Pay in cash and get 65% off your hospital bill. | |
LA-LA-LA User ID: 1399973 United States 03/17/2012 08:55 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward (OP) User ID: 12671324 Canada 03/17/2012 08:57 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 11132818 United States 03/17/2012 09:03 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward (OP) User ID: 12671324 Canada 03/17/2012 09:05 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 11498367 United States 03/17/2012 09:11 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 12465470 United States 03/17/2012 09:32 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 1474203 United States 03/17/2012 09:56 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 5570859 United States 03/17/2012 10:09 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 1040673 United States 03/17/2012 10:13 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | 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. |
Cat Mouth User ID: 12355507 United States 03/17/2012 10:15 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | 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. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 12671324 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. lol i remember when they charged me 7usd per asprin on a bill i got when i had to get stitches. I had insurance but i was amazed at the charges i got on the medical bill OP good post man..i did not know they did such things in U.S. hospitals :mesig432: |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 12697163 Canada 03/17/2012 10:24 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | I always heard that if you didn't have insurance they would charge you double. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 12465470 The going rate is rediculous times two. Anyone here ever experience ^that^? That's more or less what I was told. They inflated the bill 65% because she had no insurance then knocked it right back down 65% when he offered cash on the barrel. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 11132818 United States 03/17/2012 10:25 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 1513486 United States 03/17/2012 10:26 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | 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. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 12671324 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. put a big down and make payments, they have to do the work..so they will take any payment ...cash works very well.. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 12697163 Canada 03/17/2012 10:26 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | 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. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 12671324 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. lol i remember when they charged me 7usd per asprin on a bill i got when i had to get stitches. I had insurance but i was amazed at the charges i got on the medical bill OP good post man..i did not know they did such things in U.S. hospitals Me neither up until a few hours ago. That's why I figured I should say it. Maybe nobody else knew either. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 5570859 United States 03/17/2012 10:30 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | I always heard that if you didn't have insurance they would charge you double. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 12465470 The going rate is rediculous times two. Anyone here ever experience ^that^? That's more or less what I was told. They inflated the bill 65% because she had no insurance then knocked it right back down 65% when he offered cash on the barrel. I guess being more affordable is good news, nice to read good news every now and then. |
midisandy User ID: 864437 United States 03/17/2012 10:55 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Of course, my daughter set up a payment plan with them instead of paying cash. BTW, she had no insusrance, but her husband had just inherited a lot of cash. Dumb hospital |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 1509082 United States 03/17/2012 10:58 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | This reminds me of the stories I've been hearing lately about a lot of docs going to cash only payment methods, NO other payment methods allowed. Been hearing this in Newport Beach, Ca. If so, it's a disturbing trend. The poor are basically screwed, as usual. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 1440282 United States 03/18/2012 12:45 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | OK, here's my story . I'm in my early 50s. I have had type one diabetes for 44 years, since i was a child. Type one diabetes is completely different than adult diabetes you see so much of today. In type one, your pancreas stops working. It's not because i was fat, i weighed 50 pounds when I was diagnosed, and weighed 125 pounds and 5'9" tall at age 18. My pancreas stopped working when I was 8. Yes , 44 years of taking insuln shots. I have been feeling lifeless for some years now. I have had the classic side effects, eye damage and laser surgery to stop the retina bleeding, nerve damage, etc. I had a heart attack 3 years ago, emergency triple bypass. I now have congestive heart failure. I had no insurance, since none would cover me, the hospital bill was 260K. In the 260K bill, they charged 1000.00 a session to have a tech hand me a nebulizer for asthma medicine, 40 sessions, 40,000.00 just for that. They waived their bill entirely, all 260K was completely wiped out. Since I came in the emergency room, federal law says they have to treat me. So, they operated an hour later. The surgeon said I have scar tissue on my heart, so i probably had one or more hidden heart attacks. I probably should have sued my family doctor, since he missed my classic symptoms of heart disease for several years. I even mentioned it to him, and he blew it off, even though diabetics have a huge amount of heart attacks and strokes. I did pay the docs 14K out of my pocket. Most of the docs cut their bill in half, I'm now broke, no property, and I'm now covered on the state insurance pool, with the premiums paid for by family members. In my situation, I'm better off having no assets, and i really don't have any. I imagine the hospital hired a private detective to check my background and look for assets. I have none, so it does them no good to sue me. Medicaid is next for me. Now, for you heart patients out there. I highly recommend D-Ribose. It does help me a great deal. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 1509082 United States 03/18/2012 12:51 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | OK, here's my story . I'm in my early 50s. I have had type one diabetes for 44 years, since i was a child. Type one diabetes is completely different than adult diabetes you see so much of today. In type one, your pancreas stops working. It's not because i was fat, i weighed 50 pounds when I was diagnosed, and weighed 125 pounds and 5'9" tall at age 18. My pancreas stopped working when I was 8. Yes , 44 years of taking insuln shots. I have been feeling lifeless for some years now. I have had the classic side effects, eye damage and laser surgery to stop the retina bleeding, nerve damage, etc. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 1440282 I had a heart attack 3 years ago, emergency triple bypass. I now have congestive heart failure. I had no insurance, since none would cover me, the hospital bill was 260K. In the 260K bill, they charged 1000.00 a session to have a tech hand me a nebulizer for asthma medicine, 40 sessions, 40,000.00 just for that. They waived their bill entirely, all 260K was completely wiped out. Since I came in the emergency room, federal law says they have to treat me. So, they operated an hour later. The surgeon said I have scar tissue on my heart, so i probably had one or more hidden heart attacks. I probably should have sued my family doctor, since he missed my classic symptoms of heart disease for several years. I even mentioned it to him, and he blew it off, even though diabetics have a huge amount of heart attacks and strokes. I did pay the docs 14K out of my pocket. Most of the docs cut their bill in half, I'm now broke, no property, and I'm now covered on the state insurance pool, with the premiums paid for by family members. In my situation, I'm better off having no assets, and i really don't have any. I imagine the hospital hired a private detective to check my background and look for assets. I have none, so it does them no good to sue me. Medicaid is next for me. Now, for you heart patients out there. I highly recommend D-Ribose. It does help me a great deal. I'm so sorry you had to go through that :-( You talk so matter of fact about it, but I'm sure it must've been much more heartbreaking to you personally than what you described. Words can never do justice to matters of the heart. I pray you are fully healed in Jesus' name, not only financially, but physically. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 2580226 United States 03/18/2012 01:27 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |