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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Mar 1, 2016 13:58:54 GMT -5
I've yet to encounter a hospital that would not work with you with regards to payment. They may not think that $10/mo is acceptable, but they will work with you as long as you pay regularly and don't try to skip out on the bill. John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek CA requires bill to be paid within 120 days ... payment plans are not written longer than that They'll work with you, or their web site is lying. You might have to pay interest though. www.johnmuirhealth.com/patients-and-visitors/payment-and-insurance/patient-financial-assistance-program.html
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Mar 1, 2016 14:00:11 GMT -5
My parents don't know it yet but my grandfather has deducted their outstanding loans from their inheritance and we are talking high 5 figures. I am the only one in the family that knows about it. My grandfather was actually laughing at what my mom's reaction will be at the will reading, I'm going to have popcorn ready. I mean it was a little awkward initially talking to my grandfather about his will but he laughs about it and says everyone has to go sometime so why be all weird discussing it. It's going to get nasty. I hope he said why he was doing it. That might help but doubtful. Why should it get nasty? No one is entitled to an inheritance. If aj's mom thinks otherwise, she deserves to get the smack down.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Mar 1, 2016 14:01:50 GMT -5
Well the premium for the $13k deductible plan was around what I pay now for health insurance so it was affordable. I just couldn't afford to actually use it. What YOU pay, or what your employer pays, Drama? A family plan is going to run upwards of about $1500/mo, of which many employers probably pick up a good 80% of (if not more). You pay the balance. So if you are paying $300/mo for your insurance and something on the exchange is $300, they are NOT the same cost. Your's costs $1500 through your employer, and the exchange is not going to be near that amount, even though you may be paying the same premium. It's what I pay. I know that my insurance runs UNMC close to $2k for their share. They haven't raised our part of the premiums in the six years I've been here. It's one of the reasons I was pissed off when I couldn't find another job here before the clock ran out on the last one. No way could I afford COBRA. What I meant was I could have afforded the $250-$350 a month the exchange wanted me to pay in premiums since that's what my share is now. It'd be a wash. However the $250 plan on the exchange came with a $13k deductible and not a whole lot of coverage. I would have been screwed b/c there is no way I can come up with $13k to meet a deducible. Nor could I pay $2k+ for COBRA coverage. We were pretty hosed. I did the math and we would have been better off paying the fine and declaring BK in the event of a medical emergency. One of the reasons I am "stuck" here is I have yet to find a benefits package that comes close to what is offered here.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Mar 1, 2016 14:04:01 GMT -5
It's going to get nasty. I hope he said why he was doing it. That might help but doubtful. Why should it get nasty? No one is entitled to an inheritance. If aj's mom thinks otherwise, she deserves to get the smack down. I've seen it happen and for the very same reasons. In one situation the sister no longer speaks to her two brothers. Even though it was fairly done and even before the fathers death, she got plenty. Nevertheless, it caused hurt.
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Mar 1, 2016 14:08:06 GMT -5
Why should it get nasty? No one is entitled to an inheritance. If aj's mom thinks otherwise, she deserves to get the smack down. I've seen it happen and for the very same reasons. In one situation the sister no longer speaks to her two brothers. Even though it was fairly done and even before the fathers death, she got plenty. Nevertheless, it caused hurt. My MIL sort of did the same thing. She supported my SIL through much of her life but she never gave my ex anything (to be fair, anything she tried to give to him we both said absolutely not!). When she died, she left my ex a house worth about $50k more than the house she left my SIL. I truly believe that was her way of balancing things.
And yes, my SIL was upset that she didn't get the house that the ex did. Not because of money but because it was the house they grew up in. It caused her to have hurt feelings and resentment for awhile but she got over it.
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Ombud
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Post by Ombud on Mar 1, 2016 14:12:42 GMT -5
Well they won't no matter what their website say. Insurance deductibles (DH's deductible for 2 kids - 1 lost finger & 1 born with complications) must be paid within 120 days or they will be sent to collections, GS3'S finger already was. He has 5 days to come up with GS3'S balance or it'll go too. Despite paying $250 month on each. Now he has to have surgery for osteoblastoma and will incur more
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Mar 1, 2016 14:20:05 GMT -5
It's going to get nasty. I hope he said why he was doing it. That might help but doubtful. The relationship is quite complicated and the other children would be more mad if it weren't done that way (they anticipate it). It is completely fair as he is subtracting out the gifts to my uncle as well. I hope you are not the executor of the will/estate. If you are - try to convince your granddad that maybe he should have someone not related be the executor.
I agree with zibazinski that it may get nasty and you don't want to be part of it (or atleast maintain neutrality). Just because you've got a will and outline what's suppose to happen with your money - there are ways around it if the people executing the will are creative or if people present a united front to oppose the will. I've got some incredible extended family drama that has gone on for decades over inherited $$ and how one set of people screwed another person/people out of their inheritance.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Mar 1, 2016 14:23:58 GMT -5
Well they won't no matter what their website say. Insurance deductibles (DH's deductible for 2 kids - 1 lost finger & 1 born with complications) must be paid within 120 days or they will be sent to collections, GS3'S finger already was. He has 5 days to come up with GS3'S balance or it'll go too. Despite paying $250 month on each. Now he has to have surgery for osteoblastoma and will incur more That sucks. I was paying my orthopedic surgeon $700/mo at the very end in order to get those bills paid off, after my 90 day gratis period (it was $9000 total and this was my entire 2 year deductible). I got charged a surcharge for it (I think it was a flat $25/mo), but they let me pay afterwards. I DID have a discussion with their billing office and made arrangements to do so.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2016 14:25:30 GMT -5
The relationship is quite complicated and the other children would be more mad if it weren't done that way (they anticipate it). It is completely fair as he is subtracting out the gifts to my uncle as well. I hope you are not the executor of the will/estate. If you are - try to convince your granddad that maybe he should have someone not related be the executor.
I agree with zibazinski that it may get nasty and you don't want to be part of it (or atleast maintain neutrality). Just because you've got a will and outline what's suppose to happen with your money - there are ways around it if the people executing the will are creative or if people present a united front to oppose the will. I've got some incredible extended family drama that has gone on for decades over inherited $$ and how one set of people screwed another person/people out of their inheritance.
Executor isn't related and I have no part in it so I think he is going about it the right way. Definitely have experience watching an outsider tying up a will with my great grandfather so I have witnessed how bad it can get over several years. I'm pretty sure my mom wouldn't do anything to tie it up in court though you never know. It doesn't impact me either way, the piece I would get has minimal impact on my quality of life.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Mar 1, 2016 14:25:40 GMT -5
Hospitals here are starting to demand payment up front and then you have to work with your insurance company to get your money back. I had to do that with my wisdom teeth. Either I needed to produce a check or I had to sign up for their CC before I'd be seen. Afterwards they'd file with my insurance and reimburse me whatever that amount ended up being.
Far too many people like my MIL who think you should be able to send them $5/month for the rest of your life and they need to take it bc "I'm paying them aren't I?"
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quince
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Post by quince on Mar 1, 2016 14:45:12 GMT -5
When I gave birth to my son, I had to pay a deposit with my OBGYN. The order claims were submitted turned out to be different than predicted, so I got some of it back. But taking a stab at a financial arrangement before asking for money seems to be a responsible way to do it - not sure if the kid did that yet.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Mar 1, 2016 14:48:47 GMT -5
I had to pay 50% of my surgeon's fee up front for my hip replacement (this was when I went in as a new patient). For the next 4 surgeries he did on me after this, I didn't have to do so.
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Mar 1, 2016 14:56:16 GMT -5
I keep seeing signs about copay due at time of visit but only once have I been asked and even that was more of a "do you want to make a payment or wait for the bill?" type non question. And last year had muttiple urgent care trips, 1 ER trip and several children's orthopedics appointments. Plus a bunch of doctor visits for me and sick kids.
Man, no wonder last year sucked...
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Ombud
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Post by Ombud on Mar 1, 2016 15:26:08 GMT -5
DS needs surgery and is trying to get them to just accept his insurance and then wait for the family cap on in billed annual deductible (10k) --- course I suspect he'll meet that. They still owe 6k+ from GS3 & GD3 (DOB 12/15) and he won't let me pay
DIL has tried so hard to get them to work with them. Pre-ACA (GS3 birth) their deductible was under 1k
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gooddecisions
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Post by gooddecisions on Mar 1, 2016 15:53:04 GMT -5
Tough situation. If this were an elective surgery and I didn't have the money, I'd most definitely delay it before asking anyone for a loan. Then, I'd look at changing my plan during open enrollment and calculating a less expensive option while putting something aside each month until open enrollment and a better time to have the surgery. If it was emergency surgery, then I'd work with the hospital's payment plan. I'm a little confused why he is on ACA and not Tricare, or whatever is provided by the military.
As an aside, my elders never let me pick up the dinner tab either. Different family dynamics though.
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Works4me
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Post by Works4me on Mar 1, 2016 16:32:19 GMT -5
Health care is expensive, and more so in major metropolitan areas. My ACA insurance for a single adult is over $500 a month for a mid-range policy and I am thankful for it. I would much rather buy a new car or spend that money on housing but health insurance is more important. There is a difference between wants and needs. Due to lupus, I had to quit working in October, 2008. After my COBRA coverage ran out, I had nothing for a few years - I was unable to work and no one would insure me privately. A dear friend of mine offered to marry me for his insurance - retired California state employee - and I was seriously tempted because that was truly the only way to be insured. I was fortunate in that I was able to cash flow my meds and appointments plus nothing serious happened. I was lucky plus I was a wise consumer who selected facilities based on the best financial deals I could arrange. For example, I needed a scan in my lungs due to scarring and was able to get it done for $250 cash. My meds ran over $500 a month at one point in time. There were plenty of other things I would have preferred to do with that money but once again, needs versus wants! Yes, it is a bitch to pay for health care but would you all rather roll it into our taxes and pay that way? There is no free lunch and health care is expensive. One emergency surgery without insurance makes $13,000 cheap. My XH had a two week period if no coverage when changing providers in 1984 - he had emergency surgery for what was thought to be scar adhesions that turned out to be cancer. Fortunately he came from money and had money so we were able to pay privately but it was very interesting because he did not have cancer when underwritten initially which we had to prove and in fact did so. When I left him and went back to school, I took nothing - I remember struggling to pay my bills as a full time student with three jobs - fortunately I was only 26 when I left after five years of marriage. I remember this one older divorcee from when I was a medical social work intern - she truly believed that she could not afford insurance because she had to pay for her new big house in a nice community near Hearst Castle and had to pay for her Cadillac too. Those are wants, not needs and I see no reason why our taxes should pay for someone like that to have an emergency appendectomy. Wants are not needs and we need more people to be individually responsible like so many are here on thus board. We can and do bash each other but the bottom line is almost everyone here is doing a good job. The reality is we are not the ones cheating and manipulating like she-who-shall-not-be-named. It rhymes with "moxie." I am proud to know all of you - now off my soapbox. ETA - someone please pass the booze! &
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TheHaitian
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Post by TheHaitian on Mar 1, 2016 17:11:54 GMT -5
For my surgery on 03/07 I had to give the surgeon a deposit of $300, if I cancel I do not get it back.
I had to give my dentist a deposit of $200 before a root canal.
Our IVF clinic doctors would not meet with us until after we met with the Finances people....
Quest Diagnostic requested $130 deposit from my wife and I (each) before they even took our blood and pee sample to run the tests for the IVF clinic.
My wife needed an MRI last week due to shortness of breathe and other symptoms after being on blood pressure medicine and the clinic would not even touch her till they had a credit card information on file.
Got to love it, but cannot blame them. They have been burned so many times it is not funny!
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973beachbum
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Post by 973beachbum on Mar 1, 2016 17:57:35 GMT -5
So, how is a 22 year old who qualifies for Obamacare suddenly supposed to be able to come up with $6000 for surgery? This doesn't make much sense to me unless Obamacare totally sucks.
It depends on what your state has to offer as far as plans go. Iowa's are absolutely horrid. I can either have a $13k deductible for a reasonable premium OR I can have a reasonable deductible but pay out the nose in premiums. And a lot of them don't cover very much outside of preventative care. I will do whatever it takes to keep my current benefits b/c I'd be screwed if I had to use the exchange in Iowa. Ok. Thank you. I should make myself learn more just in case I'd ever find myself in need. Doesn't sound "affordable" to me. This really comes down to choice. As a healthy person I would have loved the chance to get a super cheap plan that was basically catastrophic care policy for like a hundred a month. Even a $10K ded wouldn't bother me. But our employer does offer insurance so we don't qualify for the exchange. There are also gold plans that have high premiums that have much lower ded and OOP costs. Between us as a family we pay almost $20K a year in health insurance premium's just for our share. The employer pays some also. I would kill for the chance to pay our $600 in Dr visits every year ourselves and save the difference!!! The only contest I have ever one on YM was the one where people say how high their health insurance premium is.
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Ombud
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Post by Ombud on Mar 1, 2016 19:10:29 GMT -5
Thank you ACA! Pay through the roof for premiums + deductibles. Both much MUCH higher than pre-ACA
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tskeeter
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Post by tskeeter on Mar 1, 2016 19:26:43 GMT -5
Ok. Thank you. I should make myself learn more just in case I'd ever find myself in need. Doesn't sound "affordable" to me. We should all get free healthcare. Clinton may be able to pull this off if elected. Come, Arch. You know that "free" really means paid for by YMers.
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quince
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Post by quince on Mar 1, 2016 20:28:59 GMT -5
Huh. My premiums aren't higher than before the ACA. My deductible is only high because we chose the plan. I like that even though we now have preexisting conditions in the family (Yay autism!) I can still get insurance even if unemployed, without the premium being 10K or something unattainable like that per month.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Mar 1, 2016 21:17:17 GMT -5
Gee, I use to pay $350 and had a $1500 deductible. Now I pay $828 and a $4750 deductible. Plus all the stuff they don't pay for. Just got to hang in there for four more years to get affordable health care again. Medicare.
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Mar 1, 2016 21:38:02 GMT -5
I am curious as to how dr offices can expect payment upfront. Now that we are on HD plan, we have no more co-payments. First we have to meet deductibles, then it's co-insurance.
Neither me nor the office has any clue how much my appt will cost
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Mar 1, 2016 22:07:38 GMT -5
I am curious as to how dr offices can expect payment upfront. Now that we are on HD plan, we have no more co-payments. First we have to meet deductibles, then it's co-insurance. Neither me nor the office has any clue how much my appt will cost They call your insurance company.
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Ombud
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Post by Ombud on Mar 1, 2016 22:19:05 GMT -5
quince, we aren't so lucky ... not me, DD, DS, sisters, their kids .... others currently employed or retired from the gov't agency I worked for. ♤ DS (private sector) was paying $500 month, $50 deductible for outpt, max under 2k per yr .... now 850 premium / 10k family deductible / another 6k for him ♡ I was paying $50, now $350 ◇ sis' Kaiser was $500 now $850 (public record)
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gooddecisions
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Post by gooddecisions on Mar 1, 2016 22:33:44 GMT -5
I have been holding off on calling the hospital to register to deliver my baby. They will ask for my $2250 deductible up front. I want to see a bill before I pay it, not to mention, last time I barely made it to the hospital in time, did not stay both nights, did not use any meds and only ate one meal. I know this is just how it is now, but I don't like pay before I even know what services I'm paying for.
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Works4me
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Post by Works4me on Mar 1, 2016 22:59:46 GMT -5
One of the considerations is age - every five years maximum your premiums go up.
Ombud - in Calfornia, your premiums are also based in your annual taxable income for the current year and where you live. Assets have no bearing. Frankly, I structure my income purposely to maximize my benefits and minimize my costs.
Ombud and Zib - PM me if you wish because both if your figures seem really "off" to me - meaning the premium is far too high for the benefits as a single woman, even over 55 or 60.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2016 23:10:35 GMT -5
Neither me nor the office has any clue how much my appt will cost They call your insurance company. Yeah, I have a high deductible plan and am booked for a colonoscopy next month. The cost is a total mystery- till they get back to me a month before the procedure. (It's diagnostic, thus not 100% covered as preventative, because of minor problems found in previous ones.). Suddenly the info is available. This is a doc recommended by my physician. I really wanted to use the guy who did my previous ones but they couldn't tell me the cost, let alone the facility charge from the hospital. Sorry, no blank checks from me.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Mar 2, 2016 6:01:57 GMT -5
One of the considerations is age - every five years maximum your premiums go up. Ombud - in Calfornia, your premiums are also based in your annual taxable income for the current year and where you live. Assets have no bearing. Frankly, I structure my income purposely to maximize my benefits and minimize my costs. Ombud and Zib - PM me if you wish because both if your figures seem really "off" to me - meaning the premium is far too high for the benefits as a single woman, even over 55 or 60. Part of the issue is that a lot of companies have stopped selling health care policies. I had three choices. BC. Humana and United Health Care. I will be going with Humana. It gives me the most bang for the buck but that's not saying much. The other two had even higher premiums and higher deductibles and covered less. Thank heavens I had my colonoscopy while I still had DH's insurance. I don't need another for five years and I'll be on Medicare by then. Even with their deductibles and copays, I'll get a raise in income.
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milee
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Post by milee on Mar 2, 2016 6:40:09 GMT -5
I have been holding off on calling the hospital to register to deliver my baby. They will ask for my $2250 deductible up front. I want to see a bill before I pay it, not to mention, last time I barely made it to the hospital in time, did not stay both nights, did not use any meds and only ate one meal. I know this is just how it is now, but I don't like pay before I even know what services I'm paying for. Understand wanting to see a bill before you pay it, especially since if you end up not delivering the baby there you wouldn't owe anything at all and it would probably be a major PITA to get your $$$ back from the hospital.
On the other hand, if you cross the threshold of that hospital's door when you're in labor, you can comfort yourself with the idea that your total bill will be well over $2250 so it's not like there's a chance that you'd ever owe less than that. Heck, even when I had my kids an uncomplicated delivery and brief stay was almost triple that amount. For both my boys, I went into the hospital by checking directly into the maternity ward, had the baby less than 3 hours later and had no medication, epidural or even an IV. Other than the doc giving me some stiches right after delivery, there was no medical intervention required at all. Neither of the boys had any medical intervention either nor were they circumcised in the hospital. I slept overnight, ate breakfast the next day and went home. Heck, other than the couple of diapers, "ice pack" (glove filled with ice) and total of 4 Tylenol I took, I didn't even use any interesting supplies. Even 11 and 15 years ago, the amount of hospital charges for those brief, uncomplicated deliveries was $6k - $7k.
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