freakin' insurance companies!!!

T

Thorn Bird

Forum Mom
May 24, 2005
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have any of you ever had a hospital stay where you asked for a detailed bill of your stay? i'm going to have a baby in april, and i'm thinking about doing just this. i'm intrigued (and angered) about how prices are different for insurance companies, individuals, blahblah. i would like to see if they are keeping close tabs on how many pillows and ice packs i use, if i have seen a particular doctor/specialist...i'm trying to find out if there are any loopholes i'm missing.
does anyone have any tips regarding how to handle insurances and hospital stays and all that? i did just learn that you always have the right to refuse up-front payment and say "bill my insurance first." the worst that can happen is that the bill is refused by insurance and it comes back to you. i didn't know i had that right.
anyone else with tips?
 
I've heard they charge 20 bucks for a box of tissues and some ungodly amount for food, toilet paper, and other things you think are just complimentary or inexpensive. I also hear there are a lot of hidden fees and crap that nobody can tell you what they were really for.
 
Make sure they submit the bill to your insurance company within 30 days. A hospital didnt do that for a coworker of mine and he was stuck with the $4,000 bill himself. Ouch.
 
My first Idea would be to have your baby and not worry about these things, that being said...

I have grown up in hospitals since my mom is a nurse and haven't had to really pay for anything. You might already realize this but you are on the bottom of shit hill. Hospitals rip off the Insurance company and the Insurance company rips you off each month. Nothing you can do about it so I would say drop the stress.
 
Hospitals have to rip off the insurance companies, because insurance companies will only pay x amount, hardly ever the full bill.

That's why many doctors in NYC don't take insurance, if they did they couldn't afford their office space, staff, food, etc.

Insurance companies rip US off, because they are in the business of making money.

But to me, they are currently a necessary evil - I'd rather have the small amount I pay each month than to have to wait for important surgery because I can't afford the $9,000 bill all at once.
 
w_a_w said:
does your rate go up after you have a baby?
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Group rates will be affected by a pregnancy. Generally, the smaller the group, the more impact it will have. That would be because a pregnancy costs at least $5,000 for a normal birth and much more for a c section. Insurance companies don't like having to pay those large bills, so everyone else suffers.

Yea for our healthcare system!
 
ChikkenNoodul said:
Hospitals have to rip off the insurance companies, because insurance companies will only pay x amount, hardly ever the full bill.

That's why many doctors in NYC don't take insurance, if they did they couldn't afford their office space, staff, food, etc.

Insurance companies rip US off, because they are in the business of making money.

But to me, they are currently a necessary evil - I'd rather have the small amount I pay each month than to have to wait for important surgery because I can't afford the $9,000 bill all at once.
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Thats the whole thing, if you needed the 9k surgery you dont have to wait. You can just go into a non profit hospital and get it done. They will send you a bill and you set up payment. Btw the NYC doctors have to also pay for there mistresses, golf club memberships and the 5 mill house they just bought.
 
Yes, but I'm not destitute enough to qualify for free care. And honestly, I'd feel like I was taking advantage if I did.


You sure have a glorified view of doctors :fly:

I still make more than an aquaintance who's been a dentist for 4 years, my cousin who is the same, and another cousin who is now an anesthesiologist. And THEY all have expensive malpractice insurance and student loans out the wazoo :fly:

Sure, in 15 years things'll turn around for 'em
 
i don't understand how they can change the rates based on costs they incur. isn't that the same as just taking a bunch of money from you upfront, then if you make them shell out for anything they make you pay for it after the fact anyway? how about i start off with a zero premium, then i'll be ok with you raising my rates if anything happens.
 
ChikkenNoodul said:
Yes, but I'm not destitute enough to qualify for free care. And honestly, I'd feel like I was taking advantage if I did.


You sure have a glorified view of doctors :fly:

I still make more than an aquaintance who's been a dentist for 4 years, my cousin who is the same, and another cousin who is now an anesthesiologist. And THEY all have expensive malpractice insurance and student loans out the wazoo :fly:

Sure, in 15 years things'll turn around for 'em
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My mom although only a Nurse has been one since she was a volunteer at age 14, lol. She basically runs any place she works at because of her experience. Growing up we always met all the doctors and went over to there houses and shit. I have never seen a middle class doctor and truthfully you shouldnt.


Free care is much different than a non profit hospital. They want you to pay and will try anything to get you to pay up front but legally they cant and you can pay them over time. Kinda a shitty loop hole for them. My buddy OD'ed twice when we were kids and owes Hellen Ellis 280k or more so his grandma sends a $1 check in every month and they cant do shit about it, lol, sad i know
 
ChikkenNoodul said:
Strange, I'm not aware of any non-profit hospitals around here.

All the hobos go to BMC so the main waiting room there is such a pleasant experience.
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Not many are aware that Hellen Ellis is non profit unless you know somebody who works there or went in to a life threatening problem. Most people going in with a cold wont notice cause the bill is low and they just pay it right away. Legally though you can pay when you want as long as youre making payments.
 
I went in for a chest x-ray recently because my lungs hurt. Turns out I had pneumonia and I got some antibiotics and went on my way. Anyway, the radiologist who looked at my x-rays makes $2,000 a day. He was kind of embarrassed that I just flat out asked him how much money he makes, but he was honest. My Dr. confirmed it too. :fly:
 
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