Herk

I'm usually wordy and this is tough, so I'm going to summarize it into bullet points.
- Left nostril was always fully blocked.
- Went to ENT.
- He took just minutes to say you need Nasal Septum Reconstructive Surgery.
- We scheduled it at the office, but it would be done at the hospital.
- I was told the hospital would call me.
- As told, the hospital called about a week out from surgery.
- Hospital wanted to give pre-surgery information and sort out me paying 25% up front.
- I said I need to know the cost. They offered to do a price estimate.
- *** Remember I was not an intermediary of the doctor and hospital. So they got information on my procedure from my doctor, not me.
- They said they'd have to call back so they could get the allowable bill amount from my insurance company.
- They called back and said the max charge was roughly $2100.
- I said great, my HRA will cover that no problem, since it had $3600 in it.
- She agreed and we were all set.
- When I went in to get admitted they asked for 25% upfront.
- I told them that wasn't going to happen. My HRA will cover and I'm ok with not having it done. So, send me away or admit me.
- She got her supervisor... and they admitted me.
- I had the procedure. in and out very quick.
- Later got doctor bill. He billed $2000. Insurance discounted to $550 and paid it.
- Found out my HRA was drained. ... wh wh wh whaaaaat?
- Called insurance, and they said that they were billed by the hospital a total of $8190.05 for procedures 30520 and 30802(coblation).
- Got really fucking pissed.
- Called hospital, and I was told that they only estimated for 30520 and that the $2100 that I still owed on top of HRA sounded about right. I told him that was not right. He acted like the rest was free because it was covered by insurance(failing like other idiots to realize that insurance isn't free money. It's my money. Every bit of it and then some.
- Anyway, my problems are: they only quoted one procedure in spite of the doctor notifying them of both, and that I was quoted a certain cost, was agreed with that my HRA would cover it, then with no other stimulus(no added procedure or complications) they charged me more by magnitude of almost 4.

What say you? Is there anything I can do to penetrate the bureaucracy. When the accounting guy at the hospital started to get rude and interrupt I demanded to talk to a supervisor, and was only able to leave a voice mail. I hope they realize that I'm paying their paycheck with my hard earned (but apparently free) insurance funds.

Help!

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-Blind faith runs into things!-

Cynthetiq

I just had to something along these lines to get my payments adjusted properly. I ended up contacting the NY State Attorney General and he forwarded me to some sort of insurance ombudsman. They listened to my story. They sent a letter. I got satisfaction.

YMMV good luck.

__________________
I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not.

Herk

Thanks Cyn. You rock! That is a fantastic idea. I was considering going straight to a private lawyer, but you idea is much better. I have dealing with big bureaucracies like this. That is why I avoid hospitals and doctors like the plague. DAMN IT, I just wanted to breathe for once, properly.

__________________
-Blind faith runs into things!-

Cynthetiq

yes and i can breathe well too i had different nasal surgery good luck!

__________________
I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not.

thingstodo

Keep us posted! It's always good to know when the normal system works. I hate to pay a lawyer for things like this!

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If you're wringing your hands you can't roll up your shirt sleeves.

Stangers have the best candy.

ChrisJericho

I don't mean to threadvjack here, but how is breathing through your nose now? My right nostril is usually blocked/inflamed, I have to spray it with flonase everyday and was wondering if these operations helped you guys.

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"A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows us that faith proves nothing." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Cynthetiq

I can breathe excellently now from both nostrils. For a long time people thought I was always congested because I was. I had nasal polyps blocking my sinus passages.

The operation scraped it clean and now I can breathe.

I'm still allergic to the cats, which inhibits my sense of smell supposedly that's the reason, but I can breathe from my both nostrils and less snoring says the wife.

__________________
I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not.

dippin

Nasal septum reconstructive surgery was one of the best things Ive ever done. My quality of life improved dramatically, as I could breath so much better. Before it, I was always congested and had trouble breathing. After it, snoring disappeared, I could sleep better, I could do sports better, etc.

As to the OP: I wish I could give you some advice, but unfortunately this sort of thing is so common nowadays that it is almost a given that you will need to fight someone from the hospital due to some "mistake" on their part, be it double billing, billing for things you didnt use, etc.