I am scheduled for surgery on July 18th. Today I got a letter from the hospital that said they confirmed my benefits and expect I will have approximately $500 owed out of pocket. They want me to pay this now or at the time of registration. I have had many surgeries and have never had a hospital ask for money up front. Has anyone else been required to pay?

Yes, I had to pay ahead of time, at registration. Good luck with your surgery!!!!

I am a day surgery registrar at a hospital and the reason why the money is collected up front is because the surgery is an elective procedure. If it was an emergency you wouldn't have to pay up front no matter what your benefits said. Good Luck!

I had to pay a portion up front as well.

Yes, I paid my 250 dollars at the time of my registration. It's all good.

Deb

For my EGD that is Friday, I had to put down a $200 deposit - which they will charge to my credit card on Friday. They told me that insurance will cover 80% and I have a 20% copay, but they required the deposit upfront.

On Monday when I go for the pre-op teaching, I will have to pay for the surgery in full (I'm self-pay).

My registration is July 1st and expect I will have to pay something. My wife is having her EGD the day after my surgery and will likely have to pay the $122 dollars like I did.

I had to pay my surgeon's copay up front. I was billed for my outpatient copay later on.

I should clarify that I don't have an out of pocket minimum/maximum, just copays & premiums (open ***).

Yep. The days of hospitals and doctors offices being willing to bill it later and accept partial payments are pretty much over in the majority of cases.

Yes, this is normal. My surgery is tomorrow and I got a call last week saying that I needed to come up with $3300 before surgery! Of course, I said there's NO way I can do that so they are allowing me to pay $850 and bill me for the rest. I'll be paying that today! Ugh! And I still have to pay my doc $500+ (already paid nearly $300) but he is allowing until July 1. Thank goodness! All of this and I have insurance! Crazy! The hospital did say that the hospital bill alone would exceed $17,000...which will be billed to insurance. That's not including the anthiesalogist (sp?), blood work, etc. I trade you! lol I'm just so thankful that I don't have to pay the entire amount. That would be impossible for us.

WoW, the days of old are gone where you let the bills wash out and then pay.

I just had my copay and it was $50.00 that I had to pay upfront. Most insurance companies make you pay at the time of service now a days.

Kelly

I haven't scheduled mine yet but being a self pay patient, both the surgeon and hospital requires payment at least 10 days before my surgery date. When I gave birth last year, the lady came to my room asking for my co-pay as I was breastfeeding my daughter. I nearly ripped her head off then sent my husband down to give them a piece of my mind since I couldn't and their $600. Lol

This is normal. I have to pay the hospital my remaining deductible and out of pocket expenses. They will let me pay 1/2 up front and pay the remaining out over 12 months. I'm thankful since the total due is $2034. So $1034 goes to them in a couple of weeks.

My hospital co-pay was 300 and I asked them if I could make payments and they had no problem with it.

Wow, there's really interesting diversity evident in the way insurance companies are handling things. I think it's also another sign of the times, so to speak.

QueenBeeFla - that's ridiculous about your maternity copay - required or not, that's inappropriate. When I had DD (2008) I had two copays - my inpatient for when I was admitted to L&D, and then my daughter's inpatient copay effective the day she was born. I asked when I was admitted if I could go ahead and pay for both copays right then. They told me claims had to be filed through insurance first. I know that's bogus.