Ablation, mailboxphobia and walletdectomy

I had an ablation done a couple of weeks ago and have been suffering from mailboxphobia which is a fear of looking in the mail box and finding a large bill.

The bill for the hospital stay is about $192,000. The insurance company explanation of benefits states that they will pay the contract rate of about $86,000. The form also states the hospital is not supposed to bill me for the $105,000 but I will still suffer from mailboxphobia for the next several months until I find out for sure.

I haven't received the bills from my doctor or the anesthesiologists yet and any mystery bills.

I hope I don't end up with a major walletdectomy which is a surgical procedure to remove money from the wallet along with 401k retirement funds and other assets.

The ablation worked for a few hours then I went back into atrial fibrillation. The next day they gave me a cardioversion and it worked. For the next cardioversion I will use a car battery and jumper cables to save money.

I wouldn't mind paying more taxes to have a Canadian or UK style health system.

4 Comments

Suffering too

by TKS - 2009-08-04 09:08:28

I too am suffering from these maladies...I've got the hospital statement...a whopping $463,000. So far I haven't gotten any bills but am waiting for the other shoe to drop. No bills from the Doctors and no mystery bills but I'm sure they are on the way. My hubby isn't quite ready to trade me in as a clunker, but I think the thought is tempting him.

Cabg...if you get that one with the banking machine pass the info on...I'm sure we could all use one! :)

Theresa from Iowa

Why does it cost so much?

by johnb10000 - 2009-08-04 10:08:48

I am trying to figure out why it costs so much.

When arriving at the hospital I had to go to one area to fill out a bunch of paperwork which took half an hour and pay $825. The money had to paid before the operation.

The next step I walked to surgery admission area where I had to fill some more paper work and a nurse attached the EKG leads, IV and catheter up the penis (yuck). The catheter up the penis was the worst part of the whole procedure. There were about six beds in this area with two nurses getting people ready for operations. I was there for about an hour and a half.

Next I was wheeled into the operating room. There were four people involved. The cardiologist, anesthesiologist and imager are all outside contractors which will have separate bills that I haven't received yet. That leaves the nurse and the cost of the hospital operating room. I was in the operating room for about eight hours. There could be more people in the operating room but I was unconscious.

After I woke up in the operating room they took me to my room. They took a few EKG readings a few times that night and the next day. The vampire also came around a few times to take my blood. There is the cost for the nurses, somebody to take the EKG and somebody else to check to EKG results. There is also the cost for the vampire to take the blood get the results from the lab.

The next day they did the cardioversion which took a whole five minutes. The used anesthesiologist to put me under with the same drug Michael Jackson used. Fortunately it wasn't the same doctor Michael used. This required bunch more paperwork.

Hotels put the price for the rooms on the back of the door. I would like to see hospitals do the same thing and put room, EKG, draw blood, nurse and other costs on the door.


My afib was so bad they set my ICD at a high level because I would get too many shocks.

My car is worth more than I am. It is ten years old and still runs and looks good.


Yikes !!!

by Angelie - 2009-08-05 09:08:41

You must have had more than an ablation for your bill to be 192,000 dollars. That is 3 times the cost of my most expensive ablation, and I myself, am wondering why your bill is so high. I would ask for an itemized bill. It's your bill, it's your right to know exactly what you're paying for.
I know I was suprised to learn that those ablation catheters are about 10 grand a piece, I wasn't surprised how they charge you for every little thing including the two razor blades I got charged for, but the nurses didn't even use. At 15 bucks a pop, I thought contrary to complain since it was one of the smaller charges. When your bill is multi-thousands of dollars, suddenly 30 dollars seems miniscule to fight over....
Seriously though, call them and ask for an itemized bill listing every charge. Most hospitals usually break it down by sterile supplies, room, pharmacy, EP lab charges, etc.
Don't be afraid to check your mailbox. After having 5 ablations (one without insurance coverage) I understand your anxiety. It's not going to go away so just take it as it comes and do the best you can. With my health problems, I have realized that you never really get ahead. It took me 7 years to pay off one medical bill. By the time I had that paid off, I had two more ablations, and a cardioversion for atrial flutter. ( I had Propophyl as well, and loved it- Out like a light in 2 seconds, awake, alert and eating a hamburger without the "druggy" feeling or lasting effects within 15 minutes)
Now I'm filling out more financial aid papers with the hospital. Every little bit helps, and it doesn't hurt to try, and I would suggest you do the same.

I know it's a tremendous burden that most people you know don't understand, but WE do. Hang in there, and really try not to worry about it. All you can do is all you can do. You have this gigantic medical bill, but they cannot take your life away......

Angelie

Maybe I should cash in now.

by sugarleaf4 - 2009-08-23 11:08:37

I need a pm and am currently without medical insurance since being laid off. I recently started a new job and it will be a few months before I will be eligible for health coverage with the new job. I have read your stories about the costs of medical procedures and now I'm scared stiff ------------ maybe I should just say my goodbyes, kiss my kids and cash in. It seems that a pm is more costly than I thought it would (or should be) and since we do not have a health plan in place here in the US for people like me, exactly what are people like me supposed to do?
I've got money in a retirement account but the state I lived in (since re-located to another), will not give me one dime ------- not even to pay for a medical procedure. Maybe I can sell my kids (although I think the boys would be returned because they eat too much) and the youngest costs too much (she has to be seen in the latest fashions) to pay for the costs associated with pm implantation!!
Maybe I should fake my own demise and then pay for the pm with insurance funds. Since I want a Biotronik pm, maybe I should approach them about being a lab rat for them. Oprah, if you're out there, would you like to contribute to my pm fund? If I live to complete grad school, I'll be a darn good mental health therapist and I'd give you free sessions (complete with hypnotherapy) for life! (smile)

You know you're wired when...

You have a high-tech ticker.

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At age 20, I will be getting a pacemaker in few weeks along with an SA node ablation. This opportunity may change a five year prognosis into a normal life span! I look forward to being a little old lady with a wicked cane!