For info: cost of my surgery

I've had a lot of people, via Internet and in person, ask me how much my surgery cost. Since my primary and secondary insurances picked up the bills, I literally never saw one, But being curious, I called the hospital and asked them to send me one. Hospital stay (4 days), procedure, OR doodads, meds, etc.: 17,040.70 Surgeon's fee: 15,200.00 Total for the OR, hardware, surgeon, and hospital stay: 32,240.70 YIKES! Remind me to never complain about health insurance rates again: all I had to pay for was $9.70 for a pain med when I checked out! It was kind of cool to see what things cost. The actual Lap-Band pack: 6469.00 Morphine: 6.00 (sounded like a FABULOUS bargain to me!) OR fee: 3190.00 Endo-tracheal tube (disposable): 5.00 Endo shears (reusable, I think): 504.50 Suture pack: (10) @ 12.50 each Semi-private room (although it only had ONE bed in it!): 1273.00 I was also billed for "(1) seal, 26.00". Um . . . I never saw a seal and if I did I think that the marine biologists in the area would have been alerted. What are they doing letting wild sea animals into a hospital???

WOW! Those rates are incredible! I don't think mine was all THAT much - but I can check. $6 for morphine? Wow - what a bargoon - can't get a deal like that on the street these days. Sheeesh. The seal costs more! Plus you gotta feed that thing! I'd just feed it morphine! Tara

Hey Bette: It would be interesting to compare the cost between the Lap Band and Gastric Bypass. I will WAIT until my insurance company PAYS before asking Norwalk for a copy of the bill though! AND ON A LIGHTER NOTE... Now that I think of it...I DO remember hearing some funny noises coming from under the bed at night! And upon checking there were some puddles of water...hmmm...heehee. See you at a support group meeting soon. Towanda

HOLY FREAKEN MOLY!!!!! All the money we pay out for insurance and prescriptions, I am glad to see that they will be doing something for me Phyllis