COMMENTS
Tampa General emergency room bill for one x ray and CT scan: $13, 270. Someone PLEASE tell me this is a billing error.
Jennifer,
Keep in mind that the bill probably shows "charges" which are not what insurance companies pay for the exams. They pay much (much) lower amounts. You can try to negotiate with the hospital for a lower bill.
Unfortunately your story is not unusual, especially for uninsured patients...
More clarification on my issue:
Director of billing broke down the charges for me. Evidently my ONE, hear me, ONE 10 minute CT scan was actually THREE! (??)
1. $3,121 "basic?" CT scan
2. $3,934 spine
3. $2,783 head
PLUS...
an additional $896.00 dollars tacked on to EACH of these for some "state of the art precision laser" BS. This adds yet another $2,700 to the bill.
I am absolutely OUTRAGED by this. The billing supervisor said these charges are accurate But how do I determine what is reasonable?? I have no idea how to determine WHAT IS A REASONABLE FEE FOR THESE TESTS???
ps. My fingers are crossed that my insurance will fully cover the ER visit with just a $100.00 copay.
Manhattan, Kansas. If I have any kind of insurance, even catastrophic, and pay cash for my pelvic ct scan it costs about $900. If I have no insurance, the price is $2500. Really, this should be illegal.
You are being charged what the service provider believes the market can bear. Given the cost of purchasing and operating the machine versus the revenues it produces, most people would not consider the prices you were charged to be reasonable, particularly in an emergency situation where there is no real opportunity to shop around or discussion of what the charges would be. My personal view is that what you were charged is immoral and that until service receivers protest the gross unfairness there will be no incentive to change.
Outragious. I had a CT scan for what the Dr. belived to be diverticulitis but wanted to eliminate raptured appendix. Not appnd but got the bill for the CT and it was $7900.00 at the hospital. Like ya'll, it's gotta be a mistake. Insured but limited.
Got a bill for over $7500.00 for a scan at Middlesex hospital vs $750.00 at Hartford hospital, same scan, go figure.
I had a similar example of outragous CD Scann cost. On 11/3/09 I had ONE scan of my abdomen WITHOUT contrast to locate kidney stones. It took less than 3 minutes to setup the machine. Cost of the scan was $5824.00!!! And this is with Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance coverage.
This was doen at Centennial medical Center in Nashville, TN. Next time, I will shop around and NOT go to where my doctor orders. It might take longer, but when it isn't an emergency, I don't need the soaking.
Went to ER for possible appendicitis and then the ER surgeon ordered a CT scan my IV clogged numerous times they finish the scans but then the contrast started to flow after they finally got the machine off and me of the test was positive for acute appendicitis and the bill was over $5000 just for the scan. This was one of the top hospitals in my state.
Had a CAT scan done at Binghamton General Hospital (Binghamton, NY) 1 pelvis, 1 abdomen, a NYS Surcharge (I <3 NY, please don't ever move here for any reason)... $4,282.72 no insurance.
I was admitted to MIHS after a motorcycle acciddent and on top of all the other outrageous charges i also have a bill for $30,000 in CT scans.
Write your congressman. This is why we need some kind of healthcare legislation...even with insurance.
Think the cost of your CT scan is too high? Don't pay the bill until they get the price down to earth. Shop around and get an idea of what a reasonable price is. In California and probably other states if a contractor fails to tell you up front what something costs, you are only obligated to pay a reasonable fee. Consult an attorney to be sure--it could save you thousands!