Guest guest Posted October 26, 2003 Report Share Posted October 26, 2003 Sally, I just read your very interesting letter on aquatics, PT, etc. I certainly agree with your statements about PTs and OTs. I had some who were very well meaning, but no one truly fantastic or totally on target. I thought I approved your post for posting, but it does not seem to have posted as I write this. I hope you saved a copy -- my massive apologies if I somehow lost it. > My surgery, which included being in the OR three times, cost well over > $300,000.00. This total does not include office visits, my 20% > out-of-pocket expense, and my deductible. My annual out-of-pocket max is > $3,000.00, so I know that I have paid at least that plus office co- pays. I > am still figuring out all of my medical deductions for income tax purposes. > There are lots more expensive that I am including in my income tax total > with traveling, motel rooms, etc. I also bought some items for my home and > clothing that would help me out after surgery which was probably $1,000.00 > or more. > > My main advice to you if you decide on surgery is make sure that the surgeon > you chose is in your insurance companies' network of physicians. I cannot > even imagine how much my bill would have been if my surgeon was not in my > network. > > Best wishes on your decision, > Sally > > > > Cost of surgery > > > Has anyone figured out the total cost of their surgery and doctor > fees and would you mind sharing this? I'm also wondering a rough > approximation of what out of pocket expenses should be expected > (assuming reasonably good insurance coverage). I know this could vary > widely. I am in open season and my company will be using all new > health plans next year so I'm looking at how I should plan in case I > decide to have the surgery next year. Thanks for any input. > > Annette > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2009 Report Share Posted December 13, 2009 I sure don't, sorry. That's a lotta bucks. I'd rather buy a new home... Have a great day! Debbie Cole From: Marva <mcpaul555@...> Subject: Cost of Surgery Date: Sunday, December 13, 2009, 8:41 AM  I recently(April) had cochlear implant surgery and it was a great success to say the least. However, when I received the bill from the hospital, I almost fainted. The total before adjustments was $138,894 and I only had one implant. I requested an itemized statement and it listed the Freedom Processor at $54,800 and the Nucleus implant at $50,900. The hospital charges, with adjustments, really weren't that bad. It was the cost of the Cochlear products that drove up the bill. My insurance company paid it, but seems so out of line with the research I did before the surgery. Do any of you have any idea what these products cost for your surgery? Thanks for your help, mp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2009 Report Share Posted December 13, 2009 Something is wrong with the way this was billed. The total cost of surgery is dependent on the hospital but the Nucleus charges are way out of line - especially the cost of the processor. I'm not sure I would say anything since it is paid but you can go directly to the Cochlear Store on the Cochlear website and find out how much one processor costs. Alice http://www..net > > I recently(April) had cochlear implant surgery and it was a great success to say the least. However, when I received the bill from the hospital, I almost fainted. The total before adjustments was $138,894 and I only had one implant. I requested an itemized statement and it listed the Freedom Processor at $54,800 and the Nucleus implant at $50,900. The hospital charges, with adjustments, really weren't that bad. It was the cost of the Cochlear products that drove up the bill. My insurance company paid it, but seems so out of line with the research I did before the surgery. Do any of you have any idea what these products cost for your surgery? Thanks for your help, mp > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2009 Report Share Posted December 13, 2009 Thank you Alice, I've contacted Cochlear as you suggested. I'll let you know what I find out. mp  ________________________________ From: ALICE A <alice@...> Sent: Sun, December 13, 2009 3:39:47 PM Subject: Re: Cost of Surgery  Something is wrong with the way this was billed. The total cost of surgery is dependent on the hospital but the Nucleus charges are way out of line - especially the cost of the processor. I'm not sure I would say anything since it is paid but you can go directly to the Cochlear Store on the Cochlear website and find out how much one processor costs. Alice http://www.. net > > I recently(April) had cochlear implant surgery and it was a great success to say the least. However, when I received the bill from the hospital, I almost fainted. The total before adjustments was $138,894 and I only had one implant. I requested an itemized statement and it listed the Freedom Processor at $54,800 and the Nucleus implant at $50,900. The hospital charges, with adjustments, really weren't that bad. It was the cost of the Cochlear products that drove up the bill. My insurance company paid it, but seems so out of line with the research I did before the surgery. Do any of you have any idea what these products cost for your surgery? Thanks for your help, mp > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2009 Report Share Posted December 13, 2009 I could have bought a new home, it did buy me a new world though. mp ________________________________ From: DEBORAH COLE <deborah_anne419@...> Sent: Sun, December 13, 2009 12:34:57 PM Subject: Re: Cost of Surgery  I sure don't, sorry. That's a lotta bucks. I'd rather buy a new home... Have a great day! Debbie Cole From: Marva <mcpaul555 (DOT) com> Subject: Cost of Surgery groups (DOT) com Date: Sunday, December 13, 2009, 8:41 AM  I recently(April) had cochlear implant surgery and it was a great success to say the least. However, when I received the bill from the hospital, I almost fainted. The total before adjustments was $138,894 and I only had one implant. I requested an itemized statement and it listed the Freedom Processor at $54,800 and the Nucleus implant at $50,900. The hospital charges, with adjustments, really weren't that bad. It was the cost of the Cochlear products that drove up the bill. My insurance company paid it, but seems so out of line with the research I did before the surgery. Do any of you have any idea what these products cost for your surgery? Thanks for your help, mp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2009 Report Share Posted December 13, 2009 Since the hospital seems to have no compunction about fleecing the insurance company maybe you could arrange with them to bill the insurance company for a second implant but give you the lion's share of the money instead of the implant so you could still buy the new home <g>. Virg I could have bought a new home, it did buy me a new world though. mp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2009 Report Share Posted December 13, 2009 LOL Virg. I love that idea. Have a great day! Debbie Cole From: Virg <jvtomlin@...> Subject: Re: Cost of Surgery Date: Sunday, December 13, 2009, 4:24 PM  Since the hospital seems to have no compunction about fleecing the insurance company maybe you could arrange with them to bill the insurance company for a second implant but give you the lion's share of the money instead of the implant so you could still buy the new home <g>. Virg I could have bought a new home, it did buy me a new world though. mp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2009 Report Share Posted December 13, 2009 If only I could get to the right person.... ________________________________ From: Virg <jvtomlin@...> Sent: Sun, December 13, 2009 6:24:42 PM Subject: Re: Cost of Surgery  Since the hospital seems to have no compunction about fleecing the insurance company maybe you could arrange with them to bill the insurance company for a second implant but give you the lion's share of the money instead of the implant so you could still buy the new home <g>. Virg I could have bought a new home, it did buy me a new world though. mp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2009 Report Share Posted December 13, 2009 Isn't that called insurance fraud Sent from my iPhone On Dec 13, 2009, at 5:54 PM, Marva <mcpaul555@...> wrote: > If only I could get to the right person.... > > ________________________________ > From: Virg <jvtomlin@...> > > Sent: Sun, December 13, 2009 6:24:42 PM > Subject: Re: Cost of Surgery > > > Since the hospital seems to have no compunction about fleecing the > insurance > company maybe you could arrange with them to bill the insurance > company for > a second implant but give you the lion's share of the money instead > of the > implant so you could still buy the new home <g>. > > Virg > > I could have bought a new home, it did buy me a new world though. mp > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2009 Report Share Posted December 13, 2009 I can only imagine what really does go on behind the scenes. And we can only make jokes about it, for what else can one do? And that is what Virg's comment was, a joke. *---* *---* *---* *---* *---* Bumper Sticker: Horn Broken ... Watch For Finger. & Dreamer Doll ke7nwn E-mail- rclark0276@... Home Page- http://webpages.charter.net/dog_guide/ Re: Cost of Surgery > Isn't that called insurance fraud Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2009 Report Share Posted December 13, 2009 I think virg meant that as a joke. Have a great day! Debbie Cole > If only I could get to the right person.... > > ____________ _________ _________ __ > From: Virg <jvtomlinwbcable (DOT) net> > groups (DOT) com > Sent: Sun, December 13, 2009 6:24:42 PM > Subject: Re: Cost of Surgery > > > Since the hospital seems to have no compunction about fleecing the > insurance > company maybe you could arrange with them to bill the insurance > company for > a second implant but give you the lion's share of the money instead > of the > implant so you could still buy the new home <g>. > > Virg > > I could have bought a new home, it did buy me a new world though. mp > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 14, 2009 Report Share Posted December 14, 2009 It is not unusual at all for hospitals to mark-up the cost of the device components by 50% or more to recover the $6000 plus they lose every time they take a Medicare patient, or the greater sums they may lose on Medicaid or uninsured. The mark-up in this case is obscenely high, especially for the processor. However, this is a practice that has gone on for decades and is a result of the mish-mosh of band-aid programs that we have in this country, so there is little besides publicly shaming the hospital that can be done. The best solution in this case is to support comprehensive health reforms, so that we have a fully private system like Germany or Switzerland that guarantees a minimum level of medically necessary care to everyone and stops rationing care by ability to pay like we do now. Mark > > I recently(April) had cochlear implant surgery and it was a great success to say the least. However, when I received the bill from the hospital, I almost fainted. The total before adjustments was $138,894 and I only had one implant. I requested an itemized statement and it listed the Freedom Processor at $54,800 and the Nucleus implant at $50,900. The hospital charges, with adjustments, really weren't that bad. It was the cost of the Cochlear products that drove up the bill. My insurance company paid it, but seems so out of line with the research I did before the surgery. Do any of you have any idea what these products cost for your surgery? Thanks for your help, mp > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 14, 2009 Report Share Posted December 14, 2009 I agree with the first paragraph, however, I do not agree with the second. This is the reason why health care costs is so high, insurance paying way too much for something that may have been billed incorrectly.  Alice, I see that you were going to contact Cochlear Americas to find out the true cost. If you should find out that the billed amount far exceeds what it should have been, I would let your insurance company know that there may have been a problem and request they look into it. And, I would request a follow up so that you know what the end result was. Good luck! And...congratulations on your newfound hearing.  ________________________________ From: ALICE A <alice@...> Sent: Sun, December 13, 2009 3:39:47 PM Subject: Re: Cost of Surgery  Something is wrong with the way this was billed. The total cost of surgery is dependent on the hospital but the Nucleus charges are way out of line - especially the cost of the processor. I'm not sure I would say anything since it is paid but you can go directly to the Cochlear Store on the Cochlear website and find out how much one processor costs. Alice http://www.. net > > I recently(April) had cochlear implant surgery and it was a great success to say the least. However, when I received the bill from the hospital, I almost fainted. The total before adjustments was $138,894 and I only had one implant. I requested an itemized statement and it listed the Freedom Processor at $54,800 and the Nucleus implant at $50,900. The hospital charges, with adjustments, really weren't that bad. It was the cost of the Cochlear products that drove up the bill. My insurance company paid it, but seems so out of line with the research I did before the surgery. Do any of you have any idea what these products cost for your surgery? Thanks for your help, mp > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 14, 2009 Report Share Posted December 14, 2009 Here's the Freedom price list, as of 08/02/2006 http://tinyurl.com/lztbj5 Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 14, 2009 Report Share Posted December 14, 2009 I agree with jenie. Honesty is always the best policy. Have a great day! Debbie Cole From: Kinsella <jmkinsella55@...> Subject: Re: Re: Cost of Surgery Date: Monday, December 14, 2009, 8:28 AM  I agree with the first paragraph, however, I do not agree with the second. This is the reason why health care costs is so high, insurance paying way too much for something that may have been billed incorrectly.  Alice, I see that you were going to contact Cochlear Americas to find out the true cost. If you should find out that the billed amount far exceeds what it should have been, I would let your insurance company know that there may have been a problem and request they look into it. And, I would request a follow up so that you know what the end result was. Good luck! And...congratulatio ns on your newfound hearing.  ____________ _________ _________ __ From: ALICE A <aliceadamsfamily (DOT) cc> groups (DOT) com Sent: Sun, December 13, 2009 3:39:47 PM Subject: Re: Cost of Surgery  Something is wrong with the way this was billed. The total cost of surgery is dependent on the hospital but the Nucleus charges are way out of line - especially the cost of the processor. I'm not sure I would say anything since it is paid but you can go directly to the Cochlear Store on the Cochlear website and find out how much one processor costs. Alice http://www.. net > > I recently(April) had cochlear implant surgery and it was a great success to say the least. However, when I received the bill from the hospital, I almost fainted. The total before adjustments was $138,894 and I only had one implant. I requested an itemized statement and it listed the Freedom Processor at $54,800 and the Nucleus implant at $50,900. The hospital charges, with adjustments, really weren't that bad. It was the cost of the Cochlear products that drove up the bill. My insurance company paid it, but seems so out of line with the research I did before the surgery. Do any of you have any idea what these products cost for your surgery? Thanks for your help, mp > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 14, 2009 Report Share Posted December 14, 2009 This is where true reform should have been focused. To bring under control the costs on both sides of the fence. Insurance companies want to pay out as little as possible while the health care providers want to maximize the bottom line. *---* *---* *---* *---* *---* Men ever had, and ever will have leave, -- To coin new words well suited to the age, -- Words are like Leaves, some wither every year, -- And every year a younger Race succeeds. --Horace, poet and satirist (65-8 BCE) & Dreamer Doll ke7nwn E-mail- rclark0276@... Home Page- http://webpages.charter.net/dog_guide/ Re: Re: Cost of Surgery I agree with the first paragraph, however, I do not agree with the second. This is the reason why health care costs is so high, insurance paying way too much for something that may have been billed incorrectly.  Alice, I see that you were going to contact Cochlear Americas to find out the true cost. If you should find out that the billed amount far exceeds what it should have been, I would let your insurance company know that there may have been a problem and request they look into it. And, I would request a follow up so that you know what the end result was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 14, 2009 Report Share Posted December 14, 2009 Amen to that, ! From: rclark0276@... Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:43:33 -0800 Subject: Re: Re: Cost of Surgery This is where true reform should have been focused. To bring under control the costs on both sides of the fence. Insurance companies want to pay out as little as possible while the health care providers want to maximize the bottom line. *---* *---* *---* *---* *---* Men ever had, and ever will have leave, -- To coin new words well suited to the age, -- Words are like Leaves, some wither every year, -- And every year a younger Race succeeds. --Horace, poet and satirist (65-8 BCE) & Dreamer Doll ke7nwn E-mail- rclark0276@... Home Page- http://webpages.charter.net/dog_guide/ Re: Re: Cost of Surgery I agree with the first paragraph, however, I do not agree with the second. This is the reason why health care costs is so high, insurance paying way too much for something that may have been billed incorrectly.  Alice, I see that you were going to contact Cochlear Americas to find out the true cost. If you should find out that the billed amount far exceeds what it should have been, I would let your insurance company know that there may have been a problem and request they look into it. And, I would request a follow up so that you know what the end result was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 I see a lot of questions posed here about the costs of various surgery options with Dr. A. I just wanted to let you know that you can contact Dr. Aceves' staff for this info without fear of getting bombarded with emails and/or phone calls trying to get you to commit to a surgery date. I know that can be a fear because it happened to me with other doctors when I was researching WLS. Seems everyone I contacted for preliminary info (and I let them KNOW I was only at the research point) put me on their list to send me constant emails and phone calls. This was NOT something I wanted or anticipated. However, this did NOT happen at all with Dr. Aceves. Nina let me know that if I had any questions or needed any more information, that I was welcome to contact her. But never once did they try to " sell " me. I'm throwing this out there because I think a lot of us have this concern when we're in our research phase. No worries with Dr. Aceves and team. Give them a call or drop them an email, complete the questionaire and they can give you the cost information that you need in order to complete your plans for a healtier you. Cheryl* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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