Question:
What kind of hidden and/or extra costs for surgery can I expect?
I am on a very tight budget (unemployed w/ no compensation) and am concerned about some of these extra costs I am reading about. EG: $150 for a psych consult, $1000 deposit to surgeon, 5 part abdomenal garments (?????)! My insurance is covering the surgery, testing and follow ups, but what kind of cash syphon am I signing up for here? Please email me at [email protected] Thanks heaps! — CarmenLin (posted on June 28, 2002)
June 28, 2002
Carmen,
My insurance covered my procedure 100%. Unfortunately, the
anesthesiologist was out of network (and I had no control over that), so I
am having to pay $635 to him ($10 a month) but that was my only expense
other than one $15 copay to the surgeon for the initial consult.
— Patty_Butler
June 28, 2002
Hi carmen, my insurance covered 100% with the exception of the psych
consult, ekg, and the h-pylori blood test.
— rebecca N.
June 28, 2002
I had a small flood of doctors bills that came in after the surgery.
Insurance covered either all or part of all of it, but I'd say that I spent
several hundred out of pocket, to include $2000 up front to the surgeon to
make up for what insurance did not pay him for.
— Cindy R.
June 28, 2002
As my friend and I spoke the other day the only person she says she didn't
get a bill from at the hospital is the person who runs the coffee truck.
There are bills upon bills of people who read tests etc. that come out of
no where. I would strongly suggest that you contact your person in Human
Resources and make sure you understand your benefits extremely well.
— Joanie J.
June 28, 2002
Hi, Carmen - my total out of pocket costs were:
$100.00 for the nutritional consult
$ 50.00 for the psych consult
$ 26.00 for the phone and TV service in the hospital
and my usual $15.00 co-pay for the md for medical clearance and for the
surgical consult. I had a private room also post op for 5 days @ no extra
charge - it all depends on your insurance coverage. Good luck!
— Jean K.
June 28, 2002
Heck, you ladies were lucky! Although my insurance is/was supposed to
cover the surgery, I was required to pay a deposit for my surgeon and the
assistant surgeon: $7,875.00; a deposit at the hospital: $375 (and my
hospital is in my preferred providers); numerous small medical bills and
co-pays: $ hundreds; not to mention I just got a $1,178.00 bill as the
balance due from the hospital; etc. etc. I would ask a whole lot of
questions next time you talk to your doctor/surgeon and/or his/her billing
office!!!
— Jennifer A.
June 28, 2002
I guess I am a lucky one. Everything was covered by the insurance w/the
exception of the 10.00 copy for my first consult. The psych eval and
everything else was covered. I guess it depends on the surgeon and/or the
type of insurance you have.
— stacey1273
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