The cost of a Appendectomy - Help wanted from a Brit!!

06/23/08 | vanity

[vimto]

My lad is in America waiting for a visa to live there and marry a lovely American lass. He was taken ill and went to hospital where an appendectomy was performed. The bill is $28,000 minimum. We think he has medical cover but we don't know the datils ...is ths figure about right? Anyone out there with any advice?

[vimto]

Thanks indeed - good luck to your sister and yourself!

[raybbr]

Try this.

[raybbr]

procedures performed, age, sex and discharge status. One DRG is assigned to each inpatient stay.
DRG
Description
Average Length of Stay (Days)5
National Average DRG Payment5
338
Appendectomy w complicated principal diag w MCC
10.9
$14,672.93
339
Appendectomy w complicated principal diag w CC
7.1
$10,662.56
340
Appendectomy w complicated principal diag w/o CC/MCC
4.3
$7,455.98
341
Appendectomy w/o complicated principal diag w MCC
7.3
$10,134.41
342
Appendectomy w/o complicated principal diag w CC
4.3
$7,301.47
343
Appendectomy w/o complicated principal diag w/o CC/MCC
2.3
$5,322.93

[Our man in washington]

Sounds about right.

Isn’t it outrageous than in the 21st century, an appendectomy can cost $28,000?

(Well, not really, considering the 19th century treatement was “you die.”)

[vimto]

wow, thanks I will digest that information.

[vimto]

Er...point taken:^)

[Mr Ramsbotham]

If he’s a British subject travelling overseas, the NHS ought to pick his the tab for emergency care. If I were him I’d get in touch with them.

[vimto]

Thanks much appreciated!

[keat]

I’ll do it for half that.

[vimto]

I think the NHS won’t cover him - mind you they would do it for free for an Islamic terrorist on bail over here!

Strange world hey?

[vimto]

Thanks, next time I’ll contact you first!

[6ppc]

If you do not have insurance, call the billing office and tell them you are self pay. Most hospitals will reduce the charge to the amount they charge an insurance company. Insurance companies negotiate for reduced rates with the hospitals and medical care providers. The "official" undiscounted bill is pure BS.

My daughter had an auto accident and we received a bill for $5000 from the hospital, mostly from the tests they ran. When I called the billing office and explained she didn't have insurance they adjusted the bill down to less than $900.

You may need to negotiate with the hospital, the anesthesiologist, the surgeon, etc separately, but they will negotiate.

[MeanWestTexan]

The comments regarding negotiating payment are correct. A 50% reduction is in order, plus you can simply tell them to get stuffed, come collect.

Also, if I recall correctly, I believe Brits abroad are basically insured -— they turn the bill over to the Brit health system and it acts as a psuedo-insurance company.

Next thing to check and see how you paid for the trip. When I use one card (used for this purpose — not otherwise a credit card fan) for travel -— any emergency medical while I am there is covered by an insurance program. This is a very common benefit on Gold/Platinum type cards.

[Orange1998]

It a shame doctors do not have a price list to offer patients. Fair disclosures should be offered.

[Dr. Sivana]

My Canadian mother-in-law, and all the Canadians I know are hyper about getting travel health insurance for their trips here. I kind of chuckle at them about it, but I guess it can kind of come in handy sometimes. I know it is too late now, but you might want to consider it for future trips.

[Jim Noble]

The bill was over $9000 nad they didn’t do much of nothing.

Nothing except create, maintain and fund a 24/7/365 capability to diagnose and intervene in case you were having a heart attack, thereby limiting or preventing heart damage and perhaps saving your life.

Do you have any idea how much having that capability an ambulance ride away from your home at all hours of the day or night COSTS?

Who do you think should pay for it?

[vimto]

Thanks for the tips, we will investigate....

[vimto]

Thanks, we have paid some upfront but we look to reduce the rest of the bill.

It’s harder when you just don’t know the system...

[bmwcyle]

Remember in American you pay for yourself and at least one illegal family getting free health care.

[angkor]

I had two emergency room visits last winter (thankfully all was ultimately OK) which ran about $4,000 EACH, $8,000 total.

The hospital and subsidiary providers were all very amenable to a range of payment options.

$28,000 sounds right for an emergency appendectomy.

If I ever need elective surgery I’m off to Thailand, India, or Malaysia, all of which provide superior medical care at low cost.