Interesting development around here!!!! I see now why so many are denied and have to fight with insurance!!!! I was self pay for my surgery, $12500. The hospital portion of the cost was $8100. No big deal. 24 hours at the hospital, meds, operating room. Makes sense to me. I just received a bill from the hospital for $79,000 with my 8100 removed and remaining balance of $71,000!!!!!!!! I called immediately and they said that I had a zero balance and that the bill was sent prematurely. Out of curiosity I asked how in the world the cash price can be 8100, but they bill $80,000. She said that the 80K was for insurance. I am just floored by that. Highway robbery and the hospital should be ashamed!!!!!

This is so the insurance will actually pay close to the 8100

Mine was covered by insurance. The bill was a shock like yours - I think it was about 80-90K, but then the negotiated rate with the insurance company brought it down to under 50k. It was still way the heck more then self pay. this is what is wrong with health care, the insured appear to be footing the bill for a whole lot else here (not talking about self pays, just the overall system). in the meantime, the premiums I pay for my very good insurance just keep going up and up and up.

People like my mother-in-law would pay without question. She sees a bill, she assumes she owes it.

Mine was covered by insurance. The bill was a shock like yours - I think it was about 80-90K, but then the negotiated rate with the insurance company brought it down to under 50k. It was still way the heck more then self pay. this is what is wrong with health care, the insured appear to be footing the bill for a whole lot else here (not talking about self pays, just the overall system). in the meantime, the premiums I pay for my very good insurance just keep going up and up and up.

I totally agree, I knew mine woud be high because I was in the hospital for 5 days. They billed close to 70K but the insurance only paid them 26K and I owe 200. And yes the premiums go up every year!

I self paid because even with good insurance it was not covered and could not even be discussed. I pay outrageous premiums and did the sleeve for metabolic reasons, but still this was not open to discussion with the insurance company. "We don't "do" that surgery for any reason, but we do offer coverage for hypnosi." Hypnosis? I can be hypnotized out of metabolic syndrome? I WISH!

Mine was 113,000 two night stay!

My insurance paid $64,000 for the surgery, out patient. It's crazy to me how there are 2 different costs, especially since the numbers are no where close!

Then with the leak....so far it has been over $150,000 but it is still coming in.....

My insurance paid 64' date='000 for the surgery, out patient. It's crazy to me how there are 2 different costs, especially since the numbers are no where close!

Then with the leak....so far it has been over 150,000 but it is still coming in.....[/quote']

I used to work at a hospital doing a lot of the insurance stuff and yes, they have to bill way high so they can get a fraction of the cost. Especially when it comes to state programs like Medi-Caid (Medi-Cal) seriously, I'd see total bills of $70,000 and certain programs or even some insurance companies would pay a negotiated rate of like 5 to $10,000 on that $70,000 bill so I can see why they bill so much. You have to factor the over head, the Doctor, the nurse etc, etc, etc I mean, can you imagine what they would get reimbursed if they billed the cash price to these insurance companies? My gosh! they'd be lucky to get $1,000 on that bill! We wouldn't have any hospitals up and running.

Jeez, I'm in the wrong business!!!