so I’m getting my wrist opened up for some carpal tunnel work and this will be my first ever medical bill into the thousands.
I have a high deductible plan and a healthy HSA that can more than cover it, but like anybody I don’t want to overpay.
beyond waiting for the bill and calling up and screaming “the rent is too damn high” and hoping they will cut some off if I pay in full right then, what advice do you have?
i have gotten into the habit of asking what the cash price is when i go to the hospital. my wife went in for a CAT scan to check for a concussion and it cost about 1/3 as much cash as it would have as billed to insurance…
I’ll talk to my chick tonight. She’s heavily involved in the business/financial side of the medical field, and I’ll throw you a PM if she has any advice.
How high is your deductible? There isn’t a deductible in the world that’s as high as the surgery. Are you on a co-insurance plan as well? Geesh.
something like $1200, I’m going to hit it this year for the first time. it would pay to negotiate regardless, could be in a car accident tomorrow.
+1 to beck. Usually the deductible is like $1500 or something. Even at the “cash price” of the surgery, you’ll go over that.
Then again, I fully support shopping around your rate, because I believe that the costs for medical procedures is WAY out of hand these days.
edit: It wouldn’t matter if you get hit by a car tomorrow. Once you hit the deductible, everything is covered 100% (usually).
And to add some actual value to the question, the hospital will certainly negotiate with you. They can do a payment plan at the very least, but if you want a highly discounted rate, you may have to prove that you can’t afford it by providing them with your financial information (pay stubs, bills, etc…).
once I hit it’s covered like 60-80% until something like 5k, then it’s 100%
that’s silly, so in reality, it’s really a $2,200 deductible (assuming you’re responsible for 20% of of $5k).
I don’t see how surgery would be less then 5k no matter what…
It cost me somewhere in the 8-9k range for a CT scan + emergency room visit.
between the MRI and surgery it’s going to be like $2k. It’s outpatient.
Don’t fool around with a surgery that could affect your sex life. Get the right people.
har har 
My bill for the emergency room xrays on my ankle in houston for some reason was NOT covered by univera and are set to cost me almost 4000 dollars. Still fighting with that one.
out of network hospital 
Then why wouldn’t you want to hit it? If you pay out of pocket and tomorrow get hit by a car, you’ll be paying the $2,200. I’d want to hit it. Then I wouldn’t have to worry about it for the rest of the year.
you’re proposing pay more now > maybe pay more/same later?
I think it would make more sense to pay less whenever possible under my scenario.
I thought e room services are typically covered by all plans. What good is it unless you plan an accident?
Everything is negotiable. I work for the health insurance industry. Before you go, call you health insurance, ask them which provider would be the cheapest under your current plan benefits.
I’m booked and have a good doctor so I’m not switching that up, but good advice for next time.
Sent you a PM. Also…when you write back, let me know who the doc is.