My trip to the E.R.

[DYLAN150]

I was sitting home watching TV one night about three weeks ago and all of sudden got this pain in the middle of my back. I had some vicodin and took two pills but the pain would not go away. So I went to the ER where they ran a bunch of blood tests and did a CT scan of my upper body. They also did several EKG's and hooked me up to a heart monitor. They decided I needed to spend the night in the hospital and I was released the next day. The only thing they could find is gall stones which they think might be the cause of the pain. So to sum this up, I spend 24 hours at the hospital, had a bunch of tests completed. I have great health insurance. Total hospital bills for 24 hours, so far is $17,000. My insurance is paying about $2800 of this and I guess the hospital writes the remaining off. Could you image what the bill would be if you spent 2 or 3 weeks in the hospital or several months?

[ValleYum]

So glad you are okay and have good insurance, Dylan!! Medical bills can sadly be devastating to many people post BK.

[keepsmiling]

Yikes.
So... what now? They don't just go away on their own, do they?

[DYLAN150]

Keepsmilling: No, they don't. I have two choices, have my gall bladder taken out or take medication for the rest of my life, will most likely have my gall bladder removed, it a pretty simple go in, come home operation. Also, the Dr said there are millions of people walking around with gall stones and don't know it.

[tobee43]

Keepsmilling: No, they don't. I have two choices, have my gall bladder taken out or take medicatio
n for the rest of my life, will most likely have my gall bladder removed, it a pretty simple go in, come home operation. Also, the Dr said there are millions of people walking around with gall stones and don't know it.

DLYAN...so sorry your feeling badly! i hope it gets resolved one way or another SOON. maybe having the gall bladder removed might be a thought so you don't have to go through this forever

[Freddy03]

This is the main reason why healthcare cost so much! Hospitals charges are ridiculous!!

Back in 2003 my child was in the hospital for 9 days. Grand total was $85K!! She had no surgery, no MRI/Cat Scans, no x-rays just IV fluids and monitoring. My insurance company paid about $6k for the whole 9 days. I had a $100 admission copay. The hospital received less than 8 percent of their bill. I work in the field so I like to examine all medical bills I receive. The hospital charged $350 every time someone came in and changed a band-aid on my daughter.

Hope you are feeling better soon!

[IamOld]

Dylan take good care my friend! Yes, you can do quite well without a gallbladder....!!!!

[DYLAN150]

Thanks guys. BTW, you can't get any sleep in the hospital when someone comes into your room every hour and takes your blood pressure, all night long.

[karm43]

Have it taken out it could cause major problems in certain people. Do not want the stones to start traveling or get you septic.

[mountanddo]

Have it taken out it could cause major problems in certain people. Do not want the stones to start traveling or get you septic.

I had my gallbladder out and have had nothing but problems ever since. Find out everything before you agree to that surgery.

[ValleYum]

I, too, have had my gallbladder removed. Mine was taken out before they did the laparoscopic version of the surgery (done in the late 80's) - so I have an 18 inch scar from mine.

Do Google: "Bile dumping syndrome" before you make your decision to have surgery.

[PANSYFACE]

wow - I hope you will feel better soon. Your insurance only covered 2,800 of a 17,000 bill?

What's the point of paying so much for health care to get so little in return?

We haven't had health insurance in years, couln't afford it being self-employed - luckily we are healthy and my car insurance picks up any health costs due to a car accident.

I hope your gall bladder issues get resolved for you quickly.

[mountanddo]

wow - I hope you will feel better soon. Your insurance only covered 2,800 of a 17,000 bill?

What's the point of paying so much for health care to get so little in return?

I think the hospital is writing off the remaining amount. Hospitals contract with insurance to accept certain payment for services and the write off the rest. The insured pays what the insurance dictates per their contract. So I don't think they are responsible for the remaining amount from the 17k.

[DYLAN150]

An example of a Doctors bill would be going in for something and they bill my insurance $300 bucks. My insurance pays them $120 and the doctor writes the remaining off. (per contract) Went in for a flu shot and they bill my insurance $39 bucks and my insurance paid $11, the rest gets written off.

[GoingDown]

Be very careful about gallstones. If it is possible, get the gall bladder removed completely.

One of my grandmothers had trouble off and on with gall stones, over and over again, and she kept getting put in the hospital for this, and then one day they went in to remove the gall bladder and discovered it was full of cancer. And it had already spread.

If they had removed it earlier, maybe they could've saved her life.