Cmd6715

I was self pay at a surgical center and had to go to a hospital 10 hours later for another surgery because of internal bleeding(nicked artery), needed several transfusions and spent 3 days in the hospital plus had to have more blood and iron transfusions after leaving that hospital. I’m now stuck with over $175,000 in hospitals bills and more still coming. BCBS is denying the claim because they don’t cover bariatric surgery or complications. The hospital billed it as complications of lap band instead of complications of gastric sleeve. I’m told it doesn’t matter because they won’t pay either but what if I want to appeal it, shouldn’t it be billed correctly?

Wow thank you so much for taking the time to send all of this information❤️ and the wonderful advice.

Yes I checked the reviews and they were good, he was the surgeon that had trained the surgeon that did my lap band years ago. He was late that day and I was the first patient of 7 so maybe he rushed through my surgery or maybe it was something to do with his finger injury a month prior. The surgical center said “your blood pressure is a little low so the surgeon wants you to spend the night at the hospital as a precaution, he will text your husband the address of the hospital to meet him at” so looking back yes I think they downplayed it to get me out of there. On the way I kept passing out. The hospital he sent us to was 49 miles away because apparently he doesn’t have rights anymore at the one that was a few miles away. I had asked his office staff previously what happens if there are complications and they said the surgical center is close to the hospital. A lawyer won’t touch this because the Dr. doesn’t have malpractice insurance (that’s something I kick myself for not knowing and hopefully anyone reading this learns from my mistake) and they say I don’t have permanent injuries from it. You would think with the trauma, stress and all the bills even besides the hospital bills, the hematologist, cardiologist, paying for someone to help take care of my specials needs daughter, the extended recovery time would matter but it doesn’t. Thank you both for the advice on the insurance and what to do with the hospital billing department. I get on all that first thing tomorrow.

ShoppGirl- I went from ER to operation room and then was out of it for 3 days so they didn't say anything at the hospital about billing but when I contacted the billing department, they told me that they got preapproval from the insurance for admission. They refused to submit the bill with the correct codes and referred me to a company that would decide if I qualify for financial assistance.

Sleevetobypass2023- Yes they did the sleeve at a surgical center (very common in Florida) they have private staff to keep you over night but at 10:15pm when it was time for me to walk again I was dizzy and my BP was low so they called my husband and told to drive me to the hospital that my surgeon text him the info for. By the time I arrived at the hospital I had already loss 2000cc of blood and looked 9 months pregnant. As far as the surgeon he said he is sorry, these things happen and there is nothing he can do. He won’t even help have the hospital correct the billing codes. BCBS told me they don’t cover any WLS or complications from it but they paid to remove my lap and 3 years ago.