Worst day of my life...

This is the worst day of my life. I had my surgery date scheduled for Tuesday October 11, and yesterday afternoon, the hospital called me and told me that my insurance will only pay them $1000 for the hospital part of Gastric Bypass surgery, so if I still wanted to have the surgery on Tuesday I would have to pay $14,000 before then. I can't pay that much with a 5 day warning. I wouldn't be able to pay that anyway. I am so upset. I had already completed EVERYTHING pre-op....psychiatric eval, pre-admission testing, EVERYTHING! My husband had scheduled off work, I had plans for my mom to keep my baby and everything was done. This just seems like a dream...it can't be true. Why would this happen? How could this happen? How could I get this far and then all of it be snatched away? I have been crying since yesterday. My insurance policy is through my husband's job. The insurance company said that it was a limited policy and it can't be upgraded. I am looking into a personal policy. Does anyone know if personal policies cover bariatric surgery...and if so, which ones? I really want to find one soon since I have already done so much to prepare. Thank you all...Leslie

Oh Leslie, I cannot imagine your pain right now. Not that this is any consolition but everything happens for a reason. I wish I knew what that was in this case...man...my prayers are with you.

Leslie, I am really sorry that this had to happen. I know how disappointed you must be. Just stay strong. Things always seem to work themselves out! take care willby

Oh hon, I am so sorry. I wish I had some words of comfort for you. I'm going through some "trials and tribulations" right now too and I know how hard it is to try and make sense of it all, but please hang in there. I believe that all this will make us stronger and I know in my heart that a solution will come through and all will be ok. HUGS, Vi

Im so sorry

I FEEL FOR YOU, MS LESLIE ... &, ALTHOUGH I UNDERSTAND YOUR REACTION ... DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME & ENERGY ON CRYIN' & ASKIN' "WHY ME?" ... THERE ARE NO ANSWERS TO THAT QUESTION THAT WILL SATISFY YOU & YOU'LL JUST RUN YOURSELF INTO THE GROUND WITH UNHEALTHY EMOTIONS! I DON'T HAVE ANY ANSWERS ABOUT WHAT INSURANCE COMPANY YOU SHOULD LOOK AT BUT I KNOW A LITTLE ABOUT "WRITE OFFS". A HOSPITAL, DR OR PROVIDER IS ONLY PAID ABOUT 1/3 OF THE BILLED CHARGES FROM MOST INSURANCE COMPANIES BECAUSE THEY HAVE CONTRACTS WITH THEM THAT BRING IN VOLUMNS OF PATIENTS. IF YOU WERE FAMOUS, YOU COULD EASILY GET ANY & ALL OF THE CHARGES WRITTEN COMPLETELY OFF JUST BECAUSE THE MEDICAL PROVIDER HAS "BRAGGING RIGHTS" TO WORKING ON A FAMOUS PERSON ... NAME DROPPING, YOU KNOW. UNFAIR THAT THE RICHEST GET THE BEST DEALS BUT THAT IS LIFE. BUTTTTTTTTTTTT, SOMETIMES YOU CAN GO TO A MEDICAL PROVIDER & PLAY "LET'S MAKE A DEAL". FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOUR INSURANCE IS GOING TO PAY FOR EVERYTHING ... DOCTORS, LABS, MEDS, SUPPLIES ... WHATEVER & HAVE THIS ALL LISTED IN BLACK & WHITE INCLUDING THE $1,000.00 THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL PAY FOR THE HOSPITAL. OFFER THEM THE SAME DEAL THEY GET FROM INSURANCE OR A LITTLE BETTER ... LET'S SAY $5,000.00 (OF COURSE, THIS DEPENDS ON YOUR ABILITY TO PAY THE AMOUNT) & GET AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE HIGHEST LEVEL PERSON YOU CAN IN THE BILLING DEPARTMENT. I'D BE SO BOLD AS TO BRING THE $5,000.00 WITH ME IN THE FORM OF A CASHIER'S CHECK OR BANK DRAFT ... & SEE WHAT HAPPENS. I WORKED AT HEALTHSOUTH IN THE EOB SECTION & YOU CANNOT IMAGINE HOW MUCH WE WROTE OFF JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE TOOK THE TIME TO ASK FOR HELP. THE KEY WAS ALWAYS "COURTESY & RESPECT" FROM THE PATIENT, A PLAUSIBLE REASON FOR THE REQUEST & DETAILED INFORMATION AS TO HOW THEY WERE GOING TO PAY THE REMAINDER OF THE BILL. IN THE MEANTIME ... JUST START CALLING INSURANCE COMPANIES, TALK TO FAMILY, FRIENDS, CO-WORKERS ABOUT THEIR INSURANCE POLICIES. YOU COULD ALSO CHECK THE CHARITIES IN YOUR AREA - THEY GIVE ASSISTANCE IN ALL SORTS OF SITUATIONS. GOD BLESS YOU DAWN & NICK

Did YOU talk to your insurance company? Did they approve the surgery? Find out why they won't pay the hospital portion? How can you have surgery without a hospital??? Appeal this! What a load of garbage. Marcia

Thank you all *****plied to my message. I am still very upset, seeing as my surgery would have been tomorrow. What upsets me the most are the comments made by my family. They are telling me to get to the gym and eat the way that I would've after I had the surgery. It's just not that dang easy. Anyway, I, myself, have talked to the insurance company several times, but it's always the same thing. They only pay $1000 to the hospital for the hospital part of gastric bypass surgery. I was approved for the surgery, but I don't understand them only paying the hospital so little. They said they pay a dollar amount to the surgeon, anesthesiologist and room and board. They also say they will pay $1000 to the hospital for other hospital services (i.e. surgeries, medications, foods, etc.). That is totally ridiculous. I don't know if this is a case to appeal or not. I just don't understand it, or think that it's fair to say they will pay for the surgeon, but not the hospital...I guess if the surgeon did the surgery at my home I could afford it! Thank you all for listening to me whine! You are all such great people. Good luck to all of y'all having surgery this month! Maybe I'll be right behind y'all! Leslie