Just wanted to add something to my earlier entry this morning. I already have some comments so I am doing this as a new post.
I did call the DR's office in Birmingham and got an appointment there for the 11th of this month so that is almost two weeks earlier than if I had waited to see him here.
I just want to ask a question to you all. It might be according to how much they scan and where it is when doing an MRI. I just looked at the bill which came several days ago where I had the full spinal scan on 8/27/o8. This place had charged Medicare $9,215.85 for that MRI. They paid their part and my supplement insurance paid for the rest of it. Plus the doc who read the MRI charged $465.00 to read it. He was allowed $224.30. That seems awfully high to me. I can see why medicare is going broke. I just wondered how much other places charged?
The hospital where I had my surgery only charged a little over $ 5000.00 for the use of their hospital, which included a two night stay. Plus the Doc had his charges as well as the person who put me to sleep had theirs. I was really surprised at how low they charged, that is if no more bills come from them later.
Helen
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Wow, that's a big charge to Medicare. What I have discovered is that bills to insurance companies are always higher than if you paid cash. I was without insurance and had knee surgery. The difference in price was amazing. The "insured" price was at least 5 times higher than what I paid.
ReplyDeleteNot sure why this is, but it does explain the huge problem we have with out health care system.
I sure hope you get some answers and all goes well.
Hugs to you my friend
deb
I don't have the answers for you but it does seems hight to me too. Hope you are not over charged for anything you have done. Keep close tabs on all of this...and if in doubt resubmit if you feel things are not right...we have had to do that. Hope you have a good evening...hugs and love,
ReplyDeleteJoyce
I really think medical costs are highly inflated and a total rip off. They charge these massive fees so they can get maybe what the procedure might almost be worth if insurance paid enough. Medicare pays less then a nickel to the dollar. Once the insurance companies got involved the prices went through the roof and everyone sits there with their hands out. I have a $4000 out of pocket now and pay almost $900 a month next month with my new insurance. So yes, to answer your question, the costs are extremely high, a total rip off and there isn't a thing you can do. Well there is one thing. I get a itemized bill every time. You will be amazed that the errors you will find and I have them dropped from my bill. I am dreading my surgery and wish I could just learn to live with the pain.
ReplyDeleteJulie
I cannot help really Helen because I am in another country but that amount seems excessively high, I am wondering if there has been an error. Worth checking.
ReplyDeleteThe prices are so high because of all the medical reps taking the doctors to expensive country clubs, lavish restaurants, constantly bringing buffet foods for the staff, advertising on TV.
ReplyDeleteIf they stopped doing all that, our medical costs would drastically go down.
I don't have insurance because it went as high as $1700. per month. I just can't afford that and not quite old enough for medicare just yet.
It is sad.
Hugs, Rose
Hi Helen, I have no idea about medical insurance as in England we don`t need it. It does seem very expensive though, are you sure it is correct?
ReplyDeleteLove Sandra xxxx
Hi Helen...that price is not high for this area..for any of it...I cannot have an MRI because of the cochlear implant for my ears..but my daughter had one...and they canceled her insurance afterward because of the cost..sheesh...the medical profession is going to price us all out of the system pretty soon...take care and God Bless...hugs..Ora
ReplyDeleteHelen, it does seem crazy high, but I don't believe it's unusual in this day and age. There are many tangled issues involved in medical costs, and it's a thorny problem. It will be interesting to see what changes, if any, can be made in the health care system, because the problems are myriad.
ReplyDeleteI hope you can hang in there until your appointment....
Hugs, Beth
the mri of my head was under 2000.00 but the one that the er dr at our small hometown hospital wanted to do, with dye, for my kidney stones was going to be 2400. they overcharge the government.
ReplyDeletelove ya,
carlene
I hope those who are charging outrageous prices for everything they do realize that if they break the system, they will suffer as well as everybody else. A woman here who was okayed for a stomach reduction surgery by a surgeon who said she was a good candidate, after a year in the hospital her bills were getting close to a million, and then she died. We can't afford stuff like this forever. It is like the mortgage business, people are taking advantage of it, those with some larceny in their hearts but I feel so bad that you and your kids too are suffering so with your backs. I just don't know what to think of such a downward turn of events with your surgery I am so glad you have got a good man to help you, but it must be so hard on all of you.
ReplyDeleteI never imagined an MRI cost so much...wow. Maria
ReplyDeleteI'm not surprised... but at the same time I will never understand it. I wish I could be of some help but I don't understand medical prices or insurance at all...
ReplyDeleteI remember my doctor convincining me a long time ago to get insurance. he said there was an equation the medical field works out that, if you didn't have the insurance, would bankrupt you. It's high, but without insurance it would be impossible. I hate the system and i hope our new president can get something started towards fixing it.
ReplyDeleteHelen reading this makes me realise how lucky we are here in the UK to have our National Health Service ..love Jan xx
ReplyDeleteI feel the same aobut he bills. Most folks don't even look at them. BUT WE are paying them. I think everyone should make a living, but I agree the costs seem to be out of line.
ReplyDeleteJack
i've had a couple of mri's this year and had to pay less than 200 each time...but i have no idea what our insurance paid. medical care is so costly...and it does seem unreasonably high! glad you got an appointment to see the doc earlier. will be praying for you.
ReplyDeleteI just had My Honey in for another MRI for her degenerative spine condition. Now we are off to see a nuro-surgeon which is about an hours drive, the hour drive is not bad for me but bothers my honey as riding is hard on the back.
ReplyDeleteTake Care;
Woody
Medical charges are absolutely ridiculous! I know when I had my surgery last year my medical bills were over 100,000. All I can say is thank God we have medical coverage!
ReplyDeleteNo wonder insurance companies go bust with charges like that! People complain about the health service in Englad but we do get it all free apart from paying our National Insurance each week in our wages and a small fee for prescriptions. Each item on prescription costs around $15. I'd be frightened of living in the US and becoming ill. Jeannette xx
ReplyDeleteI think I am losing it. Maybe I need the vitamins for my memory.
ReplyDeleteIn reference to the Centrum Cardio vitamins. Sherry says it is not the same as you mentioned. They have not came out with the generic yet. I think the main thing is the HEAVY dose of B12. This has 3333% more than the daily requirement. A friend just told me yesterday he doctor reccommended the heavy dosage of B12 and it is not even in teh B complex.
Jack
Wow, that seems awfully high for an MRI. My son just had one done in August. It was of the spine and was around $2,700. Blue Cross only allowed around $800 for it. But then again, I just had a stress test done for my heart, and it was $2,300. My out of pocket was $169 not including the darned $300 and some a month I pay for the insurance. I'm very lucky. The local hospital keeps a running tab. I pay $20 a month right now.
ReplyDeleteHello Miss Helen,
ReplyDeleteThat price does seem extremely high. I really don't know how much a mri cost. Health care cost if just high for anything. Really good to her from you. So glad you you came across my journal.
God Bless
Randy
Well Helen, once you understand that illness is a business, it'll all make sense and the answer won't matter because the question is irrelevant. It's a business. Very unfortunate, but someday it'll all collapse under its own incredible weight - we won't see it in our lifetimes, so we have to keep paying and getting sicker. Gloomy stuff if you keep looking at it that way - but look at life as the reward.
ReplyDeleteHi Helen! Thanks for stopping by my blog. It's been so long, hasn't it? I'm glad you migrated here and will be keeping in touch now.
ReplyDeleteAs for the medical bills, I think all hospital bills are overpriced. Last July we almost lost my youngest and for 3 days of medical care including the ER visit, being put on a venilator and being airlifted to another hospital and being in ICU, my insurance was charged a total of almost $64,000. It's not just a Medicare issue. Thankfully, my insurance paid it all. But still, that's an exorbitant amount of money to charge!!
I meant for that to say, "I will be keeping in touch now". It's not up to just you! lol
ReplyDeleteI haven't had an MRI in a while but our little hospital sure charges a lot for everything. It is so long before I get the notice I forget what the statement is for and if I had the test or not. Hope you are doing better now.
ReplyDelete