Question:
My hospital is quoting $30,000 is this average?

   — Melise B. (posted on January 14, 2002)

January 14, 2002
I had my surgery at the University of Alabama Birmingham - Medical Center. My hospital bill that was sent to the insurance was over $25,000 and that was not the final bill. This bill also did not include the doctors bill. I just had my surgery 11/15/01. I know about three years ago when I was living in Portland OR. I looked into paying cash... with the doc's fees and the hospital is was $29,000. So is $30,000 average... yes.. that is my experience....
   — Pamela W.

January 14, 2002
It really depends on the surgery that you are having, where your located, and if you are self pay or have insurance. If you are self pay, the price is significanly less than what is charged to the insurance company. My self pay quote for a Lap RNY in Georgia is $11,000 for the hospital fees (surgeon's fees are about $5,000) regardless of how long you stay.
   — [Anonymous]

January 14, 2002
Self pay is going to be quite a bit different than if your insurance is paying. When I was in Oregon five years ago and looked into it, I was quoted roughly $20,000 for everything, hospital, surgeon, anesthesiologist etc... When I moved out here (western Pennsylvania) I had the surgery in Pittsburgh and the hospital bill alone came to $49,000. I haven't even seen my surgeons bill yet...
   — Kellie Jo B.

January 15, 2002
I also agree with the previous posters. The region you live in is another factor that affects cost. Hospital charges on the two coasts are much higher than charges in the west and mid-west.
   — [Anonymous]

January 15, 2002
When I recently told my father and stepmother that my insurance company had approved my surgery, my stepmother admitted that they had looked into paying for the surgery for me a couple of years ago, and were told that the surgery itself cost around $75,000, and for the entire program (tests, aftercare, etc.) the total was over $100,000. That's for the Central Virginia area.
   — Monte N.

January 15, 2002
To the anonymous poster who got a quote in GA..why post anonymously..tell us the name of the surgeon, town, hospital, etc. This is a place to give and recieve HELP!
   — Julie D.