds heart surgery he was in and out (mostly in but we lived 10 min from CHOP so they'd let us home for a few good days inbetween ) and with all the bills he's had, I can't believe how shcked i was when he got the bill for his cardia MRI, just the 2 hour test, not the doc was 11,905 dollars.
AFTER she feels better, I would wait unti she has final copies of all the bills and figure out what the total is, what unsurance and what she will be responsible for then start by talking to the social worker at the hospital and explain why she can't afford this and would they work w/ her. IF they aren't nice ask for itemized bill broken down by each item you were charged for , and really look at it, chances are there are lots of error you could disputed ect
I hope sse feels better soon, and the swelling goes down soon, lyn

 

[Dennis S]

An observation:

An observation:

I am sorry I have nothing new to add but more sympathy. The advice already given is good and should help a lot.

Charging wage earners more than insurance companies for the same procedure seems crazy.

 

[sue943]

That sounds awful.

So waht happens if you cannot pay and don't have insurance cover?

 

[hensylee]

Bonnie, if she has medicare, Medicare will not allow all of those charges. They will pare it down and then pay 80%. If she has a supplemental, they will pay 80% of the remaining amount - then your sister pays the rest. I have a supplemental that pays all of the amount left over after Medicare pays. One thing we should all remember is never pay anything until all of the insurance companies have paid theirs. If we do and then the ins pays, it's a real boondoggle to get your money BACK. I handled mother's, my brother's, Joe's and my own insurance for all these years and I never pay until all others have sent theirs. I had a bill in about November from one of Richard's doctors that his supplemental should have paid in full, so I called them, they said they should have paid and would so I told this to the dr's office. Then I got another bill last month from the dr's office that they hadn't been paid. I promised to call the ins co and did. The girl there said she couldn't find even that I had called and I should send a copy of the Medicare remittance, which I did. Soon I got a check to Richard for this charge plus a bill from the doctor. I paid the doctor, put the check in Richard's account and that was the end of it. Except that the ins company paid another bill direct to Richard in the same check and I have no idea who or where he is. Even my sister in Dallas can't find him so I am just leaving it in the bank until I hear from that doctor. A mess? you bet - but tell your sister to hang on to her money for now. Those itemized hospital bills are not real. Only what the ins company approves is real.

 

[OldManEmu]

Heath Costs

Heath Costs

Granbonny, 37K USD (45K AUD) for less than 1 day. This must be the best business in the US. I hope your sister's insurance covers it. US hospitals must be the most profitable businesses in the world based on their charge out rate!

 

[Guest]

Most hospitals give credit based on income. Sometimes they will "forgive" the entire amount not paid by insurance or cut it drastically. Be sure she knows to apply for such a credit. It has saved my finances many times.

I'm guessing criteria determine whether or not you get that assistance, right? Is it just based on income alone? Or, do they figure in your assets as well?



Cort:33swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker
PICS:lego.HO.model.MCinfo.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"Money can't buy happiness" ... Don Williams ... 'One Good Well'

 

[hensylee]

Granbonny, 37K USD (45K AUD) for less than 1 day. This must be the best business in the US. I hope your sister's insurance covers it. US hospitals must be the most profitable businesses in the world based on their charge out rate!

it is, along with drug companies - the medical community, we call it.

Cort, I don't know how the hospitals figure out their write-offs. I had a friend who went to the hospital board and they wrote hers off. She had assets such as a home and vehicle.

I do know that Medicare considers assets because when I got the Medicare RX book they had a section for those who cannot afford to pay for the drug plan and they considered all assets, at least those in the bank. Maybe not the home, cars, etc. I believe Medicaid considers only your income in order to get medical/drug care, tho not sure. You could probably find it on the net.

 

[Guest]

*nods*

Thanks for the info/tips, Ann ... definitely appreciate it. I'm just afraid they see my "portfolio" of MCs ... and immediately say I can afford all of the bills.

I'll check around and find out....sure would be nice to be able to do things I want to do ... instead of wasting time, vacation AND money on this ... he he .

OH ... BTW ... on the way home today, I saw a license plate ... I KID you NOT ... that read:
HENSLE 1

Yeah, I know, not EXACTLY how your handle is spelled ... but it made me think of you .



Cort:33swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker
PICS:lego.HO.model.MCinfo.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"You got to roll with the punches" ... Van Halen ... 'Jump'

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Medicare definatley considers assests. Such as a home. IF, your spouse is not residing in the home. Different set of rules would apply in a case like that. They can't just take your home away. Especially if you have a trust.

We just assisted in the settlement of an estate for a relative. No trust. Unsettled bills, medical or otherwise came out of the assets. We found that you can "protect" assets so to speak. Place in someone elses name. BUT, you would need to think about this in advance. They will trace it back five years!

 

[hensylee]

"OH ... BTW ... on the way home today, I saw a license plate ... I KID you NOT ... that read:
HENSLE 1"

THAT'S really unusual. My handle is my mother's name and I have never found another one except a search of the net revealed one in a family tree (not ours) that was back in 17 or 1800s! Thanks for telling me.

 

[Guest]

*grins*

You are welcome, Ann . I can't say for sure I have the correct spelling from the license plate ... but I know if that wasn't exactly it, it certainly was very similar ... and close enough to remind me of you ... immediately!


Gina ... but that is Medicare, though, right (if I read your post correctly)? I wouldn't be dealing with Medicare, so I wonder if it'd be worth a shot..........

*rolls eyes in financial frustration*



Cort:33swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker
PICS:lego.HO.model.MCinfo.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"There was a time I was a true believer" ... Jennifer Warnes ... 'I Know A Heartache When I See One'

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Hi Cort,

If you feel any of your assets may be in jeopardy down the road......it can't hurt to put them in another name/s. That was just one example. I am sure it can happen under other circumstances outside of Medicare. BUT, as long as you have your health insurance.....not much to worry about. You can work out payment plans for anything that falls outside of your coverage. Friend of mine told a hospital she could only afford 20 a month towards her balance after ins. They accepted. As long as you make an effort.....they will keep you out of collections.

 

[hensylee]

*grins*

You are welcome, Ann . I can't say for sure I have the correct spelling from the license plate ... but I know if that wasn't exactly it, it certainly was very similar ... and close enough to remind me of you ... immediately!


Gina ... but that is Medicare, though, right (if I read your post correctly)? I wouldn't be dealing with Medicare, so I wonder if it'd be worth a shot..........

*rolls eyes in financial frustration*



Cort:33swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker
PICS:lego.HO.model.MCinfo.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"There was a time I was a true believer" ... Jennifer Warnes ... 'I Know A Heartache When I See One'

It never hurts to check out Medicaid. Medicaid, if you can get on it, provides medical care and medicine. The worst they can tell you is no. Also there is a program we see advertised on TV that can get you free medicine. At one time, I applied to one of those places and received some very expensive medicine every month for free. Look on the net, too for 'free medicine'.

Medicaid will take the home after death of a participant unless the family pays them back for what Medicaid paid out. Had a friend who expected to inherit her aunt's home - alas, Medicaid took it.

 

[Ross]

I'm guessing criteria determine whether or not you get that assistance, right? Is it just based on income alone? Or, do they figure in your assets as well?


Cort:33swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker
PICS:lego.HO.model.MCinfo.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"Money can't buy happiness" ... Don Williams ... 'One Good Well'

http://cms.clevelandclinic.org/body.cfm?id=528
Cort for the free ride program, here is the income limits. For sliding fee scale programs, they do want to know about your assets and such.

Medicaid in Ohio, will only allow you to have one car.

 

[Ross]

As long as you make an effort.....they will keep you out of collections.

After Lyns kidney surgery, I found this to be not so true. They dictate what you'll pay and when or else they'll see you in court. They got very ugly with us.

 

[hensylee]

right, Ross. that probably was the case at one time, tho. Maybe some small hospitals still do it, but our small hospital does not.

Sister owned a real estate office and weekly we checked for changes of property (houses, lots, etc) One of the changes was a nice lot that the hospital 'inherited' and we know they got it from a patient because it was way out in the country and nobody was buying out there at that time. Shame.

 

[Granbonny]

sister is not on medicare..Only age 61.....but has bc/bs from her work at American Red Cross.......she is thinking maybe only the $1,500 deductable ....but..have not asked her lately due to the Cath from hell. (about any other bills)..Today..2 weeks after her cath/stents..standing at kitchen sink when the large boil on the hematoma burst. she packed it and drove herself to 1st Cardio who did her Cath..He said, how sorry he was that she has gone thru so much....put a few butterflies on it and bandage. Said to watch for bleeding..should stop by tomorrow. now, she is watching it for an infection....Sister told him to write her a letter to Boss..she tried to work yesterday/today...............plus all the fluid has now gone to her foot.on/on..she said when she called me an hour ago..I hope he is not even thinking about charging me for this visit. I forgot..she has income from selling our parents home.(Brother/I gave it to her)being a widow for 15 years................so I am sure ..she will have a lot to pay out..due to her first Cardio's doing a Cath and sending her to another hospital.for the stents. On her back/flat for 17 hours.. .......Bonnie