Blood Work and Huge Insurance Deductible: any suggestions on what I do?

[Ltl89]

Okay, so if people remember, I received a huge claim from a medical facility ($3,000 for blood work).  Well, my insurance does cover endo visits and blood work, so I didn't totally get screwed.  However, the deductible on my father's new policy is apparently $1,000 annually.  Therefore, I got stuck with a bill for about $1,100 for one blood work visit when taking both my deductible and coinsurance into account.  I think this is just ******* insane.  I'm going to call the facility on Monday and see if they will work with me on lowering the price.  I'm unemployed and don't have that kind of money for one visit.  Do you think they will take mercy on me.  Is there a way to talk them into accepting what the insurace covers and leaving my end of the bill? If not, do you think I could talk them into a $20 a month payment?  I just don't have this kind of money to spend.  It's too much.  Any help or suggestions on defraying this ridiculous cost would be appreciated. 

[Flan]

ask for the discount/insurance rate, if that fails ask the cash rate, if they still are bs'ing you about the cost of labs tell them flat out that if they don't charge what it really costs that they are going to be shortly trying to get blood from a stone.

this is because the labs have a small actual cost, a cost billed to the end user (retail) and an insurance rate. actual labs costs is like 20 bucks and profit margin is based off time spent per sample.

[Ltl89]

$20 a month would take you forever to pay that $1100. Can you get a part time job?

I've been desperately seeking employment, but can't seem to find anything.  I've received 3 rejection letters this week.  I'll take part time, but I'd welcome something full time that will allow me to sustain myself.  A college degree means nothing in the real world, sadly.  In the meantime, I had about $2,000 saved up for initial expenses until I had something, but this bill in conjunction with another bill I received puts me in a very dire place. 

[Heather]

I would suggest finding a new endo 3000 for blood work sounds like robbery! I'm not even using my insurance and I didn't even pay 200 for my last visit. Maybe you should shop around and find someone who isn't price gouging. 

[Ltl89]

I know you're searching now for jobs you're qualified for, but maybe you could find a more throwaway job for the time being. A job that anyone could get. I know it sucks but... Other transition costs still need to be paid for. So it'd be good to begin saving up.

No, I agree.  I have kind of given up on my field at this point.  I'll be searching for retail jobs next, but I haven't even heard back from some of those that I applied to.  I almost feel my previous work experience (not great, but it does stand out) is intimidating for a hiring manager and they may see me as a flight risk for a retail position.  A lot of hiring managers neglect over qualified workers for smaller positions because they fear they won't commit and will leave once a better opportunity presents itself.  Nonetheless, this is my next option.  I'll take minimum wage if I must. 

I just don't think paying $1,100 is reasonable for one time blood work.  That's ridiculous. 

I would suggest finding a new endo 3000 for blood work sounds like robbery! I'm not even using my insurance and I didn't even pay 200 for my last visit. Maybe you should shop around and find someone who isn't price gouging. 

It's not the endo.  It's the lab.  The lab is affiliated with a hospital, so I think I see where the problem lies.  I know not to go back there, but even a one time payment is incredibly painful. 

[Joanna Dark]

Wow that's rough. Why don't you go to Callen Lorde? Trans clinics generally do their own blood work and have a sliding scale. You may be able to work out a plan but prolly not $20 bucks a month.

[Mariah]

Talk to the billing department. They will work out a payment plan for the $3,000. If your are lucky, they might have some sort of poverty level rate that will take the bill down a few notches. If not, you can fight the cost but you have to be quite knowledgeable on medical billing terminology. It all comes down to what you can convince them to agree to, but $20 a month probably wont work (12+ years).

If you want to take the insurance rate, then you will probably have to fork over $1,100 up front. $1,000 to the insurance company and $100 to the lab. Only plus side to this is that insurance is available to you for the rest of the year as long as you pay the co-pay.

[MyKa]

I myself ran into this problem but Jesus not $3000.00. Think it was roughly $220.00. I would talk to your endo and see if they can just bill the insurance under a different billing code. I went last month for my yearly and they just billed it under a yearly check-up

[Ltl89]

I have talked to the billing department and they are going to send me an application for assistance that may relieve me of the whole bill or at least a large part of it.  It will take time to process, but they said I should be okay.  If not, I will then have to renegotiate afterwards.  They didn't seem worried about it though, so I think I will be okay.

[MyKa]

That's good news. This stuff isn't cheap! Good luck with everything.