Question:
How much of the open rny is covered by medicare disability?

   — Mary H. (posted on September 8, 2004)

September 9, 2004
mary, My best friend had medicare as her only insurance and it covered all but a little over 800. on the hospital and 400. on the surgeon. These were the medicare deductibles and both places worked out a payment plan for her so that she didn't have to pay "upfront" money. However, our surgeon accepts medicare ASSIGNMENT. This is very important to find out. That means they cannot charge you more than medicare pays. Don't ask if they take medicare but ask if they take medicare assignment. Big difference. If they don't take assignment then you have to pay 20% of the bill which can run into the thousands. Good luck.
   — Delores S.

September 9, 2004
Mary. I had lap rny with Medicare as my primary insurance. As the previous poster stated, be sure to inquire as to whether your surgeon and hospital accept Medicare assignment. In my case, since I didn't get a prior approval from my insurance, the surgeon required $600 deposit. His fee was about $7200 and Medicare only allowed a fraction, but he wrote off the difference. My secondary paid 90% of the balance, and I ended up paying less than $100 to the surgeon. The hospital was something like $34,000 of which Medicare allowed about $12,000 and I paid about $87. If you only have Medicare then you will have to pay the deductibles and 20% of the medicare allowed fee. I hope this helps. Good luck.
   — Carolyn B.

September 9, 2004
Hi I have medicare as Primary and my surgeon doesn't accept my secondary so I will have approximatly 300$ they said to pay when all is done fortunatly the hospital takes my secondary so That should all be covered ok. I hear Medicare is actually one of the easy ones to deal with.
   — Shell G

September 9, 2004
carolyn, if she only has medicare (as my friend did) AND he takes ASSIGNMENT, she will not have to pay the 20% only have to pay her deductibles if they are not already met.
   — Delores S.