Big hospital bills with "good" insurance

At the hospital that I go to they have "Care Payments." I pay a set amount each month and as long as I am not late with a payment there is no interest. I pay less than $100 a month. If I am even a day late, there is a $25.00 penalty and interest fees, but I just auto pay it. I'm still paying off my hospital bill from last year and I have great insurance too. You should call the billing office at the hospital and see what arrangements you can make. So sorry you are going through this.....I am a fan of national health care, but alas, I don't run the country!

I make payment plans; one of my hospitals doesn't charge interest, another does. Some also offer financial assistance. I also had my insurance do an audit of my account for the last year and a half because I had met my out of pocket max and was stilling getting billed for a co-insurance. Turns out there was a "glitch" in their computer system that didn't compute I'd met it. So I'm now getting reimbursed for some things.

I have crohns and MS. Even if I went on SSD, my hubby and I make too much to get medicaid. I quit my job on 10/31/12( too much stress) and can't find another one. My last job didn't have benefits so I am paying for COBRA. Since I am a month behind on COBRA, I can't afford to pay for it, I am sure the insurance is going to charge me for the Gastro appointment, cipro and Endocort. In two weeks, we will be homeless

scifigal- I am glad you are getting some money back. That is always a good thing!

colitiscanuck- You are so right! It is bad enough being sick and having to worry about paying all the copays, deductibles and coinsurance or even noncovered costs but trying to pay it when you are sick and cant work really bites. I wish we were covered by the same type of system. It would be so nice to be able to go into the hospital without freaking out on how I will pay for it or worrying I lose my home or saving for something out of my control.

Singingsupernurse- I am so sorry you are going through that and could become homeless! I dont qualify for Medicaid or any other program either so I feel your pain. Best of luck to you!

question Everything- My hospital does the same thing. This bill was from last May. They must have got a payment from insurance and now they are sending me the final bill. I already paid thousands and thought I was done. As always, they arent done until they suck every cent from you. As for the Affordable care act, it will help with out of pocket costs for those that are sick but it doesnt go near far enough. We need a national system where we call all get care regardless of what our income is. JMHO.

I understand! I'm on DH insurance and at the beginning of the year it changed from low out of pocket and no copays for test to 20% across the board copay and a huge out of pocket for the year. And the hospital system I usually deal with is a university teaching hosp. and there all all these extra facility fees --- so aggravating!! We're hoping to build up enough "credits" in his plan to take a year of two at the higher plan level and not have the huge copays. But that is scary because if work gets bad and he gets laid off we'll have to drop back down to the level we are now.

Santa -- All I want for Christmas is no more medical bills.

Amen for no more medical bills..The HSA is raising the deductible this year for family and individual..You have $3,000 out of pocket up front then 80% just for one person..I pay out $500 a month now too just in premium..Yes Santa no more medical bills..Americans pay more for healthcare than other countries and it is suppose to be better care??..They can sue you tap your assets and garnish your wages and tap your income tax too..It is bad enough you are stuck with this darn disease..ObamaCare is not all bad..I was left to die in 2004 when I started a new job and needed surgery without coverage then had to deal with preexisting..What about the people ages 50-64 that lose their jobs and their health and lose everything they work for..I see the need for healthcare reform..I should be able to pay a flat fee and everything is covered..Luckily all my husband's diabetes and other meds my plan does cover at a 100%..I guess I need to find the time after a move to get into drs before the end of the year before I am out the $3,000 up front again..

Dijin- Thanks for remembering my knees and the AVN! The left knee that I had surgery on is holding!! I honestly had no real hopes since I was in a very advanced stage before surgery but so far, so good! I am long past overdue for the right knee surgery but none of my Dr.s are approving that surgery yet because my Crohns has been so out of control and I haven't been able to wean off the Cimzia. We just added Welchol to the mix and I am already feeling somewhat better so I am hoping I can find remission and get my last surgery in January. Hopefully the right leg will hold out that long. I will be so glad to get this behind me.
I hope you are off that Prednisone and feeling better!

@Pmedic It's good to "hear" that. Pred is so weird... it's like a cursed miracle. Or a cane with a adverse lottery. It's not for weak hearts. Ignorance is bliss here.

Right now, I'm off pred and going to attack humira dose 4shots, 2shots, 1shot, 1shot, .... alog with aza. Its has helped before, so I'm hopefull. Let's see.

JasonCPht- What are the requirements for the pre-exisiting condition Insurance and the "special needs plan"? I have never heard of either.

Thanks!