Re: the cost of medical care - TooTrue!
Annette

OMG something else to stress your mind. Get after your insurance
company.

Dee

My ablation was 125K

My ablation in 2008 cost well over $100,000. Thankfully my insurance paid for everything except my co pay.

Not surprising at all. And if you think it's bad now, wait 3-5 years when ObamaCare is in full effect. You haven't seen anything yet. Not only will costs sky rocket but you'll be lucky to find a good doctor (or you'll wait months to see a good doctor).

My EP told me albations are about $100,000 right now.

The whole system is a joke and ObamaCare is only going to make it worst. It's so sad too because the solutions to our health care system are so simple. All you have to do is copy the auto insurance business model and you'll see costs drop like the Titanic. Those things include:

1. Get government out of healthcare - period.
2. Let insurance companies compete across state borders
3. Let insurance companies create their own plans (instead of the government telling them every plan must include X, X, and X.
4. Make people pay for everyday doctor expenses like yearly physicals, strep throat appointments, etc. Imagine if you have to file an insurance claim to have your oil changed? Insurance is supposed to be for catastrophic events - NOT everyday healthcare expenses.

Until ObamaCare is repealed (which is unlikely to ever happen at this point), and most of the things above are implemented, costs will only go up, up, up. It's a just a shame...

Travis

Paul,
My ablation just last year cost $117,000. I had to pay $5,000. Tricare refused to pay anything, cuz the procedure was "experimental." Hmmm... Uh oh, we got onto Obamacare! I won't say too much, or I will have a stroke. But there is some good stuff in there..suppose I get pregnant? As a 58 year old man, this is a distinct possibility. I should pay for that. And, since I plan to become a drug addict in the very near future, I should pay extra for that treatment option as well. K, that is all I am going to say....cuz the blood pressure is rising...

Bill

I

Ouch....Hoping they made a mistake and the coverage will be better. Good luck finding the right person to help get this right for you.

My Orthopedic Surgeon is not a preferred provider on my Medicare PPO Advantage Plan. I have to pay 500. out of pocket for my first appointment.

I'm keeping my Hopes up for your portion to go way down!!!!!

This is just ridiculous!

Maybe if we all get together, we can get a group ablation rate (like a group trip to the Bahamas).

Actually, I'm not terribly concerned about my insurance coverage of the stroke and my future ablation. I worked for the State of New York long enough to vest my health insurance (which tends to be excellent). Important since I'm 64 1/2 and not of Medicare. I suspect there's just a disconnect somewhere. But seeing this bill is enough to get me another stroke!

I've had several problems with health care billing recently. It seems that both the insurers and providers are overwhelmed by the changes resulting from Obamacare.

Then again, my cynical side takes over, and says "Providers have software that looks at your age and figures most older people tend to pay their bills, so it just bills older people indiscriminately. My Sharon says that's not so, they screw everyone.

Here's another thought. I worked all my life (put over 45 years into social security, we know only the top 35 count) and made a decent living. And delayed taking any payments so far. The cost of two days in the hospital is about my social security payment for a year at 66!!! Insanity.

Disheartening stuff for sure.

Long story, but from 2010 to 2012, I racked up over $35,000 worth of medical bills. Most of which I was responsible for. One ER bill was for $3,500. I walked in and was only there for about 3 hours. I was monitored and given a PIP, then stabilized and released. this was before I actually had any PIPs. The 3 hour time is accurate and it was not actually the ER, but a small side room in the hospital. As for SSI stuff it's an unfair system and way out of balance considering many state or fed employees have better options with monies available alot quicker vs. waiting 'til you're 65 plus and getting pocket change each month after putting in for you entire adult life.

My ablation was fully covered by Medicare and a supplemental insurance.
I know the cost was well over 100k.
One possible way to avoid these ridiculous costs is to have it done in another country.
Here is the experience of somebody who had the ablation done in Bordeaux, where ablation was invented.
http://www.afibbers.org/resources/journeys/Thomson.pdf

THG I live in Canada no such worries . Paul, I hope you can straighten it out with your insurance.

Insurance problems resolved. The hospital didn't submit all the records the insurance company asked for. Both said there should be no problem paying 100%. Both are following up, and I got the hospital to drop the charge for the phone (which didn't work) and the TV (which I didn't request). When you get any medical bill, you need to review it carefully, line by line, and assess if it agrees with your insurance. Last month a provider tried to charge me $60.00 for a flu shot that was free under my insurance. A few years ago an anesthesiologist tried to charge me $1200 for services delivered during a colonoscopy delivered in a doctors office that was part of my plan (I got them to rescind the charge totally). About 10 years ago, an insurance company refused to pay my dentist $2500 to replace a cap. I did my research on small claims court, and accused the insurance company and the employer of being engaged in a conspiracy to defraud their employees. The insurance company paid. You have to fight!!!

There was a great article in Time Magazine 3/4/2013 called "Bitter Pill, Why Medical Bills are Killing Us", by Steven Brill. It's long and extremely well researched. If you ever have an opportunity, read it.
http://livingwithmcl.com/BitterPill.pdf