Payment for Surgery

[WickedBeauty 87]

I work for the hospital where I'll be having my surgery. I have a copay of $2750. Since I am an employee I'm eligible to payroll deduct up to $2500. Outside of my copay for the consults and procedure everything is paid at 100%. If I continue to participate in my employers wellness program I'll be eligible for reimbursement of a percentage of my copays.

Edited April 10, 2014 by WickedBeauty

[Wallflower7522 328]

Wow your insurance doesn't have max out of pocket?

A little tip, it may not work but it's worth a try. If the doctor or hospital offers care credit or some other type of financing, you're NOT going to use it, and you are paying cash/check in full at the time ask for a discount. Care Credit and other financing companies charge the doctor about 10% for a 12 month no interest promotion. And it may be a little bit more for 24 months. It couldn't hurt to ask for a little discount.

[jamilyne 102668 1,207]

I was self pay and paid $9000 total.

[Renee07 2]

Wow, this thread definitely makes me realize how lucky I am with my insurance. My total out of pocket cost was less then $200, and that was just in co-pays for various consults and clearances pre-op. I do know someone who went to Mexico to have the surgery, she spent $5000. That wouldn't sit well with me, but she has had no problems and excellent results so far.

[ChristyAZ 87]

I may be wrong but if your insurance pays 70% that mans the procedure is a covered benefit so you are only obligated to pay 30% of the ALLOWED amount. The hospital/surgeon can bill any amount they want but the insurance will only pay their contracted rates. Before you pay anything, call the billing office at your surgeons office and get the billing codes they will use....same with the hospital .... then contact your insurance and ask them what they allow as payment on the codes. The amount will be drastically different them what the doc and facility bill. A few years back, my daughter had surgery and thru her father she had an 80%-20% plan. The hospital and the doctor tried to make me pay like $8000 up front and they advised they would "reimburse me the difference after they received payment from the insurance" but I got the billing codes in writing from the ins company and hospital, did the calculations and with the proof in hand went to the hospital billing office. I ended up paying about $1300. Do not think you have to pay 30% of the inflated costs the doc and facility are asking for. Make some calls and question your insurance company .... they will help you .... Good luck ....

[kcaves 3]

I have Aetna and my plan pays 50% up to $10,000. The "coordinator" for the physician/hospital is telling me I will come out cheaper if I self pay, which will be $23,000.00. According to a person from the hospital if I use insurance the "estimated amount allowed" is $36000, subtract $10,000 my insurance pays and I would have a balance of $26,000. I don't understand how this could be.

[jkppt 76]

I had a revision from band to bypass on April 3. I just received the bill from the hospital. I have Aetna and they have a 10000 cap on WLS. The bill before the insurance discount was 64000. The contract between UPMC and Aetna reduced it to 24000. Aetna paid 10000 and I am left with 14000 to pay out of pocket. When I got the actual bill from the hospital I called and asked if they had some kind of payment plan they could put me on. They were very helpful and said that I could pay 500 a month until it was paid off. I asked about interest or fees and they said I would only be paying for the bill amount. I was very relieved and so glad I asked. It cannot hurt to see if you can get something like this arranged.

[beeteroo 166]

I am filling out my application packet for qualifying for bariatric surgery. My insurance covers 70 percent of the surgery leave me to pay between $6000 and $10,000. The office said the money was due before the surgery could be preformed. I am very surprised by amount that I will have to pay. I am in the medical field and a lot of my Pts who receive bariatric surgery are lower income. There is absolutely no way I can have that kind of money anytime soon. I assumed I would pay monthly payments after the surgery. So my question is did you all have to have thousands of dollars up front of was there some sort of financing that you found? I know there are medical credit cards but just don't know if that's the way to go.

I was expecting to pay about 5000 before surgery but they've (the hospital) only asked me to pay my deductibles. My surgeon didn't ask for anything up front. Weird. I have no idea how much I will end up paying in the end. I would suggest working hard to come up with as much as possible and pay them! Maybe if you have a big down payment they will let you make payments on the rest.

[yolicious1 64]

In my pre-op yesterday I had to come up with $3400. CareCredit gives 24 months with no interest payments at this hospital. I only had one thousand dollars in cash, that's all I planned to put down on the surgery, as I thought I could make payments on the rest of the bill. The hospital said elective procedures must be paid in advance. So I gave them 1,400, and did 2,000 with Care Credit.

I cannot believe I received a bill from the hospital for over $1000 in the mail today. I gave them $3400 cash. Wha.. ?

[Tracy Learmonth Shaw 21]

i paid 16000 dollars in ontario canada for my sugery. I also had to pay for my blood work and Protein Shakes. I am covered for fills up to 5 years as well. my surgery date is may 16 2014.

[jtickle 295]

After reading these post, I feel very fortunate with my insurance and surgery. I only have an expense of $75.00. That is the portion that is not covered by insurance. It is for a years worth of dietitian visits after surgery. I have met my out of pocket and deductible so my surgery is 100% paid for.

[RNBSN786 206]

I am blessed and grateful to God that I had to only pay $300 as my copay for my surgery. And everything else was covered. Kudos to those who had to pay out of pocket or a big chunk of it. I can't complain but be gracious and thankful for what I have. God is great!

[beeteroo 166]

So far my bill is up to 3500! That's just the hospital bill. It's going to be expensive!

[Jersrose43 837]

I cannot believe I received a bill from the hospital for over $1000 in the mail today. I gave them $3400 cash. Wha.. ?

Did you get a receipt? I'd call hospital immediately. Or did you pay the doctor? If so he isn't going to give the hospital ant money

[OGmom3122 7]

I'm seeing all these prices for surgery omg! I have horizon and my surgery only cost $500 I'm feeling blessed seeing all these posts. God bless you guys!