This is not a bill...

I got the "This is not a bill" statement from the Atlanta Medical Center and it was $50,000!!!!! My insurance company (United Health Care) sent me a "This is not a bill" statement saying that I need to pay $1800 dollars (1500 for an non-covered Surgical Assistant and $300 for anaesthesia)... I am glad they can't undo my surgery, but I wish they'd let me know this stuff was going to happen so I could have been prepared.... I was told there was no copay and the insurance was covering the surgery... I guess they didn't cover ALL of the surgery after all.

Derrick, That's stinky!!! Do they not agree to the amount before surgery? I would call and call and call! You certainly didn't ask for the Surgical Assistant. Which part of the anesthesia do they think you could have left off? Boooo!!!! Booooo!!! Becky

DERRICK, I KNEW A HEAD OF TIME AT THE HOSPITAL I WOULD OWE AROUND 3000.00 AS MY PART, BUT I SET IT UP FOR PAYMENTS OVER 6 MTHS. I WENT A HEAD AND PAID MY 255.00 FOR ANESTHESIA AS MY COPAY, BUT WHAT I DIDNT PAY ANY ON WAS WHAT THE INSURANCE PAID FOR THE DR. IT WAS 10,000 BECAUSE HE REPAIRED A HERNIA AS WELL, SO I WILL OWE THEM SOME MONEY TOO...JUST CANT REMEMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD RIGHT NOW HOW MUCH THAT IS. I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY DIDNT TELL YOU HOW MUCH, MOST HOSPITALS WANT SOME OF THEIR MONEY UP FRONT. D'LYNN 232/229/205

Your right, the good thing is, they can't undo your surgery. Appeal to your insurance company, maybe it was a mistake and you can still get them to pay it........give it a try, you just never know. If that fails and you can't pay it all out of pocket right away, set up a payment plan. Look on the bright side be glad you didn't have my bill.............I was shy of 1 million by only a couple hundred dollars. Thank goodness for insurance!! Good Luck, hope you get this resolved! Debbie J Duncan patient 01-14-02 lap-rny 01-15-02 leak repair surgery (non smoker, non steroid taker) 01-29-02 surgery to see if I had another leak.....NO thank goodness SEVERE COMPLICATIONS! 45 days in ICU, 33 days kept alive via ventilator 30 days in a rehab hospital, had to learn to walk again Now, one happy girl................LUCKY to be alive

Are you on a PPO or 80 / 20 plan? If they are a Preferred Provider (PPO) you do not have to pay the difference. They must work it out with your insurance not you. Check it out before paying that bill.

Thanks all... I'm on UHC something like COmplete Choice, which I have been told is a PPO... Perhaps that was why it said This is not a bill on it? Those things should come with Valium taped to the frigging outside of the envelope.