blitzalchemy t1_je7fjxv wrote on March 29, 2023 at 11:19 PM

So to add to this i will say it depends entirely on the doctor and procedure. The people who call for payment up front shouldnt be using such strong language of it being cancelled and its up to the whims of the doctors. I know a few of the ones who are making the collection calls and they arent a fan of it either.

But to elaborate at least for the doctor portion, some doctors themselves require the estimate portion of theirs up front and will cancel or move a surgery on you until you are able to do so. It also depends on the seriousness of the procedure. A cancer related procedure, i dont know a single doctor who would reschedule unless they were dying. A non-urgent gallbladder removal, some doctors will still do it, some will require that payment. If the procedure is considered elective or cosmetic, payment will be required up front or you dont get it period. Part of this is Cox policy, part of this is doctors wanting their portion up front because of having too many skip out on their bill.

Other comments also have sound advice in looking into financial assistance.

blitzalchemy t1_je7g7xc wrote on March 29, 2023 at 11:24 PM

Also just to let you know, there are three different billing departments. One for the physicians themselves and their portions, one for the hospital facility use itself, and if anesthesia is required for your procedure, there will be a bill from the anesthesiologist too. Each has their own sets of billing procedures to some extent. I really only know of the physician side.

If i were to speculate for the hospital side, there is a chance that if your surgery isnt considered serious enough, they could be requiring that payment for the timeslot up front, and if not paid they would move a more urgebt surgery into that time frame. This is purely speculation as I have little to no idea on that side.