Hospital Tab 24K and climbing

[29aholic]

Some back history.


I have been pretty healthy all my life with just an occasional cold or bout with the flu. I can count on one hand the number of times I have been to the doctor in 52 years.
Back in June I came down with a cold, but also developed occasional chest pains I attributed to possible bronchitis or worse pneumonia.
On July 15th I finally went to a walk in clinic. They ran an EKG on me (nothing on it) and did a chest x-ray. The x-ray showed what appeared to be pneumonia so they gave me 5 days worth of antibiotics. The symptoms continued and the chest pains got worse with no rhyme or reason for when they occured, but almost always during the morning and never at night.
On September 4th I had my new boss take me to the ER. The chest pains were the worse they had ever been. They hooked me up and the Doc said I was having a heart attack. Within minutes I was in the cath unit getting it run up my arm. Sometime later I woke up in ICU.
The next morning the same Doc that said I was having a heart attack told me I had not had one. They did a CT on my chest so see if I had a blood clot on my lungs (didnt). Kicked me out with instructions to take baby aspirin every day.
Saw the Doc for a follow up and told him the chest pains persisted. He scheduled me for an esophygram and an ultrasound (which we did yesterday). So far the results of those are negative.
I go in tomorrow for an upper GI (I will update).


Right now my tab is sitting at $24,000 and change with no insurance and still dont know what is wrong.

 

[jag312]

I could make a tasteless joke about doctors and hospitals, but I don't think you want to hear it. I do wish you the very best. I hope they find the cause and are able to treat it.


As far as the medical bills, tell them you'll pay it on the installment plan; $10.00 a month.

 

[Bkreutz]

As far as the medical bills, tell them you'll pay it on the installment plan; $10.00 a month.

After they figure out what's wrong and fix it.

 

[billwill]

Hope they find the cause of your problems. Get better soon

 

[Jst1mr]

I feel for you... I was hit with some issues out of the blue as well. Thankfully, I had and still have insurance that has treated us quite well - it is truly scary how fast the dollars pile up with health care. As I said, I have been fortunate to be insured...not to be nosy, but was it by choice or circumstance that you came to be uninsured?

I wish you the best - you get fixed up and then caught up with the bills - in that order! No matter what they find, seems like you get left with a shopping list worth of prescription meds...hope you can avoid that!

 

[pharmer]

Just about the same thing happened to me in January. Cold, went over to see my friend "the doc." Rx for Doxycycline started on Fri. Tues I had chest pains along with wheezing. 10: 30 went over to Florida Hospital ER. Sat on a gurney in the hall for all but 20 min, Xray, CatScan, "hospitalist" and out the door with Rx for Augmentin and Z-Pak. Bill for $15,600 and I have the "good" health insurance w/ employer. My end was a little over $3K because I didn't want to impose on my friend way after hours. $77.50/ mo until the end of 2020, no interest to "Western Alliance Bank" unless I miss a payment. Thieves, and everybody lies to you when the words are "I'm gonna 'fix' health care." Joe

 

[bgrafsr]

Can you apply for Medical benefits with the VA? I finally signed up after the urging of several friends and my Son. I have gotten excellent care so far from them. Have had a physical, an abdominal scan to check for an Aorta Aneurism, which was negative, and am scheduled for an Electro Cardiogram next month. My VA Dr., a female, is very nice, as are all the personnel I have come in contact with since signing up.


I also got hearing aids through the VA, which my regular ear Doctor wanted $8,000.00 for. Cost to me, through the VA, was $50.00.


Good luck to you and hope you find out what is wrong.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Since my first major surgery in '04, Ruthie has kept copies of all my medical bills. To date the total has exceeded 7 figures.

I am beyond grateful for good insurance. As far as 'out of pocket', I am in turnip mode and pay what I can.

I pray that your problem is pinpointed and solved quickly.

 

[29aholic]

Thanks for the well wishes.
As far as insurance goes I havent needed since 1991. For a period I was covered by an employer, but since then I have worked for small employers that dont offer benefits.
I was covered briefly by Obamacare but to be honest after the first year the premiums for my bracket were unaffordable.

 

[vytoland]

taking health problems to the correct medical provider is essential....as well as having medical insurance.....as we age....the machine wears out.....

 

[bigwheelzip]

I had a "sluggish esophagus" that mimicked what you described. An Esophageal Motility Study was the only test that diagnosed it. It showed I needed a balloon inflated in the esophagus to stretch things out. Lansoprazole after meals and Zantac at bedtime fixed it. The drugs are both available OTC.

But I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, so take with a grain of salt.


Get well soon.

 

[turnerriver]

The money hurts but getting to the bottom of what's ailing you is what counts. I hope they identify the problem soon and get you back on your healthy track.
After that try to stay healthy until Medicare kicks in.
Regards,
turnerriver

 

[LoboGunLeather]

In my personal experience the Affordable Care and Patient Protection Act accomplished neither goal. I receive very good care from VA, and as a Purple Heart recipient my co-pays are negligible. My wife found herself "downsized" after a 30-plus year career (working in hospitals, no less) at age 56, and initially her 80/20 major medical with $5000 deductible cost us $340 per month. After ACA things went through the roof, and the best plan we could get was a 70/30 (30% co-pay) with $15,000 deductible, at $1342 per month. Couple of years ago a major surgery was called for, and we had to pony up $31,000 to make it happen.

My brother-in-law and his wife (early 60's) are struggling with $3100 per month health insurance premiums, in a state that now has exactly ONE company authorized to sell policies in accordance with ACA.

The horror stories could fill a book shelf suitable for Encyclopedia Brittanica and the collected works of every major writer of the past 5 centuries.

All I can suggest is to get the care you need, be open and honest with every provider about your financial situation, and try to work out payment plans without ruinous interest charges. Most health care providers utilize billing and collections services, and they all know that the NUMBER ONE reason for bankruptcy in the US is medical bills, so they are likely to accept just about any payment plan rather than see the entire account go down the drain.

Above all, get the treatment you need and get well. You can deal with the financial issues down the line after you get better.

Best regards.

 

[Stan W]

As in post#7, I too was going to ask if you can't signup with the VA. I've been going there since 2007 when my insurance from where I had worked ran out after my retirement. I have great doctors and the care is exceptional. You still may have some copays but it sure won't be thousands of dollars.

 

[BigBoy99]

My wife had symptoms similar to yours and it was thought the heart was the cause. After many tests, the Dr. determined it was a problem with the esophagus and gastric reflux. She started taking some pills and by changing her diet and eating habits, she no longer has to take the pills and the problem has never appeared again.

 

[Beemer-mark]

Well if you had a $16,000 yearly insurance with $5000 deductible the bill would have only been about $5000. If you would've had Medicare or Medicaid the bill would have only been $500.

as long as I can remember, even before the disaster of Obama Care, the only thing insurance bought you the special discount. Sort of like belonging to Costco.

 

[Watchdog]

In December of 2005, my mother entered the hospital for the last time. She passed away two days later.

The final itemized bill came to me, of course. I wish I'd saved it. I can't remember the dollar amount, but one of the billed items was aspirin. If I remember correctly, she was billed for 8 Bayer aspirin, two of them on the day she passed away. I also seem to remember she was billed for Kleenex. Seriously.

 

[BC38]

I sure hope they get it figured out. Medical issues can be a real puzzle and solving them can cost a fortune.

I don't understand how you can have no medical insurance. I thought that President Obama and the ACA solved that problem [/sarcasm]. I was actually of the understanding that you have to either buy health insurance or pay an annual fine. So have they been fining you for NOT buying a policy?

Insurance aside, I had a similar issue to yours once. Woke up in the middle of the night and thought I was having a heart attack. The symptoms were sharp pain in the upper chest and back - and it hurt the worst in the area in front of the shoulder blades (towards the inside of my chest).

Turned out to be a bout of pleurisy - basically an infection (like a cold) in the "sack" that forms the lining of your chest cavity around the heart and lungs (the pleura). Just another thought about what might be causing the problem.

I'll remember you in prayer an hope that the doctors get it figured out.

 

[29aholic]

Well they canceled today's test because they basically did it Wednesday.


As far as the VA, I am not eligible...long story I wont get into.


I am still waiting on the call from the Doctor and I have an appointment with the social services office of the hospital.

 

[H Richard]

Most all hospitals (not for profit ones) will have an "Uncompensated Care Program". They will have discounts on the balance depending on the amount of your income. BUT, you have to ask for it. Bon't be bashful, contact the hospitals Patient Financial Services Department and inquire. The discounts are all based on how much your income exceeds the Federal Poverty Income limit for the size of your family. You may be pleasantly surprised, I hope you are.