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schoolbusserman t1_izg6sgo wrote

Wow interesting. For example, the Knee Replacement (Total Knee Replacement) surgery at Lowell general hospital is listed as $1,794 which seems super low. Then at St Elizabeth's its $42,000. Is it possible that different hospitals are including different services and medical devices under the same procedure? I can't imagine compensating a surgeon, anesthetist, etc for $1794 not to mention the cost of the knee replacement part.

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UpCoconut t1_izh3f1q wrote

I had similar observations. Plus, the insurance coverage isn't adequately specific. For example, just putting in BCBS... is that the PPO? I have a BCBS high deductible health plan and the numbers here just don't make sense.

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virgil1134 t1_izh8d2i wrote

Wouldn't these be the prices without insurance coverage? That is the problem with insurance! Every single one negotiates services at different rates even for services performed at the same hospital.

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UpCoconut t1_izkdek4 wrote

not necessarily. With my HDHP, the insurance still has a negotiated rate. It's just a negotiated rate that I have to pay instead of the insurance company paying it. For example, I had emergency surgery that was billed to me for $15K. I added my insurance and the bill was revised to $7K for it. I then negotiated it down from there. The website says that BCBS for this surgery is $12 at the hospital I went to. Not $12K. $12. Definitely wrong.

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TheBlackAthlete t1_izh9zp0 wrote

This is the only helpful comment so far. There is a massive discrepancy here.

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