Guys, here’s how I got stuck with a $200 bill out of nowhere despite my best efforts.
I traveled to New York last December. Returned home on the 23rd and experienced severe COVID symptoms that I powered through the night. I wake up December 24th, and the first thing I focus on is to get myself tested. Christmas is coming, there are a couple of older people at home, and having test results meant celebrating Christmas alone in a room, or together with family.
So I step out, and drive to about 5 urgent care centers and walk-in clinics around a 15 mile radius. Of course, I was feeling sick and didn’t have the energy to drive any farther. All of them are closed, because well, it’s Christmas Eve. So, I give up and go to the University of Virginia Hospital where though the hospital is closed, the emergency room is still open.
I politely explain that I’m sick, but not experiencing an emergency. However, I have susceptible people at home and if the department is not busy, I’d like to be tested. I also asked them during check in if I should be expecting a huge bill, but they said, most likely not – cos the govt is covering the costs of all covid tests. So, they check me in, I get tested and all’s good.
Until February, when I get billed $200. There’s of course no covid test bill, but I’m charged for Lab (general classification) and Emergency Room (general classification). Insurance covers some of that cost, but I’m still left with a bill of $200.
Of course this is a high bill that I was not planning for. I have a few questions related to this.
If a person gets sick on a day when all clinics and urgent-care centers around us are closed, is there no option but to go to the ER and incur the heavy bills handed down by them? I feel like being a victim of scarce healthcare options and having to pay a premium because of that. Is this expected, or is there a better way to avoid these unnecessary bills for something that’s covered by the govt? Was there a better way to have avoided this situation? Considering the lack of options I had on the 24th, is there a way to have the hospital wave the copay?
TLDR; fell sick on a day when all urgent care and walk in clinics were closed. Testing was important because family members had preconditions. At the end, went to the only place that was open – emergency dept (made sure to tell them that they could take me last since I wasn’t in a life-threatening situation)… They tested me and stuck me with a $200 bills. Seems like I had no way to get myself tested that day but to go to the ER room. Feel like I was forced into a situation due to lack of sufficient health care options.
submitted by /u/gargantuanmess
[link] [comments]Guys, here’s how I got stuck with a $200 bill out of nowhere despite my best efforts. I traveled to New York last December. Returned home on the 23rd and experienced severe COVID symptoms that I powered through the night. I wake up December 24th, and the first thing I focus on is to get myself tested. Christmas is coming, there are a couple of older people at home, and having test results meant celebrating Christmas alone in a room, or together with family. So I step out, and drive to about 5 urgent care centers and walk-in clinics around a 15 mile radius. Of course, I was feeling sick and didn’t have the energy to drive any farther. All of them are closed, because well, it’s Christmas Eve. So, I give up and go to the University of Virginia Hospital where though the hospital is closed, the emergency room is still open. I politely explain that I’m sick, but not experiencing an emergency. However, I have susceptible people at home and if the department is not busy, I’d like to be tested. I also asked them during check in if I should be expecting a huge bill, but they said, most likely not – cos the govt is covering the costs of all covid tests. So, they check me in, I get tested and all’s good. Until February, when I get billed $200. There’s of course no covid test bill, but I’m charged for Lab (general classification) and Emergency Room (general classification). Insurance covers some of that cost, but I’m still left with a bill of $200. Of course this is a high bill that I was not planning for. I have a few questions related to this. If a person gets sick on a day when all clinics and urgent-care centers around us are closed, is there no option but to go to the ER and incur the heavy bills handed down by them? I feel like being a victim of scarce healthcare options and having to pay a premium because of that. Is this expected, or is there a better way to avoid these unnecessary bills for something that’s covered by the govt? Was there a better way to have avoided this situation? Considering the lack of options I had on the 24th, is there a way to have the hospital wave the copay? TLDR; fell sick on a day when all urgent care and walk in clinics were closed. Testing was important because family members had preconditions. At the end, went to the only place that was open – emergency dept (made sure to tell them that they could take me last since I wasn’t in a life-threatening situation)… They tested me and stuck me with a $200 bills. Seems like I had no way to get myself tested that day but to go to the ER room. Feel like I was forced into a situation due to lack of sufficient health care options. submitted by /u/gargantuanmess [link] [comments]Read Morer/HealthInsurance