Hosptial Bill Question

ally2011 · December 2014

Can I challenge an ER cost after the fact or no? DD was there in July and had to have a CT can. It alone was over $3,000....well over the normal rate for such a test. After insurance our cost is lower, but it still blows my mind how much more it is than the market rate....though I know ER care is more than it would be at an imaging center. Do I just need to pay this bill and give up the dream of it coming down? I have called once already and there was nothing they could do, they said. Just wondering if there is something I should try that I don't know about. Thank you!

Puck1182 · December 2014

Can you contact your insurance company? If you harass them enough, they may decide it's more cost effective to cover the balance than deal with you. Contact the higher-ups if you need to. That's what I did about DH's ambulance bill earlier this year, I called the VP of Capital Blue Cross to complain (although I had a complaint about being given misinformation by the customer service people, not just the coverage) and they covered the whole thing for us.

khaze · December 2014

Just want to throw this out there - DH had to go to the ER last summer and they did a CT scan and it was over $3,000 on our bill. I don't think you're going to have luck getting the price down, although your hospital may agree to a discount if you pay the entire bill now instead of doing any type of payment plan, etc. You could try what Puck suggested, although I work for a benefits company and don't see that happening around here.

Puck1182 · December 2014

@khaze - Yeah, it wasn't easy, that dispute went on for months. I was a persistent bitch about it. I was so mad about the bad info I was given that even though we could afford to pay the bill it became a matter of principle. I was out for blood. ;-)

ally2011 · December 2014

Our insurance changed in October so we aren't customers anymore, they may not care now. I did ask for a pay in full discount but they said no. May try again on that.

khaze · December 2014

@Puck1182 - that is awesome you were able to fight it! You sound exactly like my husband. He would do the same thing just based on the principle alone

@ally2011 - I definitely think the fact that you are no longer a customer would make it harder, but definitely give it a shot!!!

Poppy523 · December 2014

My DH just disputed the charges from M's birth. He told the hospital if they didn't work with him he would call our insurance and they would fight it together. The hospital decided it was easier to drop some costs than to deal with him anymore, but he is a pretty persistent PITA, I would know...

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