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Health Insurance (Expert Forum)
ER and no health insurance
Answered by
Amir Mostafaie - health insurance, insurance
eHealthInsurance
Gold River - CA
This forum is for questions and support regarding health insurance issues such as Medicare, Medicaid, Long-term health insurance, COBRA, insurance portability.
ER and no health insurance
by Versloe, Jun 03, 2008 06:36PM
Hi, I was wondering if ANYONE can help me... I have been living abroad for several years. I returned home in April ( to NY ) and was out with some friends. I unfortunatly had too much to drink and the next thing i know am in the ER. I awoke to find myself there. A month later i get a bill for 5,300 dollars for :
260 IV TX Therapy ( no idea what that is !! ) = $858
301 Lab Chemistry = $519
305 Lab Hematology = $213
351+352 CAT scan = $2760
450 ER Room = $904
940 TX SYCS General = $83
I know i should NOT have had that much to drink but I am STUMPED at how it can be THAT much considering i was in there for 3 hrs..... CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP ME ??? Can i get this reduced and maybe on a month to month payment plan ???
I just started working and make 10 an hour..
Thanks
Versloe
260 IV TX Therapy ( no idea what that is !! ) = $858
301 Lab Chemistry = $519
305 Lab Hematology = $213
351+352 CAT scan = $2760
450 ER Room = $904
940 TX SYCS General = $83
I know i should NOT have had that much to drink but I am STUMPED at how it can be THAT much considering i was in there for 3 hrs..... CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP ME ??? Can i get this reduced and maybe on a month to month payment plan ???
I just started working and make 10 an hour..
Thanks
Versloe
Doctor's Answer
by Amir Mostafaie, Jun 03, 2008 07:04PM
, Jun 03, 2008 07:04PM
To: Versloe
Dear Versloe,
First you need to contact the billing dept. of the hospital & try to negotiate the charges with them. By negotiating, you are basically bargaining with the hospital about the charges. It might help you to know that Insurance Companies do the same except they do this negotiation once a year and at a higher level & they call it contracted rates. Contracted rates can sometimes be up to 40-50% lower than the listed rates (you have most likely received listed rates, that means before discount).
You need to establish that you have every intention to pay your bills & that is why you are negotiating to achieve a reasonable amount for their services.
Once you have negotiated lower rates, you need to negotiate a payment plan & start paying!
Meanwhile if you are planning to stay in NY/US, shop for & obtain some coverage so you don’t have to face this type of problem again. You can contact a licensed agent in your area or shop online.
A good resource to compare & shop for health insurance is www.eHealthInsurance.com (where I work) & feel free to call if you have questions.
Sincerely,
Amir Mostafaie
First you need to contact the billing dept. of the hospital & try to negotiate the charges with them. By negotiating, you are basically bargaining with the hospital about the charges. It might help you to know that Insurance Companies do the same except they do this negotiation once a year and at a higher level & they call it contracted rates. Contracted rates can sometimes be up to 40-50% lower than the listed rates (you have most likely received listed rates, that means before discount).
You need to establish that you have every intention to pay your bills & that is why you are negotiating to achieve a reasonable amount for their services.
Once you have negotiated lower rates, you need to negotiate a payment plan & start paying!
Meanwhile if you are planning to stay in NY/US, shop for & obtain some coverage so you don’t have to face this type of problem again. You can contact a licensed agent in your area or shop online.
A good resource to compare & shop for health insurance is www.eHealthInsurance.com (where I work) & feel free to call if you have questions.
Sincerely,
Amir Mostafaie
