I blamed my surgeon for this at first, but now I think it might be hospital policy. My insurance covers 80% of my surgery minus deductible. I was told by both the doctor's office and the hospital that I would need to pay everything up front (the deductible plus that 20% not covered) by day of surgery. To make matters worse, they don't accept Care Credit (which has always offered 0% financing for 24 mos. when I've used it in the past).

No one mentioned this at the seminar or at all except when I was called about my endoscopy. Later when the hospital phoned to preregister me, I was given an additional sum I would still owe or they would not do the surgery.

It all sounds so strange to me. When I've had surgery before, I pay my copay, the insurance is billed and then I'm billed for anything left over. I wondered if this was standard procedure?

(I should mention that the doctor did say that if you were self-pay the entire cost would need to be received ahead of time. He did not say that about insured patients.)

Thanks for listening to my rant, everyone. The hospital is a large, local (and I believe the county) hospital which has been around for decades. I'm limited because my insurance company forced me to go to a particular practice, and that practice uses that hospital.

It's not a problem, but I do think they should have been more forthright about out-of-pocket expenses. I'm still shocked that they don't offer any sort of financing.

Now I've caught a cold and need to call the surgeon tomorrow. I have a bad feeling they may cancel my surgery. /pout