Would this be "wrong" (regarding hospital bill)?

[CanBeGrumpy]

My Dh had a diagnostic procedure done, and we were expecting it to be covered by insurance, but apparently our company has singled out this procedure as not being covered 100%. Therefore, we owe a $500 deductible and 10% of the cost, bringing our portion to around $700. Although we have the money to pay it, would it be wrong to ask the hospital for a payment plan? We obviously will pay the full amount; we are not asking for a reduction or anything, but I'd rather not part with $700 all at once if possible (especially around the holidays). I don't want to do this if it would be wrong in any way, or if it would negatively impact the hospital. What do you all think? Fortunately, the test results were good, just in case anyone was wondering!

 

[Pop Daddy]

if ya could save some money, do it

 

[veraletta]

Good new that all is well with your husband; I don’t see anything wrong with doing a payment plan.
I do it all the time. I will call them up and tell them I want to do a payment plan for the next 6 months and they set me on it.

It’s really easy.

 

[jel0511]

be prepared to possibly pay some interest. That would be enough for me to pay in in full.

 

[clh2]

In my opinion, there are 2 alternatives - one is to see what type of payment plan they could offer you with no interest being charged. The other is to see if there is a cash discount...i.e. if you pay your $700 see if they will give you 10% (or more) off.

There is an expense to the hospital for collecting past due amounts, and putting things on payment plans. So - if you can pay it up front, maybe they will help to make it worth your while.

Now - they may not allow either of these options. But I do know for sure - if you ask for nothing - you'll get nothing.

 

[C.Ann]

I have paid the hospital in the past on a payment plan and was not charged any interest.. I think they usually only resort to that if you don't start paying right away..

I would call and ask.. You don't have anything to lose - right?

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

The same thing just happened to us! We got a letter saying the procedure was all approved and pre-certified and whatever. The surgical center charged us $125 the day of the procedure - we thought we were finished. Then we got a bill for $400 from the surgical center, a bill for $135 from the Dr., and a bill for $50 from the lab! We owed our $500 deductible plus 20% of everything beyond that.

When I called the surgical center the lady said she could split the payment in half for us ($200 now, $200 next month), but that was it. I just paid the whole thing to get it over with. The other 2 bills weren't big enough to argue over.

The last time something like this happened (a procedure that should have been covered at 100% ended up costing us $320 because they did a little bait & switch with the billing codes) the max they were willing to do was 3 payments over 90 days.

Definitely all and see what the hospital will do. I would imagine they would let you split it into at LEAST 2 or 3 payments.

 

[CajunDixie]

It shouldn't be a problem calling the hospital about a payment plan. For those that suggested cash discounts; by law they aren't supposed to give you a discount on the deductible amount.

The same thing just happened to us! We got a letter saying the procedure was all approved and pre-certified and whatever. The surgical center charged us $125 the day of the procedure - we thought we were finished. Then we got a bill for $400 from the surgical center, a bill for $135 from the Dr., and a bill for $50 from the lab! We owed our $500 deductible plus 20% of everything beyond that.

When I called the surgical center the lady said she could split the payment in half for us ($200 now, $200 next month), but that was it. I just paid the whole thing to get it over with. The other 2 bills weren't big enough to argue over.

The last time something like this happened (a procedure that should have been covered at 100% ended up costing us $320 because they did a little bait & switch with the billing codes) the max they were willing to do was 3 payments over 90 days.

Definitely all and see what the hospital will do. I would imagine they would let you split it into at LEAST 2 or 3 payments.

Bait & switch with codes. Then make them correct the codes if you know that is the problem. I know if I make a typo on a claim form it's usually pretty simple to file an appeal...we're talking one simple form and a copy of the EOB. I doubt it was bait and switch. More like a typo. Hospitals would rather get their money from insurance companies than directly from patients.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I would do it if they will do it interest free.

The hospital I use, I found out AFTER a two week stay, does not allow payment plans. Instead, they sell your acct to an out of state bank who will happily charge you INTEREST while you pay off your hefty bill. Man, I was mad. They give you 4 weeks to pay in full before it's turned over to the bank.

We did not have the $4k they wanted, so we took a lower interest personal loan out through USAA and paid in full to the hospital within the time frame and are paying USAA loan instead. Saved us a little money and we didn't have to open a new line of credit through another bank.

The hospital would not discount the balance when I wrote them that check for $4k, either. Sadly.

 

[Disneylover79]

NO WAY!!! it is perfectly OK to ask for a payment plan.... they are, or should be, Ok with it.... call the billing office and speak to someone and just tell them you can't afford to pay it all at once... they should be able to accommodate you...
Glad t hear Hubby is doing OK...

 

[Disneylover79]

I would do it if they will do it interest free.

The hospital I use, I found out AFTER a two week stay, does not allow payment plans. Instead, they sell your acct to an out of state bank who will happily charge you INTEREST while you pay off your hefty bill. Man, I was mad. They give you 4 weeks to pay in full before it's turned over to the bank.

We did not have the $4k they wanted, so we took a lower interest personal loan out through USAA and paid in full to the hospital within the time frame and are paying USAA loan instead. Saved us a little money and we didn't have to open a new line of credit through another bank.

The hospital would not discount the balance when I wrote them that check for $4k, either. Sadly.

Can I just add.. that is SAD!!!.. I work for a hospital (RN) and that is horrible... come on for pete's sake this people are sick... give them a break...

I work in the ICU and the business office always calls to see if they can come up to talk with them... it always makes me mad because the people are in the ICU because the are critically ill.... leave them alone... but some of the people do need assistance so they try to help them....

But I can say that being an employee the know what I get paid and when I get paid so there is no beating around the bush with them... thankgoodness they can do payroll deduction...

 

[bumbershoot]

First step is to get a full explanation of why it wasn't covered. They tend to goof.

DS had an ER trip last November, and up until September of this year I was still going back and forth with the ambulance company and my old insurance company (we had JUST signed up with the new insurance after hubby got a new job, then by April it was re-enrollment time and we got a completely different company). Ambulance company finally agreed to the discount they had agreed to and then the insurance company realized THEY had goofed in figuring out what was covered and by how much (they got the ambulance bill BEFORE the ER bill and figured it out wrong) and sent me a check.

That was a long almost year!

So make SURE they got it right first, and if they did, then if you need to, figure out the payment plan. But keep them informed if there's any re-submitting you need to do with the insurance company; you don't want it going to collections b/c they haven't heard from you, and get things in writing whenever possible.