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Hemoptysis and medical billing BS
Posted on 2/19/26 at 4:24 pm
Posted on 2/19/26 at 4:24 pm
I’ve been coughing up blood on and off first thing in the morning following a mild illness in October. Thought it finally stopped but came back after getting sick again during Mardi Gras. My doctor still wasn’t really concerned about it but is out of town and sent me to urgent care. The first go around in October he said bronchitis. It mostly went away but every few weeks I would cough up a spec or streak of blood in the morning. I have basically never had instances through the day. Always first thing in the morning. When I messaged him on Monday he said likely bronchitis again. Back in town it’s still happening and hasn’t started to taper away like last time so he sends me to urgent care.
Saw a 28 year old PA who was FLOORED my doctor hadn’t ordered a CT yet. I had had 2 normal chest X-rays now and she told me to demand a CT from my doctor. So called my doctor and he orders one. I try and ask why he hadn’t gotten one before and got no answer. I think it’s kind of bullshite if he doesn’t think I need one to change his mind because some PA is screaming for or was just that lackadaisical about it to the point of neglecting my care. Obviously both are not ideal.
Well when I get the CT ordered it will actually cost me MORE to get it with insurance than for me to just pay cash. So I’m paying an insurance premium just to pay more and I’m having to navigate this while freaking out about coughing up blood and worrying I’m dying. Absolutely blows. And both the insurance company and the imaging company both throw their hands up and point the finger at each other.
I’m only 31 but terrified this is going to be what kills me. Of course I had nowhere to turn but here.
Saw a 28 year old PA who was FLOORED my doctor hadn’t ordered a CT yet. I had had 2 normal chest X-rays now and she told me to demand a CT from my doctor. So called my doctor and he orders one. I try and ask why he hadn’t gotten one before and got no answer. I think it’s kind of bullshite if he doesn’t think I need one to change his mind because some PA is screaming for or was just that lackadaisical about it to the point of neglecting my care. Obviously both are not ideal.
Well when I get the CT ordered it will actually cost me MORE to get it with insurance than for me to just pay cash. So I’m paying an insurance premium just to pay more and I’m having to navigate this while freaking out about coughing up blood and worrying I’m dying. Absolutely blows. And both the insurance company and the imaging company both throw their hands up and point the finger at each other.
I’m only 31 but terrified this is going to be what kills me. Of course I had nowhere to turn but here.
This post was edited on 2/19/26 at 4:27 pm
9
Posted on 2/19/26 at 4:27 pm to jlovel7
Still got a fatty liver too?
Posted on 2/19/26 at 4:29 pm to danilo
quote:
Still got a fatty liver too?
Ooohhh. esophageal varices?
Posted on 2/19/26 at 4:31 pm to SallysHuman
quote:
Ooohhh. esophageal varices?
My throat is killing me after this week so maybe? If related to fatty liver doubtful as they said mine is incredibly mild. I don’t even have elevated liver numbers.
This post was edited on 2/19/26 at 4:33 pm
Posted on 2/19/26 at 4:31 pm to danilo
Still got a fatty liver too?
Stable after last ultrasound. And mild
Stable after last ultrasound. And mild
Posted on 2/19/26 at 4:34 pm to jlovel7
quote:
My throat is killing me after this week so maybe? If related to fatty liver doubtful as they said mine is incredibly mild. I don’t even have elevated liver numbers.
I was merely spitballing based on watching medical dramas... I don't know shite. But, that does sound concerning and I'd be ticked if my GP wasn't concerned about recurring blood like that.
Posted on 2/19/26 at 4:37 pm to jlovel7
How much will the CT cost?
You cough up blood tinged mucous or bright red blood?
Cleveland Clinic. Why would you be dying at 31?
You cough up blood tinged mucous or bright red blood?
Cleveland Clinic. Why would you be dying at 31?
This post was edited on 2/19/26 at 4:45 pm
Posted on 2/19/26 at 4:52 pm to Jake88
quote:
You cough up blood tinged mucous or bright red blood?
Mucus that is tinted red to bright red. Usually cough that up a few times then it’s all clear the rest of the day. This second time has been worse. The first time I only had one instance of that and then after that it was small streaks when it did happen.
For 4 days now I’ve had basically red mucus come out 3-4 times before it turns clear and stays that way until the next morning.
Posted on 2/19/26 at 4:53 pm to SallysHuman
quote:
But, that does sound concerning and I'd be ticked if my GP wasn't concerned about recurring blood like that.
I mean I had no idea. He was pretty convinced it was bronchitis since both times it’s followed a respiratory illness. The blood never started until right at the end of the infection after several days of coughing.
I have been pounding DayQuil every 4 hours and was drinking pretty heavily during Mardi Gras.
This post was edited on 2/19/26 at 4:55 pm
Posted on 2/19/26 at 4:57 pm to Jake88
quote:
How much will the CT cost?
If I go through my insurance anywhere from $1-2k depending on if they cover it at all.
If I pay cash $500.
Posted on 2/19/26 at 4:57 pm to jlovel7
Posted on 2/19/26 at 4:58 pm to jlovel7
quote:What kind of insurance do you have. My MRI cost less than that.
If I go through my insurance anywhere from $1-2k depending on if they cover it at all.
If I pay cash $500
Posted on 2/19/26 at 4:59 pm to jlovel7
Why does he keep sending you to an urgent care. That makes no sense
Posted on 2/19/26 at 5:04 pm to jlovel7
quote:
If I go through my insurance anywhere from $1-2k depending on if they cover it at all.
If I pay cash $500.
This part of medical billing is what needs to stop. At this point what good is insurance if they are paying essentially zero. I guess you need to pay the workers to file all the paper work for the insurance and process the claim is why it is double the cash price.
Only issue might be the fact that you still need to meet your annual deducible for the year. Mine is 1250. You are responsible for your deducible before your insurance kicks in except for usual copays.
Posted on 2/19/26 at 5:06 pm to jlovel7
quote:Your doctor is probably correct.
I mean I had no idea. He was pretty convinced it was bronchitis since both times it’s followed a respiratory illness
Posted on 2/19/26 at 5:07 pm to jlovel7
Is it because you have deductible? Healthcare is a massive concern. I had some health issues pop up last year and it's crazy how much it all cost me
Posted on 2/19/26 at 5:07 pm to jlovel7
Are you a high school chemistry teacher?
Posted on 2/19/26 at 5:09 pm to Jake88
quote:
It's not uncommon. I had it a few weeks ago. RespiratoryTherapy
The nights before this started both times were some of the rawest my throat has ever felt. Like dried out sandpaper.
Posted on 2/19/26 at 5:09 pm to jlovel7
So I deal with this sort of thing a lot in my clinic, so I’ll address each paragraph individually.
1-2 paragraphs) if I was your doctor and you were having bronchitis like symptoms with only the occasional stance speck of blood every now and then, especially at your age, there really isn’t any strong arguments of that a CT is necessary. Especially with two clear chest x-rays and no other exam findings. However, that doesn’t mean getting a CT is a the wrong thing to do from a medical decision standpoint.
3rd) yeah dude fricking tell me about it. That sort of thing is the most infuriating, nonsensical crap that almost makes me side with that Luigi kid to kill the CEO. Even I have a high deductible plan that short of any catastrophic injury or urgent surgery, the cost of getting anything done would almost universally outweigh any benefit otherwise. Especially when it comes to being charged more money than what something would cost out-of-pocket.
1-2 paragraphs) if I was your doctor and you were having bronchitis like symptoms with only the occasional stance speck of blood every now and then, especially at your age, there really isn’t any strong arguments of that a CT is necessary. Especially with two clear chest x-rays and no other exam findings. However, that doesn’t mean getting a CT is a the wrong thing to do from a medical decision standpoint.
3rd) yeah dude fricking tell me about it. That sort of thing is the most infuriating, nonsensical crap that almost makes me side with that Luigi kid to kill the CEO. Even I have a high deductible plan that short of any catastrophic injury or urgent surgery, the cost of getting anything done would almost universally outweigh any benefit otherwise. Especially when it comes to being charged more money than what something would cost out-of-pocket.
Posted on 2/19/26 at 5:09 pm to tigerfootball123
quote:
Why does he keep sending you to an urgent care. That makes no sense
He did once. Urgent care was floored a PCP referred a patient there. Apparently he’s only working 1-2 hours a day in the office navigating a family emergency. That’s all I got out of the nurse a bit ago when she called back about the CT.
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