Article: She Expected to Pay $1,337 for Surgery. A Colorado Hospital Billed $303,709

She expected to pay $1,337 for surgery. A Colorado hospital billed $303,709.
By SHELLY BRADBURY | The Denver Post
March 7, 2022

When she signed the contract ahead of a pair of back surgeries in 2014, the hospital had represented to French that the surgeries were estimated to cost her $1,337 out of pocket, with her health insurance provider covering the rest of the bill.

But the hospital’s estimate was based on French’s insurance provider being “in-network” with the hospital, which it was not. She also experienced what the hospital called “complications” after her second surgery — her attorneys say it was an extra morning in the hospital due to a slower than expected recovery — which together upped the bill to 227 times the hospital’s initial estimate.

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I would send them $20 a month for the rest of my life. I don’t know about other states, but there is little that they can do as long as they are receiving some type of payment in Mississippi.

If the hospital cannot verify whether or not they are an in-network provider, I would consider that to be fraud or blind ineptitude...neither of which should be handled by the patient.

The worst part is even if she were in-network the hospital is not getting paid $300K because a lot of systems operate on a DRG-basis, which means the reimbursed amount is already set before the surgery even starts. At absolute worse, the unforeseen extra day may have added some amount but nothing along the lines to get the bill anywhere near what she is being billed for.

Basically, the hospital screwed up and now they're out for blood in hopes that the lady will settle for a little more than what an in-network plan would give them.

I'm shocked she apparently has zero out-of-network coverage. How is that even a thing? If you're in an emergency situation, you can't just tell the ambulance you want to go to an in-network hospital. They're taking you to the closest place possible, and you might get transferred once stabilized. I've seen a couple of such situations but it's awfully damn rare.

Supreme Court ruled in her favor.

jnday said:

I would send them $20 a month for the rest of my life. I don’t know about other states, but there is little that they can do as long as they are receiving some type of payment in Mississippi.

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I wouldn't send them dirk, and tell them to eat it while I sue them in court on the ambiguity of the contract.. And likely win, as most people would.

For that much money, she could have flown to Mexico, or even all the way to Morocco, and would still have been ahead.

What drives me crazy is when hospitals, or other medical facilities, can't or won't even tell you in advance how much something is going to cost. Call me crazy, but I think a patient has a right to know.

DallasEast said:

She expected to pay $1,337 for surgery. A Colorado hospital billed $303,709.
By SHELLY BRADBURY | The Denver Post
March 7, 2022

When she signed the contract ahead of a pair of back surgeries in 2014, the hospital had represented to French that the surgeries were estimated to cost her $1,337 out of pocket, with her health insurance provider covering the rest of the bill.

But the hospital’s estimate was based on French’s insurance provider being “in-network” with the hospital, which it was not. She also experienced what the hospital called “complications” after her second surgery — her attorneys say it was an extra morning in the hospital due to a slower than expected recovery — which together upped the bill to 227 times the hospital’s initial estimate.

Read More

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hospitals have now become very lucrative businesses. they either suck the life out of you, suck the money out of you or suck the money out of insurance, which then they raise the rates and suck the money out of you.

my dad is getting treatment. and the hospital recommended this medication that they only make. medicare covers it. they charged medicare $16,000 for 30 day supply, which he has to take for 2 years.....seriously!!!! and the hospital is not even a pharmacy, but they come up with their own medication combinations.....ridiculous.

It is insane that in 2022 people have to guess how much money medical services are going to cost them.