This is the story of a dad whose three-year-old son landed him in the emergency department (ER), fearing appendicitis. After about 45 minutes of his son’s agonizing moans, a miraculous five-second burp seemed to cure him completely. Relieved! the dad requested to leave, only to be surprised by the bill: $4,179. How could a simple ER visit cost as much as a luxury vacation?
Source: https://x.com/joebensonx/status/1800280788715417818
Here is the breakdown of the bill:
- $740 for a two-minute consultation with the doctor in emergency department – CPT 99283
- $2,215 for emergency department visit (Level 3) – CPT 99283
- $1,224 for standard nurse’s swab tests for COVID – CPT 0241U and CPT 87880
- $0.07 for tylenol
Frustrated, the dad reached out to the hospital billing department, half expecting a mistake. But no, the costs were accurate as billed. He argued that similar tests were available for $50 at a local pharmacy, which clearly indicated something was off with their pricing.
Then, a twist. Mentioning that he is a “cash pay” customer through a healthcare sharing organization, he asked if a discount was available. To his astonishment, the bill with a cash-pay discount dropped the total to $685. What a relief. From $4,179 to $685 by merely stating that he does NOT have commercial insurance.
This experience sheds light on the need for transparency in medical services cost, which is critical yet often lacking. Navigating medical cost for minor medical problems shouldn’t feel like a battle, yet here we are, forced to decipher and negotiate our way out of paying astronomical fees.
At Care Cadet, our mission is to assist patients, providers, and employers in reducing medical costs by providing tools to share prices of healthcare services.
For providers: We invite you to upload your cash prices to our platform so that patients can make informed decisions about their healthcare options. SignUp now.
For patients: Please use our free comparison platform for non-emergency services. This tool is designed to help you compare costs across different providers, ensuring that you can access affordable care without compromising on quality. Explore rates here.