Question:
ATTN Post-Ops....can you share with me ....

I'm curious if you had to pay your deductible to the hospital prior to surgery. My insurance covers 90%. Will I be required to pay my 10% portion up front?? I just got my surgery date....November 4th....so many questions!!!! Thanks in advance for your help!!    — Michelle E. (posted on October 14, 2003)


October 14, 2003
I was required to pay a deposit against my expected deductible of 10%. My "deposit" was $192. I recieved a bill from the hospital after my insurance paid for an addition $175. It's important to check to see if your Dr will have a surgical assistant. They don't always tell you up front and you won't want to find out 30 days post op when you get the assistants bill for a few thousand $$'s. Some carriers will pay for the assistant, but many do not. Also check with your surgeon about an up front payment. Some surgeons wait until just a few days before surgery to tell you that you need to pay something up front. Best wishes -
   — M B.

October 14, 2003
My hospital copay wasy 80/20 of the first $15,000 (my policy requirements), and the hospital did require me to pay that at the time of my admission, I had to give them a check for $3000 and they cashed it the very next day! Like what would they do if it bounced, reattach my stomach??!!
   — beeda

October 14, 2003
I only had to pay a $25 co-pay, but I asked them to bill me and they did, probley because it was so small. You might want to call the hospital and find out this information before the day of surgery. I also did a pre-admit, one week before my actually admit for surgery, but I would call the admission at the hospital and they will be able to tell you the amount and if you can make arrangements, you do not need that added stress the day of your surgery.
   — cindy

October 14, 2003
Good question. The only person that can really answer that is your insurance co. However, I would think they would just bill you for it, but I am not sure. I would just call and ask.
   — Michele B.

October 14, 2003
I had an 80/20 plan after a $200 deductible. I did not have to pay anything up front. I was billed by the hospital after the insurance company had paid their portion.
   — eaamc

October 14, 2003
Hi--I was required to pay my deductible and co-payment at my final pre-op testing, which was 2 weeks before surgery.
   — Cisbell

October 14, 2003
I think that you should call the hospital and check with them as well, they asked for mine but I didn't have to have it. I would definatly ask everyone prior! Good Luck!
   — Saxbyd

October 14, 2003
I didn't have to. Plus, they can't ask you for the deductible, just the 10%, because the deductible applies to whichever bill gets there first. My deductible went to the anesthesiologist because his bill got there first - the surgeon's got paid next, and the hospital bill was actually the last one received and paid.
   — bethybb

October 14, 2003
i was asked to pay the deductible but i had already paid mine piror to surgery due to other hospital stuff from earlier in the year. i had to pay the 10% to the doctors office up front,but later i recieved a check for the entire amount back. they advised due to the insurance covering so much they owed that back to me which helped me out. it was 700.00. but just check with your doctor and hospital.
   — PATRICIATRICE

October 14, 2003
The Hospital did not ask me to pay at admission or at discharge. They sent me a bill for $206.00 about 1 mo. postop after they had received payment from my insurance company. They were only allowed to charge me 10% of the insurance negotiated rate, which was less than half of the billed rate of surgery. Good luck !!
   — plsmom

October 14, 2003
I had a $500.00 copay to the hospital. They sent me a bill 2 months after surgery and told me I could go on a 12 or 24 month payment plan, which I took them up on because it was right before Christmas.
   — ckreh

October 14, 2003
my hospital asked for my portion of the cost upon admit, I was able to work out a payment plan with them though. paid part up front and the remainder over next 2 months.
   — Wendy K.

October 14, 2003
I didn't pay anything. They billed me after the insurance made their payment.
   — Patty H.

October 14, 2003
I had to pay $1500, which was my total copay for the year for my insurance company. As I had some medical expenses prior to my surgery, part of that had already been paid, but I didn't know how much. They said not to worry, they would figure it all out and reimburse me what I had over paid. In any event, at my preop testing, I wrote a check for $1500 to the hospital, and after their bills were paid by my insurance, they send me a refund check for the amount that I had over paid (I think it came out to $350 or so).
   — johanniter

October 15, 2003
I think it is unusual to ask for money up front when insurance has approved coverage. It will probably depend on what kind of coverage you have. Most HMO and Major Medical cover about 80% of surgeries. My bills will come in a few weeks. But call your insurer and your hospital to cover the issue so there are no unhappy surprises. Hang in there, this surgery will change your life forever! - Deborah Open RNY 10/25/03
   — Deborah M.

October 15, 2003
Hi Michelle. I did not have to pay my deductible, but did have to pay $200.00 hospital co-pay. So you may want to check with your insurance and see what co-pay they have for hospital stays, because the hospital will probably require that it be paid prior to surgery. Good luck.
   — Dawn P.




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