Question:
ATTN Post-Ops....can you share with me ....
I'm curious if you had to pay your deductible to the hospital prior to surgery. My insurance covers 90%. Will I be required to pay my 10% portion up front?? I just got my surgery date....November 4th....so many questions!!!! Thanks in advance for your help!! — Michelle E. (posted on October 14, 2003)
October 14, 2003
I was required to pay a deposit against my expected deductible of 10%. My
"deposit" was $192. I recieved a bill from the hospital after my
insurance paid for an addition $175. It's important to check to see if your
Dr will have a surgical assistant. They don't always tell you up front and
you won't want to find out 30 days post op when you get the assistants bill
for a few thousand $$'s. Some carriers will pay for the assistant, but many
do not. Also check with your surgeon about an up front payment. Some
surgeons wait until just a few days before surgery to tell you that you
need to pay something up front. Best wishes -
— M B.
October 14, 2003
My hospital copay wasy 80/20 of the first $15,000 (my policy requirements),
and the hospital did require me to pay that at the time of my admission, I
had to give them a check for $3000 and they cashed it the very next day!
Like what would they do if it bounced, reattach my stomach??!!
— beeda
October 14, 2003
I only had to pay a $25 co-pay, but I asked them to bill me and they did,
probley because it was so small. You might want to call the hospital and
find out this information before the day of surgery. I also did a
pre-admit, one week before my actually admit for surgery, but I would call
the admission at the hospital and they will be able to tell you the amount
and if you can make arrangements, you do not need that added stress the day
of your surgery.
— cindy
October 14, 2003
Good question. The only person that can really answer that is your
insurance co. However, I would think they would just bill you for it, but
I am not sure. I would just call and ask.
— Michele B.
October 14, 2003
I had an 80/20 plan after a $200 deductible. I did not have to pay
anything up front. I was billed by the hospital after the insurance
company had paid their portion.
— eaamc
October 14, 2003
Hi--I was required to pay my deductible and co-payment at my final pre-op
testing, which was 2 weeks before surgery.
— Cisbell
October 14, 2003
I think that you should call the hospital and check with them as well, they
asked for mine but I didn't have to have it. I would definatly ask everyone
prior!
Good Luck!
— Saxbyd
October 14, 2003
I didn't have to. Plus, they can't ask you for the deductible, just the
10%, because the deductible applies to whichever bill gets there first. My
deductible went to the anesthesiologist because his bill got there first -
the surgeon's got paid next, and the hospital bill was actually the last
one received and paid.
— bethybb
October 14, 2003
i was asked to pay the deductible but i had already paid mine piror to
surgery due to other hospital stuff from earlier in the year. i had to pay
the 10% to the doctors office up front,but later i recieved a check for the
entire amount back. they advised due to the insurance covering so much they
owed that back to me which helped me out. it was 700.00. but just check
with your doctor and hospital.
— PATRICIATRICE
October 14, 2003
The Hospital did not ask me to pay at admission or at discharge. They sent
me a bill for $206.00 about 1 mo. postop after they had received payment
from my insurance company. They were only allowed to charge me 10% of the
insurance negotiated rate, which was less than half of the billed rate of
surgery. Good luck !!
— plsmom
October 14, 2003
I had a $500.00 copay to the hospital. They sent me a bill 2 months after
surgery and told me I could go on a 12 or 24 month payment plan, which I
took them up on because it was right before Christmas.
— ckreh
October 14, 2003
my hospital asked for my portion of the cost upon admit, I was able to work
out a payment plan with them though. paid part up front and the remainder
over next 2 months.
— Wendy K.
October 14, 2003
I didn't pay anything. They billed me after the insurance made their
payment.
— Patty H.
October 14, 2003
I had to pay $1500, which was my total copay for the year for my insurance
company. As I had some medical expenses prior to my surgery, part of that
had already been paid, but I didn't know how much. They said not to worry,
they would figure it all out and reimburse me what I had over paid. In any
event, at my preop testing, I wrote a check for $1500 to the hospital, and
after their bills were paid by my insurance, they send me a refund check
for the amount that I had over paid (I think it came out to $350 or so).
— johanniter
October 15, 2003
I think it is unusual to ask for money up front when insurance has approved
coverage. It will probably depend on what kind of coverage you have. Most
HMO and Major Medical cover about 80% of surgeries. My bills will come in
a few weeks. But call your insurer and your hospital to cover the issue so
there are no unhappy surprises. Hang in there, this surgery will change
your life forever! - Deborah Open RNY 10/25/03
— Deborah M.
October 15, 2003
Hi Michelle. I did not have to pay my deductible, but did have to pay
$200.00 hospital co-pay. So you may want to check with your insurance and
see what co-pay they have for hospital stays, because the hospital will
probably require that it be paid prior to surgery. Good luck.
— Dawn P.
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