I'm not a happy camper. I just returned home from a week long trip to St. Louis and in my stack of mail, I recieved a bill from Dr. Richard Benevides office. Interestingly, I saw this man one time in June when I had a slippage and was seeking help. Before seeing him, I spoke with his office and others and was assured that he took my insurance. I showed my insurance card at the desk and they took my co-pay. Never to be heard from again. Today, I get a bill for this consultation for $180. Merry frickin Christmas!

Mine is itimized already!

Double check it, if you're not sure about having something, question it. This and that, here and there, can add up very quickly.

Well. This bill is only $180, but the fact remains that I called these people BEFORE I made the appointment. I was told they accepted my insurance. It was a very big issue at the time. I had to have my PCP refer me etc etc. They copied my insurance card, they took my copay, so where was the disconnect? And why, if this was refused by my insurance company am I only now being advised of this? That was in JUNE for Chrissakes! I called my insurance company today and they tell me that he was not on my plan ever. So who's fault is it that I wound up in that office at all? Something isn't just right here.

I would definately call them and tell them how you were assured they accepted the insurance. Why did it take them so long to bill you? You're right, something don't add up there. Get out your boxing gloves and get em!

I knew it had a seven and a five and a zero, so maybe $7,500 is the correct number. Band cost more than that, and H & R Block told me that the band counts.

Yup, even WW and South Beach is supposed to count. Hey, I didn't keep my charges on them, I paid them with credit card though so maybe I can get a copy!

Leatha - $180.00 is a lot of money, especially this time of the year. Someone goofed and it wasn't you, fight lady for your money! I am fired up now, I'll come fight with you!

My DH was not at all happy when my surgeon decided that my insurance didn't pay enough. By law they are supposed to accept it as full payment (with my 25% copay) but he had charged $5000 up front, so he sent the insurance money back and I got to pay it all.

Even when it is a smaller amount, it is hard earned money. That's why we work our butts off at jobs that give us medical benefits. I don't like surprises after I've planned for a certain amount, either.

As far as Taxes...

If your (out of pocket) medical expenses exceed 7.25% of your total adjusted gross income, You can write them off on your taxes. At least I was able to last year and received about $2,200 more back then if I didn't have claimed them. Like always....verify with your tax professional.

Betty, What's that new law they passed on the weight loss deduction? Let me know if you find out anything on that. Thanks

On a good note I'm almost done paying off my band!!!

Vera - You are supposed to be able to take a deduction on your taxes this year for any weight loss programs etc. I am looking forward to getting the new tax forms to read exactly what all is involved, but from what I understand, any exercise program, or WW, South Beach, Jenny Craig etc. is diductible. Also WLS is supposed to be too. So, I guess we will see. I read the article not too long ago, but I forgot what it said. It was before I had surgery and I figured I wouldn't have enough to worry about deducting. I'll let you know if I hear anything else.

Please be sure you get answers! We changed homeowners/auto insurance this summer. They gave me a complimentary credit report. Surprise! Surprise! On my husband's was a charge-off for a $500 medical bill. At the time, we were on an HMO, and just assumed it was paid. The medical facility never bothered to contact us, never sent us a bill - just gave us a bad rating.

Fight the bill Leatha.Stand your ground! .I have been dealing with insurance companies and Doctors bills for years now with my son and that 180 means nothing to that Dr.

Fight, Leatha, fight!!! Marie, I hope you made all the calls and got that rating off your report.

I everyone, I do the taxes for us and both my husband and I own our own businesses as well as he is employed by a company -- so I fill out many different forms -- such a fun process. I do know that to take a deduction on medical expenses it is calculated as a percentage of your earnings not a dollar amount. It should be a quick answer from any CPA or amazingly enough the IRS has quite an informative web site. Hope that helps as you are gathering your receipts and hitting the calculators.

I am sorry that you are getting those bills, that is hard any time of year let alone a time of year when you are trying to give to others. I am so thankful mine is covered; I consider that a blessing and a major sign that I am to move ahead with this and begin to take care of myself and my health.

I continue to wish everyone here the best and be inspired by you all. TJ

I Took medical expense tax deductions 2 years in a row...2002 for my surgery bills in Mexico and 2003 was for infertility treatments.

The way it works is you can deduct anything that is above 7.5% of your Adjust Gross Income..so if your AGI is $100K(just to keep this simple rounding)..if your total medical bills are $10K for that year..you can deduct anything above the 7,500(which would be the 7.5% of your AGI)so you could deduct in this instance $2500 out of the total $10K.

So everyone's will be different based on what you make.

Make sure you have receipts for everything and include everything. For those having surgery overseas, you can deduct:

airfare or other transport costs

hotel

food

taxis

cost of surgery

fills and expenses related to fills(transportation)

for your every day medical expenses, we included

medical co payments

monthly premiums

prescription costs

We had receipts for everything and we just supplied our CPA with an excel sheet of each individual expense broken down and just kept the receipts bundled together in case we ever got audited.

Anyway..definitely work with a CPA when you have years you have deductions to make sure you get it right!

Patty

8/13/02

Dr Kuri