Re: Regarding cost and procedure

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/27/2003 2:17:08 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

hevnbound1@... writes:

> I don't know. That's what I'm trying to find out. I have MEdicare

> (primary) and BC/BS and had Medicare also and said she didn't

> have any out-of-pocket except the $3,000. So I'm wondering if anyone

> else had to pay this hospital charge.

>

> Laurie

Hi Laurie,

I had Medicare (secondary, and only hospitalization part) and BC of CA as

primary. I paid Dr. K's fee ($2000 because I was not a revision) and a $300 pay

(my deductible) for the hospital. I didn't have any more hospital expenses --

the hospital billed me for an additional $700 but Medicare wrote and said

that my insurance had paid the amount required by Medicare, so I didn't owe that

money. Total costs for me were about $1000 (at which point our insurance

kicks in at 100% -- and that was including ALL my doctor's bills for the year)

out-of-pocket, $300 deductible and the $2000 program fee -- so my total was

$3300

out of pocket.

I don't know whether this helps because everyone's situation is a little

different. With Medicare as primary, your insurance STILL should pick up some

of

the cost -- no?

I hope it works out that it is all less than what you were quoted!

Hugs and blessings, Ann

[Guest guest]

On Wed, 27 Aug 2003 19:57:05 -0000, Laurie wrote:

>Anybody know of a really CHEAP option for

>staying a month? I figure if my mom, or other support person comes,

>that's almost a month there for them. Way too expensive to pay $100+

>a night for a hotel. :-(

Lauire,

Don't have the web site handy, but check in Bakersfield, CA for the Garden

Suites Motel. They are an all suites motel right next door to Valley Plaza

(Shopping Center) and just off Hwy99 at Ming Avenue. They're within the

prescribed driving distance for immediate post-ops and they charge

$49/night per suite for up to 4 people. They also have a free continental

breakfast every morning, in room microwaves and a small refer. These are

actually two room suites, but you share the bath.

I think that's about the cheapest you're going to find that has any sort of

quality. Otherwise it's the " No-Tell Motel " types,

Jerry

[Guest guest]

>

> why do you have to pay the money to the hosptial. i thought our ins

> covers that

>

I don't know. That's what I'm trying to find out. I have MEdicare

(primary) and BC/BS and had Medicare also and said she didn't

have any out-of-pocket except the $3,000. So I'm wondering if anyone

else had to pay this hospital charge.

Laurie

[Guest guest]

> >

> >

> > Dr. K's office (Ariana?) called me today to confirm that they

> > received my insurance info. They said my out-of-pocket will be

> > $3,000 to Dr. K and $2,500 to the hospital. Hmmmm, I have such

a

> > headache I didn't ask what that hospital fee was all about. She

> also

> > told me I will need to be there one week BEFORE my surgery and

>

*********************************************************************

> *

>

> why do you have to pay the money to the hosptial. i thought our

ins

> covers that

>

> vicki

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

some insurance has co-pay

Pat

[Guest guest]

> > >

> *****************************************************************

oooohhhhhhhhhhhhhh- its a co pay. ok- that i know i dont have. geez-

im broke enough.lol. relief for me. thank you, Pat.

VIcki

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/27/2003 3:51:05 PM Central Daylight Time,

plwboy2@... writes:

why do you have to pay the money to the hosptial. i thought our ins

covers that

vicki

Vicki,

Medicare has certain co pays, But with no other insurance, all I had was

a 812 dollar co pay.....I don't know if any others because they are still

paying bills....Slowly...So I don't know what and how much I will owe. All I had

to pay was the 812 up front.

Laurie, Don't you have another insurance that will pick up some of the

rest?

in Bama

My story- http://hometown.aol.com/mdl1031/myhomepage/profile.html

Pictures- http://f2.pg.photos./Melleedawn

Surgery- RNY to DS revision on12/6 -377.5

12/17 - 346.5 ( minus 31lbs)

02/12-330.0 (minus 47.5 lbs)

05/12- 304.8 (minus 72.7 lbs)-BMI now 48

06/22- 290.8 (minus 86.7)BMI 46.

08/11- 285.4 (minus 92.1)

[Guest guest]

>

Laurie, Don't you have another insurance that will pick up some of

the

> rest?

>

,

I was soooo out of it when she called me. I had a super bad headache

from a bleach spill and was doing laundry and I didn't even know what

to ask her cuz I didn't expect them to call me. In hindsight, I

remember her saying that was based on have BC/BS as my primary.

had not passed on the information to her that I had Medicare

for my primary and blue cross is secondary. So, I'm thinking she was

giving me the hospital fee as the blue cross out-of-pocket. I seem

to remember that $2,500 is the max out=of=pocket per year for my

policy...but only when it's PRIMARY. I will have to wait to hear

from her again when she gets the Medicare card from . I just

faxed it on Tuesday. I guess it takes a while for them to get the

faxes and do whatever with them.

Anyways, I hope it's not that much cuz there's no way I can think

about all that expense. With a month of hotel, two airfares, and

other expenses for me and a support person for a month that would

come to like $10,000 almost!!!

I hope that amount was wrong and I can come up with another option to

reduce living expenses, too. I know lots of people in California who

would host me, but they are all far from Delano. :-(

Hugs

Laurie

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/28/2003 12:57:34 AM Central Daylight Time,

hevnbound1@... writes:

I will have to wait to hear

from her again when she gets the Medicare card from . I just

faxed it on Tuesday. I guess it takes a while for them to get the

faxes and do whatever with them.

No Laurie, They know what Medicare will pay. And you don't need a precert for

medicare. If Bc/BS is secondary they pay automatically.(their portion)...Have

to according to law. My friend from Bc/BS of Al told me that much.

in Bama

My story- http://hometown.aol.com/mdl1031/myhomepage/profile.html

Pictures- http://f2.pg.photos./Melleedawn

Surgery- RNY to DS revision on12/6 -377.5

12/17 - 346.5 ( minus 31lbs)

02/12-330.0 (minus 47.5 lbs)

05/12- 304.8 (minus 72.7 lbs)-BMI now 48

06/22- 290.8 (minus 86.7)BMI 46.

08/11- 285.4 (minus 92.1)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/1/2003 1:05:14 AM Central Daylight Time,

hevnbound1@... writes:

I still have to,

well, you know...have a BM. That should take care of quite a bit of

weight as I've eaten 7 meals and 7 snacks and still NOTHING! It's

gotta come out sooner or later. lol Ok, ok, TMI. But that's ok.

LOL

Hugs,

Laurie

Laurie,

Walking will get things moving...That and plenty of fluids. Did they see

anything around your GI surgery or were they able to look?

in Bama

My story- http://hometown.aol.com/mdl1031/myhomepage/profile.html

Pictures- http://f2.pg.photos./Melleedawn

Surgery- RNY to DS revision on12/6 -377.5

12/17 - 346.5 ( minus 31lbs)

08/30- 281.1 (minus 96.1) BMI 44

[Guest guest]

No Laurie, They know what Medicare will pay. And you don't need a

precert for

> medicare. If Bc/BS is secondary they pay automatically.(their

portion)...Have

> to according to law.

Mel,

I remember you telling me this. But she did tell me when she called

that she would need a copy of my Medicare card and I have not heard

back from them yet. I was really hoping there would be something in

my mailbox today when I got online. But no such luck!

The scale is reading over 300 today due to the water gain from

surgery and IV's. It's depressing and scary to say the least. I

can't wait to shed that water weight. I was hoping to see a LOWER

number after having this surgery. Maybe soon. I still have to,

well, you know...have a BM. That should take care of quite a bit of

weight as I've eaten 7 meals and 7 snacks and still NOTHING! It's

gotta come out sooner or later. lol Ok, ok, TMI. But that's ok.

LOL

Hugs,

Laurie

[Guest guest]

Did they see

> anything around your GI surgery or were they able to look?

You know, I didn't specifically ask about the pouch. All I was told

is that he " felt " the stomach and it felt normal. I don't know if

that meant the old stomach, the new stomach, or both. I will have to

find that out later. He's been off this weekend, so I only saw him

briefly on Friday and I was pretty out of it still.

Laurie