We went to the Lee County Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers last Friday so they could do some blood work and an ekg to make sure I had a chance of surviving the surgery. Before the visit we called to find out about the estimated cost of the surgery and if we could prepay the bill for a discount. This is what we have done in the past which saved us 25% of the bill. The person we spoke to on the telephone said they would ask us for payment and would go over the payment options when I had my preop testing done. When we registered for the preop tests no one mentioned us paying anything. While I was having my ekg done Huli went down and ask them about payment options etc. The lady at the desk said they don't handle that here and we would have to call an office in Cape Coral, Florida to find out about that "stuff". Huli called the Cape Coral office today and the guy answering said he had no idea why we would be calling him. When we explained we were given his number by the preop registration people he just laughed. He said he would have someone else call us later today.
This evening Gabriel Sanchez called me and ask me to pay an $8,400 initial payment. I ask Gabriel if I paid the entire bill now would he give us a discount. He said we already got a discount since the procedure originally cost $35,000 and they discounted it to $21,000 for Aetna. I said that is great now he gave us the same discount he gave Aetna I would be happy and would pay the entire estimated bill now. He said no he couldn't do that. He then started explaining I had a $7,900 deductible and a $12,500 maximum out of pocket and then I stopped him. I told him I fully understand how deductibles work but for them to discount the bill to Aetna 44% won't save me one penny when I get done paying the hospital, anesthesiologist and the surgeon bills. He didn't understand that so I explained in terms he understood. I said let say you wrecked your car and the damage was $5,000 and you have a $1,000 deductible policy. Assuming no discounts are given you would have to pay $1,000 while your insurance company would pay $4,000. Now I said the body shop was having a huge sale and the $5,000 damage was being discounted to $1,500. I ask him if he thought it would be ok if he was still asked to pay $1,000 while his insurance company paid $500. He said no. I said I didn't think so either and I want the same deal you are giving the big corporation Aetna. He gave me his managers name and number and his directors name and number. He honestly said he never thought of it that way and I told him I never had a hospital tell me they wouldn't give me a discount for paying the entire estimated bill in full the day of the surgery. I told him don't worry about it though since the surgeons nurse never had anyone ask her if the amount the surgeon charges for my procedure falls within the usual and customary as defined by the Aetna Insurance Company. This was after she ask me 20 questions in order to determine if I had the money to pay them since I had such shitty insurance that only costs me $1,850 per month in premiums.
Huli and I later did some digging and found some mention of 25% "prompt payment discounts" on Lee County Memorial Hospital's website on uninsured balances. I will find out tomorrow when I call the Director of Business Affairs.
As Sy on Duck Dynasty says "It's on Jack". I actually kind of like doing this kind of stuff and have often thought I could start a business negotiating medical bills on behalf of other people and then maybe loaning them the money upfront to pay the bills. After receiving some kind of collateral of course. Then again that kind of sounds like work. I should mention Huli helps a lot with her background in dealing with medical billing for several years.
A journal written about life, retirement and our journey throughout the United States in a 5th wheel, along with our two Shih Tzus, Tanner and Syndey. Written not for notoriety but for our sons, family and friends, so they know where we are at any given time. And particularly for ourselves. Finally, we get to slow down and smell the roses and we don't want to forget any of it. You are welcome to join us as we go 'Down the Road a Piece'.
