I'm on day 8 of my liquid diet with surgery on April 25, I have a $3200 deductible that has mostly been met. I got a call from the hospital today saying my surgery would be $38,000 dollars and they need $3,600 of that when I check in. After I picked myself up off the floor I chewed her out saying no wonder people have to go to Mexico. Healthcare costs in the U.S. are out of control!! $38k for a one night stay? I'm going to pay it because this had taken so long but I will have to put most on a credit card.. Has anyone heard of a hospital charging this much? I googled the avg cost for a sleeve and it said $19,000.

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I thought I read somewhere that they could not charge you ahead of time for a deductible and only a copay. Call your insurance!

What is your max out of pocket? You can expect that they will want their portion up front. If you haven't met your max out of pocket, write the check. If you have, you may want a three-way conference call so that your insurance company can tell them that you won't have any further cost.

I wrote a check for $3,000 on the day of my surgery, as I expected. Later I paid a small amount after everything had processed.

Just because a hospital charges $38,000 doesn't mean that's what the fee schedule rate is.

@@pswebb YES! My actual bill was 36,000 something. Luckily my hubs is a federal employee so I only had to pay $225 dollars. So yes it is VERY expensive but insurance does not pay them that full amount either and that was two day in the hospital. This stuff is expensive. Just wait if you have plastics. Insurance doesn't pay any on it! I just had my Tummy tuck and breast lift done two weeks ago and it cost me $14, 480.00. 4,880 of that was just to the surgery center. I didn't even get a day in the hospital. In and out in 7 hours.

Tell them u need a payment plan 25 dollars a month!! Lol

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