Thursday, April 24, 2014

Oh...and bring $600 cash

I go for my baseline ultrasound tomorrow morning. It's at my RE's office where I have been a patient for about seven years. Despite several closer practices I drive nearly two hours to their office (we used to live close by) because I really love my doctor.

Thankfully, my RE office will file my monitoring ultrasounds and labs with my insurance. Since I've met my deductable I was expecting the appointment to cost about $30 - $40 total. But I got a call today informing me that the entire Hospital System, including all of it's associated doctor's offices will be out of network after 11:59 p.m. tonight. So....I should plan on bringing cash to my appointment, probably about $600!!!

To say I freaked out is an understatement. I contacted a friend to see who did her monitoring. I called many RE offices - they all declined to see a patient who is not already established and generally could not "establish" me as a new patient until June. I spent an hour and a half on the phone with my insurance company. I accomplished nothing.

So between my two ultrasounds prior to transfer I think our budget just went up $1000 or so. That is unless they work out the contract spat between BCBS and the hospital tonight. Prayers are welcomed.

3 comments:

Baby On Mind said...

Oh, that really bites! I'm sorry. Praying that things will work out between the hospital and BCBS.

Sara said...

:( I hope an arrangement can be worked out. That's a huge unexpected expense. Would the monitoring really be that much? I pay cash, and mine is $320 for each set of ultrasound and bloodwork.

Megan said...

Ack! I hope that you find a way around that! I hate when all you want is a smooth cycle and suddenly you get hit with a dirt clod.