The cost of a 3 hour stay....

Hi folks,

Today I received a rundown from the hospital where I had my pacemaker implanted. It was itemized. The grand total for my short stay in the hospital was a grand total of just over $35,000! That does not include the pacemaker, my cardiologist, the EP, or the after care. That was just for the hospital! That is $11,666 dollars per hour. Good grief, not that I'm not worth it but good heavens that is a lot of money!

PG

4 Comments

and everyone

by walkerd - 2010-04-22 08:04:09

wonders why you cant afford insurance..............

dave

Glad to have insurance

by qwerty - 2010-04-22 09:04:20

I am glad to have insurance, mine was 32,000 for the hospital. But after the insurance negotiated it down, I think they only paid 11,000.
I can't imagine having this done and if you dont have insurance you would have to pay 32,000. Something is wrong with this picture. Those that can't afford insurance must pay 3 times more!?!?
Like I said, I am thankful I have insurance.......

I win...$92,000 and some change

by cruz - 2010-04-22 10:04:05

I was in the hospital for one night for observation after PM implant. The $92,000 bill does not include EP, anesthesiologist, pre-surgical tests, post surgical follow up...just the time in the OR and that fabulous room and meal. I said the same thing...what would have happened to me if I hadn't had insurance. I haven't rec'd the bill from all the other "participants" in my PM introduction and I haven't rec'd a bill showing what my insurance company negotiated it down to, but I think we have a serious problem when someone who is out of work needs this same procedure. They couldn't pay the cost, even if the bill was reduced by 50%. They don't implant a PM if you go to the emergency room. They stabilize you and refer you to a cardiologist who will not see you without insurance. I have insurance for which I pay $183 per month in premiums and I have an out of the pocket cap of $2500 per year. Last year I didn't see a doctor until July, and met my out of pocket cap. That means I'm really paying around $400 per month for my insurance coverage. Craziness for sure. One of my prescriptions was $47 and I told the pharmacists I thought that was wrong. He went into a lengthy explanation of how my insurance company was paying $218 and the $47 was my responsibility.

try having an ablation

by Angelie - 2010-04-22 10:04:15

I haven't had one that was less than $50,000. Some of those catheters that they use are over $12,000 a piece. My pacemaker surgery was WAY less than any ablation that I've ever had.
They kept saying I was too young for a pacemaker, so I had 5 ablations to try to fix my problem before deciding on a pacer. Sometimes, I wish I had just had the pacer from the get-go. Luckily I'm insured, but at the rate I'm going I'll have termed my insurance in over just a few years. In 7 years, I'm already at about $350,000, and I'm only 34 years old. I've got a lot to look forward to. By the time I get all of my medical bills paid off it'll be time for another replacement.

It is interesting to get itemized bills. It's the policy at the hospital I go to. If your bill goes over a certain limit, they automatically send you an itemized bill. I've always been under that category. Funny, how they always charge me 15 bucks for disposable clipper heads even if they don't shave any hair. The wonderful super glue they use on your pacer incision is over a 1,000 bucks. I'm in the wrong profession.

rolling in bills rather than dough,
Angelie

You know you're wired when...

You trust technology more than your heart.

Member Quotes

I've seen many posts about people being concerned about exercise after having a device so thought I would let you know that yesterday I raced my first marathon since having my pacemaker fitted in fall 2004.