Reply #14: $10...

[lapfog_1]

my case was $10,000.

I have a congenital heart defect and eventually (after a number of ER visits to have my heart "reset"), I finally found a heart surgeon who could fix it.

My insurance was contacted and numerous details worked out in advance of my surgery.

The total amount was going to be about $35,000, and my contribution was to be around $1500, which I paid up front.

Months after my surgery I received a bill for a little over $10,250. Apparently, unknown to me and to my insurance company, another assistant surgeon was added to my team and this was his bill (my doctor swears that this was allowed by my insurance and that he contacted them about this in advance). My insurance refused to pay. So... I ended up paying an additional $1500, my insurance paid for a "consultation fee" of $2000 and the surgeon ended up eating the rest of his fee.

And within weeks, my insurance dropped me like a hot potato.

Being self employed, I've checked with other insurance and HMOs... HAH! The BEST that I've found is Blue Cross, who ONLY wants $900 a month WITH a $5,000 deductible! Which I can't afford. So I've been without for 12 years now. Scared to death of getting cancer or something... but I simply can't afford $900 a month. Even getting a "regular job" with insurance isn't a real solution, as I've been told that anything that happens with my heart again... the insurance will simply walk away stating "pre-existing conditions" and what not.

Anyway, sorry about your $10 additional copay... but count your blessings.