Emergency Appendectomy Bill-- $36,000!!!?

Question

Last week I had to go to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy. I'm 19, uninsured, and my husband and I are self employed.

When I contacted the billing department, she told me the least I could pay is $1000 a month for 36 months until I have the bill paid off. There is no way that we can pay that!

The hospital fees are ridiculous-- for example, I had a CT scan (which ended up being inconclusive) that cost $7,237!

Does anyone have any ideas on how I can negotiate my bills down?

I'm so depressed about this medical bill, I don't know what to do. Any help is greatly appreciated.

I guess I should add that we knew that we obviously needed to have insurance, but I've been kind of sickly for about the past 9 months (no, not pregnancy related), and therefore truly not feeling up to getting a job-- someone suggested to me that the appendix could have been the source of many of my problems, leaking toxins out and etc. Now I am hoping to feel better, have already applied for some jobs so that this will not happen again.

And, yes the $36,000 should be the final bill, I have an itemized list of expenditures and it says things "surgery 1 hr" and "ansesthtic 1hr", so hopefully I won't be receiving any more bills.

also, I live in Dallas, TX, with surgery performed at Doctor's Hospital, if anyone has any more specific details

Answer 1

Do not agonize over this malfeasance in our society--first get well!!

The irony, which of course you can use in negotiations is: if you had insurance, the big multi-million dollar insurance company gets a huge ddiscount from the hospital and doctors about a 70% discount. But you and I , working Joe's and Jane's, without insurance are forced to pay the full amount the hospital asks for. Absurd--every other developed country in the world has better health care for its citizens.

Anyway, enough soap boxing! If you can not negotiate a settlement, just forget it--if you do not have anything, that can not sue you--Get an attorney to try for a negotiated settlement, but that will cost you bucks, too.

I am not recommending this next idea, only discussing options: file bankruptcy. But you and or your hubby need to get a job that has some health insurance so this does not happen again.

Good luck!

Answer 2

That bill seems extremely high to me, because an appendectomy is a pretty routine procedure. Go through the itemization with a fine-tooth comb, and highlight anything you don't think is a legitimate charge. I've seen people billed for goods and services they did not receive while in the hospital.

Call the billing department back and make sure they know you do not have insurance and you'll be paying cash. Talk to a supervisor. They should have room for negotiation on those fees, but you'll have to push them.

Answer 3

Hospitals budget a certain dollar amount each year for 'charity' cases - basically those without health insurance. Not that it's going to help your case, but that is something you should realize so they don't try to strong arm you and make you think that unless you pay a grand a month, they are going to go under. From what I've been told...as long as you pay a little each month, they can't send you to collections. That could be incorrect information, but at the same time, years ago, I did medical billing for a physical therapy office and we actually had people pay us very tiny amounts each month to keep themselves out of collection. And really, what else can they do to you? Send out a couple of shadowy figures to bust your kneecaps? If they persist in badgering you, you may want to see out some free legal advice.

In the meantime, look into getting some sort of insurance, even if that means one of you have to go work for 'the man' full time in order to get some.

Answer 4

I would start sending them what you can afford and BE SURE you send them money every month...also, make sure you are not only sending monthly payments to the hospital, but any individual billing from other doctors that may have been involved in your surgery. As long as you are doing that, they cannot turn it over to collections.

Meanwhile, go to the social services department and see if you can qualify for a one-time emergency Medicaid coverage...the guidelines are less stringent that actually receiving the permanent benefit.....alot of people don't realize that they have this option.

Answer 5

Unfortunately uninsured people get the highest of all bills....

If you don't make a whole lot of money you can go to most hospitals and fill out financial aid papers.....If you qualify you can get a discounted bill or they can write it off completely..

I had one at 19 also I was in college and broke...They took care of the whole bill all I had to pay was the Surgeon's bill..

Either way all you have to pay is like 5 bucks a month as long as you show that you are trying they can't do a thing to you...

Good luck.

Answer 6

Call the hospital's main number and ask for their social workers. These people can either get you emergency medicaid to cover the surgery or put you in touch with charities that can help you cover the bills - you need to ask for it though.

Whatever you do, do not ignore the bill, if you absolutely have to pay it - if the social workers can't help you out. Then call the billing department and ask them for a cash price, and if you have to send them $20 a month forever, as long as you pay that $20 every month without fail, they HAVE to accept it. If you get someone uncooperative, ask for their supervisior. (If you can pay a couple of hundred up front as a good faith offering, even better.) You just need to make an honest effort to pay to keep your account out of collections. (BTW - pay by check, so you have a paper trail in case they get jerky and send you to collections anyway.)

Answer 7

I went to the emergency room once for an EAR INFECTION. i only went because i thought my eardrum was going to burst. i waited for the doctor for 45 minutes for him to look in my ear, put some drops in it and give me a prescription for antibiotics. my bill was over $500. I wrote the hospital a "hardship" letter, telling them that i was in college, i only worked x hours per week and i lived on my own, and there was no way that i could pay the bill. i think that they did knock a bit off of the total amount, which i paid off a little at a time. you also should tell them in your letter that you have every intention of paying your bill, but that you must do it in such a manner that will allow you to take care of your other finances. as long as you are giving them something, even if it's only $50, they can't turn you over to a collection agency. good luck!

Answer 8

Contact a social worker in the hospital to see if you qualify for any services that will deduct these costs. Also inquire if there are any programs for people of low means.

My mother just had an appendectomy at 64, and received a $34,000 bill. She is a year too young to qualify for Medicare, so she is responsible for the bill. It's outrageous. She contacted a social worker who is working with the hospital, and they have agreed to reduce her fees.


Best of luck with it.

Answer 9

First of all, don't be depressed about it. Being sad or worrying isn't going to help.

Second, be thankful that you are okay.

Third, contact the hospital again, explain that this amount of money is too much, and tell them how much you can pay a month.

That's a start, but I look forward to seeing what others have to say.

Answer 10

There is no way you can decrease the medical bill because thats how much they charge everyone for.

It would have been VERY helpful if you guys did have medical insurance because they would have probably covered A LOT of that payment.

I would suggest you budget what you buy and try and pay off that bill.

DONT file for bancrupcy because that can ruin you even more.