I just recently received a complete to date billing summary I thought was interesting and wanted to share for whatever reasons.

I received my Tx at Emory University Hospital here in Atlanta. Acutally, the cancer center there is known as the Winship Cancer Center. Needless to say, I am still a patient there as I am still less than one year out of Tx. The billing summary I recently received from Emory for everything to date is $168K and some change. This includes PEG installation with an overnight stay as well as the follow-up direct laryngoscopy, base of tongue biopsy and neck dissection last September with one overnight stay.

Actually, I thought the tab would have been even greater than this and was mildly surprised. The $168K figure is the total amount Emory billed my insurance carrier and the actual amount paid by Aetna is shown as $113K and some change.

Bill D.

We are self insured with a very sizable deduction.
I am so grateful we had the insurance but boy meeting that deductable really is tough. On top of that you still have to pay the almost $700 a month for the coverage.
(Thank you to the employer who cut our insurance 13 yrs ago)

What got to me was the amount billed to the insurance co and the adjusted amount they actually paid. There was one thyroid test billed at $104.00 and adjusted to $8.00.
Makes you wonder and shake your head in disbelief.
Maggie

I tried early on to keep up with the difference between what the medical folks were billing and what the Ins Co. was actually paying, but lost track along the way. In our case it was several hundreds of thousand $ billed over a 2 yr. period but that was not what the Ins. co. actually paid. Our yearly deduct and copay was $2000. and John's Ins premium was $900.00 a month. Until we all start really screaming at our congressional reps [who don't have to pay medical ins] this will continue. Your voice and your vote counts. And there is a really big game going on out there. Amy in the Ozarks.

If not by the grace of God and the Doctors and People who came forward to help me I would be in agony right now and beginning the end stages of this disease. I am very, very, blessed and lucky to say the least. And I pray every day for all of us afflicted with this horrible disease.

I was wondering about cost and price and I guestimated (without a clue) close to $300,000.00.
And my brother new of someone who fell off a roof and broke his back (paraplegic) and his bills WERE $300,000.00. Thank You Bill for "putting me in the ball park".

Bill's $168,000.00 would have paid for 4 years tuition at Harvard (pronounced: Haaaaaa-v-oooorrrrd) with a new cadilac thrown in for wheels.

$168,000.00 x 6 = 1 cruise missle. (aka smart bomb)

USA Presidential Campaign cost: $400,000,000.00 per candidate.
(Which would pay for 2,381 hospital bills of $168,000.00)

Have you ever heard the expression it cost an arm and a leg? Well I told a friend that I took my wife and 3 kids to Disney World and I came back with my "torso".

In retrospect: Disney World is not that expensive. I'm sure if William Dozier had his druthers he would have skipped the cancer and paid for all 4,375 OCF members a 1 day ticket to Disney World and maybe would have enough change to gas up his car.

Of course this is just Petey's opinion. You can PM or E-mail me anytime you feel the need for more worthless facts and meaningless comparisons. I quess it's just what some recovering cancer patients do...???

Attn: Davidcpa: To head off your upcoming questions I will nip this in the bud. 1. Yes, I am bored. 2. Yes, I have been double dipping my meds. 3. I'm doing it because I made a promise to God that I would make as many people smile as possible, everyday for the rest of my life. PS: You don't have to agree, just smile!

With Love, Prayers, and Best Wishes. Petey

Well Petey, it's working. You made me smile.

Looking forward to tomorrow's smile.

Jerry

Regarding the total to-date billing of $168K, I failed to mention that I personally have had to pay approx. $3K out of pocket. A small sum compared to the total, no doubt. Again, thank goodness for insurance coverage. Never again will I complain about the approx. $1K per month COBRA premium payments we are now paying.

Bill D.

It's really interesting to see the realities of the U.S. situation.

I was really interested in seeing what my total, all-in treatment costs had been as well. Since we have a socialized health insurance system, the cost of treatment is shared between the Provincial health care system, and the Alberta Cancer Board (a separately funded Provincial enitity)

Additional comprehensive health insurance, and disability benefits are paid by my employer and cost me nothing, however they pay roughly $130 quarterly for my family to be covered.

All of the Doctors visits (over 100 in the last 12 months), countless lab tests, MRI's, PET scans, bone scans, xrays, my 17 hour sugery, 10 days in ICU, an additional week in hospital, 6 weeks of radiotherapy, and physio/occupational therapy 3 times a week are included.

total cost of my personal battle with the Beast to the system?

$617,488.00 to date. I have another MRI scheduled immediately after my one year anniversary on June 5.

total cost out of pocket has been roughly $200. for parking, and $1200 for prescriptions ( insurance pays 80%)

Our system is far from perfect, and I am well aware that we pay for it through taxation, but I am very grateful it functions the way it does. The nonsense that Petey went through just doesn't happen here. if you're sick, you are treated, and you're treated just as well and just as promptly, be you a CEO or a street person.
Wayne

PeteyB,

I already had mentally asked and answered qustions 1 and 2 before you stated them but I hadn't counted on #3 and that did bring a smile to my face so you're on the right track.

Good to read you're doing so well but you can't be yelling at the RO or the MO or your family or all the nurses you are about to meet. You can however yell at us if that will help.

All i can say is thank god for the national health service.To date Robins 6 months of surgery and treatment cost him absolutely nothing.Ironic isnt it?

WAYNE & LIZ

DO CANADIAN AND BRITISH TROOPS FACE THIS DILEMMA?

MORE EMBARRASSING TRUTH ABOUT THE INJUSTICES OF THE US HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

Tuesday, April 03, 2007 10:07 AM

Denying medical benefits is no way to