I recently had minor out-patient surgery. I went into the facility at 6:00AM and was back at my home by 12:30PM. Below are the various charges and what was actually paid by my insurance and co-pays:
Description
|
Charged
|
Write-Off
|
Co-Pay
|
Received
|
Initial Visit to Doctor
|
$365.00
|
$245.00
|
$30.00
|
$119.51
|
Clinic & tests
|
$81.00
|
$39.77
|
$51.23
| |
2nd Doctor Visit
|
$237.00
|
$164.60
|
$30.00
|
$72.40
|
Anethesiologist Exam
|
$32.00
|
$23.90
|
$8.10
| |
Med Center Precert & tests
|
$501.00
|
$409.16
|
$92.82
| |
Surgery
|
$1,501.00
|
$1,122.52
|
$478.48
| |
Asst Surgeon
|
$1,601.00
|
$1,524.00
|
$76.56
| |
Anethesiologist
|
$1,120.00
|
$1,016.00
|
$103.30
| |
Anethesiologist
|
$1,120.00
|
$1,037.00
|
$82.50
| |
Hospital (outpatient 5 hours total).
|
$13,612.77
|
$11,333.20
|
$95.00
|
$2,279.57
|
Total For Hernia
|
$20,170.77
|
$16,915.15
|
$155.00
|
$3,364.47
|
One can question whether or not $20,170.77 was a reasonable charge for this procedure. One also should question if the $20,170.77 was reasonable why $16,915.15 was “written off” or deducted by insurance. My co-pays totaled $155.00, $60.00 for the doctor and $95.00 for the hospital. Somewhere between the total amount received of $3,364.47 and the total amount billed of $20,170.77 lies a reasonable figure that everyone, not just those with insurance from the company that insures me, should pay. Perhaps what is needed to first begin to solve the problems associated with the costs of healthcare is what is a reasonable cost.
