I am a self pay patient, and the hospital I use is now affiliated with NorthStar Anesthesia so I had to call this place a few weeks before my surgery and pay them $800.00 for that part of the surgery. I get home from work a few minutes ago, and I have a bill from them for almost $3000.00 for anesthesia. The lady asked me when I called to pay before surgery how long I would be out, and I said it shouldn't take more than an hour for lap band, and she told me it was a flat rate for lap band anyway. I then get this bill so I am freaking out. I better not have to pay this because that isn't what I was told. Anyone ever have this happen to them? It appears they filled on my insurance which they didn't pay.

I put the $800.00 on my credit card, and it was charged to my card last month so it is already paid for.

I'd call your insurance company and see what they have to say. It might just be a mix-up. And I'd call the anesthesiology office too to see what they say. I can't imagine that your insurance would pay for the procedure but not the anesthesia.

I was self pay too. I paid 800 before my surgery then about a month later I received a bill in the mail for 3500. It took 2 months for them to finally get it right. I don't understand why they couldn't get it right the first time but I guess it was a glitch in the billing department with coding or something. Good luck.

Thank you for the responses.

I had to pay the hospital like $4200.00. My doctor $1000.00, and the antheselogist (sp?) $800.00. The insurance didn't pay any of it. I payed all of that upfront a couple weeks before surgery. Hopefully, like you say Mel, they will get it straightened out. I already called and left a message to the lady I talked to about the surgery so hopefully everything works out.

This was a Hugh hidden charge for me I had met my out of pocket but insurance said they only pay so much for this soo I had to pay 1400 which is cheap really since I didn't have to anything else. But it was a surpize most people get hit with this bill shocker after surgery.