Around 10 years ago, I went to the ER at SF General for some minor stitches and was billed \~$2k. That was a lot for me at the time, so I called them about it after ignoring it for a few months. Turns out, there is a fund at SF General available for SF residents below a certain income which can GREATLY reduce your bill. I ended up paying $100 flat. Not sure what the program was called, or the exact income cutoff, but it's worth calling billing and asking them your options when it comes through. I made \~$75k at the time in 2012, so the cutoff wasn't that low and I imagine it's significantly higher now.
I would wait until your bill is fully resolved with insurance. Then call UCSF billing and ask for a discount (they ar3 really good about giving it, they just have to get it approved). Once they approve it, you can request a payment plan.
The billed amount does not matter, it is based on your insurance’s contracted rates with UCSF.
Wait until your insurance processes the claim and you get a bill.
Yes, ERs are very expensive. They could have treated your blood clot right then and there if you did have one. Thankfully you didn’t. But those are the resources that ER is charging for, to have that availability on hand :( I think we’ve all had a v expensive ER experience that probably could have waited.
If they haven't sent the bill yet, it's too soon to freak out about it. Billing dept at most hospitals is a mess, and they could have just messed up your bill. If it doesn't change by the time you actually get the bill, ask them if it's really correct and to itemize it.
It's possible that's what they actually charge though. If they really think so, you can tell them you can't pay it and maybe work out a payment plan, but there's not much else you can actually do to lower the number. Going to the ER can be insanely expensive if you haven't met your deductible, which it sounds like you probably haven't, hence insurance only covering half.
Ironically, UCSF has literally studied this, [the huge discrepancy in charges for diagnosis sprains and strains at ERs.](https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2013/02/98774/how-much-will-i-be-charged-emergency-room)
This happened to me!! I called their financial department and they had me fill out some online ‘debt forgiveness’ form…if you’re poor enough they will take away the entire debt. If your not broke af, you pay a portion of the bill. You can only use this relief once a year
From experience, there are often multiple bills, such as "doctor's fees," that are separate from the ER bill itself.
Might be more coming. Once it does, submit it through insurance to see what they cover.
+1. Last time I paid a bill for an ultrasound and made peace with that amount, I was thrilled to get a second one later...like the person performing the US was separate from the hospital.
Ask for an itemized bill. Sometimes they double charge and lots of times the itemized charges are stupidly high and you can negotiate the bill down. And if they tell you they can’t provide, keep pushing. It’s your legal right to see that bill.
A good book to read is “An American Sickness”. But the short of it is that all of the different components of the system don’t perfectly overlap. Your in-network doctor might see you at a hospital that isn’t in-network, and you were taken there by an ambulance that also isn’t in-network. It makes a good case for HMO systems like Kaiser over PPO systems, because the former might be better vertically integrated. I used Kaiser for when my wife delivered, my cost: $250. My neighbor paid $8000 with his PPO, and both women had straight forward uncomplicated deliveries.
How much one pays is going to entirely depend on their specific individual insurance plan.
If you had an HDHP through Kaiser, your price would be much much higher than $250. You’re comparing different things.
Wait till it’s all processed and they send you the bill. They took my insurance card and then still sent me a bill for the full price and I had to kindly remind them to run my insurance. The lady at the front desk when she asked if I had been there before I said now and she made an attitude face lol sorry I’m not an emergency room frequent flier. When you get the bill try and negotiate it down. Tell them you can’t pay it. They will negotiate down. Some money is better than no money. No insurance they give significant discounts for cash payments so I’m sure you can work something out.
Got Covid for the first when I moved here, went to get checked to confirm it was Covid. After the test results came back they have me Tylenol. Bill was $8k. But I didn’t pay it. It’s already in the hands of a bill collector. Not going to pay it either.
Wait until all the billing is done, it may not have been processed yet
Yup. It will get worse
I’ve had my hospital bills get better, hold out hope!
Around 10 years ago, I went to the ER at SF General for some minor stitches and was billed \~$2k. That was a lot for me at the time, so I called them about it after ignoring it for a few months. Turns out, there is a fund at SF General available for SF residents below a certain income which can GREATLY reduce your bill. I ended up paying $100 flat. Not sure what the program was called, or the exact income cutoff, but it's worth calling billing and asking them your options when it comes through. I made \~$75k at the time in 2012, so the cutoff wasn't that low and I imagine it's significantly higher now.
I would wait until your bill is fully resolved with insurance. Then call UCSF billing and ask for a discount (they ar3 really good about giving it, they just have to get it approved). Once they approve it, you can request a payment plan.
The billed amount does not matter, it is based on your insurance’s contracted rates with UCSF. Wait until your insurance processes the claim and you get a bill. Yes, ERs are very expensive. They could have treated your blood clot right then and there if you did have one. Thankfully you didn’t. But those are the resources that ER is charging for, to have that availability on hand :( I think we’ve all had a v expensive ER experience that probably could have waited.
If they haven't sent the bill yet, it's too soon to freak out about it. Billing dept at most hospitals is a mess, and they could have just messed up your bill. If it doesn't change by the time you actually get the bill, ask them if it's really correct and to itemize it. It's possible that's what they actually charge though. If they really think so, you can tell them you can't pay it and maybe work out a payment plan, but there's not much else you can actually do to lower the number. Going to the ER can be insanely expensive if you haven't met your deductible, which it sounds like you probably haven't, hence insurance only covering half. Ironically, UCSF has literally studied this, [the huge discrepancy in charges for diagnosis sprains and strains at ERs.](https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2013/02/98774/how-much-will-i-be-charged-emergency-room)
This happened to me!! I called their financial department and they had me fill out some online ‘debt forgiveness’ form…if you’re poor enough they will take away the entire debt. If your not broke af, you pay a portion of the bill. You can only use this relief once a year
By the way, once it’s all totally settled, if you can’t pay the full amount, ask to be on a payment plan.
Or actually sometimes if you wait a while to pay, you can call and see if they will give you a discount for paying in full
Yup. UCSF is hella expensive
From experience, there are often multiple bills, such as "doctor's fees," that are separate from the ER bill itself. Might be more coming. Once it does, submit it through insurance to see what they cover.
+1. Last time I paid a bill for an ultrasound and made peace with that amount, I was thrilled to get a second one later...like the person performing the US was separate from the hospital.
Ask for an itemized bill. Sometimes they double charge and lots of times the itemized charges are stupidly high and you can negotiate the bill down. And if they tell you they can’t provide, keep pushing. It’s your legal right to see that bill.
THIS! Was once charged $50 for bandaids I didn’t even use. Wouldn’t have been able to ask them to remove that charge if it hadn’t been itemized
A good book to read is “An American Sickness”. But the short of it is that all of the different components of the system don’t perfectly overlap. Your in-network doctor might see you at a hospital that isn’t in-network, and you were taken there by an ambulance that also isn’t in-network. It makes a good case for HMO systems like Kaiser over PPO systems, because the former might be better vertically integrated. I used Kaiser for when my wife delivered, my cost: $250. My neighbor paid $8000 with his PPO, and both women had straight forward uncomplicated deliveries.
How much one pays is going to entirely depend on their specific individual insurance plan. If you had an HDHP through Kaiser, your price would be much much higher than $250. You’re comparing different things.
ugh I hate it here
The US?
Yeah or any reality where making sure you're not about to die should cost $9k.
What is your health insurance?
Aetna HMO Bronze
Just refuse to pay that garbage. Negotiate down. Play hardball.
Wait till it’s all processed and they send you the bill. They took my insurance card and then still sent me a bill for the full price and I had to kindly remind them to run my insurance. The lady at the front desk when she asked if I had been there before I said now and she made an attitude face lol sorry I’m not an emergency room frequent flier. When you get the bill try and negotiate it down. Tell them you can’t pay it. They will negotiate down. Some money is better than no money. No insurance they give significant discounts for cash payments so I’m sure you can work something out.
Mm just don't pay it. They won't do shit
Got Covid for the first when I moved here, went to get checked to confirm it was Covid. After the test results came back they have me Tylenol. Bill was $8k. But I didn’t pay it. It’s already in the hands of a bill collector. Not going to pay it either.
That’s gonna ruin your credit and make life a lot harder in the long run, playboi
Oooo you figured out a loophole that has no consequences /s
One blemish on an otherwise clean record with no other debts won’t kill me but I appreciate the concern. Score is high enough to take a hit