Things I found out when I looked at medical billing (pre-insurance) for my surgery:
- A pregnancy test costs $77 (I could’ve gotten one at CVS for less than $10).
- The screw they put in my ankle cost $81.06.
- An extra 30 minutes of surgery costs $1,618.
- An extra 30 minutes of anesthesia costs $383.50.
- Repairing ligaments costs $6,582.
- Exploring an ankle joint costs $4,363.
So far, the total for surgery is $32,916.89. Still waiting to see what insurance will pay. Hoping this doesn’t set me back too far. Right now what it says I owe will hurt the wallet a bit, but won’t break the bank. I have pretty good insurance, so I’m hopeful the final total won’t be too much!
I hear ya, sister. We got the bill for Marjie’s surgery for a broken wrist last week. A 49mm stainless steel plate was $3400. And is held in place by svereal screws ranging between 187 and $1400(!) each. She also is at 30 some thousand. We feel your pain. 😉
It’s so crazy! I’m sure Marjie’s will end up being more – because I’m guessing hers included an ER visit?
When I had surgery for my Crohn’s, think everything was around $140,000. Thank God for insurance!!
holy crap!!!
Amy, I am glad to see you’re on the road to recovery!! Will you have to have physical therapy once you’re healed?
My husband was in a drunk driving accident and was hospitalized for 2 weeks – he got plates and screws in his leg and had his intestines sewn back together – then he was in rehabilitation for 2 weeks. I got two bills – one for $190,000 and another for $122,000! That was AFTER I got the $2200 ambulance bill to drive him 5 miles :p This stuff is ridiculous.
WOWZA! I hope that the drunk driver paid your bills! And that your husband is doing ok. I will start rehab in a week or so. They want me to wait 4 weeks after surgery before starting rehab because of the nature of my surgery.
You should read this article: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2136864,00.html
Jon Stewart interviewed the guy who wrote it on The Daily Show. It’s crazy.