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US Hospital Treatment?
spiddy100
Posts: 582 Forumite
Admins, I wasn't sure where to put this so please move if it is in the wrong place.
Last month we were on holiday in America when my back tooth broke in half. It was about 6pm on a Friday evening, we were in the middle of nowhere with no internet access. I phoned my uncle who lives in the US and he did a google search for dentists but couldn't find any that were open on a Friday or a Saturday.
Coincidentally, we were passing a hospital so I went into the ER, mainly to ask their advice on how to find an emergency dentist. I was told that they would be able to help me and that I should sit down and wait. I had to fill out some forms and was pressed to give a US address so I used my uncle's address.
After a long wait, I was seen by a member of clinical staff. She looked into my mouth for about 30 seconds, then told me there was nothing she could do as they had no dentist on site. She wrote me three prescriptions (painkillers, stronger painkillers, anti-biotics), which I had to take to the pharmacy and pay for. She also printed me off a list of local dentists.
I asked how much the treatment was going to cost but no-one could tell me, they kept telling me that it was all worked out by their billing dept and that I would have to wait and speak to the billing people. I did call them a few days later but was told that my bill was not ready.
I have just been sent a bill for over $1000 for this "treatment".
I do have insurance but not enough to cover this bill plus the bill for the dentist who actually fixed my tooth. I don't actually know whether they will pay out for the hospital "treatment".
Does anyone know whether I have any chance of contesting this bill considering the fact that I received no treatment and only a very summary examination? I had been expecting a bill of $200 at the worst.
Thank you.
Last month we were on holiday in America when my back tooth broke in half. It was about 6pm on a Friday evening, we were in the middle of nowhere with no internet access. I phoned my uncle who lives in the US and he did a google search for dentists but couldn't find any that were open on a Friday or a Saturday.
Coincidentally, we were passing a hospital so I went into the ER, mainly to ask their advice on how to find an emergency dentist. I was told that they would be able to help me and that I should sit down and wait. I had to fill out some forms and was pressed to give a US address so I used my uncle's address.
After a long wait, I was seen by a member of clinical staff. She looked into my mouth for about 30 seconds, then told me there was nothing she could do as they had no dentist on site. She wrote me three prescriptions (painkillers, stronger painkillers, anti-biotics), which I had to take to the pharmacy and pay for. She also printed me off a list of local dentists.
I asked how much the treatment was going to cost but no-one could tell me, they kept telling me that it was all worked out by their billing dept and that I would have to wait and speak to the billing people. I did call them a few days later but was told that my bill was not ready.
I have just been sent a bill for over $1000 for this "treatment".
I do have insurance but not enough to cover this bill plus the bill for the dentist who actually fixed my tooth. I don't actually know whether they will pay out for the hospital "treatment".
Does anyone know whether I have any chance of contesting this bill considering the fact that I received no treatment and only a very summary examination? I had been expecting a bill of $200 at the worst.
Thank you.
That man is richest whose pleasures are cheapest. Henry David Thoreau
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Comments
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Does anyone know whether I have any chance of contesting this bill considering the fact that I received no treatment and only a very summary examination? I had been expecting a bill of $200 at the worst.
Welcome to the US medical system. To be honest I'm surprised they didnt try and get some x-rays in there too, maybe a CAT scan to bump up the bill a bit more.
In all honesty you are probably better off asking in a US forum and ideally one focused on the state you were in at the time. Looking at http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/02/how-much-does-it-cost-to-go-to-the-er/273599/ you got off fairly lightly, average cost for going with a headache is nearly 2k0 -
It is possible to negotiate the hospital price I believe, if you call their billing department and push them. If you're not in the USA now, i'm not quite sure what they can do to get the money off you.
You need several million in health insurance cover when visiting the USA because simple stuff can spiral out of control in terms of cost.0 -
I do have insurance but not enough to cover this bill plus the bill for the dentist who actually fixed my tooth. I don't actually know whether they will pay out for the hospital "treatment".
I don't understand this. I thought £2m was fairly standard for US medical cover. Fixing your tooth didn't cost that much surely?0 -
Doshwaster wrote: »I don't understand this. I thought £2m was fairly standard for US medical cover. Fixing your tooth didn't cost that much surely?
Dental cover is separate, and much more limited. My main problem is that they didn't "fix my tooth". They looked in my mouth for about 30 seconds, and gave me a prescription and a photocopied list.That man is richest whose pleasures are cheapest. Henry David Thoreau0 -
A long time ago now, I was in my early twenties I broke my ankle while in the states, after 27 hours, yes 27 hours I was seen by a nurse who then put me in a queue to be seen by a doctor. By the time a doctor had seen me it was quite straight forward, x-Ray cast and pain killers.
On the itemised bill a paracetamol was over $20, I was also charged for a bed on a ward and a full days meals, I spent my entire time in the emergency room apart from my actual x-Ray and cast fitting. My bill was five figures which my insurance company paid.
When I had a check up a few days later at home the doctors found my ankle wasn't aligned properly, looking as it was only a few days I didn't need surgery, they were able to manipulate into position very painfully.0 -
Dental cover is separate, and much more limited. My main problem is that they didn't "fix my tooth". They looked in my mouth for about 30 seconds, and gave me a prescription and a photocopied list.
Ah. I see. I've never looked at the dental cover details in my insurance policy. I'll have to dig it out to check.
In which case I think your choice are
1. Pay up.
2. Argue with the hospital
3. Ignore the bill.
4. Argue with your insurance company.0 -
Thanks InsideInsurance, ringo_24601 and doshwaster for your replies.
I will certainly try a US forum, thanks for the suggestion. I am hoping that I can contest this. Unfortunately I was pressurised to give my relatives' address in the US so if I were to default then he would be the one being chased/blacklisted.That man is richest whose pleasures are cheapest. Henry David Thoreau0 -
It just makes me so angry (and worried about paying the $1000). I went to the hospital to ask their advice and they told me to stay and be seen by someone. If they'd said "We don't have a dentist here but we can write you a prescription for painkillers. It will cost you $1000", I would have run a mile.That man is richest whose pleasures are cheapest. Henry David Thoreau0
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Standard practice if you don't have insurance is to negotiate the bill. I seem to remember that the sweet spot is offering 25% of the bill. I had a mate that got a $4K bill because he got drunk and collapsed in the Bellagio Las Vegas. Thy threw every test at him they could get there hands on, when they knew he was just drunk.
Anyway, his insurance refused to pay up (quite rightly) so he got chased for the $4K, he was told to offer them $1K by his insurance and they snapped his hand off.The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot. If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something for the risk you run, and if you do that you will have enough to pay for something better.0 -
Do you have private dental treatment in the UK ?? If so a lot of the packages that dentists pass on include dental treatment abroad. The one I'm with certainly does. Cant remember name at the moment.0
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