scrubbedexpat097

The first bill arrived today for M's life saving hospital trip.

$15,534.50 for his ride in a helicopter

The flight only took 15 minutes!!

Insurance have not paid any of it and we have to appeal. It is going to be a long and interesting few weeks especially when the other bills start arriving..

Happy New Year

Lion in Winter

Ah yes, land of the free, best health care on earth, etc.

a) Appeal to insurance and

b) Negotiate with whoever runs the life flight thing. It won't be the first time they have had a customer who can't pay and they may have options.

scrubbedexpat097

The hospital he was flown to "own" the helicopter, they have 4 of them.

I will call them, I am sure they are used to people panicking over their bills. Scares you enough to give you a heart attack

Nothing is going to be paid until we know what the insurance is covering and then I imagine a payment plan will be put in place..

I will not gripe too much, I have my man, he is almost mended and that is all that matters

RICH

I don't know a thing about how it works, but I *hope* you can sit back and wait for all the bills, then let the insurance company do the negotiating. You will doubtless hit your out of pocket limit, regardless. Hopefully that is all there is to it

Out of interest, who decides on a a life flight vs ambulance? I guess you called 911 and that's what turned up?

Thanks for sharing, and good luck.

scrubbedexpat097

When I called 911 our local EMS guys arrived in an ambulance. They called LifeFlight, and I am thankful they did. They do have certain criteria, they used a portable EKG on him and the "suspected heart attack" was then a definite with the results.

The EMS guys had to take him in the ambulance 3 blocks up the road to the Firehouse as that is the landing area for Lifeflight. They also have to call out the volunteer firefighters as they have to be there during landing and take off of the helicopter. The local Sherrif department also send out a patrol car to make sure everything is ok as well. So at 3 in the morning our small country road is swarming with big vehicles with flashing lights.

joto

You will be popular with the neighbours, waking them up at 3 in the morning.

I hope M is doing well.

Casual Observer

Most of the fire departments in my area are volunteer companies. Make an annual donation you pay relatively modest fee should you need an ambulance. Do not make a donation wave goodbye to your arm and leg

lansbury

So pleased to hear that, hopefully he will be fully mended very soon.

scrubbedexpat091

Dang that is expensive. Stories like this make me happy I am in Canada...

Air Ambulance is a flat $80 dollars here if your covered by MSP, or 2,500 per hour if not covered.

More then likely the provider will work something out with you if you can't pay or insurance wont pay, key is staying in contact with them on a regular basis and not make them feel like your ignoring it.

scrubbedexpat097

We pay a voluntary $4 each month, it's tagged onto our utility bill. We've been doing that now for nearly 25years so maybe will be taken into consideration when they bill for the ambulance

Cardienscarf

Hope the final figure is a lot less than that. A lot lot less. I know he's worth it, but a lot less would be better.

Trixie_b

Honestly, who needs that type of stress after they've been ill? Glad he's on the mend.

Sally Redux

Crazy system.

Hope M's continuing to recover well.

scrubbedexpat097

Today's mail had the bill for the hospital stay, the emergency surgical procedure and ICU for 4 days.......drum roll......are you ready......

a grand total of $86,452.35 (35cents????...must have been the band aid I asked for when M's IV was leaking)

Insurance is pending, so with yesterday's $15,534.50 and todays bill we are at a total of....$101,986.85 so far. I know there will be others and we haven't even got to the second hospital stay yet and the other stent procedure

Michael

You can always look on the bright side. Now you have enough material to finish your novel.