ER Bill arrived today!

**Tootsiebella** · 04-07-2005, 06:25 PM

I am shocked! I just came from the mailbox, and the bill from my Easter morning visit has arrived! $630.00!!! I nearly fell over- I expected it to be about $300, but not that much! The thing that really gripes me is that we are in the middle of getting health insurance sorted out, and if I had gone a few days later, I could have used it to pay almost all of my deductible! I am not even sure how we are going to pay it, but I really would hate to put in on a CC. These things have a way of just turning into long term debt!!

**PennyPinchinPam** · 04-07-2005, 07:56 PM

Ouch!

Don't charge it ask the billing person if you can set up a monthly payment plan. They will usually do it for you because they want their money.

Good luck.

**Darlene** · 04-07-2005, 07:56 PM

Aww, I'm sorry. Yep, step back and see what you can work out with them. Doesn't have to be all at once. Just keep the lines of communication open with them...makes them more apt to work with you. Hope everyone is doing ok and your getting settled in.

**pip** · 04-07-2005, 11:54 PM

Wow. Amazing how expensive things are.

**jlxian** · 04-08-2005, 10:13 AM

Its amazing to me the difference in medical bills between those people who have insurance and those who do not. Its not right.

Please do ask their billing department if they can set you up on a payment schedule. I bet they will be able to help.

**Michele Annette** · 04-08-2005, 10:34 AM

I'm sorry the bill was so much! Everybody's ideas about a payment plan is a very good idea. I wouldn't put it on the CC.

**Kimmomo3** · 04-08-2005, 06:32 PM

Sorry to hear of your troubles, but they will work with you, I paid a bill 5.00 a week for an ER visit once.

Its amazing to me the difference in medical bills between those people who have insurance and those who do not. Its not right

The reason is insurance companies make a deal with facilities, we will pay XXX for ABC. So if ABC really costs YYY the hospital/clinic only gets what is settled on so that is what is billed. Floks with no insurance get the bill for XXX because no deal was made before hand.
The way things are priced is just an awful crazy mess, Medicare is a big reason why things are so goofy in the medical pricing.

I am a medical coder and I am involved with this mess of a system. It may not seem fair but that is not the hospitals fault, if we could bill the real price to everyone it would go down for everyone.

**Mommy2five** · 04-09-2005, 04:47 AM

Holey Cow!

I hope they will work with you!

**Tootsiebella** · 04-09-2005, 06:24 PM

Thanks for the advice everyone- I am going to call the billing dept on Monday and ask if I can pay half the bill in two weeks, and the other, the following two weeks. Fortunately, we had 300 saved in our medical savings plan through DH's work- the other half I can make up through my earnings over the next several weeks- that patio set for our anniversary will be out, but at least we won't be in debt!!!!

**cmu** · 04-09-2005, 10:39 PM

I know what you mean about Hospital bills, fortunately I have health insurance, but the hospital sent me a copy of the bill they sent to the insurance company for DD#2's broken arm....I almost fainted....$5199.00

All I could think was "Thank goodness I have the insurance!"

Good luck witht the billing department!