Sort of OT: Hospital Billing!
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| Wed, 01-26-2005 - 2:34pm |
Last night at 9:30 my DH gets a call from the Hospital where he’s having his different procedures done in a few days and it’s a lady on the phone saying she’s calling him to pre-register him for his appointments. Then she says she’s going to need DH to give her a CC # so he can pay 500 dollars worth of deposits before his appointment?!!?! WTH?
She said that’s 250 a piece for each procedure! I have NEVER had ANY hospital call me before an appointment asking for $. So I told DH that if it’s the hospital procedure to get a deposit, that was fine but in return I’d like an estimate of how much we’re going to have to spend out of pocket because our insurance only covers 90% of procedures.
So he asks the lady and she says there’s no way she can know what the estimated amount will be out of pocket but that she still needs the deposit $ on a CC. So I basically told DH NOT to give her ANY info over the phone that something sounded “fishy”. DH called again this morning and the billing dept. gave him the same story. FINALLY I called and asked to speak to a manager. I come to find out that we CAN INDEED receive an estimate (waiting for the supposed estimate dept. to call me back) and that I can have the insurance company billed first and than MY bill can be sent out (which I always thought was customary anyway). I’m, pretty peeved at the hospital for trying to get $ from me BEFOREHAND considering that what if the 10% out of pocket turns out to be cheaper than the 500 I’ll be at THEIR mercy to cut me a reimbursement check. I think they’re trying to be sneaky. Then I found out while talking to a co-worker who used to work at one of their hospitals that if you give deposit $ BEFORE your appt. the billing rep. who calls you and signs you up gets a percentage of that $ as an incentive.?!?!? Did I mention that I HATE doctors and hospitals! lol.
So now I’m kinda bummed (a regular state for me lately, lol : ) because we were going to take some $ we’d been saving up to finally get me a new crown next month (my old one should’ve been replaced 3 years ago) BUT because DH REALLY needs these tests and I have NO CLUE what our 10% will be out of pocket, I’ll have to put the crown on hold AGAIN so we can use that $ on DH. I’m praying that his procedures won’t be more than what we have saved because I’m shuddering at the thought of having to put it on a CC : (. God I really hope not.
Anyway, just thought I’d share my latest drama of my day, lol – will it ever end? :D

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What A joke...the estimate dept. just sent me the wrong estimate, but what caught my eye more was the fax cover sheet that came with it....
It has a small picture of a US NEWS & WORLD REPORT mag. and under is it says "FLORIDA HOSPITAL is recognized as one of America's Best Hospitals..." ROTFL...
What a crock! It looks like I'm going to have to write a letter to US NEWS to let them know how great one of their "best hospitals" REALLY is.
You know what's scary?...If THEY are supposedly one of the best Hospitals I am REALLY REALLY scared of what kind of patient and billing care you get from the "bad" hospitals! if THIS is good, I don't want to know what bad is, lol. KWIM.
:)
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