Hey y'all. Just a rant and a vent. I went for my pre-admission testing yesterday. My surgery is 6/7 and I'm on liquid diet. I go to my dr. appt first and they give me some more stuff for surgery, like and eating journal etc, and I meet my new surgeon (my other one retired). All went well, as I really liked him. Then I go downstairs for preadmission testing. The nightmare hell begins.

I sit in the cubicle with the temp hovering at about 95, as she has her heat on full blast (mind you I'm always cold with no thyroid) but I was dying. She then proceeds to tell me that my balance is $4500 and how would I like to pay. I look her at with the wtf look and say excuse me, I'm covered under my insurance. I know I haven't met my deductible yet, but I also have a card from my employer to pay that once the Explanation of Benefits is produced by my insurance, AFTER procedure. You're telling me that I have to pay this up front? Before surgery?! Why wasn't this mentioned before? She said "well, it's considered cosmetic surgery and yes, you pay up front" Needless to say, I did NOT have $4500 in my purse, so I was beyond distraught. She said well, you can go on with your testing, but know it's due the morning of your surgery, and they have to have it before you are taken back, and must be in cash or certified check. Pissed and heartbroken wasn't the word. Hello, already on liquids and have taken off work for surgery.

I call a different person today, and she said she wasn't sure where the girl came up with cosmetic, as nowhere on there does it mention that, and she said no, I didn't have to pay it all up front, that I could pay a little (down with that) and the rest billed. Of course I'm still panicked that it will foul up, but I have her name, the time I called, and it was on a recorded line. I could use a drink, a real one.

Paying up front, day of procedure is BS and has messed me up a couple different times. I met my out of pocket for this year and all bills from now thru Dec should be paid 100%. Still getting some in the mail. Grrr

BCBS said one of the providers must not of filed correctly because it wasn't showing that I paid over $1000 day of my pre op heart catherization test. Now I have to keep paying to avoid these last bills from becoming past due and possibly going to collection. Then I'll have to wait on a refund for overpaying.

It used to be, providers filed with insurance and then I paid the balance for whatever was left, after . When did all this change because I want it back the way it was.

From now on I would avoid prepaying anything unless you absolutely have too. OK rant over...

OMG what a total mess that was. When you are doing the pre op you just do not need it. I hope everything goes smoothly from here on out. Keep us posted

5 minutes ago, summerseeker said:

OMG what a total mess that was. When you are doing the pre op you just do not need it. I hope everything goes smoothly from here on out. Keep us posted

6 minutes ago, BabySpoons said:

Paying up front, day of procedure is BS and has messed me up a couple different times. I met my out of pocket for this year and all bills from now thru Dec should be paid 100%. Still getting some in the mail. Grrr

BCBS said one of the providers must not of filed correctly because it wasn't showing that I paid over $1000 day of my pre op heart catherization test. Now I have to keep paying to avoid these last bills from becoming past due and possibly going to collection. Then I'll have to wait on a refund for overpaying.

It used to be, providers filed with insurance and then I paid the balance for whatever was left, after . When did all this change because I want it back the way it was.

From now on I would avoid prepaying anything unless you absolutely have too. OK rant over...

Thanks y'all! Yes, absolute mess. Healthcare has become such a flipping train wreck. It was such a horrible experience. I'm still freaked out and paranoid that they are start some shenanigans the day of surgery. But I have the lady's name I spoke with, the time (as it said calls were recorded), and everything. I means that's a lot of money to say oh hey, this is due today. Yes, I have some savings, but wow, yeah, what a crock. It makes it worse that I have my Difference card, provided by my job, to make up the difference in deductible and such (since they had to take us from a $500 yearly deductible to a $5000 due to covid and the insurance hikes). But that card has to be used after services. So, they will get their money.