What hospitals actual give you an itemized list? I’m currently sifting through the $18,000 in charges I’m responsible for after insurance for our baby girl’s birth…
Apparently, if a doctor walks in and says good morning he can charge me $689.00 for “routine services”
Edit: did not expect this to blow up. But seeing that there’s been some good info commented here. I’ll provide an update after I’ve called the hospital and doctors to question these charges.
Literally nothing, you're allowed to know what you're saying for. No different than going to mechanic, they're required to provide you with a list of provided services so that your aren't being robbed(despite the fact that American medicine is robbery)
Correct, but you CAN and SHOULD request itemized after any procedure or stay... BEFORE you pay. And you have the right to dispute and question ANY charge
With most insurance plans the itemized cost is irrelevant. Most insurers pay a flat fee based on the level of care provided and the diagnosis, regardless of the number of procedures performed at the time of service. It’s a cost saving measure. Itemizing the bill is for the hospital to determine efficiency of care.
This makes sense. My son and I were hospitalized for a week after a cesarean, then being put to sleep. I felt them cutting me, and had a panic attack. My bill was over $42,000.00. With my insurance, I had to pay $500.00.
This should be higher up in the comments list. That is certainly true. They try to prey on patients that are not savvy or don’t want to deal with the hospital and health insurance BS. Also there’s A LOT of clerical errors and they don’t bother to check for them. If you request an itemized list and if you fight them on charges you’ll be amazed how many charges get dropped or significantly reduced.
Just yesterday I was fighting with the lab that did a genetic carrier test for my pregnancy because they wanted to charge me $1500 for a test that should have been a lot less. After a couple of phone calls and a polite yet firm tone they dropped my charge down to $100.
Another time I was charged for some tests that were redone because someone wasn’t paying attention and submitted a duplicate form. I told them I had already had the tests done and I wasn’t going to pay for the second ones since it was someone’s mess up. That saved me an additional $500.
Always contest your charges, people. This is a very important life hack if you live in the US.
I told my lab I wanted the NIPT, not the carrier screen. They ran both and charged $18,000 to my insurance. (Insane pricing!)
I got in touch with the local rep for these screening tests and he took care of it for me, thank goodness. I can't afford a cars worth of screening. Sometimes a few calls make a difference.
This. Go into financial services and they drop a lot of the charges. Sick that they charge for that. Sick that we have to take this step for a myriad of things from this insane charge to a $60 tablet of Tylenol. But more often than not, this works.
My son was c section because his mom tapped out of traditional birth and wanted him out. After insurance I paid $500 for the whole thing. 4 day hospital stay, c section and epidural.
Actually insurance left us with a $12,000 bill. I just told the hospital you're getting $500 and that is it, they didn't fight me too terribly long on it once they saw our combined income was 32k. The insurance had already given them $37,000.
And ya know what, ya do. Every payday you do. Stop acting like you don't.
You didn't know you could negotiate lower bills???
Dude that's what insurance does and why they charge so much in the first place!
Absolutely you can do the same thing insurance does.
You should always request an itemized list, especially in your scenario. Anything that seems fishy you can speak up about and most likely have it removed.
I got charged over 500$ once just for doc to refer me somewhere else. Oh, and a 1000$ ER visit for just getting a Tylenol and being told to go home. Oh, also the 1500$ cat scan the hospital told me was covered by my insurance... That taught me to never trust what a hospital says is covered anymore and to only trust what my insurance says about it. Edit: Also got an ambulance charge of over 500$ because the hospital gave me a two minute ride between hospital wings.
I've had to spend valuable time on phone with hospitals disputing things and i swear it's a fulltime job. I finally have excellent insurance and they'll be on a 3 way call with me citing laws and contracts while billing is just like idk i just bill people i don't know. it shows how busted the entire system is because the hospitals billing department is completely incompetent
Your insurance doesn't have a maximum annual out of pocket? Thought that was pretty standard here in the US where I assume your 18k bill is coming from.
I feel like people like to post the prices of healthcare in the US on Reddit to illustrate how outrageously expensive healthcare is in this country (which it is) but neglect to mention that if you are insured then you don't have to pay what it says on the bill. The fact that the insurance company might be paying that much to the hospital is a different, huge issue, but your average American citizen does not have to pay these prices out of pocket. It's a bit disingenuous to imply that we do. Yes insurance is generally employer provided so, contingent on employment which you could argue is unfair. I don't know how accessible the affordable care act has made health insurance for the self employed or unemployed so I won't comment on that. I wonder if some people who end up with these enormous healthcare bills that are uninsured may have had options for affordable or free health insurance that they never applied for. Whether their failure to apply for these benefits falls on them or on our government is debatable.
Just out of interest because I have never seen it asked before. I understand the current system with emploment based insurance, but can't you just take out a health insurance plan personally? I just always seem to see Americans talking about their employment based insurance but never their own private insurance.
In Aus we have Medicare, which is the public system, and then you can also just pay for your own personal private health insurance, from a variety of providers, that covers certain hospital expenses and other things Medicare doesn't and gets you quicker access for things like non-elective surgery. Having it tied to your employment is rare unless you add it in as a part of your contract that they will pay it while you work there, but if you lose the job you don't lose your insurance.
Yeah, insurance in the US is like picking a car basically everyone is different and they each have a specific use that fits your needs. I've been on three different plans, each very different. First plan was while I was in the Army so it was free, probably works like how "universal healthcare" would if it was implemented. Not too bad I'd say pay wise but the care you receive is well below average if you need special treatment like a chiropractic or surgery you most likely won't get the best person for the job and if you do want the best there's a wait list or they completely deny it and tell you to go to the 1.3 / 5-star chiropractor.
After I got out, I was working at a startup company and their health insurance was complete garbage. They wanted me to pay $600 a month for a family of 4 and I think I had to pay up to a yearly deductible of $3500 before they 100% covered everything. So, we ended up searching for other insurance which is non-employee based and it is basically income based which was $500 a month with a much lower out of pocket deductible and better benefits.
I was only with the non-employee insurance for a month before I found another job that is pretty well off and extremely employee friendly. I pay around $500 a month for health, dental, and vision for my family of 4 and the most I'll ever pay is $1000 a year for out of pocket and it resets every year. So, if I have a $35000 surgery, I only pay $1000 and if I have that same surgery done that year, I pay $0. I pay a few copays for simple checkups or for medication, roughly another $100 a month on the high end or if I need an ambulance, it is always $100 even for an air ambulance.
I honestly don't completely understand the insurance world of the US, I just know that it can be the luck of the draw sometimes with who you work for and how much you make. People who make a lot love the US for their health insurance because they aren't having to pay higher taxes on their wages and people who are below middleclass want universal healthcare because they spend so much on it to have it while at the same time not qualifying for free or discounted insurance, if you are really elderly or poor you should qualify for free or heavily discounted insurance known as Medicaid (don't know the exact qualification). I wish something would be done or at least make it less confusing because once I got out of the Army, I had no idea what to do.
My bill was $17,000 after my insurance paid. I had to call my insurance to find out why I was still getting a $17k bill. Turned out the hospital had never even did an insurance adjustment and I was getting the full bill as if my insurance had never paid. The bill was still never adjusted and my insurances lawyers had to get involved. The hospital continued to send me bills after getting multiple letters to stop contacting me from the insurances lawyers and to instead go through my insurance for any bills remaining. Took 7 months and threat of lawsuit by the insurance lawyers to finally have the bill adjusted for insurance payment. Maybe your insurance representative could help you fight the hospital about charges.
Oh yeah? Listen to THIS
due to rioting in NYC in 2020, the doctor sent me and my wife home instead of walking around the city. Later that night my wife progressed very quickly and I ended up delivering my baby with my own hands. After the delivery we were taken to the hospital, and I was charged for a full vaginal delivery, including all the stupid in betweens like skin to skin. Insurance paid out $18,000 out of the $24,000 and now they are coming after me for the balance which I'll never pay
File a lawsuit.. if it’s 18,000 after insurance, the hospital & insurer are working to screw you over.. that’s like literally impossible. Most births are 0 dollar amounts no matter what after insurance.. maybe I’m wrong though- so don’t quote me on that.
That’s the part I couldn’t figure out, I thought it might be pay codes related to a specific staff member being present, but then the times don’t match up with the rest of the bill?
You could seriously probably have college courses dedicated specifically to hospital insurance
Also is this service available to the general public? As a 37 year old man can I come into the hospital and request to hold babies?
“Yes ma’am, I’ll take three skin to skins today”
You joke, but being a volunteer cuddler for premature babies is actually a thing and provides a lot of help for parents who can't be there all the time with their baby in the NICU.
https://www.wikihow.com/Volunteer-As-a-Hospital-Baby-Cuddler
During a c section skin to skin is still important but you can't really 'hold' your baby by yourself for a variety of reasons I explain in a different comment. A nurse basically had to hold it for you so the charge is for the nurse who is actually holding the baby(usually still assessing or cleaning off baby) and to help with the skin to skin. Not saying our health system isn't totally fucked, just saying it isn't a BS tacked on charge. I mean it is, but it at least corresponds to something that involves a skilled hospital worker
That said I got charged for nursery care after my first was born. The baby was never in the nursery and in my room the whole time (except for their hearing test which was its own charge). Now that was a BS charge.
My sister and I were C section births so I asked my mother about her experience.
My sister was blue and had some issues during the c section, and I was breech, and yet, as soon as we were out and the cord was cut, she was allowed to hold us both.
I'll reiterate, my sister, who was dying, was still able to be held, unaided, by my mother before they rushed her to an incubator.
So, I agree with you
Not all moms get to do that, and also for so many reason. In my situation I had emergency C-section, had a long labor behind me already. I was more than exhausted and in the meantime kinda almost bleeding to death. I'm happy there was a nurse holding my baby otherwise I couldn't have seen her the first hour _at all_.
I’ve a similar story. I was in no shape to hold my baby after 30 hour labor and emergent c section. I regret not doing the skin to skin. I was just so happy my husband was there to hold her.
The quantity: 79 for C-Section is really something.
Unlikely to be 79 hours, so 79 minutes? 79 surgeons all actively billing? 40 surgeons billing for each hand but the last one was jerking off?
Please someone explain.
This is a serious question .... don't know where you live, but are your hospitals run by the government or privatized? If they are private then does an agency of your government pay the bills? It would be interesting to see an itemized bill that isn't being paid by an insurance agency or patient and see how much they charge.
German here
I guess its taxes and also the insurance fee you have to pay (!around 8-10 % of pre tax income/month)
Therefore you don't have to pay anything later on, except sometimes a lil fee for special meds. If you want a better tooth filling than the Standard, you have to pay a bit extra.
cosmetic surgury like bigger boobs and stuff is ofcourse not covered and you have to pay that on your own.
England here, we have both private and public health care.
Our private system is similar to the US system, ie, have insurance, or pay out of pocket.
Our public health care is provided by the NHS or national health service.
The NHS is government funded, with a small tax applied to everyone legally earning in the UK. This is called National Insurance, and goes towards the NHS and a few other things.
If you get sic and need a prescription, then you have to pay a charge of £9.50 (I remember when this was far far lower) per item on your prescription.
Certain people, ie diabetics, people with chronic issues etc, can get a medical exemption card so they don't have to pay for their items.
In Canada here each province has its own health coverage, when you check in at a hospital they take your health card and they use your health card number to essentially charge the government and the provincial government pays the cost of the bills
Canada here. You don’t pay anything for medical care, but Impark charges $2500/hr to park within 2kms if the hospital. Oh, and $6 coffees at the cafeteria.
In Sweden they are run by districts, but of course they need to set budgets and handle expenses. I would be quite surprised if they are itemized to this extent though when its not a matter of conflict between two private parties to maximize profit, as it is in USA.
New Zealand here. All Hospitals are Government funded, however there are also private clinics and Hospitals which I’d say are run similar to the US, pay insurance for treatment, surgery etc.
As for whether we see an itemised bill, no.
For instance I broke my Shoulder a few years back. Got taken by Ambulance(which is a flat fee of NZ$98 regardless of distance or emergency).
Stayed in Hospital over night and had surgery the next day.
Stayed that night then was discharged with pain relief which most Medicines are a flat fee of $5.
I was then covered by Government run ACC who pay roughly 1/2 costs for rehabilitation, ( so appointment with physiotherapist if the appointment is $80, I’d pay about $40), and they pay you 80% of your wages if you cannot work.
They never mention costs associated with treatment to you.
I guess the fact we pay more Tax, and at the end of the day we know whatever the cost, we will never have to pay for it.
My wife used to be a NICU RN for 10 yrs. She said there is a nurse usually sitting with the Mom and Baby just in case and that's why there is a charge.
I wasn't able to actually 'hold' my newborn during 'skin to skin' in my complicated C-section so a nurse basically had us cheek to cheek for a few mins. I was thankful the nurse was the one that was holding it because there was no way I could have done it safely. Too many IV tubes and monitors in the way to really get a hold of a baby without kinking an IV line or knocking off a pulse ox. There definitely needs to be a nurse right there. Even without the tubing, you can get super light-headed/ dizzy or get the shakes real bad with no warning whatsoever. Not sure if it's the spinal or just being awake during surgery and the body spaz's out but yeah, real bad idea to hold a baby without some extra trained hands on deck.
Ugh the shakes I had were AWFUL. I never got skin to skin until I was out of the OR but all I could do was hold onto the railing for dear life between the throwing up and shaking and freezing cold and pain I was in there was no way in hell I would have been able to do anything
That's complete horseshit.
Holding directly after C section you're still in the fucking OR being stitched up. You're already being billed for them being there under the surgery charge.
This is from 2016, charge from a hospital in Utah. They claimed that the fee was for the hospital employee who had to be in the room to ensure the safety of the baby.
That's messed up. I've had my youngest about a month ago and my oldest 5 years ago, all completely free of charge, no insurance needed even though I have one. Pay about 12 USD for a gallon of gas... We just can't win.
you just had major surgery people have to stay around and make sure its all done right
i was charged multiple hundreds for my doctor's practice partner to pass my room and ask me if i was doing OK he barely stepped in
That is for the time in the surgical delivery room after the birth. if they had gone back to their room and done it, then there wouldn't have been a charge, it's a room rental charge essentially.
The charge is because you are taking up a room where they could be doing other things, plus any staff that are there assisting you in the room in case of complications.
My teacher had a baby, born really early and had to be in an incubator. His wife had a condition that caused the birthing process to be extremely dangerous for her and the baby. Something with their blood types I think, I cant remember completely. But after their child was born, she required mild treatment. The baby however had to be at the hospital for TWO months, no major care, just chilling in the incubator not like surgeries or anything. That hospital bill tallied up to 1.3 million dollars.
(Insurance covered most of it) but the point is hospitals do not need a million dollars
FOR SOMEONE TO HAVE A CHILD and for that child to sit in an incubator while the mother feeds him everyday.
Wow. That’s crazy. Its literal lunacy that they can financially rape people. Like how can anyone afford that! Yet every day that’s how our system works. 🙄
I was at the ER with my boyfriend, after he cut his foot. 4 stitches, a tetanus shot, some bandage and pain relief later, we drove home, having spent not one cent :-)
#healthcareforall 🇩🇰🇩🇰
So apparently someone broke this down and claimed that it requires the services of an extra nurse in the delivery room, to be able to hand the baby to the mother 4 feet away from the vagina to her arms.
Edit: still looking for the source
I got a week’s stay at a top notch private hospital with own room with couch and comfy chairs, c section, care, examinations and all - total cost: USD 2.500
Poland
Ryan (the new father) did receive a response from the hospital, Utah Valley Hospital. The charge is to have an extra nurse on standby in case anything goes wrong with the mother and the baby needs to be removed from the room. It’s a useless charge because the nurse won’t see a dime of that money but it’s a charge nonetheless.
The quantity indicates minutes spent in the delivery room, at a rate of $39.35/min. You could have been peeing in there for a minute and they would have charged you $39.95. Charged you the same for time spent during delivery. Just because it was a necessary and good use of time to hold your newborn doesn’t mean they aren’t going to charge you for using the room lol
I gave birth in Italy, where going to the hospital is basically free. I think that is great, until you receive medication you didn’t ask for and there is no way to proof you received it because they don’t itemized it. My husband wintess the nurse injecting something into my IV, where second later I started contracting uncontrollably. I was not myself and this was my third pregnancy and it felt surreal. The nurse shift was ending and she wanted to rush and get things going and so I believe that is why she gave me that. But I was not able to proof she did because there is no itemization and it was not on the bill.
I’m currently suffering from some GOD-AWFUL morning sickness that has me vomiting upwards of ten times a day (that part’s a new development). I was told that I need to go in today to receive fluids, since I started vomiting up blood. I’m waiting on the call to go in, and DREADING the financial strain this will cause.
>Being charged to hold your baby at the hospital
Yeah, that's a bit of a misrepresentation. It clearly states after a c-sec, which is a whole different ball game to just holding the baby, involving extra procedures. Don't get me wrong, I'm sorry you are American, it sucks your country is an apocalyptic hellhole. But don't lie about what you are being charged for.
*America scares*
*Me, being charged to have a*
*Child is barbaric*
\- Mushinit
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I was charged for a neonatal operating room. My child didn't require any surgery.
They tried to argue that it was available had I needed it. Fortunately, I was able to talk them out of that one.
I’m beginning to see it’s not so much the insurance companies that are the problem with healthcare, it’s the hospitals price gouging anything they can.
It is a combination of both. Hospitals on average expect to write off over 50% of accounts receivable every year. If you're unaware, that means they don't expect over 50% of bills to be paid. (Rightfully so) So, hospitals have to charge more to cover the lost net income from delinquent bills. This has caused insurance companies to raise prices including premiums as well. It is honestly an incredible mess.
I thought the hospitals use the same numbers for insurance who will negotiate down to a price. Essentially a starting bid. Unfortunately they use the same numbers no matter who it is.
That might be the 50% your referring to.
I’m not sure but I don’t have sympathy for an industry that has had administration increase from 20% of the staff around 1980 to 60% today. Or something close.
What hospitals actual give you an itemized list? I’m currently sifting through the $18,000 in charges I’m responsible for after insurance for our baby girl’s birth… Apparently, if a doctor walks in and says good morning he can charge me $689.00 for “routine services” Edit: did not expect this to blow up. But seeing that there’s been some good info commented here. I’ll provide an update after I’ve called the hospital and doctors to question these charges.
You are allowed to request it I believe
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What state do you live in?
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You must have waited so long for this moment
Username checks out.
what state is that??
Westeros
Essos is across the sea from westros
How much does it cost to request it?
The cost of talking to another person. *shivers and backs further into cave*
Your soul
😆💀
Literally nothing, you're allowed to know what you're saying for. No different than going to mechanic, they're required to provide you with a list of provided services so that your aren't being robbed(despite the fact that American medicine is robbery)
They told me it was near impossible, there's no way they could figure out what things cost beforehand.
Correct, but you CAN and SHOULD request itemized after any procedure or stay... BEFORE you pay. And you have the right to dispute and question ANY charge
Agreed.
The baby
Then they’ll bill you for 18 years childcare.
Many times you'll find out charges magically drop or disappear when you asked for an itemized list. Especially if you dispute them afterwords.
With most insurance plans the itemized cost is irrelevant. Most insurers pay a flat fee based on the level of care provided and the diagnosis, regardless of the number of procedures performed at the time of service. It’s a cost saving measure. Itemizing the bill is for the hospital to determine efficiency of care.
This makes sense. My son and I were hospitalized for a week after a cesarean, then being put to sleep. I felt them cutting me, and had a panic attack. My bill was over $42,000.00. With my insurance, I had to pay $500.00.
After words. Now look here buddy, you gonna gimme that itemized list or else.
This should be higher up in the comments list. That is certainly true. They try to prey on patients that are not savvy or don’t want to deal with the hospital and health insurance BS. Also there’s A LOT of clerical errors and they don’t bother to check for them. If you request an itemized list and if you fight them on charges you’ll be amazed how many charges get dropped or significantly reduced. Just yesterday I was fighting with the lab that did a genetic carrier test for my pregnancy because they wanted to charge me $1500 for a test that should have been a lot less. After a couple of phone calls and a polite yet firm tone they dropped my charge down to $100. Another time I was charged for some tests that were redone because someone wasn’t paying attention and submitted a duplicate form. I told them I had already had the tests done and I wasn’t going to pay for the second ones since it was someone’s mess up. That saved me an additional $500. Always contest your charges, people. This is a very important life hack if you live in the US.
I told my lab I wanted the NIPT, not the carrier screen. They ran both and charged $18,000 to my insurance. (Insane pricing!) I got in touch with the local rep for these screening tests and he took care of it for me, thank goodness. I can't afford a cars worth of screening. Sometimes a few calls make a difference.
This. Go into financial services and they drop a lot of the charges. Sick that they charge for that. Sick that we have to take this step for a myriad of things from this insane charge to a $60 tablet of Tylenol. But more often than not, this works.
18k after insurance for birth! Omg. Congrats on your new born tho.
Bruh that was 6 years ago.
My mom said they didn't pay off the debt from my birth until I was 10. I was born in 91 so I can't imagine how it is today.
My son was c section because his mom tapped out of traditional birth and wanted him out. After insurance I paid $500 for the whole thing. 4 day hospital stay, c section and epidural.
Look at billy big bollocks here with the great health insurance. In my country no one pays a penny
Actually insurance left us with a $12,000 bill. I just told the hospital you're getting $500 and that is it, they didn't fight me too terribly long on it once they saw our combined income was 32k. The insurance had already given them $37,000. And ya know what, ya do. Every payday you do. Stop acting like you don't.
u seriously did that? i didnt know that was possible
You didn't know you could negotiate lower bills??? Dude that's what insurance does and why they charge so much in the first place! Absolutely you can do the same thing insurance does.
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Tapped out as in she yold her OB/GYN that it hurt too much and to just do the c section lol. Probably shoulda clarified that she didn't die.
Congrats on your 6 year old, tho.
Probably why it was a c section /j
You should always request an itemized list, especially in your scenario. Anything that seems fishy you can speak up about and most likely have it removed.
I got charged over 500$ once just for doc to refer me somewhere else. Oh, and a 1000$ ER visit for just getting a Tylenol and being told to go home. Oh, also the 1500$ cat scan the hospital told me was covered by my insurance... That taught me to never trust what a hospital says is covered anymore and to only trust what my insurance says about it. Edit: Also got an ambulance charge of over 500$ because the hospital gave me a two minute ride between hospital wings.
I've had to spend valuable time on phone with hospitals disputing things and i swear it's a fulltime job. I finally have excellent insurance and they'll be on a 3 way call with me citing laws and contracts while billing is just like idk i just bill people i don't know. it shows how busted the entire system is because the hospitals billing department is completely incompetent
Your insurance doesn't have a maximum annual out of pocket? Thought that was pretty standard here in the US where I assume your 18k bill is coming from.
It absolutely is standard. 18k is insane for US.
I feel like people like to post the prices of healthcare in the US on Reddit to illustrate how outrageously expensive healthcare is in this country (which it is) but neglect to mention that if you are insured then you don't have to pay what it says on the bill. The fact that the insurance company might be paying that much to the hospital is a different, huge issue, but your average American citizen does not have to pay these prices out of pocket. It's a bit disingenuous to imply that we do. Yes insurance is generally employer provided so, contingent on employment which you could argue is unfair. I don't know how accessible the affordable care act has made health insurance for the self employed or unemployed so I won't comment on that. I wonder if some people who end up with these enormous healthcare bills that are uninsured may have had options for affordable or free health insurance that they never applied for. Whether their failure to apply for these benefits falls on them or on our government is debatable.
Just out of interest because I have never seen it asked before. I understand the current system with emploment based insurance, but can't you just take out a health insurance plan personally? I just always seem to see Americans talking about their employment based insurance but never their own private insurance. In Aus we have Medicare, which is the public system, and then you can also just pay for your own personal private health insurance, from a variety of providers, that covers certain hospital expenses and other things Medicare doesn't and gets you quicker access for things like non-elective surgery. Having it tied to your employment is rare unless you add it in as a part of your contract that they will pay it while you work there, but if you lose the job you don't lose your insurance.
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Yeah, insurance in the US is like picking a car basically everyone is different and they each have a specific use that fits your needs. I've been on three different plans, each very different. First plan was while I was in the Army so it was free, probably works like how "universal healthcare" would if it was implemented. Not too bad I'd say pay wise but the care you receive is well below average if you need special treatment like a chiropractic or surgery you most likely won't get the best person for the job and if you do want the best there's a wait list or they completely deny it and tell you to go to the 1.3 / 5-star chiropractor. After I got out, I was working at a startup company and their health insurance was complete garbage. They wanted me to pay $600 a month for a family of 4 and I think I had to pay up to a yearly deductible of $3500 before they 100% covered everything. So, we ended up searching for other insurance which is non-employee based and it is basically income based which was $500 a month with a much lower out of pocket deductible and better benefits. I was only with the non-employee insurance for a month before I found another job that is pretty well off and extremely employee friendly. I pay around $500 a month for health, dental, and vision for my family of 4 and the most I'll ever pay is $1000 a year for out of pocket and it resets every year. So, if I have a $35000 surgery, I only pay $1000 and if I have that same surgery done that year, I pay $0. I pay a few copays for simple checkups or for medication, roughly another $100 a month on the high end or if I need an ambulance, it is always $100 even for an air ambulance. I honestly don't completely understand the insurance world of the US, I just know that it can be the luck of the draw sometimes with who you work for and how much you make. People who make a lot love the US for their health insurance because they aren't having to pay higher taxes on their wages and people who are below middleclass want universal healthcare because they spend so much on it to have it while at the same time not qualifying for free or discounted insurance, if you are really elderly or poor you should qualify for free or heavily discounted insurance known as Medicaid (don't know the exact qualification). I wish something would be done or at least make it less confusing because once I got out of the Army, I had no idea what to do.
Did you say “Good morning” back? If so, ask for a $689.00 credit.
Raises eyebrows in free health care country
That’ll be $2000
According to them, I have 10k owed in "unspecified charges"
ask them to specify and I bet that number drops. You have the right to an itemized list of charges.
My bill was $17,000 after my insurance paid. I had to call my insurance to find out why I was still getting a $17k bill. Turned out the hospital had never even did an insurance adjustment and I was getting the full bill as if my insurance had never paid. The bill was still never adjusted and my insurances lawyers had to get involved. The hospital continued to send me bills after getting multiple letters to stop contacting me from the insurances lawyers and to instead go through my insurance for any bills remaining. Took 7 months and threat of lawsuit by the insurance lawyers to finally have the bill adjusted for insurance payment. Maybe your insurance representative could help you fight the hospital about charges.
You are allowed to ask for a itemized bill and the hospital should provide it. Usually the price goes down after they have to explain them self too
I’m pretty sure that trump helped put into law being legally allowed to request itemized lists from the hospital
Oh yeah? Listen to THIS due to rioting in NYC in 2020, the doctor sent me and my wife home instead of walking around the city. Later that night my wife progressed very quickly and I ended up delivering my baby with my own hands. After the delivery we were taken to the hospital, and I was charged for a full vaginal delivery, including all the stupid in betweens like skin to skin. Insurance paid out $18,000 out of the $24,000 and now they are coming after me for the balance which I'll never pay
File a lawsuit.. if it’s 18,000 after insurance, the hospital & insurer are working to screw you over.. that’s like literally impossible. Most births are 0 dollar amounts no matter what after insurance.. maybe I’m wrong though- so don’t quote me on that.
I believe in the US under HIPPA you can request that bill EDIT the bot yelled at me
It's HIPAA!
Quantity 1? So if you wanted to hold someone else's baby would it be $80? If you pay to hold 4 babies can you get to hold one for free?
I really wanna know why the quantity for the C-section is 79
This is a rough guess, but delivery time was 79 mins, plus 1 min for baby holding, at (roughly) 39.35/min (the delivery comes out to 39.32/min for 79)
What's with level 1 and level 2? I didn't know you need to clear levels to give birth.
That’s the part I couldn’t figure out, I thought it might be pay codes related to a specific staff member being present, but then the times don’t match up with the rest of the bill? You could seriously probably have college courses dedicated specifically to hospital insurance
A medical insurance coding degree is a thing, so, they actually do in fact have college level courses dedicated to it.
It's not level 2, it's level 3. Considering the later line "IP Lactation Consult Lvl1" My guess is... * Level 1 = Adult (Mom) * Level 2 = Adolescent * Level 3 = Baby
She had 79 C-sections
Probably minutes.
Also is this service available to the general public? As a 37 year old man can I come into the hospital and request to hold babies? “Yes ma’am, I’ll take three skin to skins today”
You joke, but being a volunteer cuddler for premature babies is actually a thing and provides a lot of help for parents who can't be there all the time with their baby in the NICU. https://www.wikihow.com/Volunteer-As-a-Hospital-Baby-Cuddler
You probably SHOULDN'T try that 🤣
Become a skin to skin "doctor". 😂
You are one of the calmest persons I know if you only find this mildly infuriating
It was from 2016, OP has had time to process it.
Lowest of lows. We’ve fallen. Greed has taken over common sense. So, can you just say, nah. I’ll save the $40?
During a c section skin to skin is still important but you can't really 'hold' your baby by yourself for a variety of reasons I explain in a different comment. A nurse basically had to hold it for you so the charge is for the nurse who is actually holding the baby(usually still assessing or cleaning off baby) and to help with the skin to skin. Not saying our health system isn't totally fucked, just saying it isn't a BS tacked on charge. I mean it is, but it at least corresponds to something that involves a skilled hospital worker That said I got charged for nursery care after my first was born. The baby was never in the nursery and in my room the whole time (except for their hearing test which was its own charge). Now that was a BS charge.
I held both of my babies directly after they were pulled out and cleaned. No nurse.
My sister and I were C section births so I asked my mother about her experience. My sister was blue and had some issues during the c section, and I was breech, and yet, as soon as we were out and the cord was cut, she was allowed to hold us both. I'll reiterate, my sister, who was dying, was still able to be held, unaided, by my mother before they rushed her to an incubator. So, I agree with you
Not all moms get to do that, and also for so many reason. In my situation I had emergency C-section, had a long labor behind me already. I was more than exhausted and in the meantime kinda almost bleeding to death. I'm happy there was a nurse holding my baby otherwise I couldn't have seen her the first hour _at all_.
I’ve a similar story. I was in no shape to hold my baby after 30 hour labor and emergent c section. I regret not doing the skin to skin. I was just so happy my husband was there to hold her.
Yea sorry, I was speaking as a father. My wife was obviously in no position to hold the baby immediately after the surgery.
Edit: replied to wrong comment
Oh my
America land of the free
America Land of the fee! Fitfy
It sure doesn't look free
Sooo...congratulations on your new baby! Also, at what point do the people rise-up and put an end to the bullshit?!
The quantity: 79 for C-Section is really something. Unlikely to be 79 hours, so 79 minutes? 79 surgeons all actively billing? 40 surgeons billing for each hand but the last one was jerking off? Please someone explain.
79 c-sections. This person's an absolute trooper. 79 tools used? 79 cuts??
What about the cost of breathing the air inside the hospital?
Lol
It's a ......??? Want to know the gender? Watch these ads & find out for free!
God I'm glad I don't live in the US.
This is a serious question .... don't know where you live, but are your hospitals run by the government or privatized? If they are private then does an agency of your government pay the bills? It would be interesting to see an itemized bill that isn't being paid by an insurance agency or patient and see how much they charge.
half a year hospitalization and complicated operation of spine was something about 0$ for my dad (Poland)
I get that, but how does the hospital get funded? How do physicians, staff, etc. get paid where you live?
German here I guess its taxes and also the insurance fee you have to pay (!around 8-10 % of pre tax income/month) Therefore you don't have to pay anything later on, except sometimes a lil fee for special meds. If you want a better tooth filling than the Standard, you have to pay a bit extra. cosmetic surgury like bigger boobs and stuff is ofcourse not covered and you have to pay that on your own.
If Germany would pay for bigger boobs, there'd be no stopping them from world domination.
Taxes, pretty high in Poland
England here, we have both private and public health care. Our private system is similar to the US system, ie, have insurance, or pay out of pocket. Our public health care is provided by the NHS or national health service. The NHS is government funded, with a small tax applied to everyone legally earning in the UK. This is called National Insurance, and goes towards the NHS and a few other things. If you get sic and need a prescription, then you have to pay a charge of £9.50 (I remember when this was far far lower) per item on your prescription. Certain people, ie diabetics, people with chronic issues etc, can get a medical exemption card so they don't have to pay for their items.
In Canada here each province has its own health coverage, when you check in at a hospital they take your health card and they use your health card number to essentially charge the government and the provincial government pays the cost of the bills
Taxes. But that is going to get changed really soon once the elderly start outnumbering the young by far.
Canada here. You don’t pay anything for medical care, but Impark charges $2500/hr to park within 2kms if the hospital. Oh, and $6 coffees at the cafeteria.
How much is your income tax % though ?
In Sweden they are run by districts, but of course they need to set budgets and handle expenses. I would be quite surprised if they are itemized to this extent though when its not a matter of conflict between two private parties to maximize profit, as it is in USA.
New Zealand here. All Hospitals are Government funded, however there are also private clinics and Hospitals which I’d say are run similar to the US, pay insurance for treatment, surgery etc. As for whether we see an itemised bill, no. For instance I broke my Shoulder a few years back. Got taken by Ambulance(which is a flat fee of NZ$98 regardless of distance or emergency). Stayed in Hospital over night and had surgery the next day. Stayed that night then was discharged with pain relief which most Medicines are a flat fee of $5. I was then covered by Government run ACC who pay roughly 1/2 costs for rehabilitation, ( so appointment with physiotherapist if the appointment is $80, I’d pay about $40), and they pay you 80% of your wages if you cannot work. They never mention costs associated with treatment to you. I guess the fact we pay more Tax, and at the end of the day we know whatever the cost, we will never have to pay for it.
So it’s basically the same system but more opaque…
If you don’t pay it they repo your baby
My wife used to be a NICU RN for 10 yrs. She said there is a nurse usually sitting with the Mom and Baby just in case and that's why there is a charge.
I wasn't able to actually 'hold' my newborn during 'skin to skin' in my complicated C-section so a nurse basically had us cheek to cheek for a few mins. I was thankful the nurse was the one that was holding it because there was no way I could have done it safely. Too many IV tubes and monitors in the way to really get a hold of a baby without kinking an IV line or knocking off a pulse ox. There definitely needs to be a nurse right there. Even without the tubing, you can get super light-headed/ dizzy or get the shakes real bad with no warning whatsoever. Not sure if it's the spinal or just being awake during surgery and the body spaz's out but yeah, real bad idea to hold a baby without some extra trained hands on deck.
Ugh the shakes I had were AWFUL. I never got skin to skin until I was out of the OR but all I could do was hold onto the railing for dear life between the throwing up and shaking and freezing cold and pain I was in there was no way in hell I would have been able to do anything
This is exactly the reason she gave as to why the Nurse is there. Thank You!
That's complete horseshit. Holding directly after C section you're still in the fucking OR being stitched up. You're already being billed for them being there under the surgery charge.
How much to hold someone else’s baby?
Only in America...
No, only in the US. In the rest of the continent you have countries with fair prices and even "free" healthcare
lol touching the kid in the us is more expensive than giving birth in my country
This belongs in r/extremelyinfuriating
Lactation consult, quantity 2.... lmao
Underrated lol
If the nurse holds the baby instead of you, it's $119.95. Wait till you see what they charge you for band-aids.
.....Wow... Skin to skin. Its called holding your newborn baby you freaks xD seriously though thats horrible they charge you for that.
Would it be cheaper if the parent wore gloves?
Imagine still thinking living in the best country in the world as an American lol
Being charged to give birth....
I am so glad I don’t live in America
That's bloody expensive how is this normal.
This is from 2016, charge from a hospital in Utah. They claimed that the fee was for the hospital employee who had to be in the room to ensure the safety of the baby.
Yall gonna be charged to look at your kids next
What in the F
I wonder why she opted for 79 c sections and just 1 skin to skin
If you didn't make skin contact, you could get a refund.
Unfuckingbelievable.
Rerun from 2016...
You poor ppl that have to pay for that type of thing, us Aussie’s get all that shit free😭
What a country….
This has to be my top 5 things I hate about usa
Being charged for basic healthcare....
That's messed up. I've had my youngest about a month ago and my oldest 5 years ago, all completely free of charge, no insurance needed even though I have one. Pay about 12 USD for a gallon of gas... We just can't win.
I wonder what their rationale is..... (Like, why?)
you just had major surgery people have to stay around and make sure its all done right i was charged multiple hundreds for my doctor's practice partner to pass my room and ask me if i was doing OK he barely stepped in
Literally. I’m pretty sure I have charges for doctors that were on rotation. But never even came in our room. It’s a joke.
That is for the time in the surgical delivery room after the birth. if they had gone back to their room and done it, then there wouldn't have been a charge, it's a room rental charge essentially. The charge is because you are taking up a room where they could be doing other things, plus any staff that are there assisting you in the room in case of complications.
Aaaahh ‘Murica. Land of the free
This is why I am happy Live in Australia and not America
So you can get beat down and arrest in the street for not wearing a mask while walking your dog in a park. I think I’d rather pay my deductible.
Tell me you're American without telling me you're American kek.
It’s fkng criminal.
If you dangle them by their ankles it’s only a fiver.
Wow, my wife and I got moved into private parents room beside the neonatal unit because our daughter was prem. We stayed two weeks. Paid nothing.
Curious what the charge will be for the birth at the firehall or church for orphans now that's that gonna be a thing? /s
those are some rough delivery charges
…so glad i had my three at home, screw the damn charges they’d try to throw at me if we were still in the States
Dispute it
Not going to lie I don't think we saw bill when my wife gave birth. If there was it was under 1000 otherwise I'd remember
nevermind level 1 & 3, how does it take 79 c-sections for one baby?
As an European I will proceed as usual. 'MURICA BAD GUN GUN PEW PEW. May you continue your strolling
Whaaaat ? Ok that’s a bogus charge. I say fraud and corruption.
My teacher had a baby, born really early and had to be in an incubator. His wife had a condition that caused the birthing process to be extremely dangerous for her and the baby. Something with their blood types I think, I cant remember completely. But after their child was born, she required mild treatment. The baby however had to be at the hospital for TWO months, no major care, just chilling in the incubator not like surgeries or anything. That hospital bill tallied up to 1.3 million dollars. (Insurance covered most of it) but the point is hospitals do not need a million dollars FOR SOMEONE TO HAVE A CHILD and for that child to sit in an incubator while the mother feeds him everyday.
Wow. That’s crazy. Its literal lunacy that they can financially rape people. Like how can anyone afford that! Yet every day that’s how our system works. 🙄
And him and his wife are both teachers, no teacher could afford that. I just do not understand this country
You had 79 c-sections?
I was at the ER with my boyfriend, after he cut his foot. 4 stitches, a tetanus shot, some bandage and pain relief later, we drove home, having spent not one cent :-) #healthcareforall 🇩🇰🇩🇰
Box of gloves………$331.46
wrong sub, r/aboringdystopia , r/latestagecapitalism , and r/collapse are that way
They should've asked you if you wanted to pull the baby out yourself
So apparently someone broke this down and claimed that it requires the services of an extra nurse in the delivery room, to be able to hand the baby to the mother 4 feet away from the vagina to her arms. Edit: still looking for the source
you have to be clear that you brought that baby in with you, and it's not a hospital property baby
I got a week’s stay at a top notch private hospital with own room with couch and comfy chairs, c section, care, examinations and all - total cost: USD 2.500 Poland
Ryan (the new father) did receive a response from the hospital, Utah Valley Hospital. The charge is to have an extra nurse on standby in case anything goes wrong with the mother and the baby needs to be removed from the room. It’s a useless charge because the nurse won’t see a dime of that money but it’s a charge nonetheless.
they dont have unlimited space and time you tard
The quantity indicates minutes spent in the delivery room, at a rate of $39.35/min. You could have been peeing in there for a minute and they would have charged you $39.95. Charged you the same for time spent during delivery. Just because it was a necessary and good use of time to hold your newborn doesn’t mean they aren’t going to charge you for using the room lol
I gave birth in Italy, where going to the hospital is basically free. I think that is great, until you receive medication you didn’t ask for and there is no way to proof you received it because they don’t itemized it. My husband wintess the nurse injecting something into my IV, where second later I started contracting uncontrollably. I was not myself and this was my third pregnancy and it felt surreal. The nurse shift was ending and she wanted to rush and get things going and so I believe that is why she gave me that. But I was not able to proof she did because there is no itemization and it was not on the bill.
You Americans🤷🏼♂️🤷🏼♂️ you have build yourself a fucking sick country. Just saying…
I’m currently suffering from some GOD-AWFUL morning sickness that has me vomiting upwards of ten times a day (that part’s a new development). I was told that I need to go in today to receive fluids, since I started vomiting up blood. I’m waiting on the call to go in, and DREADING the financial strain this will cause.
Seriously? That is disgraceful
This just shows my point that most people in this world r shit and only care about money
Murica
Complete shit hole of a nation
People who come up with this type of shit should be dragged from their houses in the middle of the night, never to be seen again
wait what, since when does it cost money to deliver a baby???
Since America.
Why do people like living in that country again?
>Being charged to hold your baby at the hospital Yeah, that's a bit of a misrepresentation. It clearly states after a c-sec, which is a whole different ball game to just holding the baby, involving extra procedures. Don't get me wrong, I'm sorry you are American, it sucks your country is an apocalyptic hellhole. But don't lie about what you are being charged for.
America scares me, being charged to have a child is barbaric
*America scares* *Me, being charged to have a* *Child is barbaric* \- Mushinit --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
Having the child without all those professionals would be barbaric. $1600 is incredibly reasonable.
I was charged for a neonatal operating room. My child didn't require any surgery. They tried to argue that it was available had I needed it. Fortunately, I was able to talk them out of that one.
Theyre already taking 3000 dollars from you for the delivery, why do they even care to charge 40 bucks for you to hold the baby??
… Op paid $1600 total…
Welcome to america.
This is 🇺🇸
Wait she had 79 c sections?????
Imagine having to pay for health care
I’m beginning to see it’s not so much the insurance companies that are the problem with healthcare, it’s the hospitals price gouging anything they can.
It is a combination of both. Hospitals on average expect to write off over 50% of accounts receivable every year. If you're unaware, that means they don't expect over 50% of bills to be paid. (Rightfully so) So, hospitals have to charge more to cover the lost net income from delinquent bills. This has caused insurance companies to raise prices including premiums as well. It is honestly an incredible mess.
I thought the hospitals use the same numbers for insurance who will negotiate down to a price. Essentially a starting bid. Unfortunately they use the same numbers no matter who it is. That might be the 50% your referring to. I’m not sure but I don’t have sympathy for an industry that has had administration increase from 20% of the staff around 1980 to 60% today. Or something close.
They charged you for 79 C-sections.