Just when things seemed to be going so well, I got my final bill from the ankle surgery. $8,000. Insurance has declined to pay.
Since it's the weekend, I can't talk to anyone to find out why it has been denied. I've had trouble since day one, because I had the nerve to get injured outside my HMO area. They have tried to deny everything except the actual surgery and hospital stay. Everything else -- x-rays, followup visits, etc. have been "bones" of contention (haha). But it has all been paid, except this -- this, being the surgery to remove a pin that held my bones together while my leg was healing. $8,000 for about 10 minutes. And the insurance has told the surgery center they will pay $0. I'm so upset. I will contest, when I can get someone on the phone and find out how to do it.
Of course this happened right after I loaned $3,500 to my son! But I imagine the contesting stage will still be going on after he pays me back.
This has certainly made me think about ways I can cut back more. I'm pretty frugal already, but I have been even more mindful about using electricity, gas, water, etc. I have gone through my refrigerator and I'm cooking everything that is perishable -- yes, that means refrigerator soup for dinner! I've decided to skip this week's grocery shopping -- I have enough on hand, and I'm leaving on Friday anyway, for my nephew's wedding (which will be expensive, but I've already made that commitment). Ah me.
Yesterday I worked at a jazz concert -- actually, at the pre-concert festivities, which included a social hour with buffet for the President's Society (our top donors). Although I really didn't want to go, and was praying for rain, I had a great time, and I not only got a free dinner but food to take home as well, which I had for brunch this morning.
Before the concert I went out for pizza with my son's family, and they paid, in thanks for the check I had given them. So I've really been operating on free food for a few days!
Unbelievable
June 19th, 2011 at 07:42 pm
June 19th, 2011 at 08:50 pm 1308516637
June 19th, 2011 at 09:04 pm 1308517484
June 19th, 2011 at 11:36 pm 1308526589
Sorry to hear that! Hope you can contest the bill with minimal frustations!
June 20th, 2011 at 12:05 am 1308528319
Good luck!
June 20th, 2011 at 02:38 am 1308537528
June 20th, 2011 at 09:08 pm 1308604123
June 24th, 2011 at 10:37 pm 1308955066
Jerry