Steroid Infusion Out of Pocket Cost

[ncgirl04]

I only just found out I have MS a few weeks ago and having to make the decision about steroid infusion was one I rushed into on of the advice from my neurologist. Everything went well until the bill came. The research I did before the treatment was very disturbing to say the least, as the prices varied from $1500 a day to $120 a day (these are not typo errors!) in the same town but at 2 different hospitals! I eventually went with the one that was most expensive because they offered UP TO 100% help for people like me, temporarily unemployed with no insurance making under $22,242.00 yr. Charity they called it?? and hinted that I would likely be covered, where as the other hospital would not give ANY help or discount to the uninsured and would NOT say this was an accurate quote on the phone or in writing. What a mistake that was!! I am now stuck with a $4000.00 hospital bill and starting to receive threatening phone calls as they DENIED me ANY help saying I did not meet the criteria but giving no other explanation. My Mom has been trying to deal with this so I don't have to be stressed out but is getting no where fast. I know the prices vary from city to city but can there be that much of a difference? I think that because the hospital in question offers help to a few they are charging people like myself, xtra high costs to cover those that don't pay! I have excellent credit and don't want this to be what brings my score down, having worked so hard all my life to maintain the highest score possible. Just wondering if any one has any similar stories or any info that might help me fight this battle? This is all new to me and what a learning experience it has been. The steroids did help I guess as MOST of my numbness is gone but I will be paying for it for a long time if I ever find a job!

[MR16]

have you checked out https://pricingHealthcare.com ?

[HVAC]

The Greater Carolinas Chapeter of the NMSS is good chapter. They are limited on financial support for MS patients. They do have social workers who can help lead you to resources. There are so many MS Patients who need some financial assistance. Resources are limited in this State but there may be some. I am not sure how good social services is in your area of the state but if you do not ask you find no help. If you do not have insurance do you know about the State's High Risk Pool for insurance for those who are not eligible for any group plan and have a pre existing conditions? The program has limited funds and is first come first serve. There is also the federal high risk pool in NC but you have had to have no health insurance for six months to apply. They run less than my premiums of $600 a month under the State Employees group health plan. There is also Medicaid but in this State it is very stripped down and many Doctors will not take it so you are limited on the Doctors who will see you. When I was your age I had no property and insurance in the end my medical debts were forgiven but now days things are tighter.  Your mother should only be responsible if she signs for your care.For example the legislature in NC mandates state hospitals to collect its debts so you do not even get a break at the State run hospital. The best they will do is divide your entire bill into 36 payments. You have to owe at least $10,000 total to the hospital and meet the income requirements and fill out tons of paperwork to qualify for state charity care. In my case my retirement makes us over the income limit. I have learned to be really nice to the financial people. A person on the phone who gets angry with you can make it harder to get a  reasonable payment plan. Also always ask to speak to a supervisor or better yet if you can go in in person and talk to a financial aid person. Part of the game is to wear you down to pay the bill. They hope people will get frustrated and just give up and pay it. Some people can others can not afford to. I worked for a health insurance company and had to deny every claim three times and keep the people on the phone. The point is to wear the patient down. You have to leave your emotions at the door and know it is a game. The person on the other end of the phone is there to collect money and that is all. We get upset and take it personally they just see it as a frustrating job.

Alex

[ncgirl04]

Thanks for your reassuring words. I am loving this site already knowing there are people out there just like me. Having someone to talk to about it is half the battle. I will take your advice and appreciate your concern.

Erin

[jenphilly]

Call social services locally and see what they can help with.  Also reach out to the National MS Society, they will put you in touch with local branch and while they can't always pay the hospital bill, they can help with other things to help free up money in the house...  such as they can help with utility bills, etc.  

good luck...   not having insurance and facing MS is really terrifying....  I wish you the best of luck and keep posting, there are lots of us here that will help as much as we can and look for options and programs that might be of some service...

You're not alone, you've found a great place!!!

Hugs,

jen

[HVAC]

Your problems are very real with the costs. Unfortunately it is part of the uncertainty of chronic illness. Learning to live with uncertainty is the key. Everyone's life is uncertain and we have little control over anything. We can control our actions and how we look at things. I smile every day no matter what. I am a lot more fortunate than many people I know. I get really sick but I can cope with it. I tell myself "pain is necessary misery is optional". I can cause myself a lot of misery by amplifying pain. When I am happiest is when I leave the bill in the box and don't drive myself nuts over it. I can take it out of the box anytime I choose and I can put it back and not think about it. I make the best of my cancer and my MS. Yesterday was a real bad day so I told myself "You just have to deal with the pain tomorrow may be better". I was in so much pain last night my pulse was raising at 120bpm. I finally fell asleep for a couple of hours and when I woke up I feel better. I do not know how long I will feel better but I feel better and I am going to enjoy it. I am not going to think about things which upset me today if I do my pulse is going to shoot up and my pain will be worse.

You hang in there.

Alex

[ncgirl04]

I'm sorry that you are having such a hard time. It humbles me to know that my first bill pales in comparison with what it may be in the future. I should feel lucky that I am getting free meds and yrly MRI's free through Rebif. I haven't lost all hope just yet....just trying to get by day to day coping with this uncertain disease. I wish you well in your battle with the big C and thank you for your advice and wisdom. I envy your optimism and humour and hope that someday I will be able to smile again. Good Luck...

[HVAC]

Sorry you have to go through this. I have had many medical bills in my life and so far I have paid them on time. You need the care. In my case I am past caring I owe so much and it is growing daily with the cancer care. I used to freak about MS costs and now it seems like child's play. I owe way more than I can pay off in a lifetime and it is only going to get worse. As a friend said they can only go after so much.

That said no one needs the stress of medical bills. they are my biggest stress. I have learned to put them on the back burner. It does me no good to freak out about them.  I wonder how much of our health problems are induced by the stress from the bills?

I can't work probably for at least another year with my cancer treatment. Luckily the cancer makes it hard to eat so I do not have to choose between groceries and cancer treatment. LOL. I am going to an advocacy thing Friday. I will let you know if I learn any tricks. I will keep my ears open.

Alex

[ncgirl04]

Thanks to all of for the great ideas! I am sure if anything can be done my Mom will do it :o) Otherwise I will just have to pay for it over time and learn from my mistakes. I am on Rebif now and have just started on the full dosage. I am having injection site reactions but none of the flue like symptoms that some experience. Hoping this medication will help with my MS. Love to hear from any one who has had an MRI after taking Rebif for a year.

[ncgirl04]

I have been dealing with the administration providing them with a "book" of info on myself. I own nothing as my car was wrecked the day before my diagnosis by a hit 'n run driver so basically they denied me on the little savings I have that I have to live on till I find another job!

[HVAC]

I am sorry you are having such a hard time with medical bills.NC sides with Hospitals and and insurance over patients unfortunately. Our Legislature does not give a flip about high medical costs. The lawmakers are happy about costs this high because hospitals and insurance is making more money. You may basically be stuck. They will garnish wages if you have them. For me they will go after my house. My chemos are costing me $5,000 out of pocket per at UNC and more at Duke. I pay $400 out of pocket to see my Neurologist so I do not treat my MS. I see him once a year and have no tests such as MRIs because I can't afford them. I can get no help with care costs with MS and Cancer. BCBSNC and the large hospital corporations call the shots in this State. You should be able to divide your two bills Hospital and Doctors by 36 months. That is the best I have been able to do. I have insurance but my out of pocket is high. With in the same hospital system costs vary. My husband had a hernia surgery and we shopped around. With in the Duke system there were three different costs for the same procedure and same Doctor. We chose the cheapest which was also the nicest because it was not a teaching facility but out patient surgery. What costs at teaching hospitals is all the extra people. With Cancer you just have to treat and worry about the cost later. I now have MS and two kinds of expensive Cancer to treat. Health care costs a lot. I look at how many people are involved in my care. At Duke I can have 40 people in my hospital room in a day. The drugs are expensive as well. The State also sides with Pharmaceutical companies to keep their costs up. If you want your story out in NC look on The Progressive Pulse there are some health care blogs over in the margins.

Alex

[doublevision1]

"cistern" ???  Sorry, that was supposed to read: "the cost"!!

I hate this auto-spellcheck, I make more mistakes than without it!

[doublevision1]

Geez so sorry you were hit with a diagnosis and then kicked when you were down with that insane bill.  I'm shocked at that fee as well as the vast variance from one hospital to another.  Why would they not inform you of the fee in advance??  In fact did you sign anything prior to treatment authorizing them to bill you an unspecified amount for what is a standard service?  If so, 1) sounds like a fishy practice to me, and 2) I would consider talking to a lawyer about whether it is truly binding.  If it is, and you and your mom are unsuccessful in contesting t with the hospital, I would go on the offense and take your story to the local media. A young, unemployed, uninsured, newly diagnosed MS patient being slapped with an outrageous bill for a treatment that can no way cost that much to deliver, will be a highly sympathetic figure to the public, many struggling with medical costs themselves.  I can't personally speak to the cost of steroids in the US as I'm Canadian, in fact I cant speak to the cistern here as it's insured by the government and I don't see medical bills.

Another thought:  the Democratic Party might appreciate hearing from folks like yourself right now to prove their point about the plight of the uninsured.  I don't want to start a political debate here, I suggest it on the chance that this might somehow help to resolve your current problem, you never know.

Good luck and again, I'm sorry you have this stress on you just as you are coping with the news of your MS.  I hope you stick around as this s a very kind and supportive group and collectively, we have a lot of experience with every aspect of this disease.