Cost of my Fill Wow!!!

[reneek 1]

I have Highmark and have a $1250 deductable. Well i had my lapband surgery in may and i had my 1250 deductable billed to me by the hospital so i had already meet my deductable so i never got a bill for a fill since my surgery. Well my new year for my deductable started again on sept30. So i knew any bloodwork or procedures that i would have would be billed to me untill i meet my deductable. So i know that my fill in Oct would be billed to me. So i wasn't surprised when i got my bill. Well i was surprised when i opened it and seen the amont $450 dollars or a FILL. Are you kidding me yes maybe under flouro but and office fill. One needle and some saline that took 2 mins too do cost me $450 dollars. Does anyone think this is really high. I have read many post saying that there fills only cost $200 or less. Do you think i should call and complain and try to get my bill reduced?

[rd77 0]

Wow... $450.00 - that's excessive. I am self-pay and paid approximately $13,000.00 for my lap-band® surgery. This includes 2 years of follow-up with my surgeon (fills/unfills). After the two years, I have to pay $35.00 to see my surgeon and $75 for adjustments. I would definitely call and speak to someone about the bill. It is way too much.

[Mimilou2004 13]

Mine costs $500 and that isn't even seeing the doc, just a PA!!!! I think it is excessive. I didn't ask before surgery so it is on me.

Mimi

[btrieger 21]

There is a big difference between what they charge for medical assistance depending upon if you are insured or paying out of pocket. There is a lot of bureaucracy and extra work involved when dealing with insurance companies and HMOs.

I think this is the first time I have seen the numbers quoted for an insurance covered fill but I bet it is about average.

The self pays are paying between $100 and $200 for fills according to what I've read here.

[reneek 1]

There is a big difference between what they charge for medical assistance depending upon if you are insured or paying out of pocket. There is a lot of bureaucracy and extra work involved when dealing with insurance companies and HMOs.

I think this is the first time I have seen the numbers quoted for an insurance covered fill but I bet it is about average.

The self pays are paying between $100 and $200 for fills according to what I've read here.

I am sure you are right. They are going to bill the insurance for as much as they can get. Well aleast i will hit my deductable quicker 3 fills and i am done. But wow is this guy making a killing. I forgot to tell everyone that wasn't including my Dr visit the bill read

Fill 450

Dr appointment 125 25copay and 100 paid by insurance

My doctors appointments don't count towards my deductable so they are paid that is a total of $575 for one visit that my dr is making. Which i think was maybe 10 mins long.

[TeganRheana 1]

OMG, I could never afford that!! I consider myself extremely lucky, I had my surgery as a public patient and medicare covered the entire cost, I didn't pay a cent. I do have to pay $150 per fill visit but I get $113 of that back from medicare so I really only pay $37 per fill. I can't believe how much people are getting charged. If I didn't live here in Australia, I know for a fact I wouldn't have had it put in purely because of cost, and that's terrible, it makes me think of all the people over there who would love to have it done, but just cant afford not only the surgery but the maintenance.

[kiz 1]

I had one year of fills included in my self pay contract.

I didn't get the exact price, but the approximate cost of an in office fill will be $170. If I have a fill under fluoro, it will be in the neighborhood of $700. Most of that goes to the hospital for the use of the xray equipment.

That's not even as much as insurance is billed, although, I'm sure that most insurances will only pay a fraction of the cost.

[RedBone Creole 4]

I went to Mexico & got mine for $6000.

Fills are $100 for the 1st year with barrium & x-Ray...

I hope you can find something less expensive.

[Fanny Adams 7]

I pay the same as TeaganRheana for fills (I'm also in Perth, Western Australia). I was self-pay on the lapband and the followup fill visits cost $150 with our Medicare system rebating $113 of that, so total personal cost is $37. $500 for a 10 minute visit and a quick needle is INSANELY expensive!

[elcee 3,343]

I'm in Victoria, Australia and I pay $118.40 of which I get back $97.90 from medicare. I find it strange that the medicare rebate differs between here and WA as I would have thought it would be the same for the same service!

[TeganRheana 1]

I'm in Victoria, Australia and I pay $118.40 of which I get back $97.90 from medicare. I find it strange that the medicare rebate differs between here and WA as I would have thought it would be the same for the same service!

I think its mainly just the upfront charge that differs between surgeons, but the percentage of rebate we get back from medicare is roughly the same, either way, us Aussies definitely get a better deal re: cost :thumbup:

Edited December 15, 2009 by TeganRheana