Wheeling and dealing with the hospital???

camul
camul Member Posts: 2,537
in Breast Cancer #1
Got a call from the hospital billing department a few minutes ago regarding a bill for xrays in January. At first they billed the old insurance (mine chgd Jan 2011) I had given the new insurance card when I went for the xrays. Last week I received a bill for $315., the total was only $330. I asked the nice lady on the phone about the amount, and she said that it went towards my deductable.

I told her I would need to set up payments. She said if I could pay in full, she could lower it to $259. I thanked her but said I would still need to make payments. She asked me to hold for a minute, then came back on and said if I would pay $157.40 today, that would cover it in full (the amount that my ins is contracted for). I paid this amount.

I am a little taken aback by this. Is this normal procedure? Have I been overpaying? Last year alone I paid out over 6500K in medical out of pocket.

Just asking....
~Carol

Comments

  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #2
    Can't help you - I don't
    Can't help you - I don't know. My care has all been through/paid by VA so all I get is the bill from VA for my co-pay - I always know what it will be as there is a flat rate fee for 'everything' (example - I pay $8 for any script be it my Femara or my vitamins or anything else). My BC is not SC (Service Connected), I'm not 100% disabled and Hubby's income is high enough that I have to pay my co-pay which I can afford to.

    Susan
  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #3
    I don't know as, as long as
    I don't know as, as long as I have my procedures done at the hospital where I work, I pay small amounts. But I am impressed how you talked them down--from $315 to a today's special of $157. Dang, that's pretty good!!! I don't know if you have been overpaying, but, if this worked once, I'd try it again...lol.
  • pinkflutterby
    pinkflutterby Member Posts: 615 Member
    #4
    CypressCynthia said:

    I don't know as, as long as
    I don't know as, as long as I have my procedures done at the hospital where I work, I pay small amounts. But I am impressed how you talked them down--from $315 to a today's special of $157. Dang, that's pretty good!!! I don't know if you have been overpaying, but, if this worked once, I'd try it again...lol.

    Not sure either, but haggle
    Not sure either, but haggle away!!!
  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    #5
    CypressCynthia said:

    I don't know as, as long as
    I don't know as, as long as I have my procedures done at the hospital where I work, I pay small amounts. But I am impressed how you talked them down--from $315 to a today's special of $157. Dang, that's pretty good!!! I don't know if you have been overpaying, but, if this worked once, I'd try it again...lol.

    Cynthia, my son said they
    Cynthia, my son said they probably saw the results of the tests and figured get it while we can! I was laughing when I hung up!
    Just curious, are you a nurse? You always have the best resources.
    ~Carol
  • sbmly53
    sbmly53 Member Posts: 1,522
    #6
    It's a contractual thing
    Insurance companies and medical facilities participating with each other. You may be told "We do (or don't) PAR with your insurance".
    When I get my bills, there is a billing amount, the amount paid by insurance, a discounted amout (because we PAR) and finally, the amount I owe.

    Sue
  • faith_trust_and_a_little_bit_of_chemotherapy
    faith_trust_and_a_little_bit_of_chemotherapy Member Posts: 319 Member
    #7
    sbmly53 said:

    It's a contractual thing
    Insurance companies and medical facilities participating with each other. You may be told "We do (or don't) PAR with your insurance".
    When I get my bills, there is a billing amount, the amount paid by insurance, a discounted amout (because we PAR) and finally, the amount I owe.

    Sue

    Oh heck yeah...
    they sure do negotiate.

    If I may be so bold...Google "negotiate medical bills" You'll get over 300,000 hits.

    Both my father and husband were fond of the art of negotiating and firmly believed everything is negotiable. To this day I still remind my daughter that that cellphone she's holding cost more than she did. Don't be cocky, don't be arrogant, and remember to be reasonable.
  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #8
    camul said:

    Cynthia, my son said they
    Cynthia, my son said they probably saw the results of the tests and figured get it while we can! I was laughing when I hung up!
    Just curious, are you a nurse? You always have the best resources.
    ~Carol

    I'm a neonatal nurse
    I'm a neonatal nurse practitioner. Thanks for the compliment. I'm a nerd and can't help myself :-)
  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    #9
    CypressCynthia said:

    I'm a neonatal nurse
    I'm a neonatal nurse practitioner. Thanks for the compliment. I'm a nerd and can't help myself :-)

    You are welcome. I look up
    You are welcome. I look up everything also, and some of the links you have provided have saved me so much time and worry:)
    Thank you
    ~Carol
  • AMomNETN
    AMomNETN Member Posts: 242
    #10
    faith_trust_and_a_little_bit_of_chemotherapy said:

    Oh heck yeah...
    they sure do negotiate.

    If I may be so bold...Google "negotiate medical bills" You'll get over 300,000 hits.

    Both my father and husband were fond of the art of negotiating and firmly believed everything is negotiable. To this day I still remind my daughter that that cellphone she's holding cost more than she did. Don't be cocky, don't be arrogant, and remember to be reasonable.

    Wow
    Hey just look at your EOB's. There is always the amount they charge the insurance, the "discount" and then what they accept. My question is "if the hospital or whatever will accept one amount why don't they just charge it and the insurance pay it. Then people wonder why health care it out of control. Good going on bargaining. Here they offer a 10% discount if you pay at time of service.

    Janie
  • Lynn Smith
    Lynn Smith Member Posts: 1,264 Member
    #11
    faith_trust_and_a_little_bit_of_chemotherapy said:

    Oh heck yeah...
    they sure do negotiate.

    If I may be so bold...Google "negotiate medical bills" You'll get over 300,000 hits.

    Both my father and husband were fond of the art of negotiating and firmly believed everything is negotiable. To this day I still remind my daughter that that cellphone she's holding cost more than she did. Don't be cocky, don't be arrogant, and remember to be reasonable.

    I get bills
    I get bills. Some I pay since I have a deductible now. Didn't before but mammo and other things are paid. I got a bill for my mammo and called.They said it was paid and always seem to have excuses.Even for other bills.Oh let us run that back through etc. Oh yes it should be psid etc.I know I've paid things that shouldn't be paid by me.

    My husband is on Medcaid.We got a big bill.I told them it should be paid.They had no idea he was on medicaid. Told me to forget it they would get it taken care of.

    These things never happened till I must pay a $4500 decuctible.Then they try to sock it to us with my husband and he's on Medicaid.

    You have to keep on your toes.Not like it used to be with Insurance Companies.

    Lynn Smith
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #12
    wow...
    NOT related to medical bills but I got call about PAID radio stations! I said NO way I"LL pay when I can get for free...I was quote from $14.95 month and they kept lowering it...i kept saying now..

    so I am sure you can bargin with most anyone anymore..they just dont' tell you..

    BUT back to your medical bill...crazy that if you had the money and just paid outright how much more you would have spent! I"ll keep that in mind...as I am sure many others will...

    sorry you had to go through this...but worked out in the end..

    Denise
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #13
    sbmly53 said:

    It's a contractual thing
    Insurance companies and medical facilities participating with each other. You may be told "We do (or don't) PAR with your insurance".
    When I get my bills, there is a billing amount, the amount paid by insurance, a discounted amout (because we PAR) and finally, the amount I owe.

    Sue

    My insurance is like Sue's.
    My insurance is like Sue's. It shows what the test, rads or whatever costs, but, then it shows the reduced amount my insurance pays, which is what the insurance company and cancer center have accepted. Then, it shows how much we owe.


    Diane

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