Paying for aftercare post cancer treatments

Castigame

I am just venting and asking for advice.

Post all kitchen sink treatments 3 yrs still have a few thousand dollars left to pay (I said no to a few medical bills of course. The primary reason I am working is for medical insurance. I am only 50 by the way. $2800 ded and $6000 OOP.

I just found out cancer hospital charged $480 (my portion of ded) for blood tests and they will get away w it. The same blood tests done a local blood lab cost me less than $14.00 whopping 3500% mark up tried reasoning w billing dept but no that is what insurance allows. it is$480 and the 3500% mark up I really dont see myself going to another cancer hospital..

arranged the same blood tests at local lab and some radiology tests at local facility for about $500 total. Hospital total would have been at least $1500. Now next thing is i need to tell my onco that i will be getting all tests outside the hospital..

the advice i am seeking is anyone do tests outside and be seen by fancy oncos at hospital? i was told they still charge for review..

Spookiesmom

Last year after rads, I got hit with a 2300 k bill for copays and dr visit. I called hospital, can we work something out? Send us proof of your income. Did that. They wrote it off. Try it.

If there is a next time for rads, if I go to a different place, not hospital connected, no copay.

I have all my labs, for MO, Endo,Cardio done at my PCP. I like his vampires. They send it to Quest, ordering dr gets results as does PCP. With my insurance there is no copay.

Can you check into a different insurance plan?

Castigame

thank you spookiesmom

Unfortunately I make too much money and looking for another plan is not feasible,

i guess i will do what you did in terms of getting tests outside.

this experience made me sad because it reminded me that i was sick , it was costly, it still be costly enough to remind me i was sick, the outrageousness of 3500% markup, inconvenience of doing things separately, possibility of getting kicked out of the hospital. i am also thankful that I can afford the 3500% markup.. yes this is another life lesson in many ways.

nopink2019

I'm in different category, diag MBC 8/2019 and turned 65 in 4/2020. I was on private pay ins at $860/mo + $6000 OOP max and switched to Medicare. Everyone said "oh, you'll love it, costs less". NOT for me. Since drugs on private ins fall under your OOP max, when I hit that, target therapy drugs were covered by ins. Now that I'm on Medicare I pay $300/mo premiums(medicare, supp & part D drugs) and $200 deductible. But drugs cost each month, $2800 1st and $525 each following. So iv drugs are covered fully by Medicare and pills are not capped in cost. I've just resigned myself to $$$. As long as you are in active treatment, you're going to hit your OOP max. I'd still get advice from the cancer center, but if they'll accept scans from elsewhere, do it and tell them why. Good on you for all your research!

Castigame

The latest is I threw multiple fits via social media, 800 # and contacting chief marketing officer of the hospital.

I got shot down every single time so I surrender re to the 3500% mark up bill.

I have verbal confirmations re hospital would accept outside test results. Oh no maybe I should get that in writing???

Scheduled 3 blood tests, CT scan chest w & wo contrast and Dexa Scan on 09/11/20 via third party vendor. Ct scan is for my peace of mind but the 4 are Onco wanted.

Actual radiology place may threw a fit because the scripts state I have insurance. Yea it still is a battle even after all medical C treatments.