How much am I looking at for my Needle Biopsy

I had insurance pick up a lot of my biopsy costs, but the core needle biopsy cost wasn't bad (I have a 20% coinsurance too). Maybe a few hundred dollars out of pocket. It couldn't have been more than $500, I think actually way less. This was at a breast center inside a hospital. My MRI biopsy was a different story, that was over $1000 because the insurance considered part of it "experimental" and wouldn't fully cover, insinuating that I should have known what type of MRI it was and should have requested to not have "experimental" technology used. As if someone in the middle of a cancer diagnosis would know about that first of all and second of all put it all together during a moment of personal crisis. Right. It still makes me mad to think about it.

Anyway, that's neither here nor there. For the biopsy, I remember I had bills for the radiologist, the "surgical" procedure, and then for the mammogram they do afterwards to make sure the clip marker is in the right place. I don't remember getting a pathology bill. I think my insurance paid that in full.

Maggs, I can't help you estimate what your 20% will be - that's so variable. However, I can give you a couple of tips for paying the various providers:

1) Facilities such as hospitals will SOMETIMES give you a discount if you pay the bill in full. They usually won't tell you this upfront - you have to ASK.

2) If you can't pay it in full talk with the provider or facility and see what you can work out. Sometimes they will agree to reduce the charges and/or set up a payment plan.

3) Talk with a social worker at the hospital - they may be able to help you navigate the costs and payment issues. They may also be able to connect you to organizations that can help financially.

Don't let the financial aspects contribute too much stress to this situation - just keep reminding yourself that there are resources. Good luck. I hope it turns out benign.