Cost of healthcare perceptions Like to take a guess what my surgery cost?

[Ilsa]

A month or so ago I had day surgery in a full service county hospital. It was elective but has greatly improved my quality of life.
It was a breast reduction,
lasted 2-3 hours,
performed by a plastic surgeon,
anesthesiology by a doctor, not CRNA,
arrived that morning and left that evening.

All bills together (surgeon, hospital, etc, before the anesthesiologist's bill because I don't know his charge yet)and before the insurance makes their adjustment because the hospital is in network the total bill is somewhere around:

[uppityperson]

1. $30,000. Good luck with it all.

[Ilsa]

9. Thanks. It looks like my incisions are healing really well.

No infection, although I'll have a little scarring at the bottom of the "top loop of the anchor." It has been a real blessing. I wish he could have removed more.

The answer for me in south Texas is about $33,000, plus anesthesiologist's fee, then an insurance adjustment. I'll only be out my maximum of several thousand dollars, and it is worth it. I can actually do a real monthly exam now to check for lumps. I have alot more energy since my center of gravity has shifted down.

It's amazing about all the perceptions of different amounts.

[Cobalt Violet]

2. I'm very jealous.

I wish I could have that done.

I bet it does improve your quality of life.

[Ilsa]

10. Yes. I have alot more energy in the afternoon because

my posture is so much better. I sleep better. I have negligible back pain now. I can do a monthly exam for lumps.

I hope you'll be able to get it to, if that is what you want and need. Unfortunately, I know that it isn't possible any more for most people. I decided to get it before it became unaffordable for our employer to carry it.

PS: About $33,000 + anesthesiologist, then the adjustment down.

[catmother]

16. holy shit. they really milked the insurance company.

:crazy:

[northofdenali]

3. Ilsa, I can empathise -

and I didn't even have surgery.

My medevac flight to Anchorage from Fairbanks, a $149 round-trip regular fare, was $15,000.

Just the medevac flight.

[Katherine Brengle]

5. That's insane...

Then again, it costs about a minimum of $4,000-$5,000 just to give birth in a freaking hospital these days...

AND they make you pay cash to watch tv!

[Ilsa]

12. My friend's son took an ambulance ride 5 milesacross town. Cost $1,500.

It is sickening how expensive it is. And the uninsured are expected to pay the full amount, not the adjusted.

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

4. I had that done in 1995

and it was around $25,000, if I recall correctly. I paid next to nothing, because it was not cosmetic.

[Ilsa]

14. Copays and deductibles and max out of pocket are much higher

now. I'll be out around $2-3,000. Wow, $25,000 in 1995! Mine will be about $33,000, then reduced by insurance company. Imagine being uninsured and being expected to get no adjustment.

[brook]

6. 38thou.

Based my estimate on 7200 for a four hour visit to ER. No surgery. An IV and a couple of mini-shots of morphine. I have a condition that flairs up every so often. No mystery. I can tell them exactly what needs to be done, etc.

Edited to add: I had a friend in Mexico City who had the same oeration as you did as well as a friend here in California. They both were estatic about the improved quality of life. Most people, myself included, are usually unaware of how painfully uncomfortable large breasts can be. Wish you the best!

[Ilsa]

17. Thanks for the good wishes. About $33,000.

[Toucano]

25. That is just sick. n/t

[Horse with no Name]

7. Easily over $40k

In fact, I would guestimate closer to 50's. But don't despair, as soon as you get the anesthesia bill it will hit the next level.

[Ilsa]

18. Yeah, I'm afraid of that one.

It is going to be about $33,000 here in South Texas, before the anesthesiologist bills them.

[Nutmegger]

8. 40k gets my vote.

I'm glad you had a successful surgery. How are you feeling?

[Ilsa]

19. I'm doing great! It was "too easy" in many respects.

I sleep better, my posture is better, and so I have more energy. It was about $33,000 before the anesthesiology bill and the insurance adjustment. Ofcourse if uninsured, you get billed the full amount.

[Jane Austin]

11. Don't let the fundies know you got rid of all that living tissue!

They might have you arrested for murder.

Seriously, congratulations . . . and that's just an amazing cost.

[Ilsa]

15. Bwahahahaha! My girlfriends wanted a transplant; they offered "surrogacy"!

It cost my insurance about $33,000 before the adjustment. I'm floored it is so much for freaking day surgery.

[Jane Austin]

22. That amount just makes me reel.

What can possibly cost the hospital that much?

[catmother]

13. i said less than $12,000, but then realized that because it was

covered by insurance they probably charged more. was it in a hospital or an outpatient surgical center?

okay if you had it done here in phoenix and you were paying out of your pocket it probably would have been less than $12,000.

i had a tummy tuck -- the total for the plastic surgeon, anesthesiologist and out-patient surgery center was under $7,000. i've heard that many people from california come to arizona for plastic surgery because it's much more reasonable here.

and good luck with it. my friend has been saying for years that she's going to get it done, but then she gets scared. :shrug:

[Ilsa]

20. She should do it while she is healthy after she's had her kids

and nursed them. I'm 47, a vegetarian and in good condition except I was lugging 36DDD around. It was much easier than I expected. I didn't get sick or toss my cookies or have any problems with recovery.

I may have to consider AZ for anything else. Mine here in TX was about $33,000 before anesthesiology and adjustment.

[catmother]

21. my friend is about 59. she's been talking about it for 16 years

actually since we met -- i've had several things done during that time and i tease her because she hasn't had anything done. she also would like a face lift, but she's scared -- says what if they screw up? i told her that you can't take that attitude. i'm always positive that everything will be fine. she sees the glass half empty and i see it half full.
:toast:

i wish big dawg would get his eyes done. looks like it's effecting his vision.

[lavenderdiva]

23. Hey, Ilsa...

I would love to have this done, but at the moment, we don't have any insurance. But we are hoping someday to have some. May I ask if it was a problem for you to get the insurance to cover it, with them saying it must be cosmetic, and not for physical reasons? Also, was it a painful recovery? I had implants a looooonnnngggg time ago, and want to get them taken out, and have a lift at the same time. When I had the implants, I couldn't even get out of bed by myself, it was so painful to sit up. Are you experiencing anything like that?

It sounds like you now feel great- I'm very happy for you! Congratulations!!

[Ilsa]

26. Lavender, I swear it was too easy! I had very little pain.

I believe my IV had morphine during my recovery during the day (I was very dry-mouthed, and craved ice chips, then water and Sprite.) I had vicoprofen for my recovery period at home, taken mostly at night so I could move around without waking up. I think some people get caught up in having cosmetic surgery because they don't have much pain to deal with at all. This was the easiest surgery I've ever had.

I had nasal drainage at the time (remnant of viral junk going around), and the anesthesiologist used a laryngeal tubing system to help with drainage to prevent pulmonary problems. I suspect it also kept my stomach completely empty and I had no urge to throw up at any time which is unusual for me after surgery.

I feel a little "pull" on some underlying fascia on my left side down the front, probably from pulling up tissue. Occasionally, I felt some incisional pain, but very minor. Alot of nerves are cut and have to heal, so feeling little twinges is a good sign.

I've had a slight dehiscence where he removed some external stitches a few weeks ago, but I've managed it by allowing drainage and drying (do very little to it). There'll be a little bit of scarring on the one side, but my husband and I don't mind.

My insurance largely paid for this because of my size, my back, shoulder and neck pain, and because I can't do a proper breast exam. Even a mammogram is difficult and like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Good luck with the removal and lift. I have no idea if your later insurance wil pay for it unless there is something pathological about the implants.

[DenaliDemocrat]

24. ACL Repair

Total Cost - $40,000. Ridiculous. Many atheletes have this surgery, it is pretty much routine and can be done without a hospital stay.

[Ilsa]

27. Holy cow. Man, that is alot of money. eom

[Cleetus]

28. My Heart Attack

I had a minor cardiac event (heart attack). In the hospital for 5 days. They did an angio and stuck some stents in my right descending coronary artery.

My stay cost over $75,000.

In my heart are two stents. Looking at a MRI, the stents resemble in size and shape the type of spring inside a ballpoint pen. Each stent cost $8,000

Every time a doctor stuck his head in my room for a moment asking how I was doing, that consultation was billed at $80.00

Every time some kid popped in and took a look to make sure my oxygen was flowing that 30 second visit was billed at $60.00

I'm diabetic. Why was there always orange juice on my breakfast tray?

One doc says he'll do an angio, but he's 90% sure my coronary artery is occluded. If the artery is occluded, then they send me to another hospital to do another angio to insert the stents. My question, why not do the angio in the same facility where they will do the stents? That way, if the stents are needed, they can put them in at that time.

His answer: "I suppose we could do that".

Trying to sell me an unnecessary surgical procedure. Nice.

They did an OK job, but make no mistake about it, screwing over HMO's and insurance companies is job #1 in any hospital.