Medical Bills

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/12/2005 9:24:45 PM Eastern Standard Time,

nonnie_nt@... writes:

i wouldn't worry about my credit. I would worry about living. If you hae a

mortgage pay it. Your credit cards pay it. DOn't pay the hospital bills

tell them you are broke etc. The doctors can write it off if they believe

you are destitute. Remember the collection agency buys the debts at like 5

cents on the dollar and everything they collect goes to them. I owe many

many thousands for my treatment and if the insurance doesn't pay it neither

do I. There are more important things in life than worrying about it and

they can't really touch your assets and won't even try. Its an intimidation

factor on their part.

Nonnie

Nonnie.... this may be true in your case and maybe since you aren't working.

But, I recently got served with a Complaint for a hospital bill I've had

just over a year. I was making payments of $50 a month and that wasn't enough

for them; they kept bugging me to pay $77. They wanted me to put it on a

credit card and knew I had several credit cards " that were no where near

maxed " .

I got irritated and just stopped paying.... took them almost a year to file

suit, but they did. I know, I know and I'm a Legal Assistant. I know

better. Then to top that off, I got even more stupid and forgot to file my

Intent to Defend, then thought I would just pay it. With all that's going on

with

Glenn, I forgot....and now they have a judgment against me. I have to

laugh, even though it's not really funny...and I had to pay the court costs,

too.... how stupid was I?? I sent them a check the day of the court trial, but

it

still goes on my credit report as a Judgment, altho it will be marked

Satisfied....so they can and do pursue it. I believe the main thing is to keep

paying even if it's $10 mo. especially if you talk with the provider. If they

know you are making an effort, I wouldn't think they would file suit.

....don't you dare laugh at me!!! LOL BTW, I didn't tell my

bosses.... LOL

Lots of hugs and prayers, Donelle

Caregiver to Glenn

[Guest guest]

We are fortunate that we do have insurance. But I find it completely

ridiculous when I read the statement from the insurance company of

what the doctors office's have charged and what the insurance will

allow.

Here is an example:

After sits in the infusion chair for 4-5 hours she has to go to

another office to have her pump installed with the 5fu. The medical

office charges the following: (hopefully my math is correct)

1. Drugs (I'm assumming this is the saline solution)

They charged $61.50 for it, the insurance company will only allow

them to charge $6.89 that is a difference of $54.61 or a mark up of

888%

2. Drugs (I'm assumming this is the 5fu)

They charged $82.50 for it, the insurance company will only allow

them to charge $16.88, that is a difference of $65.62 or a mark up of

almost 490%

3. Supplies (this is obviously for the pumpP

They charged $500.00 for it, the insurance company will only allow

them to charge $200.00, that is a difference of $300.00 or a mark up

of 250%

These companies charge $125.00 for the nurse to hook my wife up to

the pump and another $125.00 to remove it.

Personally it looks as though we are getting the " shaft " big time.

How can these doctors offices possibly charge us these outrageous

rates when they know the insurance company isn't going to pay it?

I think that when they know that you have insurance they will charge

you the highest rate they possibly can in hope they get it. I've

never talked to them about it, but it seems a little bit disgusting

to me. No wonder they estimate the cost of colon cancer to be in the

$80,000.00 + range. I'm sure we aren't very far from that total

right now.

Just some food for thought.

Dan

[Guest guest]

Dan, That is my problem. We have insurance. Of course they are

wanting us to pay out of pocket the difference. This is why we are

having so many medical bills. Not to mention my last three surgeries

were with the Anesthesiolist(sp?) who is not in network. Guess

what??? We have to pay the difference. No wonder so many file

bankrupt. I was reading that most bankrupsies is caused by medical

bills. Ingrid

>

> We are fortunate that we do have insurance. But I find it

completely

> ridiculous when I read the statement from the insurance company of

> what the doctors office's have charged and what the insurance will

> allow.

>

> Here is an example:

>

> After sits in the infusion chair for 4-5 hours she has to go

to

> another office to have her pump installed with the 5fu. The

medical

> office charges the following: (hopefully my math is correct)

>

> 1. Drugs (I'm assumming this is the saline solution)

>

> They charged $61.50 for it, the insurance company will only allow

> them to charge $6.89 that is a difference of $54.61 or a mark up

of

> 888%

>

> 2. Drugs (I'm assumming this is the 5fu)

>

> They charged $82.50 for it, the insurance company will only allow

> them to charge $16.88, that is a difference of $65.62 or a mark up

of

> almost 490%

>

> 3. Supplies (this is obviously for the pumpP

>

> They charged $500.00 for it, the insurance company will only allow

> them to charge $200.00, that is a difference of $300.00 or a mark

up

> of 250%

>

> These companies charge $125.00 for the nurse to hook my wife up to

> the pump and another $125.00 to remove it.

>

> Personally it looks as though we are getting the " shaft " big time.

> How can these doctors offices possibly charge us these outrageous

> rates when they know the insurance company isn't going to pay it?

>

> I think that when they know that you have insurance they will

charge

> you the highest rate they possibly can in hope they get it. I've

> never talked to them about it, but it seems a little bit disgusting

> to me. No wonder they estimate the cost of colon cancer to be in

the

> $80,000.00 + range. I'm sure we aren't very far from that total

> right now.

>

> Just some food for thought.

>

> Dan

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/13/2005 10:39:41 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

daniel111@... writes:

We are fortunate that we do have insurance. But I find it completely

ridiculous when I read the statement from the insurance company of

what the doctors office's have charged and what the insurance will

allow.

Here is an example:

After sits in the infusion chair for 4-5 hours she has to go to

another office to have her pump installed with the 5fu. The medical

office charges the following: (hopefully my math is correct)

1. Drugs (I'm assumming this is the saline solution)

They charged $61.50 for it, the insurance company will only allow

them to charge $6.89 that is a difference of $54.61 or a mark up of

888%

2. Drugs (I'm assumming this is the 5fu)

They charged $82.50 for it, the insurance company will only allow

them to charge $16.88, that is a difference of $65.62 or a mark up of

almost 490%

3. Supplies (this is obviously for the pumpP

They charged $500.00 for it, the insurance company will only allow

them to charge $200.00, that is a difference of $300.00 or a mark up

of 250%

These companies charge $125.00 for the nurse to hook my wife up to

the pump and another $125.00 to remove it.

Personally it looks as though we are getting the " shaft " big time.

How can these doctors offices possibly charge us these outrageous

rates when they know the insurance company isn't going to pay it?

I think that when they know that you have insurance they will charge

you the highest rate they possibly can in hope they get it. I've

never talked to them about it, but it seems a little bit disgusting

to me. No wonder they estimate the cost of colon cancer to be in the

$80,000.00 + range. I'm sure we aren't very far from that total

right now.

Just some food for thought.

Dan

Aren't these figures just disgusting!!! All in the name of " Greed "

Donelle

Caregiver to Glenn