https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 19 Apr 2026 02:03:31 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-hospital-charges-er-iv-fluids#post-2736803 Tue, 16 May 2017 18:36:39 +0000 sunny 2736803@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pinkcupcake: I'll post it to your wall. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-hospital-charges-er-iv-fluids#post-2736800 Tue, 16 May 2017 18:30:17 +0000 pinkcupcake 2736800@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: can I ask what your monthly premiums are? And OoP max?</p> <p>So infuriated by our system. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-hospital-charges-er-iv-fluids#post-2736798 Tue, 16 May 2017 18:21:57 +0000 sunny 2736798@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: Interesting! I have only been hospitalized once and I knew I was going to hit my OOP max since I knew it was going to be a mid-6 figure bill :shocked: To be honest, I was afraid to "poke the bear" in case the charges went up and not down. :silly: </p> <p>@pinkcupcake: I'm on a HDHP. My monthly premiums are low but I pay the first $3000 of care (my deductible) and then a co-insurance up to my OOP max. Totally agree that our insurance system is messed up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-hospital-charges-er-iv-fluids#post-2736797 Tue, 16 May 2017 18:12:58 +0000 Iced Tea 2736797@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hate hospital bills! They are infuriating. </p> <p>I would think your best bets for reducing the cost are arguing down the care level (you might have to write a brief formal appeal if they are evading you) and asking for a discount (possibly ask for cash discount if you pay the whole bill at once, or say you can't afford the total). Though the IV charges do seem outrageous, I doubt they would discount them any further than your insurance company's negotiated rate. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-hospital-charges-er-iv-fluids#post-2736796 Tue, 16 May 2017 18:11:10 +0000 KT326 2736796@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: I feel ya. I had to pay $1,000 for my anatomy scan because I wasn't at my deductible yet. Hopefully you can get it lowered. But if not will you be close to your out of pocket max? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-hospital-charges-er-iv-fluids#post-2736795 Tue, 16 May 2017 18:08:45 +0000 Littlebit7 2736795@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: yeah the discount just seems really low though. I had a HDHP through uhc as well, the discount was always more along the lines of 30-40%</p> <p>I'll also add that it's unfortunate, and messed up, but that's the way EDs typically bill. and their charges are typically sky high. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-hospital-charges-er-iv-fluids#post-2736792 Tue, 16 May 2017 18:02:10 +0000 pinkcupcake 2736792@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: seriously?? That's insane! @DesertDreams88: </p> <p>Our insurance system is so effed up. Are you ladies on a group health plan? Ours is through my husband's employer and we only have a $100 copay for ER. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-hospital-charges-er-iv-fluids#post-2736791 Tue, 16 May 2017 17:57:42 +0000 DesertDreams88 2736791@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: I had to request it. So, in the future, you can request yours! I've been hospitalized or to the ER 5 times in 3 years, so I've learned to always request. My childbirth bill was like 3 pages long! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-hospital-charges-er-iv-fluids#post-2736790 Tue, 16 May 2017 17:57:06 +0000 DesertDreams88 2736790@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Littlebit7: My EOB says just this:<br /> Emergency room services charge: $2,496.90 Plan discount: $268.90 My responsibility: $2,228.00</p> <p>03/24/2017 Detailed pharmacy dispensing $480.35 which was completely discounted to $0 by the plan.</p> <p>I called UHC and they didn't cover any of the ER services because I wasn't at my deductible yet. I have lower premiums, so this is the flip side.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-hospital-charges-er-iv-fluids#post-2736789 Tue, 16 May 2017 17:55:15 +0000 sunny 2736789@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've only ever been with 2 different companies and with both of them, I've only ever seen a global rate that got charged, possibly because that's the way my insurer has chosen to deal with their in network hospitals. I've never seen an itemized bill as detailed as yours come from any of my providers (hospital, doc, lab). I actually think not seeing an itemized bill probably makes it easier for them to "hide" things because I can't really dispute them. </p> <p>@pinkcupcake: Yep I've been to the ER more than once and I was charged about $2000 each time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-hospital-charges-er-iv-fluids#post-2736788 Tue, 16 May 2017 17:50:00 +0000 DesertDreams88 2736788@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pinkcupcake: yep... it was $3000 before, and it's $2200 now. All for 2 bags of IV fluids + Zofran..... and 7 hrs of sleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-hospital-charges-er-iv-fluids#post-2736787 Tue, 16 May 2017 17:48:15 +0000 Littlebit7 2736787@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd ask united healthcare for an explanation of benefits to see what was covered and if anything wasn't. I see your adjustment, but I'd like to see what their negotiated rates were for each charge.<br /> And I'd call UHC and see what they have to say about the level 4 code.<br /> As a last resort you can say you can't afford that, see if you can be passed to a supervisor, and see if they'd work out a discounted rate. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-hospital-charges-er-iv-fluids#post-2736781 Tue, 16 May 2017 17:02:59 +0000 pinkcupcake 2736781@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Omg it's $2000 AFTER insurance?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-hospital-charges-er-iv-fluids#post-2736779 Tue, 16 May 2017 16:52:19 +0000 Bibliolove 2736779@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No advice, just sympathy. I loathe and despise this kinda crap. Why are they charging you for time on an IV? If it helps, there is a blue book for healthcare so you can see the actual "fair price" cost versus upcharge in your area. Warning, it will make you mad.<br /> <a href="https://healthcarebluebook.com" rel="nofollow">https://healthcarebluebook.com</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-hospital-charges-er-iv-fluids#post-2736768 Tue, 16 May 2017 16:20:55 +0000 caterw 2736768@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh yes this has happened to me for an ER visit. I was also billed separately for the doctor since he is contracted with the hospital and not an employee (wtf?!?!). The labs and whatnot are also a separate thing at my hospital since they are viewed by an outside lab firm for some ungodly reason. I would keep an eye out for an additional bill for the oxygen mask since I highly doubt they gave it to you for free.</p> <p>Also American hospital bills are the f&amp;@$ing worst. I get furious every time I see one. I don't mind paying for medical bills I suppose since that is our insurance agreement.... but the way they nickel and dime you is outrageous. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-hospital-charges-er-iv-fluids#post-2736732 Tue, 16 May 2017 15:29:33 +0000 Mrsbells 2736732@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: All I can say is that yes it is "routine" but definitely isnt normal for them to charge you for every thing in an itemized separately. But sadly thats the american way. I have received many duplicate bills like that. I dont have enough experience to know how you can successfully dispute. I usually just pay because I never get anywhere with disputing </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-hospital-charges-er-iv-fluids#post-2736679 Tue, 16 May 2017 14:35:44 +0000 DesertDreams88 2736679@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So my husband and I went to the ER back in March due to dehydration from norovirus. I ended up with a $2000 bill and DH's bill hasn't even finished processing (he was a much worse case.) I am trying to negotiate my bill in two different ways and I'm wondering if anyone else has experience in this area.</p> <p>1) They rated my care at a Level 4, leading to a large bill. ER cares is rated from 1-5, and I don't think I was a level 4. I just needed one dose of Zofran and 2 bags of IV fluids. However, the dr DID keep me for 7 hours for observation, and because DH was in the room next door. I feel like they kept me longer than necessary (I was asleep). I still don't think dehydration merits a level 4. I asked the billing dept for their criteria for deciding on a level, and thus a billing code, and they were evasive and said they'd get back to me. I want them to change the code down to a level 3, and thus less money. </p> <p>2) They charged me for each bag of IV fluid, AND getting the IV itself, AND the two hours of being on an IV. Each is a separate charge. Is it normal to get that many charges for IV treatment? It counts for $1367 of my bill. </p> <p>Lastly, I'm just now noticing that they didn't charge me for the oxygen mask they put on me at some point during my sleep.... supposedly my sats were low because I had a stuffed nose. Is oxygen something typically covered in a separate charge? Or is that something that got left off my bill, that they might add on if I press things?</p> <p>All of this is so stupid and all services and products in hospitals should be labeled and you should have to consent to each one verbally if possible. :( I should've turned down the blood tests, they were unnecessary. The ER dr told my husband to get a CT scan 4 separate times, and then finally relented and did just an xray.</p> <p>[attach=5393/17/oq293k.223x600.bill.jpg] </p>