I had an emergency room visit in July 2007 for an unsafe increase in blood pressure (normally low to average) which was determined as stress related.
The initial bill was 2,917.32.
At the time, they didn't have insurance on file for me. I called to advise that I had a minimal amount of coverage which was 1,000 outpatient per year which I knew part had been exhausted with doctor's visits, etc.
It took months for the hospital to file the claim and today I received a bill from them for 6,935.19.
I called the insurance and they told me they were billed 7,293.31 of which they paid 358.13.
When I called the hospital to see where the 4,000 difference was, they said they initially gave a self pay discount where as I assumed the amount paid by insurance would be deducted from this original bill. They did not indicate that the original bill was a discounted bill. I certainly wouldn't have risked 4,000 on an insurance payment that couldn't amount to more than 1,000 even if I had the full benefit in place. A couple hours and ekg's later I'm looking at nearly 7,000.

