I just visited my insurance companies website to check on whether or not they had paid any claims from my surgery. Holy cow batman! The charges from the dr's and hospital are outrageous! There is $9,100 from my surgeon, $2,100 from the anesthesiologist (sp?), and then here is the kicker, $21,077 for the hospital! I am grateful that all of the claims show as paid. Out of all of it, they show me owing a little over $300 total. I have already paid my surgeon (they owe me money back). The total price just really blew me away. My surgeon charges $14,000 (including the surgery center) for self pay, so why the drastic prices?:smile:

I thought the same thing when I saw my charges were over $30,000. Self pay is much cheaper. I also saw that my insurance paid what's called eligible charges which are much less. I only had to pay $75 copay for surgery and $60 for the nutrition class.

I didn't even include that in what I paid. In total I will have paid a little over $1500. My surgeon charged $250 program fee (I paid $95 of that) and a $1000 "fee" on top of what he charged for the surgery. I paid $1305 in advance (including the "fee"), but my insurance said my part to him should have been $182. They claim that they will give me a refund. I paid $95 for the nutritionist/psychiatric visit. Then I owe $150 to the anesthesiologist. Thankfully, they paid 100% on the hospital.

I am convinced that its part of the dysfunction of the health care system. For fills, if you self-pay can be as cheap as $150 (non-fluro); however, let insurance cover it and they are billed nearly $2K. What a rip off...but thats they system so let it work. I just got my bills from my emergency surgery to remove my band....$20K---thats another surgery. However, I am grateful that all I am responsible for is $250. Insurance works so work it!

My procedure isn't self pay, but I tell you I've spent so much money alreaady it is a shame... I have Cigna and everytime I go to a doctor outside of my Primary Care my co-payment is $40. So for the entire six months I was under the supervised weight management (and those appointments where 2-3 times a week) $40, Phyc appt (twice) $40, the surgeon's office (three appointments ) $40 and get this my doctors office charged $350 for a seminar to go over the pre-op / post op nutrition and this was required. This in my opinion was a rip off because everything we talked about I have already talked about with my own Nutrionist. Plus .. Oh yeah I'm not finished I have a $250 copayment and I'm responsible for 10% of the first $10,000 of the cost of the surgery which is $1,000. I have not added it up but it is cheaper than self pay and oh yeah.. It is all tax deductible. Thank Goodness

I forgot about it being tax deductible. I wonder if the $1000 "fee" that I had to pay is tax deductible too? hmmmmm

Yes...its all tax deductible...every expense...including gym membership.

I am speaking from experience b/c I certainly reaped the benefits from it in Jan 07 tax refund.

Please remember for it to be tax deductible you have to meet the minimum adjusted gross income (line 38 on the 1040 return)requirement in your medical bills. Per the IRS 'You can deduct only the amount of your medical and dental expenses that is more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income'. (http://www.irs.gov/publications/p502/ar02.html)

So if your AGI is $80K, your expenses must be OVER $6000. And if your medical expenses are $6150...you can only deduct the $150 that caused it to be over the 7.5%.

If your employer has a Medical Flexible Spending Account...I HIGHLY recommend you getting into that because that money comes out before you are taxed and you are reimbursed any medical expenses without paying taxes on it.

If you want more insight send me a PM and I talk with you about it. Just to let you all know that I'm not a quack...I have an accounting degree and have done hundreds of tax returns.

My doctor bills for the surgery totalled $36K. So glad I have insurance, I didn't pay a dime (no copay). Tricare is GREAT!!!

Edited October 23, 200817 yr by Mommie_of_4
added website.

Thanks for the info mommie_ of_4!