Thoughts Please...

[Tahneesamson 41]

Ok so I was banded April 2. Day one went by fine, day two I ended up in the ER that night for violent violent vomiting, nausea and diarrhea (uncontrollable) when we called the dr ion the middle of the night he instructed us to go to a "specific" hospital across town. This was at 1am in the morning and I thought I was dying! So at the hospital I received an iv, pain meds, and the dr ordered an MRI. Anyways long story short, I was self pay at 10k...yesterday I got a bill from the hospital for 3k!!!! I guess I just assumed that since he sent us to a specific hospital and it was day 2, that he was taking care of it!! My husband is pissed and wants to take him to small claims court, but I'm scared caz I have to deal with them for the next year of my life! I'm also part of his clinical trial for the band with plication, so I assumed if something went wrong on day two he would take of it. Maybe I'm just naive...any thoughts????

[NWgirl 574]

I don't know that the Dr is liable for anything, and I'm guessing he sent you to a hospital that could work with bands in emergencies.

What did they do for you at the hospital? Is it something he could have done himself? Some people's bodies just have a negative reaction to start and its not the fault of medical personnel.

would you have been covered at another hospital?

[Tahneesamson 41]

I figured....it just really sux. You pay 10k for a surgery and then it turns into 13k!

[scorpiolady 83]

Sorry to hear you had such complications. Not sure how I would handle it either. I'm self pay as well and pray nothing will happen. Did they determine what was wrong? Was it something to do with the band or the surgery? Maybe have an honest talk with the doctor and explain your situation. He might be willing to do something to help. Never hurts to try.

[Tahneesamson 41]

They think it was a reaction from the meds or anesthisia. We've already spoke to the dr and he says we are responsible. It sux so bad. I guess I should have just sucked it up that night ( but I really thought I was dying I was so sick. I guess we can always try and negotiate with the hospital to see if they will come down on price at all

[Joybgunter 19]

Oh what a dreadful story! FYI, hospitals are happy w any effort to set up a payment plan. Even $25-$50 monthly keeps them happy. BUT, you must get to the financial Dept. and work it out w them, not just start doing itt.

[mjp33 4]

Oh that is awful! You may want to discuss a plan of action for any future emergency type visits, so you don't have any other bills like that. I'm a self pay person too and never thought about the possibility of anything like that happening. I guess we just aren't wired to think that way. I'm glad you were okay though!

I agree about not taking him to court -- you don't want to have any problems with your care for the next 12 months, especially since it has been paid for!!!

[kah1213 311]

They think it was a reaction from the meds or anesthisia. We've already spoke to the dr and he says we are responsible. It sux so bad. I guess I should have just sucked it up that night <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />( but I really thought I was dying I was so sick. I guess we can always try and negotiate with the hospital to see if they will come down on price at all

They don't think it was an issue with the banded plication, right? (I'm having that in 2 weeks). Ps glad ur feeling better!

[Tahneesamson 41]

The MRI looked great and I've had other scanning at the dr since then, do my plication looks good! I just had a really rough recovery ;(( I'm almost 6 weeks post op now and doing great! No more nausea thank god! I'm down 21lbs. Going for my second full in 2 weeks. I would not have changed a thing, other than I would have roughed it out that night to bypass the 3k bill!!!

[Tahneesamson 41]

Question though, is it best to call a negotiate with the hospital or insurance company about my bill??

[Tahneesamson 41]

Oh that is awful! You may want to discuss a plan of action for any future emergency type visits' date=' so you don't have any other bills like that. I'm a self pay person too and never thought about the possibility of anything like that happening. I guess we just aren't wired to think that way. I'm glad you were okay though!

I agree about not taking him to court -- you don't want to have any problems with your care for the next 12 months, especially since it has been paid for!!![/quote']

Who would I discuss that with?? My doctor or insurance? Caz my insurance sux. I pray I never have to go to the ER again!!

[mjp33 4]

I bet your insurance won't touch it with a ten foot pole! If yours is anything like mine, they want no part of wls. I would start with hospital.

[mjp33 4]

Maybe they can try running it through your insurance to see if they will cover it. Maybe it will slip through. Did you give them your insurance info when they admitted you?

[Tahneesamson 41]

Maybe they can try running it through your insurance to see if they will cover it. Maybe it will slip through. Did you give them your insurance info when they admitted you?

That is the problem! When my husband checked me in he gave them my insurance card even tough the receptionist said that she wasn't sure if I even needed to check in caz sometimes dr smith takes care of it! So now that is was run under my insurance I'm screwed! If we would have just paid out of pocket it would have been half that!!! Ugh! I'm so pissed and don't know what to do ((

[mjp33 4]

That is the problem! When my husband checked me in he gave them my insurance card even tough the receptionist said that she wasn't sure if I even needed to check in caz sometimes dr smith takes care of it! So now that is was run under my insurance I'm screwed! If we would have just paid out of pocket it would have been half that!!! Ugh! I'm so pissed and don't know what to do <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />((

Excuse my language, but that is bullsh*t. I would call up there and raise some hell! Talk to someone in billing and tell them they messed up! You might have to get a little nasty with them, but it sounds like it ion them. If some people come in and get it for free and others get it for half the price, then they are not being constant with the way they bill!