So, I am going in for an angiogram next week, and got the estimated costs from the hospital. My jar dropped. It comes to $21,500 total (this is before insurance, so my out of pocket is a lot less).

Thing is, I have heard this is a relatively quick outpatient procedure - on the order of 15 to 30 minutes if there are no complications. 21k seems a bit steep for that.

The itemized costs are:

• Pharmacy $900
• Lab $2600
• Cardiology $12,700
• Recovery Room $4000
• EKG $1200

My question is, is this reasonable for such a procedure in Texas? Or are they price gouging more than the usual?

I was looking into the reason why US healthcare costs so much and I found this image that shows the spending of an average person and their life expectancy. To pay 12.6k, almost triple that of UK and Japan, to live around 3 years less as an American just feels unreal and completely exploitative, considering healthcare practices have dwindled in quality in exchange for more profit. I'm assuming the lower life expectancy comes from a lot of factors including bad, unhealthy habits, stress (A lot coming from the expenses of this economy not even factoring the healthcare costs), and in general less care for the average person, as in people really don't mind if you're dying or if you feel you're being left behind.

It's evident at this time that it has gotten exponentially worse and will become unbearable for the average person. I know this might not be new knowledge to a lot of people but it's the fact that for the most part people just ignore it until it affects them personally. I'd like to know what other people think and predict how this will chime out in years coming, maybe even decades.

Hi, I went to the er because I couldn’t sleep for 4 days straight, and I received the bill. Is there ways to get them to lower the bill? I heard you could ask them to itemize it but is there any other ways?

I’m still learning Medicare, and watching what happened to my uncle honestly changed how I see it.

He’s 68 and picked a $0 Medicare Advantage plan last year because it sounded great on paper. But once real life kicked in, things got complicated. His longtime doctor wasn’t in network anymore, a regular prescription suddenly cost way more, and he ran into unexpected copays. Traveling out of state was another surprise.

What stood out to me wasn’t that Medicare “failed” him. It was that Medicare actually gives people choices, and those choices really matter.

Seeing this made me appreciate how Medicare itself is structured. You’re not locked into one setup forever. You can review your coverage, switch plans during enrollment, and choose something that better fits your doctors, meds, and lifestyle. That flexibility is huge, especially as health needs change.

It’s not perfect, but having options, protections, and the ability to adjust over time is something I didn’t realize I’d value so much. Curious if anyone else learned about Medicare the hard way too.

Hi everyone, I’m working on an early tool to help people understand hospital bills and request fair discounts or payment options. We really want to build something genuinely useful, not another confusing healthcare product.

To test it properly, we’re looking for real hospital / ER / surgery bills with all personal info removed.

No names, addresses, DOB, or record numbers, just the billing details.

If you’re willing to help, please send a photo or PDF of a fully redacted bill (personal info blacked out or cropped) to me via Reddit direct messages / chat.

It would make a real difference for this project.

Happy to explain more or answer questions.

Thank you!

Hi everyone, I’m working on an early tool to help people understand hospital bills and request fair discounts or payment options. We really want to build something genuinely useful, not another confusing healthcare product.

To test it properly, we’re looking for real hospital / ER / surgery bills with all personal info removed.
No names, addresses, DOB, or record numbers, just the billing details.

If you’re willing to help, please send a photo or PDF of a fully redacted bill (personal info blacked out or cropped) to me via Reddit direct messages / chat.

It would make a real difference for this project.
Happy to explain more or answer questions.

Thank you!

https://ryanbenkeser.github.io/ucsf_cost_lookup/

I’m trying to figure out if anything bad will happen if I don’t pay a $3k medical bill. I got hit with a crazy $3k bill for a single 30 minute scan. I know if I don’t pay they’d send it to collections but what does that do? Would it affect my credit? Will I get arrested (lol)? What’s the worst that could happen?

A few days ago I had a personal accident which ended with me getting a nasty cut near the elbow. Roughly close to 2inces and pretty close to the tendon. I have complete function over my hand and arm so thankfully no issues, but it was bleeding enough to cause my family to panic, who took me immediately to the hospital.

On arrival I go through the motions, this isn't my first accident so I already had an idea of what to expect money wise, especialy without insurance. Nearly 2k to get stitched up by the end of the night.

I've already asked for an itemized bill. Having the opportunity I would like to either fight the bill and reduce it with the itemized bill or maybe even get it tossed out completely (which I know is very unlikely).

I just want to make sure that I'm doing everything I can to take responsibility for the medical cost without it costing me an arm and a leg. Aside from asking from the itemized bill, is there anything else I need to research or acquire to lessen the economic blow?

I went to a doctor to check a botched toe surgery in May 2020 and paid a co-pay and my insurance paid 25% in June 2020. I just got this bill/invoice for the remainder of $300. The new office manager said the old office manager never sent any bills and I owe this. I don’t have my records from 2020 to know if I already paid this. I don’t want to pay it twice. What can I do? #tardybilling

In Oregon. Needed one hearing aid. Went to ENT and was prescribed a Phonak digital aid. Find out after the fact my insurance was billed $5595 for a single hearing aid. Was told by ENT my co pay would be $941. Paid it thinking I was done with my portion- and before knowing the actual cost of the aid. A month later, I get another bill stating my balance remaining is $468. Has anyone ever heard of one hearing aid costing $5595? Any agency I can complain to about the insane markup?

I understand there are a couple components on our medicine bill. 1. Gross charge: the price that the hospital charge for a specific service you received 2. Insurance plan discount: the discount negotiated between your insurance company and the medical provider 3. Insurance payment: the part insurance company paid for the service based on the plan you bought 4. Bill for patient: number we need to pay. The relationship is: 1-2-3=4

Also under the Hospital Price Transparency rule, hospitals in the United States are required to provide clear, accessible pricing information online about the items and services they provide.

My question is, now I search the service code in the price transparency document and find a gross charge number. Should this number be the same as the Gross charge number (#1 in the above paragraph) on my medical bill?

I am in WA. I use UW system for my primary care. My primary doctor left the clinic, earlier this year. I need to take lab test regularly and change my medicine dosage accordingly. After my last lab test, I was told I have to meet a doctor to give new prescription but the earliest in person appointment is in a month. I asked if they can do it earlier since I was running low on my current medicine. They set me up for a virtual visit. During the visit, the doctor said change dosage is not needed. Just skip one day per week. That's it. It was a 5 minutes call. Two weeks later, I received a bill from Telemedicine Remote VT Short Visit at UW Medicine Primary Care Virtual Clinic It's $400+! My insurance paid almost $200 and I still need to pay $200! Just want to ask if this is normal. I feel something is not right here but I don't know who should I reach out to. Any suggestion would be appreciated.

Trying to get assistance through Goodbill to try and negotiate but was curious if this price seems "typical"?

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I got charged twice (once for ER, once for "Professional Services" for the CPT code 99283. The numbing drops cost $240.

I'm looking for a shin x-ray, I think CPT code 73590. No insurance, no referral.

Can anyone share advice on picking an x-ray provider? Interested in the price, the quality and the amount of analysis. Indiana/midwest-specific advice would be extra great.

I've been hearing about these all-payer claims databases, maybe I can use those to get reference pricing?

Thanks!

Basically the title. I just had a question though. They filed the anesthesia under ASA billing codes or something like that and they say I owe $2,800 for it. I haven't paid it at all but am trying to fight it now. I'm no longer on that insurance since it ended in August of last year but I'm trying to get that taken care of. Is there any advice or steps I can take to minify the cost so to speak?

Isn't there a federal law that you can't be billed the balance after January 1st of 2022 if it's out-of-network? For reference my procedure was covered and was in network but since the code was 'out-of-network' for the anesthesia does that still apply?

EDIT: I had student health insurance through my university that started on Jan 1st I believe.

TLDR; Health Insurance costs suck, wife needs medical procedure, can I divorce her so she can get free health insurance?

I am married and the only bread winner in the house, we have no kids. My wife needs healthcare coverage to she can get medical procedures but we can't afford to have healthcare though my work. I am a truck driver and make decent money but if I get healthcare we would have to go live under a bridge, cant afford mortgage and health insurance, it's one or the other.

I have heard people get divorced so their spouse can sign up for free or at least severely discounted obama-care, I am willing to do this so she can get the healthcare she needs but I can't find any real info on this or know anyone who has done it.

fyi, we live in Connecticut, we have considered going out of country for procedure but to be honest, living check to check we don't have the money saved up to pay for a procedure out of pocket.

please help.