Todd Hochard
Senior HTF Member
- Joined
- Jan 24, 1999
- Messages
- 2,312
I've gotten this info-
As stated above, I was billed $36xx for the removal of each mass. Had I only had one mass removed, that would have been the entire bill- $36xx. I asked if that would have covered their costs. "Yes." The insurance company allowed just over $2500 for the procedure. Does that cover your costs, for everyone involved to get paid their due? "Yes, but barely."
Now, because I got four masses removed, they were able to bill that same procedure, four times. To me, that just isn't right. We were there, everyone is paid, I'm on the table, and he took an extra 10 minutes to remove and stitch up the other three holes. Had the additional three been billed at 25%, or even 50%, that would have been reasonable. The way it was billed is as if I went for four separate surgeries.
To me, in this regard, it's no different than car maintenance. If I were taking my car into the shop to have a timing belt and water pump replaced, I would not pay the full hourly labor rate for both procedures, as the water pump is directly behind the timing chain. Some dealerships will attempt to bill full for both, others won't. The difference between this and health care, is that you can shop rates for car maintenance. I was flat out told by the doctor, outpatient clinic, and my insurance company that there was no way they could have given me an estimate, in spite of the fact that he did exactly what he intended to do. That makes no sense to me.
You know, I'm very much a "look out for my fellow man" kind of guy, but this system is somewhere between public and private health care, and it's rife with abuse. I have an "acquaintance" that runs a nurse staffing business, and he bills out over $100/hour for temporary nurses (that he typically pays $50/hour billed for being a frickin' middle man. He's laughing all the way to the bank, chuckling at the news stories about skyrocketing insurance rates, and refusing to believe he has anything to do with it. We no longer speak much.
This has literally ruined my entire week. I can't begin to tell you how disheartened I am by the whole process. It will honestly give me pause before seeking any somewhat elective procedures in the future. The consumer has NO Champion, NO recourse, in these matters. I lose. C'est la vie, I guess.
Todd
As stated above, I was billed $36xx for the removal of each mass. Had I only had one mass removed, that would have been the entire bill- $36xx. I asked if that would have covered their costs. "Yes." The insurance company allowed just over $2500 for the procedure. Does that cover your costs, for everyone involved to get paid their due? "Yes, but barely."
Now, because I got four masses removed, they were able to bill that same procedure, four times. To me, that just isn't right. We were there, everyone is paid, I'm on the table, and he took an extra 10 minutes to remove and stitch up the other three holes. Had the additional three been billed at 25%, or even 50%, that would have been reasonable. The way it was billed is as if I went for four separate surgeries.
To me, in this regard, it's no different than car maintenance. If I were taking my car into the shop to have a timing belt and water pump replaced, I would not pay the full hourly labor rate for both procedures, as the water pump is directly behind the timing chain. Some dealerships will attempt to bill full for both, others won't. The difference between this and health care, is that you can shop rates for car maintenance. I was flat out told by the doctor, outpatient clinic, and my insurance company that there was no way they could have given me an estimate, in spite of the fact that he did exactly what he intended to do. That makes no sense to me.
You know, I'm very much a "look out for my fellow man" kind of guy, but this system is somewhere between public and private health care, and it's rife with abuse. I have an "acquaintance" that runs a nurse staffing business, and he bills out over $100/hour for temporary nurses (that he typically pays $50/hour billed for being a frickin' middle man. He's laughing all the way to the bank, chuckling at the news stories about skyrocketing insurance rates, and refusing to believe he has anything to do with it. We no longer speak much.
This has literally ruined my entire week. I can't begin to tell you how disheartened I am by the whole process. It will honestly give me pause before seeking any somewhat elective procedures in the future. The consumer has NO Champion, NO recourse, in these matters. I lose. C'est la vie, I guess.
Todd
