You'll never believe why they cancelled my surgery!

Gosh I am so upset right now.  I went to the surgery center at 6am like I was supposed to.  Filled out all the paperwork, etc.  Then it was time to pay.  I paid the anesthesiolgist fee, no problem.  Then it was time to pay the hospital, DECLINED!  She tried again,declined.  I told her the money was in my account.  I called the bank's automated system and went through a million buttons to get my balances, transfer more money, whatever,  Even asked to get on her computer to get online to verify the money was in my account.  At this point I'm almost panicking.  They had told me the day before that they don't accept checks and that they take cash, money orders, credit and debit cards.  So then she asks me if I had another form of payment, and I said not with that big of a credit limit. So at this point it's 7:15 and they tell me that I can't proceed with the procedure until the fee has been paid.  I looked at her and asked her, am I supposed to go home then?  She apologized and said it was hospital policy, blah blah blah. I tell her I promise the money is in the bank.  By this time she has tried at least 4 times to use my check card and it's locked of course.  I called the bank and they're drive thru opens at 7am.  I tell her I'm going to the bank to get the cash and I'll be back.  Mind you it's rush hour in Houston at this time.  So this other lady is trying to figure out the surgery schedule to see if they can push me back.  The Resident is there, but the attending PS is not.  So I leave and ask her to call and let me know if they can do the surgery later.  As I get to the bank she calls and says don't come back because the PS has appointments in the afternoon and cannot do the surgery and to call his office to reschedule.  I just start crying at this point.  I have been busting my butt getting ready for this surgery and stressed to no end.  I barely slept 2 hours last night for thinking about the whole thing and being a ball of nerves.  I felt so bad that the doctors were all waiting for me and I leave them thinking I didn't have the money in the bank.  How embarrassing.

I came straight home and went and curled up in my bed under a big blanket just so upset.  Guess I need to call the rest of my family and let them know I'm home at least.  I tried to sleep but was too upset so I got up and made breakfast just to get my mind on something else.  Normally I would clean and wash to occupy my mind but that's already done!!

Anyhow, as I was making breakfast I called the bank since they don't open until 9am.  I told them there was a lock on my account and if they would lift it.  As she was checking she asked how big of a purchase I was trying to make.  I told her and she said that their bank has a $2500 limit on their bank cards per 24 hour period and that's why it wasn't approved.  So I then told her I was on my way to get the cash from the drive thru so then she said they have a $2000 cash limit at the drive thru teller and that I would have had to go inside the bank.  I knew there was an ATM limit but it never occured to me there would be others.  I just don't make big purchases like that. I told her about my surgery being cancelled because my card was declined.  She apologized and blah blah blah.

Now I have to figure out when they can reschedule me. Hopefully they can let me know this afternoon.  I already had done all the paperwork at work to be off for 4-6 weeks, made arrangements to have someone cover my duties, had family take off too to help me with the kids and now we just sit here waiting.  I swear this all seems like a bad dream.

Sorry guys, but I just had to vent.  And I was worried about my iron levels....

Melissa

Melissa-
I am so sorry this happened to you.  I cannot imagine how upset you are.   I hope the doc can get you back on the schedule ASAP.  I will be keeping my fingers crossed.

Red

Thanks Red.  I just hope it isn't so far out that I have to go back to work just to leave again.  That's embarrassing too.  I was trying to be discreet about this whole thing at work so going back and then taking off again would just be calling more attention to the situation.  KWIM?

I feel so badly for you, but I have never heard of a hospital where you pay for the procedure on the day of admission?? What is it a drive through??!!! I had to pay for my surgery one month ahead.

I really hope you get this sorted out quickly, it's definitely a mistake on their part and maybe not making it clear. Please let us know when this gets sorted out.

Take care

hugs

Well I was supposed to go the day before for preop lab work, etc.  But when the PS changed my procedure from a lower body lift to a TT with anchor cut, the hospital called me and said don't worry about coming the day before.  They said they could take care of everything that morning.  She asked me tons of questions over the phone so most of it was already taken care of when I got there.  They had specifically told me on 2 different occasions their form of payments so I had planned to use my check card all along.  This is really a nice surgery center at the Medical Center so it really wasn't their fault that my card was declined. Even though I doubt this was the first time it happened to someone.  In that case I guess they should require payment beforehand to avoid problems like this..  I did tell the lady in admitting that I had planned to come the day before to pay but they told me I didn't have to.  I told the lady that I should have just done it anway to avoid this whole fiasco.  I even promised to have someone bring the money while I was in surgery if they would just let me go through with it.  I know she could see me fighting back the tears.  Nope.  Hospital policy blah blah blah.  :(

Wow, I'm sorry they cancelled your surgery.  I,t oo, have never heard of a facility that doesn;t require payment several days or weeks prior to the procedure date.

I know that it's VERY upsetting (my brachioplasty had to be cancelled and rescheduled because the remnants of hurricane Ivan came through our area as a HUGE windstorm last September and the hospital had no power for a week), but remember that once it IS done and you are healed a week or two (or three) delay won't matter.

Lora

Actually this is the first medical procedure I'm having to pay out of pocket so I guess I didnt' know what the standard procedure was.  They did call me 2 weeks ago explaining the cost so I guess they figured they've notified me and that I would have shown up with the payment ready to go.  Well, I was, or so I thought.

i never heard of such a thing as to pay the day of service.  you would think that all payments would be due at the latest the day before. also no credit cards? with a credit card they get paid right away. forget them for now, calm down take a nap and eat something. call them later to get another apt. it will all work out.

dawn

They do accept credit cards, but I didn't have one to use to cover the entire hospital fee.  I was planning on using my de*****eck card but my bank puts a limit of $2500 per 24 hour period so ti was declined. ;(

I'm surprised as well.  At my clinic, you pay at the PreOp appointment for everything - hospital, anesthesia and surgeon.  I think your surgeon needs to change his procedures.  It doesn't make sense for him to lose a surgery day and it doesn't make sense for the client to have to reschedule due to these finance problems that happen.  For myself, I have to phone my bank a day in advance and tell them the exact amount that will be demanded against the card and then I have 24 hours in which to complete the transaction.

I know all about anti theft provisions on credit cards and debit cards.  I hate them because they cause problems like this but having been a victim of ID theft, I'm glad that the banks have some safeguards.  But I know how  you feel, sometimes they make the account holder feel like a criminal.  I do a lot of work in Europe and I go through this all the time.  I travel with at least three credit cards and two ATMs in my business to insure against these types of problems.  After your surgery you will look back on this and have a good laugh.