I AM FREAKING OUT!

[Pink Ninja 67]

Hi all! I am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on August 2nd..in 2 days!!!

I just got a a terrifying phone call.

Some lady said that she was calling from the hospital where my surgery is scheduled. She said my insurance is covering 80% and I'm responsible for the 20%. (I was already aware of that) Then she said that my 20% comes out to $6,630 and that I had to leave a deposit over the phone of at least half. My surgery center required a deposit to meet my deductible of $3,000. I paid that last week. I told the lady on the phone that I had already paid $3,000, she said it wasn't showing up on her end and that it might've just been the surgeons fee which is not included in the facility fee. I AM FREAKING OUT. I don't have another $3,000 to pay by Tuesday!! I can't call my insurance or surgeons office since they are both closed on Sunday. Has anyone gone through this???

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[Michilingi 66]

Wow, im sorry to hear. I never heard of this. I hope that you are able to get it all settled before Surgery.

[KristenLe 5,979]

Hi all! I am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on August 2nd..in 2 days!!!

I just got a a terrifying phone call.

Some lady said that she was calling from the hospital where my surgery is scheduled. She said my insurance is covering 80% and I'm responsible for the 20%. (I was already aware of that) Then she said that my 20% comes out to $6,630 and that I had to leave a deposit over the phone of at least half. My surgery center required a deposit to meet my deductible of $3,000. I paid that last week. I told the lady on the phone that I had already paid $3,000, she said it wasn't showing up on her end and that it might've just been the surgeons fee which is not included in the facility fee. I AM FREAKING OUT. I don't have another $3,000 to pay by Tuesday!! I can't call my insurance or surgeons office since they are both closed on Sunday. Has anyone gone through this???

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Do you have a maximum out of pocket for your insurance? That may help reduce your costs. I don't think there's anything you can do until you can speak to someone on Monday. Speak to a Manager at the hospital - the person calling is only doing as told and doesn't understand all that should be considered. Both the surgeon and hospital want to make sure they don't get screwed on payment. Your insurance should be able to help figure out your true costs. First of all, your 20% copay is based on Allowed Amount (not the hospital charges) so I don't think $6k is going to be your responsibility. Good luck. Keep us posted!

[Pink Ninja 67]

Hi all! I am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on August 2nd..in 2 days!!!

I just got a a terrifying phone call.

Some lady said that she was calling from the hospital where my surgery is scheduled. She said my insurance is covering 80% and I'm responsible for the 20%. (I was already aware of that) Then she said that my 20% comes out to $6,630 and that I had to leave a deposit over the phone of at least half. My surgery center required a deposit to meet my deductible of $3,000. I paid that last week. I told the lady on the phone that I had already paid $3,000, she said it wasn't showing up on her end and that it might've just been the surgeons fee which is not included in the facility fee. I AM FREAKING OUT. I don't have another $3,000 to pay by Tuesday!! I can't call my insurance or surgeons office since they are both closed on Sunday. Has anyone gone through this???

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Do you have a maximum out of pocket for your insurance? That may help reduce your costs. I don't think there's anything you can do until you can speak to someone on Monday. Speak to a Manager at the hospital - the person calling is only doing as told and doesn't understand all that should be considered. Both the surgeon and hospital want to make sure they don't get screwed on payment. Your insurance should be able to help figure out your true costs. First of all, your 20% copay is based on Allowed Amount (not the hospital charges) so I don't think $6k is going to be your responsibility. Good luck. Keep us posted!

Unfortunately my insurance doesn't have a maximum out of pocket for bariatric surgery. I'm really nervous that they will not let me have the surgery on Tuesday. I don't mind paying my 20% I just didn't expect it to be all up front. They did inform me of my deductible since the beginning of the process so I made sure to save up for that. The rest is coming to me at a complete surprise. Thank you! I will definitely keep you updated!

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[Clarevoyant 347]

The total cost of my surgery was about 55k. 17k for surgeon, 30k for hospital and about 5k for anesthesiologist and it is all broken down on my insurance website because it's all billed separately.

Ask about using something like Care Credit to pay.

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[James Marusek 5,244]

Are you sure it wasn't scam. It is strange that they asked for you to leave a deposit over the phone. That is the way scams work. So before you worry too much, check it with the hospital and surgeon's office.

Sorry you will have to wait until tomorrow to find out. But if your call originated on Sunday, is the billing department of your hospital even open on Sunday?

[Pink Ninja 67]

Are you sure it wasn't scam. It is strange that they asked for you to leave a deposit over the phone. That is the way scams work. So before you worry too much, check it with the hospital and surgeon's office.

Sorry you will have to wait until tomorrow to find out. But if your call originated on Sunday, is the billing department of your hospital even open on Sunday?

I was very skeptical at first. She sounded like a bill collector you know offering all kinds of "deals" to get payment over the phone right away. But she did have a lot of information on me(DOB, address, social security #) and my surgery. It seems so crazy to me that they would call 2 days before surgery with such a large amount due.

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[shantell500 46]

Are you sure it wasn't scam. It is strange that they asked for you to leave a deposit over the phone. That is the way scams work. So before you worry too much, check it with the hospital and surgeon's office.

Sorry you will have to wait until tomorrow to find out. But if your call originated on Sunday, is the billing department of your hospital even open on Sunday?

I was very skeptical at first. She sounded like a bill collector you know offering all kinds of "deals" to get payment over the phone right away. But she did have a lot of information on me(DOB, address, social security #) and my surgery. It seems so crazy to me that they would call 2 days before surgery with such a large amount due.

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Hi Hun sorry u have to be going through this at a time you are supposed to be celebrating. I work at a private hospital and our patient registration department is open 7 days a week 24 hrs a day. So it might not be a scam. They probably contacted you today to give you more time rather than contacting you tomorrow when you have even less time to figure out how to get the money. However wouldn't suggest giving credit card info over the phone without giving a call yourself to the hospital to verify it was really them calling. Also depending on ur insurance and the plan ur on the 20% is required for both surgeon fee and hospital. The 3,000 u paid may have only been ur 20% copay for ur surgeon fees. However the fees for the hospital which include operating room, recovery room, hospital room and anaesthesiologist is separate. With my insurance and the plan that I am on it's a 80/20 split as well for the surgeon which ran me into 3,000 as well, however a flat copay of 250 for hospital regardless of procedure or length of stay. I would suggest you speak frankly to the hospital and let them know you were not prepared to come up with that amount of money and make a payment arrangement. I don't know any hospital that would refuse service when they are already guaranteed 80% of the payment.

Shantell500

[Djmohr 6,965]

I am with everyone else on this. Verify that it really was the hospital and then many of them are willing to work with you on a payment plan if you owe another 3K or 6K, whichever is right.

I can totally understand why you are freaking out. I certainly would be as well. Just make sure you are not being scammed.