How much does a laparoscopic cholecystectomy cost?

Answer 1

Answer...Well, I was in hospital for about 48 hours time. The hospital charged me $71,767.00 The ER charged $909.00 The surgeon $2,868.00 The radiology group to read scans done by ER charged $437.00 Anesthesia charged $1,200.00 Cardiology charged $20.00 to read an EKG and a pathologist charged $230.00 to look at the remains of my gallbladder under a microscope for a grand total of $77,431.00 Just perfect for someone who is currently unemployed and uninsured. This was all done because I was told it was an "emergency". Next time, I think I'll wait to see if I die or not. I may never get this bill paid.Found this site with info on the cost:

http://www.mercyhealthplans.com/savvyshopper/cost/#Surgery

You are paying charges - which is fiction. Everyone in healthcare knows this. You must negotiate a cash or uninsured rate.

All hosptial and physician bills are negotiable. For this surgery, your emergency charges should be written off since you were admitted to the hospital. This is standard practice. There may still be physician bills in the ER, but definitely, the hospital charges in the ER should not be paid. The average inpatient cost for this surgery runs from $9,000 to no more than $13,000 depending on where you live and the specific hospital. This is total you should pay - both the hospital (facility fees) and the physician (provider fees) combined. Every health provider has uninsured rates (I've seen 90% discounts in Los Angeles). If you can offer to pay cash instead of refusing to pay anything, most hospitals and physicians will take it. But you must negotiate.