Emergency Room bill - what should I expect?

[dukelampard]

So a few weeks ago, I ended up in a hospital bed after a night of irresponsible boozing. According to my friends, I passed out and someone called 911.

I don't know what they actually did to me at the hospital, I just woke up with an IV and a tube in my nose, and I was too embarrassed to ask questions.

This was a almost a month ago, and I still haven't received a bill. What am I supposed to do?

[bokiz333]

What should you do: Grow up? Or handle your alcohol? Pay the bill when it arrives? Start a thread about it?

What should you expect: A bill, with numbers on it and possibly $ signs, some phone numbers and addressed. Assuming you don't have ins since you seem kinda irresponsible so far, pay the number that starts with the $ and send the amount to the address part.

Next question.

[Jack]

Call up your insurance company and see what's going on. You may have a $100 copay. They've probably already have billed your insurance company.

You may have a high deductible plan. I don't know if you need to forward anything to the insurance co or if the hospital does that.

In any case call and ask.

[bokiz333]

Call up your insurance company and see what's going on. You may have a $100 copay. They've probably already have billed your insurance company.

I assume he doesn't have ins...otherwise, why even start the thread...call your ins co and see what they say. The end.

[RichieGB]

So a few weeks ago, I ended up in a hospital bed after a night of irresponsible boozing. According to my friends, I passed out and someone called 911.


Awesome prank. I would have gone for a sharpie penis on your forehead but I don't exactly win prizes for creativity.

[Jack]

I assume he doesn't have ins...otherwise, why even start the thread...call your ins co and see what they say. The end.

Are you suggesting he's a moran?

[greenman]

You better hope that you have a $200 ER copay, because if not, you can kiss away a couple grand. And was there an ambulance involved after the 911 call? There's some more $$$.

[bokiz333]

Are you suggesting he's a moran?

A little bit.

[The Cuddling Wingman]

Given your username, make sure you have time-stamped cell phone pictures that can poke holes in the stripper's story

[bokiz333]

Given your username, make sure you have time-stamped cell phone pictures that can poke holes in the stripper's story

That's a low blow...wasn't that story disproven and everyone cleared anyway?

[The Cuddling Wingman]

That's a low blow...wasn't that story disproven and everyone cleared anyway?

Yes, because of the time-stamped pictures on a cell phone that poked holes in the stripper's story

[Keef]

What am I supposed to do?

Switch doors!

[bokiz333]

Yes, because of the time-stamped pictures on a cell phone that poked holes in the stripper's story

I take away my previous objection about you blowing him.

[The Cuddling Wingman]

I take away my previous objection about you blowing him.

The DA did the same thing after it was revealed that there were time-stamped cell phone pictures that poked holes in the stripper's story

[ditkaworshipper]

Wait until you get the bill and then figure it out. Everything is speculation now.

On the speculation note, you probably had your stomach pumped and an IV drip.

[FormLetter]

check out your EOBs

Do your EOBs come via mail or electronically? Check with your insurer.

[dukelampard]

check out your EOBs

Do your EOBs come via mail or electronically? Check with your insurer.

I didn't have my insurance card on me, and I don't remember answering any questions about insurance, so I don't think they were able to get in touch with my insurer.

[FoxNews]

FoxNews has confirmed that this thread proves why an actuary wasn't a character in The Hangover

[dukelampard]

You better hope that you have a $200 ER copay, because if not, you can kiss away a couple grand. And was there an ambulance involved after the 911 call? There's some more $$$.

Yes :(

[bokiz333]

I didn't have my insurance card on me, and I don't remember answering any questions about insurance, so I don't think they were able to get in touch with my insurer.

OMG, dude, you're a fricking actuary...get your shit together. Call your insurance company and ask them what they will cover in that situation. If it's good, call the hopital and provide your ins info. If it's bad, wait till they bill you and start saving $$$ now.

The end.

[violaactuary]

Hospitals can take forever to bill, especially ER. Last year I got a May ER bill in September. Call the hospital, tell them you were there on X date and need to provide your insurance information. Then, just wait for the bill. If it comes but doesn't have insurance adjustments, call back and ask them what part insurance will pay, they should send you an updated bill.

Your ER copay might not apply if your visit counts as overnight. Be prepared to come up with your deductible. Do you know how much that is? The good news is, you can make payments to a hospital forever, whatever you can afford.

The people in billing don't care why you were in the hospital, they won't judge you. Don't be embarrassed to call.

This too shall pass.

[3rookie]

Call up the hospital. Have them identify your account. Say "no hablo" and you are good to go.

[GoldenGoal]

You have Sh!t friends. This happened to me a year ago but my buddies drove me to the ER. Saved me a ton of money. I didn't owe a dime thanks to Obama's kids are covered till 25. Or maybe it wasn't thanks to him but all I know is there was no bill to be paid.

[ziggyz]

Your ER copay might not apply if your visit counts as overnight. Be prepared to come up with your deductible. Do you know how much that is? The good news is, you can make payments to a hospital forever, whatever you can afford.


Did you know you can negotiate hospital bills?

If you're insurance isn't going to cover it and you have the money needed, hear their price or wait til you get the bill, then offer them something better for you like 75% of it in cash that day to waive everything else. If not, set up a payment plan and expect them to tell you that you didn't pay them or another bill appears out of their butts.

Here (http://www.health.com/health/article/0,,20456475,00.html), you can read more about it.

[violaactuary]

Did you know you can negotiate hospital bills?

If you're insurance isn't going to cover it and you have the money needed, hear their price or wait til you get the bill, then offer them something better for you like 75% of it in cash that day to waive everything else. If not, set up a payment plan and expect them to tell you that you didn't pay them or another bill appears out of their butts.

To add to this, he is right, but make sure they are accepting it as full payment for services, and not treating it as some settlement that will go on your credit report.

[Egghead]

Viola gave you the right advice.

What are you afraid of? To the staff at the hospital, you're just somebody on the phone. They'll be grateful you called up with the insurance information, because it helps them to get the claim filed and adjudicated. Much easier process (for them and you) from that point on. Plus, your insurance will generally have discounts greater than anything you can negotiate on your own, which will minimize how much you'll have to come up with out of pocket, even if you don't have an ER copay.

[douglan]

There are no insurance bills in hell. Hate to break it to you, dood.

j/k ;)

[That Goblin]

Did you know you can negotiate hospital bills?

If you're insurance isn't going to cover it and you have the money needed, hear their price or wait til you get the bill, then offer them something better for you like 75% of it in cash that day to waive everything else. If not, set up a payment plan and expect them to tell you that you didn't pay them or another bill appears out of their butts.

Here (http://www.health.com/health/article/0,,20456475,00.html), you can read more about it.

It's not just hospitals. Many providers will give you a cash discount without you even asking.

[ADoubleDot]

Seems like an over reaction by your friends. If we always went to the hospital after passing out from alcohol, it would constitute 100% of GDP. Did you stop breathing or something?

[Guerilla poster]

I don't know how many times I passed out in my younger days. Never ended up in ER. Probably lucky to be alive.