Slammed with a huge fee 7 days before surgery

[jujubee 0]

So I'm 21. Its obvious that I don't have alot of money laying around. Coming up with the $3000 (I was quoted) that is not covered by the insurance was a feat of itself. So I get this call from the surgeon office exactly one week before surgery, and their like we need the surgeons fee before friday. I was like ok how much is that (remembering that there was a $500 fee to the office that I had put aside for), on the other end of the line I hear shuffling paper. That will be 3500, we only accept cash or a cashiers check. I felt like someone had punched me in my stomach. I don' know what I'm going to do, I have three days to come up with the cash, and I don't see how thats possible. And to boot I've already survived 9 days on slim fast and Water only.

[LynneB 0]

try capitalonehealthcare finance, I got approved for $16000 when I was gonna be a self pay & it took 15 mins. They issue the check the same day you sign the contract. Good luck!

[Marimaru 7]

I would walk into your surgeons office (not call) and demand to know where you were told about this fee before hand.

[VegasGrace 1]

Nope. I'd take my business elsewhere!

The surgeons fee is covered by insurance and you only have to provide your copay...not $3500.

Any money you've paid to them thus far I'd get back.

I'd also contact the insurance company and let them know of the extortion.

[Brandy~ 2]

WOW my surgeon fees are covered they just told me I had to pay the copay for the hospital... I think its 1k or 1500 :drool:

I am sorry to hear thats happening to you. I would try to call another surgeon.

[Wheetsin 714]

Is the $3500 fee they want different from the $3000 fee you saved for + the $500 office fee you knew about ahead of time? Since the totals are the same, any chance they're referring to the $3000+$500 when they say a $3500 fee?

[Texas_Mom_5573 0]

I would ask questions if your not happy with the answers find another doctor. I only paid $1200 and they told me about that before I had my date. I called the insurance company and asked them what amount they were paying and what I should have to pay. They matched almost to the penny. Ask them if you will have to pay for fills for the first year after if the say yes and it's over the co-pay don't walk run from that place and find you another doctor. Don't be scared to make them answer your questions. Good Luck

[Lin12/20/07 0]

I had my surgery 12/20 & around 12/7 the office had called & said they had a new requirement that I had to attend 2 classes (6 hours away round trip) on a Tuesday & a Friday & pay an additional $750 for the classes. This was required before my surgery. First I talked to the nurse- she said that that was the new rule the hospital had come up with. In order to ensure success they needed to enstate this new rule to give more nutritional support info (after the nutrition consult I already had for insurance). So, I told her I was never told about this & it was already a sacrifice to come up with the $600 which was my portion for insurance & the $500 deductible. In December, yet! I just didn't see anyway to do this unless we had no gifts for the kids & family this year (that just seemed too selfish of me). So I composed a letter to the doctor directly. The nurse said she'd print it & show it to dr in the morning before he called me. I basically stated that this was not a condition of the surgery prior to now. I should be included in the old rules I came into his care under- not some new rules. I also explained my situation with the driving time & costs of the travel.

In the end, he agreed that I should be able to come in under the old rules. Yeah! Remember, you're not just a patient- you're the customer! Good luck!