| | Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 23 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 23 | My father has a out of pocket deductable that is 3,000 yearly then his insurance will start paying 80% along with what ever his medicare pays. The year just started and he unsure what to pay. For example he has had teeth removed and a bronchoscopy and several docter visits. some of the bills are confusing? any advise or even know what I am talking about. I told him not to pay anything when this all started because I wasn't sure what his ins. would pay.
Ceazar
Father 66yrs
S4 SCC left BOT
DX Jan 2011
X-smoker
Peg 1/31/11
chemo Cisp, 5fu, tax
Heart attack 3-17-2011
7 Weeks Rad with erbitux
Peg out Aug 2011
Pet Sept 2011 good (no activity)
Pet Dec 2011 tumor hot
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | Tell your dad to just pay a little at a time when the bills start to come. I make payments to 3 Hospitals, and 4 Drs. They will accpet whatever is a reasonable effort on your Dads part. Some want more but they have to take what he can pay. I pay one Hosp. $ 20 a month and the othes $10. They all are nice about it.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 25 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 25 | Ceasar,
May I ask where your father is being treated?
Yvonne
Age 35
Superficial SCC lateral tongue
HPV(-), nonsmoker
Right lateral tongue resection 1/17/11 w/ Alloderm Graft
Proud mother of 2
Enjoy walking/aerobic kickboxing
Pittsburgh Steelers Fan! (#86)
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Most hospitals have programs to help patients who struggle to pay their hospital bills. These programs are not always proactively offered. Call the billing department and ask for payment arrangements. Talk with them about who is charging for what so you can keep the bills straight. Ask for a program that will reduce the bills or even eliminate them if this is a financial hardship. If you dont ask they dont always offer discounts.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | | | | | Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 23 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 23 | Thanks for the bill tips and your right Ez-Jim there are other things that take priority right now, a little ($) is better than none! We live in northern michigan, Munson Medical Center. We could of went to a larger hospital but my dad did not want to related to My mother passing 10 years ago to leukemia, she had a rough 1 year battle.
Ceazar
Father 66yrs
S4 SCC left BOT
DX Jan 2011
X-smoker
Peg 1/31/11
chemo Cisp, 5fu, tax
Heart attack 3-17-2011
7 Weeks Rad with erbitux
Peg out Aug 2011
Pet Sept 2011 good (no activity)
Pet Dec 2011 tumor hot
| | | | | Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | Is Medicare his primary or secondary? If he is not working, Medicare is primary. Either way don't pay ANYTHING until BOTH insurances have processed. If you pay it, you will play hell getting your money back if insurance does cover. You may have to call whoever is billing you to tell them to submit the balance to secondary. Keep all EOBs and start a book where you log the date of service and what each insurance paid on what date and the balance outstanding. It's a pain but well worth while.
Hope that helps!
Eileen
----------------------
Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III
mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad
Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND
June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer
June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
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