Uninsured: Hospital Billed Me for 2k for Minor ER Treatment. Any Suggestions?
Question by Martin: Uninsured: Hospital billed me for 2k for minor ER treatment. Any Suggestions?
I had stitches put in, over a busted eye, after visiting an emergency room located in NYC, near the scene of the accident. I recently left my job, lost my insurance, so I have to deal with this myself.
My beef is with them (Cornell Presbyterian Hospital) refusing to give me a price, initially, at the reception desk, after asking them 4 or 5 times. I told them that this place was close to the accident and convenient but that I’d take a cab to a city hospital, if it was too expensive. After asking, over and over, someone said about 400. Others said to shut it and wait for my bill.
Anyway, I waited, expecting to see, at most, a 500 dollar bill. This thing is a monster, at 2 grand. I’m wondering if I should just ignore it and refuse to pay. They didn’t ask for my SS number, so I think that might keep them from coming after my credit. I’m hoping they might just write it off or something. I mean, all I got was 4 stitches, in a desolate waiting room, and a bandage=not worth 2 grand. Any advice?
*I don’t qualify for medicaid, or another free program, health plus, that I was directed to.
Thanks for all your advice. I’ll go over it with my friend, who’s an expert on almost everything, when he gets back from his vacation.
I get what you’re all saying, but the fact that I told them to give me an “approximate” price, and I was told, about five times, by different people, to just wait on a bill seems unfair. People should be told about basic, general costs, like that of just being seen in an ER or sutures. They don’t want to treat people who don’t want to pay their fees, so they should give them the option of committing to the exorbitant fees they charge or going elsewhere.On the phone, they told me that, just for walking in, it was 7-8 hundred dollars. If they had said that to me, I would have turned right around. This is basic info., and, in a city like NY, where there are other, cheaper options, it should be provided. As for a different, cheaper alternative, it was late at night, and I couldn’t see my regular family doctor. I’m going to just skip it.
I could have gone to city hospital: 50 bucks. I was willing to pay 500 for the convenience. But, this 2k bill is ridiculous. What I’m saying is that they could have at least said, “it’s 700-800, just to walk in,” which is what I was told by the billing department. If they work there, they know that. It’s a matter of apathy.
Best answer:
Answer by SL
Ignoring it won’t stop them from collecting against you.
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4 Responses to Uninsured: Hospital Billed Me for 2k for Minor ER Treatment. Any Suggestions?
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I’d call them, and offer to pay what you can afford. Explain that no-one told you what it would cost, and that you were told it would be about $ 400, but no-one gave you an official quote.
You could try and claim fraud in a lawsuit if you really wanted to push it that far, but without knowing anyones name it would likely not succeed.
You might be forced to pay it on instalments however. The accounting bean counters you you might be able to speak to would give you the full, and complete reason why the service you received was worth $ 2000.
Didn’t you get an itemized bill?
My advice is to pay it and get insurance as that would’ve obviously been the cheaper route to go.
A hospital can’t give you a price before you go in. They don’t know what you’re going to have done, who’s going to treat you and what kind of treatment you’re going to receive. The receptionist isn’t an MD or a billing specialist.
If it was just stitches you might have been able to go to an immediate care center instead. That may have been cheaper. All we can do it Monday morning quarterback at this point.
Bottom line is you owe them $ 2,000. Call them and ask for a cash discount and/or a payment plan. Then go buy some insurance.
Most hospitals have programs to help with situations like yours. Contact the business office and inquire about payment plans, charity care, etc. But do not wait long, you will have a far better chance of receiving help if you deal with it right away.
As for not being told what the cost would be upfront, the people in admitting had no way of knowing. Every bill is different depending on how extensive the procedures are and how many drugs are required, supplies, etc. In addition your chart had to go through medical records to have the procedures coded. In your case you were billed based on the complexity and size of your wound. There is no way an admitting clerk could give you an estimate.
Good Luck