How much does it cost?

[Janie Miranda]

About how much would it cost to get a cytoscopy & hydrodistention? I am going to be seeing a doctor that my insurance may not cover so I was wondering how much this might cost me?
Thanks in advance
Jane

[ICNDonna]

You're probably looking at somewhere around $4,000 when you figure the hospital charge, anesthesia service, and your uro's bill. Is there any possibility your insurance will cover?

Donna

[kadi]

Just a thought reading your post.

I got stuck with some pretty big medical bills when I saw an out-of-plan doctor (Thank heaven not the cysto/hydro doctor-that would have been really expensive). The plan said "you pay 20% if in-plan, 40% if not" so it didn't sound too different. WRONG - it really meant "you pay 20% of the contract rate "/"you pay 40% of the contract rate PLUS the amount the doctor charges over the contract rate ". The contract rate is usually significantly lower than the rate charged by the doctor... So, if you see a contract doctor for a service the doctor charges $1000 for, you might pay $80-120, but you see a non-contract doctor, you could wind up paying $700. The higher the fees, the greater the difference between contract & non contract prices. If you are considering seeing an out of plan doctor, you need to discuss with his/her billing office AND the hospital (they often bill separately) exactly how much this will end up costing you.

That said, my cystoscopy/hydrodistension cost about $10,000.. Out of my pocket (20% BlueCross copays) was about $1300 (hospital, urologist, anesthesiologist, lab tests-they all billed separately). Ouch! I live in a very expensive part of the country - San Francisco Bay Area, don't know if that factors in to how pricey it was.

Wishing you much success and better days soon...

[Janie Miranda]

Thanks for your responses! Wow - this could be very costly.

[Julie B]

Kadi and all, we just ran into that exact scenario with my son's knee surgery. I am now choking on a $4200 bill that was in excess of what our insurance paid. We went to the surgeon on the advice of friends, and of course, wanted the best care, but this is what, nearly 4 years of $100 a month payment? Sighs..........