If you go over your OR time - hospital wont let you leave till you pay???

I had my plastics at a surgery center and apparently we went over a bit on time.  They just sent me an invoice.

I just don't see the big deal. If I just forked over $5860 to the hospita - CLEARLY Im not poor and can handle paying the rest - but NO ONE (that I know anyway) has tens of thousands sitting in their account  just incase they go over. And if they do - they have it there for EMERGENCIES. Like...car breaking down so they can't get to work - or death in the family (that's what ours is for). Not for things already taken care of.

I wouldn't  spit out the amount of cash I already have and then just not cover the rest!

I used the same Dr and hospital and yes my surgery went over 30 minutes and I paid before I left.  Just call Miranda and ask her or HHSS.  I'm sure they'll let you know.  This happens all the time.   Anytime you are self pay they will tell you that if your surgery runs over they will "bill" you.  That's what they told me with this last surgery but it was at a different hospital.  My surgery didn't go over this time so I didn't have to find out fortunately!

How much did you have to pay for that overage?
What surgery did you have that time?

It was about $300 I think.  I had the LBL with butt autoaugmentation, BL, lipo and fat graph.  I think I may have paid for 5 hours before surgery and went over about 30 minutes.  I had set some money aside beforehand because I knew the possibility was there.  This other hospital Dr L uses told me that they charged $500 for every half hour!!  I was really worried for this one because that was a lot.  I really was going to push for them to bill me because I had some very expensive unexpected things come up (huge car repair bill/insurance deductible)  the week before surgery and I already had stretched myself too much for that.  Thank god it didn't happen.  I think they were like 20 minutes under this time but do you think they'll come running to give me a refund?????

Gosh that was a lot of have done! But if it only took 5.5 hours and Im having a lot done but I think less c omplicated (though Im no surgeon and have no idea HOW complicated it is) then I should be good for 6 hours - you think?

Check out the letter below - I plan to give them copies of this letter and one to hubby to give to them if they should try to collect payment IMMEDIATLY.

It may have been 6.5 hours because this one was almost 5 and less work.  

The letter sounds fine but don't give it to them until they bill you.  I would call the hospital out of curiosity and to put our mind at ease.  The lady in the billing dept works until 5pm.

I actually did call this morning - and they are absolutly firm in that I will pay or I wont leave. They turned down payment plan ideas etc.

Are you serious?  I'd call their bluff on it.  I doubt they will leave you there till next "pay day".  I'm sure they have to tell you that beforehand.  Surely this has come up plenty of times.

Girl - if they try to sit me in the waiting room Ill call the news media and how that they are holding me RANSOM! lol!
I doubt htey will really hold me either - but I just dont want my poor hubby being harassed!:) Ill just him the letter to hold if they come harass him.