Question:
Do most hospitals require 100% of ins. copay upfront?

My insurance has a $500 deductible which is now met. After the deductible, I am responsible for 20% of costs for surgery up to the breakpoint. I was told at the doctor's office that since it is an "elective" surgery I would have to pay everythigng upfront. Is it the same at all hospitals or can they work with you? I have over 50% to pay now......Any suggestions are appreciated.    — lasias (posted on July 20, 2006)

July 20, 2006
I am sure that some people don't end up paying what they owe ... A few people end up ruining it for everyone else. Of course, this is not always intentional, as sometimes financial problems are unforseen. Hospitals lose money as they HAVE to treat anyone who comes in the ER ... whether they have insurance or $$$ or not. Hope you can come up with the money. Good luck! Annette
   — peacefuldaizy

July 20, 2006
I think my hospital allows people to make payment plans and I'm pretty sure that's without interest. I'd call your hospital and talk to the billing dept. Hopefully they will work with you so you don't have to come up with the entire cost up front. Good luck!!!
   — platypus

July 20, 2006
I was told by my doctors office that I had to pay my deductable $300 as well as my max out of pocket $2000. up front, all to them. When I went to the hospital they said that they wanted it all. I had the $2400 but it just didn't set right with me. I called my insurance company... I was told that niether the doc or the hospital should get it all. If I paid what they had wanted me to I would have had to wait for a refund from both. BCBS told me approximate what I would owe to the doc and the hospital, the rest would be to whom ever filed first ie. lab work, x-rays. I paid the doc $400 and the hospital $1000 and told them what my insurance had said. They both didn't have anything to say after they knew what I was talking about, they just said "Oh yes that is true" They were fine with what I was willing to pay. I still over paid the hospital and am waiting for a refund, they weren't the first to file with the insurance company. My doctors office has yet to file so they will probably owe me a refund as well. So my sugestion would be to call your insurance company. Good Luck! Jules
   — Jules O.

July 20, 2006
Julie O is correct that is usually ends up as you waiting for a refund from the hospital or Dr.- BUT understand that has nothing to do with your insurance company making you pay up front. I work for one. And it is up to the indv. hospital or Dr. if they get it up front or bill later. The insurance company can only process claims as they are rcvd, 1st come 1 processed. and there is no way to take in account to what you may or may not have already paid. Just keep very good records of what you paid and to whom, match them up to your eob's and if they dont match call your insurance company to verify the providor. Good Luck with your surgery
   — jackie B.

July 20, 2006
My co-pay was $50.00 for the first five days. I was going to pay it all up front the day of the surgery. But I'm glad I only paid for the first day of $50.00 as things unexpected came up and so It was over a month before I paid off the balance. The hospital staff did such a wonderful job of caring for me I really felt like coming up with the rest of the money. Mike
   — Michael Eak

July 21, 2006
My surgery was at Good Sam in Phoenix AZ 2003 & it did require the full 20%, $3000, before my surgery. The good new was that after my surgery & the insurance paid I did get a $900 refund. Because the hospital was a preferred provider it agreed to accept a certian amount as payment which was much less than the actual bill, so after all was paid I called the hospital & told them I felt I should get some money back.They checked it out & agreed with me. So please keep an eye on you bill & what the insurance pays.
   — Cindy W.

July 21, 2006
We did not have to pay our hospital upront.
   — Novashannon

July 24, 2006
Alot of hospitals have been "stiffed" out of payments due from the patients in non emergency situations. SO alot are asking the copay/out of pocket up front. I had elective surgery in Dec.05 and had to pay $250 the day of surgery. If I didn't the hospital would have cancelled my surgery. It is perfectly legal for them to ask for the money. Many people who can afford to don't pay their bills and it costs all of us more for health care. Hospitals have become much stricter about letting people make payments over time, some hospitals I've heard about will put leins on peoples house and sue them for unpaid bills. Amy
   — goldroses