Question about self pay

Hello wonderful friends: I have a friend who is very interested in having gastric bypass done but her insurance only covers 80%. As you know the remaining 20% could be quite large for a hospital bill. She called Christiana CAre and they told her they would put her into a collection agency right away until the bill is paid. This just doesn't sound right to me and I was wondering if any one out there ever had the same exprience. I would appreicate any advice. thanks.

I havent had that with the bypass, but when my son was very ill and in the hospital we had no ins. and a lawyer told me that as long as I paid even $1.00 a month consistantly they had to accept it and could not send it off. They will try to get you to agree to a payment but you dont have too as long as you send something every month they cant report you. This was a year or so ago so check and make sure I am also in MD but I dont see where that would make a difference.... Good luck Kristina

I work at Christiana Care. I've never heard of pre-paying the amount. Usually it is just as Kristina said. You make arrangements with patient accounting to pay monthly, agreeing on any small amount. That will keep them from turning your account over to an outside collection agency. Pt accounting is 576 7000 ask for someone in charge as I believe your friend may have been misinformed.

Hi, it is true that as long as you pay something each month, your account cannot be sent to a collection agency. My wls wasn't covered completely, and yes, the copay's can really add up. Even if it takes me forever to pay it off, it was still worth it to me. What the Insurance co don't tell you is that if they cover 80%.. it's only 80% of what they deem customary and reasonable. Not necessarily the entire bill. I'm fighting a $2,500.00 charge right now that they only paid $300 on.. that was their 'reasonable'.. so tell your friend to just be prepared. But again, oh so worth it. Take care, T

Ditto the others - my insurance covers 80% and I am responsible for te remaining 20% up to a co-pay of $1,000 for covered expenses. When I had my bypass last year all told I proably paid about $1500. out of pocket in addition to what my insurance covered. Both the cardiologist and Chritiana care were great abotu setting up a payment plan which I continued (Just $10 a month by the way but you can set it up for whatever you think you can cover) and then I paid the rest off when we got our tax money. They were really wonderful & very easy to work with.