Anyone ever fight excessive medical charges? - and actually get anywhere?

jcc64 wrote: We all know about the excessive, out-of-control costs of our health care system. My question is- Has anyone ever fought an excessive charge and won?
I took Corey to the ER last summer with a suspected nursemaid's elbow injury (which happens to her from time to time). During our extensive wait, it became apparent that she was ok, and we told the receptionist that we were leaving before receiving any treatment.
Flash forward several months, and we get a bill from the hospital for $260, which I believed to be a mistake in their accounting. I called and explained that we never received any treatment, and they explained that $260 is their triage fee- that is- the amount they charged us to explain to them why we were there in the first place. While I acknowledge that we should be expected to pay them for their time, based on a not more than 5 minute conversation with a triage nurse, this amounts to $3120/hr, which I obviously feel is ridiculous. I have been fighting with them over this for months, and refuse to pay it on moral grounds.
Anyone ever go head to head with the medical system and win?

5littleladies replied: Wow-I never have, but I sure would love to. I always want to gold-plate the pacifiers we get from them when I have babies since they cost like $15. Medical expenses are outrageous!

Let us know what happens!

Kaitlin'smom replied: well not me personally but a former insurance company did. Back when DH was having a lot of chest pain, to which we found out 6 months later (another story) was his gull blatter, the last time we went to that hospitals ER they billed for all sorts of things they never did, IV, XRay, band-aid ect when they had dont NOTHING but pull his chart and send him home. When I got the statement I called the insurance company and told them they NEVER payed it so what ever they did worked, cause I never saw a bill or anything.

Maybe offer then $25 to close the case?

MommyToAshley replied: The only thing I have done is worked out discounts based on self-pay. In my experience, the doctors and labs would work with us on the fees, but the hospital is a different story. Medical fees are outrageous! Good luck... GO GET EM'!

luvbug00 replied: I fought them about a visit mya had at 4 moths old. we went in for whatever reason ( I think she wasn't eating or somthing) and litterly 3 months ago they called and were like you owe us 375 dollers. Brad got on the phone and had it out with them and the insurance company. They stopped calling. GOOD LUCK!

jcc64 replied: I did offer them $50 to close the case and they refused. So, if they won't work with me, I'm going to pay them $5/month, just to annoy them.

redchief replied: Yes I did, on two occasions. The biggest fight I had was with the ER doc though, so I went after the emergency physician, who originally billed us 350.00 for "treatment" and "equipment." One of the charges was $125.00 for "pulse oximetry." Now knowing what that is, I knew bloody well that no pulse-ox machine had been used during my son's visit to the ER. He was there for a concussion and the duty nurse couldn't find their spare unit, so he never got a pulse-ox. On top of that the doc spent all of 30 seconds with my son. He looked in his eyes, and did a quick finger neuro test, ordered no x-rays and diagnosed concussion. I got 1/2 my visit money back on that and all of the "equipment" charges were removed. After dealing with the ER doc's practice I also got 1/2 of the ER charge credited back.

On another occasion we took same son to the ER on a weekend with flu-like symptoms (it was a Sunday and the Rick was running a high fever and was totally miserable). Lisa took him alone that time and I was in Fla. We got an outrageous bill considering the doctor saw him for a couple minutes, diagnosed a viral infection and recommened Tylenol. The very next day (Monday) his fever was still spiked so Lisa took him to our family doc. They did a throat culture which came back posi for Strep. He was put on a course of antibiotics and medications to clear up his chest congestion. On that occasion I again complained about the poor care to the ER doc's practice and got all of his charges wiped out and the ER's charge reduced by 1/2.

I recommend before fighting with the hospital to take your fight to the emergency room physicians' supervisor. State the reason you were there, the care (or lack of) that you received, and your problems with the quality of the care you were given. As long as you have good arguments there you should get the ER doc to admit that his charges were excessive. Once you get that, THEN take your fight to the hospital. Good luck!

luvmykids replied: Your story sounds a lot like ours ...

Macie fell and bit her tongue. I called my BIL who is a paramedic and he said since it was a puncture to take her in. The ER nurse came out in the waiting room and said she couldn't advise me one way or the other but they probably wouldn't do anything so we left. Got a bill for almost $300.00. I called the insurance and the hospital and was told the same thing they told you.

Also, we just switched from an individual plan to a group plan, which means they have to accept everyone regardless of pre-existings, and after taking Macie to a regular dr. visit got a statement saying she hadn't met the PEC waiting period. Still fighting about that one.

redchief replied: The insurance companies are as bad or worse than the hospitals... Oh man, don't even get me started on that!

jcc64 replied: The problem is, Ed, we never actually saw a dr. They charged us $260 for a 5 minute conversation with a triage nurse. After sitting in the waiting room for 2 hrs, we decided Corey's arm was fine after all and left without setting foot in the ER.

Cece00 replied: I switched insurance companies during my 2nd pregnancy. I went to the hospital & there was a $700 bill for some services that I DID get. However, neither insurance company wants to pay it. The 2nd insurance co is actually the one who should pay the claim but refuse to saying its the 1st comp. that should pay it.

So the hospital wanted ME to pay it.

No way. I shouldnt be paying a dime on it, it shouldve been 100% covered. Not only that but I spent MONTHS trying to get the companies to figure everything out, sent paperwork they both requested, etc etc etc. No one got around to fixing it & the 2nd insurance co got everything they needed & still did nothing.

So, I didnt pay it. Its been over 3 yrs. Usually after 7 yrs those things are taken off your credit report, and even if its not, it doesnt effect my credit report because I have an excellent score. Eventually they will take it off, as I will NEVER pay for it. The hospital should go after the 2 insurance co's & they can for all I care.

A medical claim will not effect your credit much, if all, so I'd ignore it. Or you can pay $5 a month (or every other month) & hope they offer for you to settle.

PrairieMom replied: The triage fee at our hospital is $500. you pay that much just for the privilage of walking through the door.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: We were also charged some bogus fee from the ER when DH went and yes, I fought and and No, I never got anywhere. It still makes me furious!

Hillbilly Housewife replied: Boy am I glad to live where I do.

Celestrina replied: I have only fought with insurance companies. After my DH got a new job in PA (we had been living in MD) we were still covered by the first plan until the second one kicked in. The first plan was limited to our area in MD except for emergencies. Just before we moved it was believed that I had a miscarriage; I had just found out that I was pg. A month after moving to PA I needed an ultrasound to verify that I was still pg. The insurance company tried to say that it was not an emergency proceedure. After enough complaining we had to have our Dr. and the hospital verify that it was an emergency.

One thing I learned was that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Complain to everyone you can and they might eventually just want to get rid of you.