Question about cost of CT scan

[tccancercop]

Yeah that is ridiculous. No wonder insurance companies throw fits about the costs and why there is a crisis in the U.S. with healthcare.

[Don]

I'm glad to see that they are willing to help you out with the cost of the Ct-scan.. I'm questioning that price though. I had a ct-scan fron my local hospital last week and the bill was 1384.00. I looked back in my records from all the scans when I had my scans @ Moffitt cancer center and they were all in the 1300.00 to1700.00 range. All these scans were chest,abdominal and pelvis scans. I don't know if Moffitt can justify charging more because they are a National cancer Institute but 4000.00+ for a scan is a little steep!!

[Kev332]

Nice! Thats Great!

[SleepyGuy]

The hospital is gonna write off the remaining $3,000+ I owe them on the abdominal cat scan, after my insurance paid them 1,000

[SleepyGuy]

These are all done IN hospitals. Different cities too. Insurance covers everything, they don't ask questions.

Theres a bunch of radiologists in my city who have their own machines. I called around and all of their rates are much much lower, and within the limits that my insurance will cover, which is only 1,000 USD.

[Steve]

Seems like as long as I never have it done at a hospital affiliated facility it will be under 1,000.

These are all done IN hospitals. Different cities too. Insurance covers everything, they don't ask questions.

[SleepyGuy]

Easily under $1,000 here in Ireland, you are getting fleeced

Seems like as long as I never have it done at a hospital affiliated facility it will be under 1,000.

[Steve]

Easily under $1,000 here in Ireland, you are getting fleeced

[IowaBrian]

Just keep on them get a copy of the policy there should be a long plan discription that they shoud be able to send you that will really tell you what they cover. Don't ever listen to what one of the CS reps tell you on the phone I am in insurance and I will call our Health Insurance company and ask a question then call back a hour later and get a different answer. I would bet the University has someone that knows a lot about the coverage I would find out who that is and go in and talk to them they might have a contact they can call to make sure you are getting all that is due. Remember you can always call the State and ask them if they are playing fair!
Good Luck

[SleepyGuy]

I got some more info. Grady is still an option for follow up care, but might not be. BUt I found out I'll probably be able to qualify for assistance from the hospital since I'm unemployed and make no money. Not even a student this semester. But I wont know anything for sure until I fill out and submit the rest of the paperwork.

On the the other hand, thats just for my CT scan. I'm still probably gonna owe 15k to Emory. Thats when I'll try the appeals in my insurance. I have 50k worth of coverage, but they dont cover anything.

[SleepyGuy]

Are you at a state school? GSU, or anything like that ?

R

I'm already seeing a guy at the Emory Clinic. I'm almost done with my treatments, so changing over to Grady at this point might be a problem. Even though he works at Grady.

I go to LSU, staying here for the semester with the parents. The money I receive for college comes in as cash and not credits. So thats the main issue. They just send me a check in the mail to deposit.

So for programs that require you to have a certain income under a certain level, I typically get excluded, since tuition is so high. But if the financial aid is based on how much you have coming in and going out, then its a different story.

My first abdominal CT scan was done at Gwinnet Medical, ordered by the Urologist. Second one, chest, was done at the Emory clinic by the Rad. Onc. I'm already having to do the song and dance with Gwinnet. Theirs doesnt seem to be based on how much income you get, but by what comes in and out. So I might be ok there.

[SleepyGuy]

I also wonder what rates a person without insurance pay, or what do we the taxpayers about those on assistance or medicare?

Depends on how hard nosed you are about the thing. Many places if your using cash, will give you the insurance rate or some percentage off the bill. I imagine Medicare/Medicaid is probably the same.

But the list rate you see on your insurance papers is what many people will pay. Although seeing what the insurance pays is quite amazing. Like my preop labs were over a 100 USD. Insurance pays ~21 USD for that. I wonder how many private payers get that rate.

[Sans rt1]

Last fall when I started having lower pack discomfort, my oncologist ordered a full CT (chest, ab, pelvis) plus some other images to see if there was anything going on with the spine in that area. When I got the insurance statement I was stunned (even more than I had been with the earlier bills). The total was $15,300 - my insurance "negotiated savings to customer" was about $12,700, then they paid $2300 leaving me to pay about $300 (I was already well past my deductable). I was on the CT table for about 30 minutes - so it was significant, but I wonder the games that are played with these rates. I mean, the contrast solution (assume this included what I drank plus what was put in my vein) was over $600 of the original total.

I have excellent beneifts where I work, so I am lucky. My provider is Blue Cross, but recently because they have played so hardnosed with the doctors and hospitals, most in my area will not accept the basic low cost plan - so I (and many of my co-workers) have been forced to change to the alternate plan that cost us more each month, has higher co-pays and deductibles - so we can get good care in our area - use the best doctors and hospitals - have some sayso in our care. I consider myself very fortunate to be able afford to do this, but feel for those who can't. I agree our system is broken. It seems to be a game to see who can be squeezed the most.

I also wonder what rates a person without insurance pay, or what do we the taxpayers about those on assistance or medicare?

[SleepyGuy]

Go to Grady with your student insurance. they will charge what your insurance will pay. It is a county hospital, but a very good one. it is run by Emory University. As a student you may qualify for county aid.

Do they charge what the insurance will pay regardless or is that a county aid program?

I've looked into different programs to help with the expenses, but I dont qualify. The money I get for school bumps me over the limits.

[SleepyGuy]

You can try writing some letters and maybe they'll take care of it in the interest of "good customer relations"? My insurance co said the appeals go before some kind of medical review board to determine medical necessity and review individual circumstances. Couldn't hurt to try?

Good luck
-chris

The rad onc's social worker gave me a phone number for free legal help for cancer survivors in Atlanta. So I might call them up and have a chat, to see at least what my options are with insurance.