I’m usually not motivated to write by anger and frustration. But I’ve had a small battle brewing that has been a sink of energy and a useless distraction. So I feel the urge to vent.

After my climbing accident I took three helicopter rides and was at three different hospitals. I had two surgeries. As a result, a year later, I still get a steady stream of medical bills.

After I came home, I careful read my insurance benefits so I would be prepared for what was to come. And then nothing that happened matched my expectations. My helicopter bills totalled a hundred thousand dollars. The helicopter companies tried to trick me into signing statements that I agree to pay the portion of the bill not covered by insurance. They claimed my signature was necessary for my insurance to start processing that claim. But I had already recieved confirmation from my insurance that they were working on it. Insurance paid them twenty thousand.

The Stanford Hospital bill was triple what I expected. I was terrified. It took two days of phone calls but I figured out that the Stanford billing department made a mistake and charged me for a single occupancy room. Which is thousands of dollars for my six day stay. Which is not covered by my insurance. And then a month later I got another bill from Stanford. Again, for that same hospitalization but a different amount. I also got billed twice, again two different amounts a couple of months apart, for my outpatient surgery.

Talking to the Stanford Hospital billing department and my insurance has been like deciphering the broken codes by which two enormous machines communicate. And when they make a mistake, I lose big sums of money. I just got a second bill from my rehab hospital. For the same stay I already paid for, but now billed at an out-of-network rate. I had to call about this, explain for an hour, have somebody “look into it.” Earlier this month I got another bill from Modesto, the first hospital I was flown to, for seven dollars. It all baffles me. I don’t understand how this system can be so opaque and so broken. Why do I get lists of billing codes in the mail and my total, instead of a document I can read and understand? I am lucky that I am stubborn and not easily scared by official looking documents. But not everyone knows to fight.

I worry that the process is cryptic and riddled with errors to prevent effective patient self-advocacy. And to increase the bottom line. Stanford made two mistakes with my case. They are also the third most most profitable hospital in the country. Conversely, there is just no incentive for hospitals and insurance companies to invest in making it better.

I wish I didn’t have to waste my time and energy on this. Thank you for listening to my rant.

In other news, I’m making lots of progress with crutches. More on that, and a video, later.

8 thoughts on “

  1. Kasper

    Good vent- This comes up again and again. I don’t understand any more than you do, but I want to vent too. The system works well enough for the providers, and every provider has their own processes, so it’s hard to imagine an overhaul. Why don’t we have centralized medical records? Why are the fees so high? Surely something as big as the medical industry can afford to get this right. I miss the Canadian system.
    I’m pretty sure your story is the norm, and it feels so wrong how much stress is being laid on patients by the paperwork and the crazy bills -on top of everything else they have to deal with.

    Reply
    1. Alina Post author

      I’d love to chat sometime about the Canadian system with you. Sometimes you get trapped thinking things have to be this way and that there are no alternatives given the forces at play. And yes, my story is common from what I can tell. Given how complicated the treatment and how extensive the physical therapy requirements following SCI, I’ve heard again and again from members of this population that at one time or another they’ve had to “fight” insurance. And this is a service that they have purchased! It makes no sense.

      Reply
  2. Janet Ungs

    If there’s one thing I’ve learned about you Alina, you are resourceful. Keep at it. Write down names and dates of who you talked to. Keep your receipts. I had similar issues when Ben had some medical bills as a 1 year old. You’re right. Our medical system is very flawed. Do you know a lawyer to help with the helicopter issues? I wish you all the luck to get this resolved. It will take perseverance on your part. That you have in spades.

    Reply
    1. Alina Post author

      Thanks for the encouragement, Janet. I haven’t made enough of an effort to talk to the same person each time. That may help — I’ll try it.

      Reply
  3. df

    You may already know this, but at every hospital there is a special person who can help you reduce your payments. I don’t remember what they are called 🙁 But the idea is, you talk to this person and you say “no way in hell i can pay you this much money”. And, supposedly, they can reduce your payments to something more agreeable. As it is better for them if you pay them something, than nothing at all.

    Reply
    1. Alina Post author

      Dima,
      Thanks for the idea and I’ll definitely use that advice if I need it. But my biggest complaint right now is that I’m getting charges that are mistakes, that I should not have to pay, and it takes a lot of work for me to figure out where they are coming from and how to correct them. The whole billing and insurance system is just really confusing and flawed.

      Reply
      1. df

        Yeah, I totally understand and agree. The system is deeply flawed and, I suspect, much of confusion is on purpose. I really admire you for having the energy to navigate it (and for many other things too 🙂 ).

        Oh, BTW, on a completely different subject, I think you should try downhill skiing. Probably, not much more expensive than diving, and they make special “skis” for people with leg problems, where you sit on one “ski” and have two little “skis” that are attached to your arms.

        Reply
        1. Alina Post author

          Yeah, it’s definitely on the list. There is a pretty good sit-ski community up in Tahoe (lessons, rental). I hear it’s super hard, though. There is also a sit-ski equivalent for cross country skiing, so I plan on trying that, too. But considering how much snow is up there right now it should last us until June, so I have lots of time to make my way up there.

          Reply

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