Before you go to the emergency room-consider cost

Just some information to consider before deciding to go to the hospital emergency room for treatment. Especially if your insureance coverage does not pay for it all. Two weeks ago I went to the emergency near my home. (I live in Woodbury) I had a nasty would on my right middle finger. Not serious but as bad As I’ve had in a long time. I just wanted to get a professional opinion. The doctor say it needs stitches for sure. 3 to be exact. I just got the bill yesterday they are submitting to my insurance company.
3 stitches……..$1743.07 !!! It’s so outrageous it sounds like theft! To me it really seems criminal. The breakdown of the expense makes no more sense of the absurdity. Basically they cleaned the wound, numbed the finger and sewed it shut. The least expenive item on the bill was $46 for a tentnus shot I did not even receive!!! Now I know first hand how health insurance got out of control. What worries me and why I post this is some poor working man, that may not have full coverage in this situation, is going to get the bill and it’s going to hurt him and his family for a little while. Maybe taking your injury to a small town hospital would be cheaper?? Anyone have any comments or insight on this situation?

I was in the ER about a couple of years ago for a nasty cut on the palm of my hand. I went in and got stitches just like you. It was somewhere near $2000 for the visit. I looked at the bill. I was charged for X-rays, some weird drugs, and 5 female feminine napkins, and a splint. Ok it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out when you get stitches in your hand for a cut you don’t need some of these things. It is amazing what they tried to charge for. Imagine how many bills go to the insurance companies and get paid and all of this crap is on them. I just find it amazing. The only reason I got to see my detailed bill is because my hospital sends me a copy to show it was paid and it had the breakdown on it. You are right no wonder our health insurance is so terrible.

If you wouldn’t have had insurance…I will bet you my catfish mail box…that your bill would have been less expensive.

It works the same way for auto glass. Tell them you don’t have insurance for a window replacement it’s one price and call them back with insurance and it almost three times as much.

It’s crazy!

Don’t forget the charge for taking your stiches out…

I recently went to the Dr. for something, that I can’t even remember. While I was there I mentioned that I have developed allergies. He gave me some samples of Allegra and Zyrtec, and told me to try them and which ever one worked best, to let him know and he would get me a perscription. I thought this was great. No more itchy watery eyes, runny nose, sore throat. Well just yesterday, I call the dr’s office, to ask him to call in the perscription of Zyrtec. They told me that I had to come in for an office visit in orde for him to be able to do this. I told them that they just wanted to charge me for the office visit. What a Joke! Told them to Kiss my I will stick with the over the counter stuff.

I hope no one ever has to be hospitalized without insurance. I was in the hospital for 24 days this past Jan. with a ruptured appendix. The final total for everything was close to $110,000. Even with good insurance, my total out of pocket was amost $9,000. I’ll be paying that bill for quite a while!

I was going to mention something about the $4,000 bill that I raked up getting 20+ stitches in my head that my worhtless insurance company did not cover. But i think the $110,000/$9,000 has me beat. They have themselves one hell of a racket going thats for sure.

The best thing about mine was that 13 months after I paid the bill the hospital sends me a letter stating that I did not pay $2K of my bill and that they had turned my records over to the state of MN for future wage garnishment. Well their accounting department recieved a not so nice personal visit from myself with reciepts and cancelled checks letting them know exactly how I felt about things.

I worked with a guy who’s wife had a condition called cranial ensphilitis or something like that. At any rate is was a bad problem with her brain. Every time he got a bill he demanded a detailed description of every charge. He contested everything. After 4 years, he thinks he shaved almost $350,000 off the expenses! What a racket. You ever see an insurance company in a small building?

Suzuki, I hope this injury wasn’t on your casting hand!

Rootski

3 stitches @ $1743.07 = $581.02/per stitch — Yikes!!
Coulda called me, I would done it for $500 a stitch and it woulda included a free case of beer!

Seriously though, regardless of the price, hope it heals up soon for ya!

Wow…..that is crazy. I think I’ll fix my next broken arm with cardboard and duct tape .

Got an auger too the chin a couple years ago (don’t ask ). The cut was pretty deep, and it blead like a mofo…….definatly could have used a few stiches, but I was stubborn and refused to go to the ER……instead I improvised with sticky tape ……needless to say, I now have a cute little scar on my chin…….But you know what they say, “Chicks Dig Scars”

Moral of this story, unless you have an apendage completely disconnected from your torso, it just ain’t worth it

Emergency room vists will always cost more. Most insurance companies will penalize you for going to the ER and prefer you to visit urgent care or wait it out and see your family doctor if you can. Ask your clinic how much that would have cost you, I would say under $500 dollars. Too many people run to the ER with ear infections and virus’s thus causing the increase in premimums. But if you cant wait, the ER is your only choice.

Suzuki, whats your co-pay for the ER? Ive seen some as high as $250 now a days.

I think Medicare and Medicaid pay like 25%-30% of “cost.” Two hospitals in my area have almost 40% of their patient mix as ‘Medi patients. The rest of us pay the rest of the ‘Medi patients bills through higher charges.

I went to the ER a couple years ago with a ruptured Achillies Tendon! I got he bill from the insurance company saying that it was’nt a life or death situation so they would’nt pay it! I called them proptly and told them “I COULD’NT WALK”!!!!! They paid the majority and I payed my co-pay.

Suzuki

Must have had the same doctor in Woodbury. My daughter also had three stiches and it was over $1700.

You think this costs alot, wait until the Dems make it FREE

I had my knee scoped a few years ago. Upon receiving the bill, I noticed the Ice pack they gave me was $75.00. Must have been one of those gov’t ice packs.

Vote for Kerry and it will cost over $3000.

No charge for stitch removal. I did it myself!

Derek,
I’m not sure what it is yet. I thought they paid 100%?
I’ll know soon enough.

Suzuki, I’ve also seen (and experienced) billing problems such as yours. You should call the billing office of the hospital you went to and question your bill. You can also call your insurance carrier and question it. Many times the insurance company will work with the hospital to ensure the billing is correct, especially if they are charging for services not rendered. I should know, I’ve worked for a health insurance company for a few years. In my case, my provider failed to submit the claim properly. But whatever the problem, always check the bill and don’t hesitate to ask questions.

Brunn just gave you the best advice, do what he says and you will save yourself A LOT of money.

2 pound Trilene Ice Line, and a good needle, and purchase the “Tuck’s home stitches kit” for $5.00. Or, a few foreceps and some superglue. The problem is that getting the foreceps off after they have been superglued to your fingers is a challenge as well!
Tuck

It’s really not that tough to sew yourself up. Had a situation while on a fishing trip in Canada a few years back where I got a nasty gash on the heal of my hand that I knew would need some stitches. Iced the area down good to numb it, took some 6 lb mono and a needle from a sewing kit dipped in straight whiskey (to disinfect it of course), tossed down the whiskey (no sense throwing out good whiskey) and gave myself 6 fairly good looking stitches. The surgeons knot that I learned somewhere also came in handy. Not hard at all. Removed the stitches about a week later and it healed up just fine.

Super glue and duct tape did a great number on a 4 inch gash on my arm in Canada! Who needs a DR anyway!

I just want to reiterate a couple things that have already been said.

1) Medicare/Medicaid don’t even begin to cover hospitals’ costs (I understand that it covers between 40% and 60% of costs). Cash/Insurance carrying patients pay far more than their share because that’s the only reason hospitals can make up their costs. Some hospitals and clinics will perform unnecessary and/or abbreviated procedures to get more money from Uncle Sam, which only screws up the already broken system.

2) “Free health care for everyone” or “Health care as a right” … ridiculous. If you have insurance or are able to pay for your health care, a vote for anyone who makes the aforementioned statements is a vote for continuing exponential increases in your health care costs. We need a system reform, period. And not everyone is going to get it for free unless we pay 50%+ taxes like some European countries. In my mind, health care shouldn’t be free for anyone. Maybe it should be made more affordable for those who can’t afford it, but there should be no freeloaders. Last two statements are my opinion only.

This is an incredibly important issue.

John Nesse

All so when they hand you that release for you to sign stating that it is your responsibility to pay and you sign that if the bill is more than what insurance covers you will pay the difference,scratch out that part and fill in and enitial that whatever your insurance pays that is what they get…works for me the lady at dest should also give copy if not demand one..now it,s a new contract and I have never had any one at the desk question it..It,s the upstairs that questions that,and after the procedgure I,v had them come and sign a new release..DON<T DO IT.. thier stuck and they no it…Most insurance company,s take a survey of your area and come up with a average of procedures in the area and won,t pay more than that,I hope I made myself clear on them wanting you to sign a new release, I rememmber a procedure where the upstairs boys saw my original and came down,after they gave me the woopy shot those idiots tried to have me sign a differant release with out the exclusions..and give your wife or husband or someone you trust to keep your copy..they are slick willies sometime

I have an interisting one. A few years back say 1997 I was working the second shift in a warehouse for a snowmobile company. (we wont say who). I got hurt at work at night and had to go to the hospital. I ended up in urgent care. I was obvously hurt at work so workmans comp. should take care of it all. Between my employer and the clinc they couldnt get any thing straight. The 77.15 bill never got paid. The doctors office said it was workmans comp. so I was not allowed by law (weather or not that is true) to pay the bill. My human resources manager said I was never hurt at work even though my boss and I both brought her proper paperwork showing what happened. Needless to say I had to hire a lawyer for a 77.15 dollar bill to get this paid. Not to mention all this time it was hurting my credit report but yet I was not allowed to pay the bill. Does any one no if that is true if I get hurt at work and my employer doesnt pay Im not allowed too, even though it hurts me? By the way Im now self imployed so it wont do any good to yell at my new employer if this happens, Id hate to have yo fire myself .