$4800 for a CT Scan??

[LisaR]

My son has been having major sinus and allergy issues. He had a sinus CT scan back in June. I just pulled the EOB and the charge to our insurance was $800 and change. Seems reasonable. While digging through the EOB's, I saw the charge for the MRI my DD had on her knee over the summer. Those are more expensive than CT scans and the charge was $1950.

We weren't able to resolve my son's medical issues so I took him to the Mayo Clinic thinking they have some of the best doctors. Apparently they also have the most expensive equipment, as well.

They charged $4811 for the CT scan of the sinuses!! There was nothing different about this CT scan. It took 6 minutes. There wasn't any contrast. It was the same test he had done in June, but it was $4000 more!

Outrageous!

 

[packofjedis]

That's ridiculous! Your insurance will cut the bill down again. I always feel like the doctors are testing the insurance companies, because obviously they know what is allowed to be charged. They're just hoping……

 

[ORMom2Four]

That sounds about right. They thought I had a blood clot in my lungs this past summer. Only 24 hours in the hospital and 2 CAT scans with contrast later, my bill was over $20,000

 

[skatalite]

Yeah, that's not far from normal. A little high, but CT scans are an expensive process.

 

[chrisvwpw]

Sounds about right. Was the first scan at an out patient facility? If it was that was the difference.

 

[KaLyn]

Yeah, that's not far from normal. A little high, but CT scans are an expensive process.

Everything is an expensive process anymore....

DD3 broke her leg in mid-October (just a simple break, no surgery needed to set it or anything like that) and our insurance has already been billed over $6,000. We are responsible for $900 of that. Yesterday she was given a pediatric walking boot at the office to help transition her to walking on her own. I googled it and it cost $85-$110 to buy the boot online. I can't wait to see what they billed my insurance for!

 

[elgerber]

Facilties make all the difference. My son needed an ER a few years back. They sent us to Children's hospital ER. They did not find the problem. Did very little testing. Next day needed ER again. Children's was too far away so we went to a local hospital ER. They ran more tests than children's and found the problem, yet their bill was almost half of the cost of the Children's bill.

 

[minkydog]

We had a terrible rollover crash 3 years ago and we all ended up in the ER. Between my DD and Christian, they had over $20,000 worth of CT scans--4 total. The medical costs for the 5 of us for that wreck, including follow-up care was about $50,000.

One more reason to NEVER go without health insurance!

 

[dawnball]

That sounds about right. They thought I had a blood clot in my lungs this past summer. Only 24 hours in the hospital and 2 CAT scans with contrast later, my bill was over $20,000

Yup. My doctor was worried about an aneurysm. 26 hours, one MRI, $47,000. Discharged with the same screaming headache I had when we started, and the diagnosis "probably a migraine." I'll tell you, when I got the 5K bill for the 3 mile ambulance ride, I had a migraine.

 

[Feralpeg]

The cost of medical treatment is insane.

I recently underwent 33 days of radiation for breast cancer. The treatment, each day, lasted about 10 minutes if you count the time it took to position me. The cost for each treatment was $1200. One day each week, they also took x-rays. On those days, the cost was over $2000.

Of course, that almost seems cheap compared to the cost of the chemo treatments. So far this year, my insurance company has been billed $177k for my treatments. Thank goodness for insurance!

 

[Southernmiss]

Makes you understand why we need changes in the US healthcare.

There was a report on ABC last night about the higher cost of having blood work at a hospital versus the lab down the street. There's much more overhead and we are paying for those who can't or don't pay at the hospital.

I would also guess that the Mayo clinic is more expensive any way because of their reputation.

 

[LisaR]

Sounds about right. Was the first scan at an out patient facility? If it was that was the difference.

The facilities were identical. Both were done at hospitals with medical clinics attached. He was not an in-patient at either facility.

I simply can't understand how one can charge $800 and the other one can charge $4800 for the same thing. I get medical expenses are insane. DH had rotator cuff surgery four weeks ago. The bills have been astronomical! But at least the charges are in line with our other things. For instance, he had to have an MRI of his shoulder and it was $2500. As I noted earlier, DD had an MRI of her knee for $1950. The MRI's were done at two separate facilities and the prices seem to be in line with one another. If either had an MRI at the Mayo, I'm guessing those same tests would have been close to $10,000.

 

[thedonduck]

The facilities were identical. Both were done at hospitals with medical clinics attached. He was not an in-patient at either facility. I simply can't understand how one can charge $800 and the other one can charge $4800 for the same thing. I get medical expenses are insane. DH had rotator cuff surgery four weeks ago. The bills have been astronomical! But at least the charges are in line with our other things. For instance, he had to have an MRI of his shoulder and it was $2500. As I noted earlier, DD had an MRI of her knee for $1950. The MRI's were done at two separate facilities and the prices seem to be in line with one another. If either had an MRI at the Mayo, I'm guessing those same tests would have been close to $10,000.

Different level facilities charge more. No different than buying the same kitchen ware from kohls or Macy. Same name brand item-two completely different cost. It's unfortunate, but places can get away with this often

 

[Cantw8]

It's truly mind-blowing what procedures cost. I had rotator cuff surgery a few months ago to the tune of $33,000 I was in and out of there in about 4 hours. That's quite a nice pay off for a few hours of work

 

[Art 1]

The Docs need to keep up with their Porsche payments.

 

[bittybabygrower]

Did the 800$ one include the radiologist reading? That bolts it way up there. And they are billed separately.

 

[JessicaR]

The facilities were identical. Both were done at hospitals with medical clinics attached. He was not an in-patient at either facility.

I simply can't understand how one can charge $800 and the other one can charge $4800 for the same thing. I get medical expenses are insane. DH had rotator cuff surgery four weeks ago. The bills have been astronomical! But at least the charges are in line with our other things. For instance, he had to have an MRI of his shoulder and it was $2500. As I noted earlier, DD had an MRI of her knee for $1950. The MRI's were done at two separate facilities and the prices seem to be in line with one another. If either had an MRI at the Mayo, I'm guessing those same tests would have been close to $10,000.

Designer CT-Scan. UGH

 

[Maggie7313]

I'm always amazed when I examine my EOBs at how much the insurance contracted amounts vary from the cash price. We have a high deductible plan so end up paying OOP for most things - we would be bankrupt if we had to pay the cash price. Maybe it is like hotel rack rates but medical costs are totally out of hand.

 

[LisaR]

Designer CT-Scan. UGH

I asked my son if the machine was lined with gold and he said, "No, but it stunk like rotten bananas." Apparently they charge extra for that smell!

 

[Kimberlyann11]

I work for an insurance company and I can tell you that is high. You are paying for the name. Your insurance company will reduce the charge.