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Subject Pay in cash and get 65% off your hospital bill.

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[quote:Anonymous Coward 1040673:MV8xODExODQxXzMwMTUxNzk5XzVBRTkxRTAw]
I am interested in other stories like this. PLEASE post if you can.

Also, did you request an itemized bill? If so, did you find it proper? I have read there are many percentages of "boo-boos" found on itemized bills.

I was in outpatient sugery center for less than three hours total from walking into a central Florida hosptal to wheeling out for a tiny bone removed from a big toe. This including going to a room to sign papers, prepping, waiting, surgery and waking up and leaving.

Was billed over 18G. Insurance paid over 11G, I paid almost 500 cash before surgery and after insurance paid and took discount off of fee to hospital I am now being told I owe almost 3 grand still.

That is going to end up being almost 5g per hour with less than an hour and a half in actual sugery...NOT including the doctor and anesthesia doc fees...nice wage for hospital for simple procedure, in my opinion. I know they "provide a sterile environment, etc" but Damn..:)

I plan to ask for an itemed bill as this has blown me away.

Thank you.

Take care all.
[/quote]

Original Message A friend of mine's mother vacationing in Florida last week had a heart attack and had to go into the hospital in Boca Raton. The doctors put in 2 stints, cleaned out one artery that was 90% blocked and put in a pacemaker. The mother had no insurance but is wealthy.

I just heard the full story tonight. When the friend's mother was released a day or so ago the old man asked how much it would be if they paid in cash right then and there. The hospital knocked about 65% off the bill I was told. They deducted about 40% that they add on automatic to cover people who never pay, and gave him another 20 or 25% off for the convienence of not having to chase him around for the money.

I had never heard of that before. That you could get such huge cash discounts at hospitals. So I guess the lesson is, if you ever have to go into the hospital and you have money or even a line on money you can borrow, pay in cash if you are at all able. But you have to remember, they don't tell you that at the hospital. You have to ask for the cash discount. The only reason the old man knew about discounts is because he had done it before in South America. Down there they'll take whatever cash you happen to have on you and call it even. Apparently US hospitals aern't too far behind that. Even if you borrow it at 10% interest, you're still saving 55%. Something to keep in mind.

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