HOLY MEDICAL BILLS - why didn't anyone tell me??

Mommy2Isabella wrote: We just recieved the bill for Isaia's NICU stay ...

His bill is upwards of 24,000 dollars .... THANK THE LORD our insurance covered a majority of it .. how do people without insurance afford that??

Anyways, anyone have any idea on what to call the hospital and say in regaurds to a payment plan of some sort ??

lovemy2 replied: Yes it can be ugly can't it - like you said thank goodness you have insurance - I would just call and ask them how much you can pay per month and see if its what you can afford - if not tell them what you can afford - in my experience as long as you are making the effort and paying regularly they will cooperate.

CantWait replied: All I can say is THANK GOD I LIVE IN CANADA!!!!!!!!!

Calimama replied: Like Christine said, I bet they are willing to work out a deal with you.

luvmykids replied: They're more likely to be nice about it and do it on your terms if you call them before they have to call you

lisar replied: Raygens NICU bill was around $150,000.00. I paid my $25.00 copay and thats all I had to pay.

And for calling them they will take whatever you can afford to send them a month. Most hospitals are just happy that you are willing to try and not just gona write it off like most people.

PrairieMom replied: they don't. they get government assistance, go bankrupt or both. It is so screwed up.
My hospital will offer a discount if you pay the total upfront. We paid before we even left the hospital and they gave us 20% off. can you do a lump sum?

Mommy2Isabella replied: Thank goodness he didn't have to stay longer, I know the longer they are there the higher the bill ... that is just the bill for the NICU that doesnt' include the Neonatoligist care, which the bill for that is 16,000 we don't know how much insurance covered of that one yet ...

Thanks guys, I assumed that If I just called and said hey I will send X amount every month they wouldn't bother me with it ... because so many people don't EVER pay and they write it off!!

PrairieMom replied:
that hasn't been my experience with my hospital, WHICH I WORK FOR I a might add.
I paid my bill in full before I even walked out the door, but they submitted my information to the wrong insurance, which of course was denied, to they turned me over to collections the next month! all while I was trying to get things straightened out with both our insurance companies, and working with the people in billing. I was furious. I couldn't believe that my employer would treat their patients that way, much less one of their own!
Okay, sorry health insurance stuff gets me really riled up.

Calimama replied:
I don't think it's quite that simple.

mummy2girls replied: again these posts are makign me be very thank ful for canada.... When Jordan was in the NICU, PICU and peds ward it cost me nothing at all. i didnt even see a bill at all. it went straight to the alberta health care system and they paid it. And when jenna had her adneniod /tonsil surgery again no bill was charged nothing and the alberta health system paid it. yes the wait here can be long to get into something because we do have universal health care but i would take that over getting a 24 grand bill anyday! Plus if its an emergency with anythign they do get you in fast!

Mommy2Isabella replied: I called my "connection" at the hospital and she said as long as I am paying something they won't send me to collections

WOO HOO ... go Trident Hospital ... I guess I should consider myself lucky ...

Thanks guys!!

Calimama replied:
Awesome!

julesmom replied: As you long as make regular monthly payments, they will leave you alone.

For example, if you can send $20 a month, make sure you send that EVERY month. Don't miss ONE month. If you send the money consistantly every month, they will leave you alone, but miss ONE month and you can be sent to collections. And collections won't be as nice as the hospital.

I know an older man who owed the hospital big $$, and paid $10 a month for years. He never missed a month and they left him alone.

Calimama replied:
That's really neat.

moped replied:

moped replied:

skinkybaby replied:
Haha, see I am the exact opposite. I'd rather pay and get seen right away by who I want then wait for forever

Cece00 replied:
This is common procedure, actually.

As long as you pay something every month (and really, even if you miss one month, most wont be after you if you pay the next month) they will be OK with it. They know a lot of ppl dont have that kind of $$ to cough up right away.

I wouldnt suggest agreeing to pay a certain amt every month, though, unless you set it very low. Like I wouldnt call & say "I'll send in $150 a month" because if you cant pay that one month, they may call you & want to know whats up.

Any time I've had bigger bills, I just make a copy of the original bill every month & send in a payment. I make a copy of the bill for the acct #. You could also just write it on the "memo" line of the check.

I think $26k is pretty reasonable....when my oldest was born the bill was $13k+ and he didnt even stay in the NICU.

mummy2girls replied:
you dont always wait forever! Some thing yes can take 3 months but if it needs to be seen bya doc they will squeeze you in. But i would take that over getting a huge bill in the mail that is more than the cost of buyign a car...LOL

skinkybaby replied: I know what it's like, I grew up a military brat. The health care is very similar. Yuck yuck yuck yuck.

Hillbilly Housewife replied:


ditto.

Calimama replied:
Really? Our military medical covers 100% of everything. We never even see a bill.

ZandersMama replied: omg, i love canada. Zavier was in for over two months, can just imagine what that would have been!

Cece00 replied:
I think she meant its free, but the system isnt the best compared to private insurance, and saying she knows what socialized med. in Canada is like since she had military insurance.

skinkybaby replied:
That's what I mean. It covered everything, but when we did have to see the doctor it took forever to get anything done.

Calimama replied:
Ohh gotcha. I hope our next duty station isn't like that. They are pretty fast at this one.

holley79 replied: They will take what you can afford. Just be sure to be honest with them and make sure you make the payment monthly. Tell them a set monthly payment and if you can pay above that on some months feel free. I am still paying on my car accident bills.

wcs40110 replied: Were kinda lucky cuz Dakota had a cleft so she gets extra coverage (not lucky but lucky) We have insurance on her through the state but I have nothing so... You hope and pray and like others have said you try to pretend it never happened, or go belly up... or pay out your ear.

ughh. Depressing America is sooo screwed up , you should watch michael moores sicko!

kimberley replied: i don't know why i hear so much flack about how horrible Canadian health care is. i have lived here all my life and never had any major probs. when my tonsils got bad, i was admitted right away and in surgery as soon as the swelling went down enough for removal. most appts can be booked the same week as long as you are not picky for time and if you happen to have a busy dr. who takes a couple of weeks to see for non-serious appts (anything serious is seen within 24hrs), there is a walk-in clinic every few blocks that could take you within minutes. most hospitals by me have a children's walk-in clinic in the hospital. if i don't like my doc, i can drop her for someone else. i am allowed to get second, third or fourth opinions if i want to. my dad just had surgery this past november. he went for an MRI, the surgeon (which he chose) diagnosed him on thursday, he was admitted on friday and had surgery on sunday. his after care was amazing. 3 days in ICU being pampered. a few weeks in neuro for recovery, then to a live-in rehab hospital for PT and OT for a few more weeks. the rehab place was gorgeous with pub nights and bingo nights and karaoke at the piano bar... all free!! he still is getting therapy as an out patient because HE wanted to go home. he needs a neck brace til the surgery area totally heals.. they gave him one. they gave him numerous things to help him like this thing that does up buttons for you, a gadget that u roll socks on and it puts them on for you without bending, a long shoe horn... i don't call that substandard care.

sorry for , i just don't agree with the assumption that free health care sucks.

CantWait replied:
Here Here!!!!!

PrairieMom replied:
There is no perfect system, but things here are undeniably messed up.

amynicole21 replied:
Just watched Sicko last nigh - wow, was that an eye opener. Our system is really screwed up

skinkybaby replied: I was just stating which system I prefer, having lived with both. Different people like different things. I think it's great that you like your health care system and there's nothing wrong with me liking mine!