i did a medical visit in emergency room in doctors hospital and the charged 175+110 +579 is this normal?

Question

I went last month to the hospital to check on my ear and asked the get help with medical insurance, the nurse took my blood pressure and the medical assst came to take my pers info i explained to both that i needed help with medical, after a while the med asst camed with forms and told that i need to sing so i singed on one that shows the 4 payment level I sked her and she sais that we have to sing this form and privacy form after i did she switched a tird copy for the doctors payement so when i told her that i did not know that they where seprate she said well you can stop it here but you will be charged , the nurse told me that it would cost me $130 i ENDED UP BY PAYIN 175 THAT DAY AND THEN A BILL FOR 110 AND NOW I RECIEVED ANOTHER BILL FOR 579 IT DOES NOT EVEN SAY WHAT IS IT FOR THAT DAY i wasseen by generalist and given refferal which kin of organization should i check with to find out more about this billing systems, i dont have ansurance and expalined that to the nurse and med as

I think the medical asst did check on my eligibility to bedical but never told me the result and instead made sign the payement form one by one and never told me that hospital and doctors bill are seperate and after i signed the first sheet and descovered that i will be charged more and dicided to stop everything then she told me that i will be charged anyways even if i dont see the doctor, i did not find anybody to ask so i dicided to sing the second one but 579 isn't excessive for a simple visit? plus what i paid before

and nobody informed me about how much I pay.
if I have alow income is there recomended lawyer, or organization that I can go to

$175+110+579 it's us$864 is n it excessive for a simple medical visit (there's no x rays)

Answer 1

That sounds right. You typically get charged by the facility (hospital), physician; if you have xrays or cat scans you'd likely get a bill from the radiology group; pharmacy,etc. Everything has a separate billing.

Do you have insurance? If not, you can call the hospital and tell them you need to set up a payment plan and do the same with the individual providers. As medical bills are often left unpaid until the patient is taken to court if they are uninsured, they will be happy to know they will be getting consistent payment on account, even if you can't pay it all at once.

The largest bill should be the hospital and you can definitely work out a payment plan with them.

Answer 2

Unfortunately, this is normal. Actually, compared to California, this is relatively cheap. Hospitals will provide you with an itemized bill, but it's not likely to change the amount they say you owe.

I think just "sitting" on the bed in the emergency room in California costs $1500. Even if the Dr. doesn't do anything but talk to you.


Most hospitals are corporations trying to make a profit, but they are required to render medical aid (including testing, referrals etc.) to anyone who comes into the emergency room. When people can't/don't pay, they pass the expense along to everyone else (people who have insurance) that's why insurance is so expensive.

It sounds like you don't have insurance. In California, the local county government has a program for you to apply for financial assistance to cover the bill. There is probably something similar where you are. The billing dept. at the hospital should be able to direct you.

Good luck.

Answer 3

I am pretty sure there is a nationwide law that requires hospitals to give you an itemized bill. Please go see the billing office at the hospital you went to. They can usually help you with the bill and they will be able to explain all the charges.

Answer 4

Call the hospital and tell them you want an itemized bill. then if you don't agree with it,go in person and talk to them. If nothing is done, call a lawyer. It sounds outrageous to me. Don't pay any thing until you get your answers. Good luck.