Quote:
Originally posted by nfotiu@May 25 2005, 06:50 AM
I had my appendix out here, and the total bill was $80,000. If I had one of those insurances, I would be stuck with up to $21,000 in bills. A family of 4 ranges from $254 to $1100 depending on deductibles.
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Good Lord no wonder your insurance company was fighting the cost of that. That is an outrageous bill for an appendectomy.
Most US insurances have a set deductible amount that is your "out of pocket" expense. Some are as low as $500.00 per person and some are high, at $5000.00
It all depends on the plan you have. The deductible amount also determines the cost of the monthly permiums we pay. The lower the deductible, the higher the monthy premium.
Insurance companies pay on what they determine to be *reasonable and just* costs. Usually what they pay is about 80% of the bill sent to you. If the medical facility or Doctor you see are is a participating member in the plan then the rest of the bill is waived. You would not have to pay that, it get written off.
$80,000 for an appendectomy seems to be pretty high unless you had some major comlications and spent a few days in a critical care unit. I had a kidney removed 4 years ago and the total cost of that surgery in Seattle was about $27,000. I ended up paying out of pocket expenses of around $5000.00 which included the flight to Seattle and the hotel (connected to the hospital) for my husband.