Appendix - the final bill.

[Jimzz]

they don't pay full either.

if you don't have insurance they will write it down too.


when i had my appendix out it was $28k i ended up paying nothing. for emergency's my insurance covered it all! wooo!

Yea they write it down, but not anywhere near what the insurance pays.

Oh 28k let us help you, we cut it in half. Are we not so nice and helpful.

 

[Gunslinger08]

So it really sounds like healthcare prices are inflated for everyone, since insurance = very marked down price and no insurance = mostly marked down price. Is there really a reason to have the crazy prices to begin with? Most hospitals are non-profits, so they aren't really getting tax benefits from writing off that $25k markdown. Maybe the individuals (ex. surgeons) get a hefty tax deduction.

 

[Printer Bandit]

any hot deals for getting an appendix removed for cheaper?

 

[kranky]

any hot deals for getting an appendix removed for cheaper?

It's becoming more and more popular for people to travel to other countries to have non-emergency surgery that would not be covered by their insurance. This is "Medical Tourism".

http://medicaltourismguide.com/procedures/medical/appendectomy/

Looks like India is the low-price leader.

 

[bignateyk]

So it really sounds like healthcare prices are inflated for everyone, since insurance = very marked down price and no insurance = mostly marked down price. Is there really a reason to have the crazy prices to begin with? Most hospitals are non-profits, so they aren't really getting tax benefits from writing off that $25k markdown. Maybe the individuals (ex. surgeons) get a hefty tax deduction.

Probably some kind of tax scam like you mentioned. Maybe they can write that 25K off as a loss or something.

 

[_Rick_]

So tell me... who got ripped off?

You.
Clearly, you didn't pay insurance for them not to pay the hospital the costs your treatment incurred.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

That's not bad. An uninsured friend of mine had a blood clot in his leg that moved to his heart and caused a heart attack. He was hospitalized for nearly two weeks. Because of the rareness of his condition they used him as a case study and comped his entire bill, but not before he had a chance to look at it; over half a million dollars. It's no wonder that medical issues are the leading cause of bankruptcy in this country. Even if his insurance had covered 95% of that bill, he would have been totally screwed.

 

[Homerboy]

OP how much have you paid for insurance?

 

[SunnyD]

OP how much have you paid for insurance?

Probably more than $28,000.

(But it's also paid for the birth of several children as well, among other things)

 

[SaurusX]

So, is insurance the real problem or is it the actual medical costs? Insurance companies get raked over the coals, but who's setting the price of procedures?

 

[highland145]

So, is insurance the real problem or is it the actual medical costs? Insurance companies get raked over the coals, but who's setting the price of procedures?

If you're really interested I've got 2 NRP links that explain it. 1 hr each.

 

[SunnyD]

So, is insurance the real problem or is it the actual medical costs? Insurance companies get raked over the coals, but who's setting the price of procedures?

It's a problem on both ends.

For the uninsured, the problem is the first number I listed (set by the hospital).

For the health care provider, the problem is the second number (negotiated by the insurer & hospital - but more or less "set" by the insurer).

And finally it's the legacy of "big $$$ in medicine".

 

[SaurusX]

If you're really interested I've got 2 NRP links that explain it. 1 hr each.

It was more rhetorical. I'm an actuary.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

So it really sounds like healthcare prices are inflated for everyone, since insurance = very marked down price and no insurance = mostly marked down price. Is there really a reason to have the crazy prices to begin with? Most hospitals are non-profits, so they aren't really getting tax benefits from writing off that $25k markdown. Maybe the individuals (ex. surgeons) get a hefty tax deduction.

I'm pretty sure what happens is that insurance companies only pay a very low percentage of what the actual bill is, so for hospitals to actually even break even with the cost of the operation, they need to baloon the on paper cost, even if a normal patient would never actually pay that much.

 

[Anubis]

If you're really interested I've got 2 NRP links that explain it. 1 hr each.

im that bored PM them my way

 

[Jimzz]

So, is insurance the real problem or is it the actual medical costs? Insurance companies get raked over the coals, but who's setting the price of procedures?

Insurance more IMO. Insurance companies make it so the only way you can afford healthcare is through insurance. Without insurance you can't afford it. And of course insurance will take their 10% cut off the top before passing it to the doctors. And thats if they approve first.

 

[techs]

I worked in health insurance.

Hospitals can make up any fees they want. They don't want to leave any money on the table so they pick a number high enough that they can get the most from any insurance company. While 30k seems a lot, someone at the hospital figured that there might be some patient with a health insurance company that might pay the whole thing, so thats why they have a high number. Probably no company ever paid that much, but they have accounted for any possibility.

 

[Homerboy]

A few years back. I argued a bill with the hospital/insurance. Ended up that I discovered that the insurance company had negotiated a HIGHER price for services than the hospital was billing people directly.

I still had to pay 20%.

 

[SirStev0]

Do you know how much the surgeon gets paid for that appendix??

I actually do: $275.00

That sexy physician life we live.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Do you know how much the surgeon gets paid for that appendix??

I actually do: $275.00

That sexy physician life we live.

So you're saying I should befriend a surgeon and help him build a home operating theater?

 

[techs]

A few years back. I argued a bill with the hospital/insurance. Ended up that I discovered that the insurance company had negotiated a HIGHER price for services than the hospital was billing people directly.

I still had to pay 20%.

Thats possible. Perhaps it turned out that they can actually get more individuals to pay a lower bill since its affordable versus how many people would declare bankrutpcy.

Or, the hospital is in a high demand vs. availability area and the health insurance company needed to pay more so the hospital would accept patients with that particular health insurance plan. Insurance companies are actually competing with each other for treatment facilities in some areas.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Do you know how much the surgeon gets paid for that appendix??

I actually do: $275.00

That sexy physician life we live.

I don't think you're supposed to be selling the organs.

 

[highland145]

Do you know how much the surgeon gets paid for that appendix??

I actually do: $275.00

That sexy physician life we live.

I'd have done Dan's for half that.

I don't need no stinking license to cut someone open.

 

[Homerboy]

Do you know how much the surgeon gets paid for that appendix??

I actually do: $275.00

That sexy physician life we live.

How long is that surgery?

 

[SunnyD]

Do you know how much the surgeon gets paid for that appendix??

I actually do: $275.00

That sexy physician life we live.

Which comes to a rate of around $550/hr.

I wish I got paid $550/hr to do my job.

Just sayin'. :whiste:

(Yes, I know you're not taking out appendixes for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week... so grain of salt.)