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Medical procedures - Affordability
Posted on 4/17/18 at 1:29 pm
Posted on 4/17/18 at 1:29 pm
Wife is currently having a planned knee surgery at the hospital. Even though I have met the deductible, I will still get a bill for at least $2500. I was told it would have cost $14K without insurance. This does not include all the other Dr visits for the family during the year. I make a good living and have the money to pay for this, but still have to deal with the normal financial stresses of life.
I am sitting in the waiting room looking at all the other people having surgeries done. There is no way that everyone in here has the money to pay or can pay for the procedure over time. How do people afford this? This topic came to mind when we had our first baby and the 2ND baby required intensive care and several grand in bills, even with private insurance.
Do people just let it go to collections and avoid the phone? I just don't get it. These hospitals must make major write offs. I cannot imagine doing a service for someone knowing that I won't get paid.
Please shed some light. Especially if you are in the medical field. This topic boggles my mind.
I am sitting in the waiting room looking at all the other people having surgeries done. There is no way that everyone in here has the money to pay or can pay for the procedure over time. How do people afford this? This topic came to mind when we had our first baby and the 2ND baby required intensive care and several grand in bills, even with private insurance.
Do people just let it go to collections and avoid the phone? I just don't get it. These hospitals must make major write offs. I cannot imagine doing a service for someone knowing that I won't get paid.
Please shed some light. Especially if you are in the medical field. This topic boggles my mind.
26
Posted on 4/17/18 at 1:31 pm to Mariner
Wealth redistribution.
Posted on 4/17/18 at 1:32 pm to tiggerthetooth
They just get it done. Pay the hospital $30 a month for the rest of their life, there is noting anyone can do about it.
Posted on 4/17/18 at 1:32 pm to Mariner
They pay them off over time, or just add it to their buckets and buckets of debt.
Personally I have a 10k emergency fund that I would use first.
Personally I have a 10k emergency fund that I would use first.
Posted on 4/17/18 at 1:41 pm to Mariner
I’ve noticed this myself as I’ve had two outpatient surgeries this year. The part that is bothersome to me is that it’s about impossible to determine how much it will cost before the procedure. The insurance plans have so much fine print and everyone who even says “good morning” will be submitting a bill to your ins company.
Ex: shoulder surgery used four small implants to suture the labrum to the shoulder. They were considered implants so subject to 30% copay to the tune of $300 each for me. So I met a $1200 unexpected bill portion of that procedure.
Ex: shoulder surgery used four small implants to suture the labrum to the shoulder. They were considered implants so subject to 30% copay to the tune of $300 each for me. So I met a $1200 unexpected bill portion of that procedure.
Posted on 4/17/18 at 1:41 pm to Mariner
You prob have an 80/20 plan after your deductible is met.
Posted on 4/17/18 at 2:00 pm to Mariner
Do you have an out of pocket max?
I just treat that as my deductible since the last few times we reached the deductible we also reached the out of pocket max. It's all too damn complicated.
I just treat that as my deductible since the last few times we reached the deductible we also reached the out of pocket max. It's all too damn complicated.
Posted on 4/17/18 at 2:02 pm to Mariner
quote:
I am sitting in the waiting room looking at all the other people having surgeries done. There is no way that everyone in here has the money to pay or can pay for the procedure over time. How do people afford this?
They don't. Which is why the procedure cost 14k.
Posted on 4/17/18 at 2:02 pm to Mariner
My wife needed a small growth removed from her leg last year. I paid for the majority of it, but she is paying for the rest of it. I think her part was around $700. She set up an installment plan with the hospital and is paying $30 a month. I would assume most other people that can't afford to pay their medical bill would do the same as my wife, regardless of the amount of the bill. So people that have high medical bills can pay these small installments for a really long time. The thing I noticed is that there is no interest or late payments charged on these bills. They do however send you a letter saying they will send your debt to collections if you don't make a payment on the bill.
Posted on 4/17/18 at 2:07 pm to Red5LSU
quote:
My wife needed a small growth removed from her leg last year. I paid for the majority of it, but she is paying for the rest of it.
Posted on 4/17/18 at 2:07 pm to Red5LSU
quote:
My wife needed a small growth removed from her leg last year. I paid for the majority of it, but she is paying for the rest of it. I think her part was around $700. ho
Do you split the grocery bill?
Posted on 4/17/18 at 2:08 pm to Red5LSU
$14K seems cheap. My mom had her knees done last year. Was almost $50k per knee.
Posted on 4/17/18 at 2:09 pm to Mariner
It’s a total disgrace how expensive stuff like that is
Posted on 4/17/18 at 2:10 pm to Mariner
quote:This, or small payments plans for the rest of eternity basically.
Do people just let it go to collections and avoid the phone?
quote:That they do...a lot.
These hospitals must make major write offs
Posted on 4/17/18 at 2:10 pm to OysterPoBoy
Yes I have an out of pocket Max, which is why it will only be $2500. Out of pocket Max is 7 grand. That's awesome but not everyone has that kind of insurance, and I have a $14K out of network out of pocket Max. I have maxed out my HSA for the past three years and have spent nearly every last dime on two births, this surgery, er, and another minor surgery along with the normal pediatrician/Dr visits. That is about $18-20K during that time span. No way the average Joe could pay for that.
To the poster about the "Good morning" bills. I received an $800 out of network bill after our first child from a Dr I have never heard of. Turns out she came in for five minutes several hours after the birth and I have no idea what she did or said as I was dead tired. I had to beg the insurance company to make it in network.
To the poster about the "Good morning" bills. I received an $800 out of network bill after our first child from a Dr I have never heard of. Turns out she came in for five minutes several hours after the birth and I have no idea what she did or said as I was dead tired. I had to beg the insurance company to make it in network.
This post was edited on 4/17/18 at 2:12 pm
Posted on 4/17/18 at 2:16 pm to Mariner
They vastly overcharge insured and paying customers to make up the difference.
Posted on 4/17/18 at 2:18 pm to Mariner
Skinnier people tend not to have knee problems.
Posted on 4/17/18 at 2:19 pm to Mariner
quote:
There is no way that everyone in here has the money to pay or can pay for the procedure over time. How do people afford this?
They don't. They either pay $10 per month for ten years or just don't pay. That's partially why your bill is so high, because a lot of fricks don't pay.
Posted on 4/17/18 at 2:20 pm to Mariner
quote:
I am sitting in the waiting room looking at all the other people having surgeries done. There is no way that everyone in here has the money to pay or can pay for the procedure over time. How do people afford this? This topic came to mind when we had our first baby and the 2ND baby required intensive care and several grand in bills, even with private insurance.
See, you're doing this in a hospital where people HAVE to get the procedure done or else they may be disabled or die.
I look at all the people on the highway and wonder how the frick the average "$55k/year" American family affords $80k worth of vehicles and insurance.
Posted on 4/17/18 at 2:20 pm to Mariner
quote:
These hospitals must make major write offs. I cannot imagine doing a service for someone knowing that I won't get paid.
Exactly.
Hell, even treating Medicare and Medicaid patients is basically work for free compared to private insurance, and the average Medicaid and Medicare patient fricking sucks and is the most difficult to deal with.
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