Emergency Room Visit Bill Is An Eye Opener
@BelleStarr (61101)
United States
May 25, 2019 6:43am CST
Some of you will remember that I talked about Al's little episode in Florida where he spent 3 hours in the emergency room. I got the insurance explanation yesterday, it is a real eye-opener.
Keep in mind, this does not include the ambulance ride, we will get that later, the bill was a total of $10,743.25. What was really interesting is the insurance company approved $484.99 and paid $391.24 (the 80% Medicare portion) We had to pay the $90 copay and we got 20% off of that for paying it immediately that day.
This is all as expected by what I found interesting was some of the blood tests they ran on my hubs blood. A $1600 liver function, $1500 basic blood panel, $671 magnesium panel, $450 Protein analysis and it goes on and on. Talk about padding a bill!! It is a very good thing they take Medicare, imagine they had taken us to a hospital that didn't take our insurance. My worst fears would have been realized and we would have had to pay for all this to know that they found nothing wrong!!
Thank you United Health Care Advantage Program for protecting us for being impoverished by medical bills!!!
22 people like this
22 responses
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
25 May 19
I do know they like to pad Medicare and love doing tests just for the sake of income producing tests.
4 people like this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
25 May 19
But the insurance didn't pay it, so what is the point, keeping the lab workers busy? They approved zero of that liver test which is what they should have paid.
2 people like this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
25 May 19
@BelleStarr so doesn't that mean you have to pay ? most of my bills are from what my insurance don't pay and whats counted as copay. I am confused by it all.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
25 May 19
@bunnybon7 Nope, when a hospital accepts Medicare they only get paid for the things that Medicare approves. I had to pay $90 copay and the hospital gave me a 20% discount. Well, at least I hope so I guess we will see. If we get charged I will fight it, those tests make no sense with what he came in with.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
25 May 19
NO most of us don't understand it either.
1 person likes this
@marlina (154129)
• Canada
25 May 19
@BelleStarr It looks like the system is built for making a lot of people rich.
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
28 May 19
It is over $6000 for lab tests, I have never seen anything like it.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54187)
• Louisville, Kentucky
28 May 19
@BelleStarr that is just ridiculous! You and I both know the labs didn't cost that much to run.
@Tampa_girl7 (51173)
• United States
26 May 19
Wow, that is a whopper of a bill.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
26 May 19
It sure is, it pretty much took my breath away.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (51173)
• United States
27 May 19
@BelleStarr a bill like that could definitely send someone to the poorhouse if they had to pay the full amount.
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
25 May 19
I am a little concerned now if I have to pay 20% of those lab charges it will be about $1200.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
26 May 19
@DianneN No the insurance refused it so I am not sure what that will mean for us.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247183)
• United States
25 May 19
@BelleStarr I certainly hope the insurance will cover it!
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67082)
• United States
28 May 19
That is so high! Omg. So glad you have insurance to pay alot of it.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
29 May 19
If I get stuck paying 20% that is going to hurt a bit but I will have to wait and see.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
25 May 19
Medical is rediculous, and Blood work charges are Crazy. The day I was supposed to have the Surgery and didn't it would have cost over $9,000. And not sure I have all the Bills from that yet. Not counting when they really do the Surgery. How can they charge this much for things?
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
27 May 19
It really doesn't make any sense does it, it could bankrupt a family so easily.
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
25 May 19
I have United health care advantage also. But medical things are still breaking me. plus, I am constantly getting told certain things are not available like some help to be paid because I recieve too much money. which is ridiculous .
I sometimes wonder who does these budgets and if they actually could live on it themselves 
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
25 May 19
I am quite sure they couldn't it is crazy really. I am a little worried now about those blood test, really about $6000 worth and a lot of them have nothing to do with his symptoms. I checked the ambulance will cost us $250, I can live with that.
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
25 May 19
@BelleStarr I am still getting bills from both with my last hospital stay. Can't pay it and that's why I won't go back even when I thought it was the end a couple of times already. I can't believe we spent so much moving that still no money left for emergencies . Living month to month barely getting by. Makes me not happy to go on anyway. 
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85285)
• Valdosta, Georgia
25 May 19
I'm so glad the bill was covered for you! Medical bills are outrageous.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
27 May 19
The trouble is Medicare rejected most of the lab charges and I am not sure if we are liable for any of it. If it is 20% it could be more than $1200.00
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85285)
• Valdosta, Georgia
27 May 19
@BelleStarr Oh goodness. I really hope you won't be.
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
25 May 19
With Medicare I paid $90 of that bill. So it is not expensive I even got 20% off for paying it that day.
1 person likes this
@marlina (154129)
• Canada
25 May 19
@BelleStarr But what is "Medicare", is it a plan that is affordable for people?
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
25 May 19
Well yes it is ridiculous what they charged for the lab work.
@amadeo (111938)
• United States
25 May 19
@BelleStarr yes they sure charge a lot there.Greed is the word there Belle
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
25 May 19
they really stick't to ya 'n sadly, those with no insurance 're 'xpected to pay that full billed 'mount - 'n they get by with 't, too.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
26 May 19
I know it is really scary isn't it.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
25 May 19
I am hoping I don't have to pay for those crazy lab charges for work he didn't need. I will never let anyone do lab work again after this experience.
1 person likes this
@HazySue (39267)
• Gouverneur, New York
29 May 19
@BelleStarr I think they charge entirely too much for the testing.
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
25 May 19
Yes well, we have competition so it is the way our healthcare works.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (184610)
• United States
25 May 19
OMG!!! Can you imagine if you had to pay out of pocket??
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
27 May 19
No I can't imagine at all, it would be a nightmare.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
25 May 19
Yes Medicare is a great help I hope Belle. But yes one cannot afford to get sick the bills are immense. So sorry.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
25 May 19
Well and why would they do a liver test? Makes no sense.
@FourWalls (70921)
• United States
25 May 19
THIS is what has caused the “health care crisis” in America. When I was a kid I got two months’ worth of allergy shots for less than what one costs today.
If they accepted $485 then that’s what they should be charging, not “putting it on paper” that it’s nearly $11K. Because, let’s face it, they ar NOT collecting the eleven grand from any insurance company...so why say that’s the cost?
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
27 May 19
It does make you wonder doesn't it.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
26 May 19
Yes, we are but we pay a lot less in taxes so in the end I think we all end up at the same place.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
26 May 19
It is hideous what people are charged. Some wonder why many don't seek medical attention, but when you see things like this it is easy to understand.
Several we know have $7000 -$10000 deductibles b/c they can't afford better insurance.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
26 May 19
Oh I know my daughter had the sort of a high deductible policy as well.
