would you bother disputing this bill?

[nageov3t]

so, back around christmas time, I went into the hospital for a pain in my leg that ended up being a superficial blood clot; while there, I was also diagnosed with dehydration and they kept me for 24 hours on IV fluids.

total bill was $12,000, which insurance pretty much covered other than the hundred dollar copay. now today, I got a bill for tv/phone usage at the hospital. it's only $20, but I was in the ER the entire time I was there -- no tv or phone to even think about using.

would you bother disputing the bill or just shut up and pay the $20?

 

[dabuddha]

I'd dispute it. $20 is $20.

 

[keird]

You were in an ER for 24 hours. Is that right?

You were never transfered to another bed?

 

[BabaBooey]

I would just go shoot the place up and get some t.v. airtime....

 

[Mr Pickles]

I would dispute it too. See what they have on record or if they can pull a call history or something. You've got a good chance of getting your $20 bucks back. Not such a big win after $12,000 but like dabuddha said, $20 is $20.

 

[ViviTheMage]

destroy them, can't let them take money like that...

 

[TwiceOver]

I really wish hospitals had menu boards with prices. Went in for knee pain, did the whole MRI thing and two visits later the doctor had found nothing. BUT, he said an injection under the knee may help IF I wanted it. "Sure, Sounds good". Got the bill. $12 for the injection and $229 for the doctor to inject it.

Now if there were a menu board, I could have said "No, I'll pass on that"

 

[ultimatebob]

Nah... it would take more than $20 worth of time to dispute the bill.

 

[KeithTalent]

Lawsuit time!

KT

 

[evident]

Originally posted by: loki8481
so, back around christmas time, I went into the hospital for a pain in my leg that ended up being a superficial blood clot; while there, I was also diagnosed with dehydration and they kept me for 24 hours on IV fluids.

total bill was $12,000, which insurance pretty much covered other than the hundred dollar copay. now today, I got a bill for tv/phone usage at the hospital. it's only $20, but I was in the ER the entire time I was there -- no tv or phone to even think about using.

would you bother disputing the bill or just shut up and pay the $20?

my mom was in the hospital for about 4 months. Nobody ever signed up for cable/phone but somehow it ended up straight onto my verizon bill via a 3rd party charge. wtf?????

 

[RadiclDreamer]

I would dispute it based on the sheer audacity that they even charge for TV and phone. Here in the hospital where I work thats free and noone would even think about charging for it. We even provide free internet.

 

[nakedfrog]

I'd dispute it on principle.

 

[ggnl]

Not worth the effort. The free time I'd lose disputing it is worth more than $20 to me.

 

[Insomniator]

The ER in the hospital i was just in had a TV in each room.

But.. 20 dollars for one night seems ridiculous, how much are they payin for basic cable?

Lets se... about 10 beds in my er, lets say 5 are filled each night. 3000 dollars a month for tv in the ER?

How many beds in the hospital are filled at any given time? 100? 60 THOUSAND a month for tv? God I don't get where some fees at places come from...

 

[CrimsonWolf]

I'd call at a minimum. Point out that you were at the ER the whole time with no access to that stuff. I'd be irritated out of principle. That being said, if they try to drag you through a bunch of hoops, which I'm guessing they will, $20 isn't worth giving up a lot of time for. I'm guessing they count on this and pull this bullshit all the time.

 

[Chiropteran]

Originally posted by: TwiceOver
I really wish hospitals had menu boards with prices. Went in for knee pain, did the whole MRI thing and two visits later the doctor had found nothing. BUT, he said an injection under the knee may help IF I wanted it. "Sure, Sounds good". Got the bill. $12 for the injection and $229 for the doctor to inject it.

Now if there were a menu board, I could have said "No, I'll pass on that"

"I'll have the hip-replacement extra value meal for $899."

"Would you like extra anesthesia with that, only $100 more?"

"No thanks."

 

[TallBill]

I'd dispute it.