The outstanding cost of a sleep study...

My sleep study was nearly $3,000, and I paid $650 out of pocket because I hadn't met my deductible and the insurance only pays 80%.

A few months back I reported still having daytime sleepiness. He sent me home with a wrist oximeter to make sure my oxygen levels were good during cpap therapy, and he did blood tests to rule out thyroid issues. When everything came back normal, then he suggested another sleep study to determine if I had narcolepsy. I asked him what he would do if I did have narcolepsy. He said he would prescribe Provigil. I asked him what he would do if the sleep study revealed nothing. He said he would prescribe Provigil. I said, "Then let's just get me the prescription so I don't have to fork over more of my life earnings for a useless sleep study." He agreed.

I was fortunate that I just met my deductible for the year or else I would not of had this done, I owe enough in medical bills as it is..

HA I win..

According to explanation of benefits I just receieved in the mail...

EE Kent General Amount Allowed Plan Covers Patient Pays
Diagnostic Services 09/02/08 8823.00 8117.16 6493.73 1623.43

Absolutely Ridiculous...I have had this insurance since I turned 18 hardly ever used it so I didn't know I had a 2500 OOPM...So now they are going to get $50 a month until it's paid off. I really think this is a rip-off. I could have gone to CNMRI who have their own sleep lab and paid $700 dollars cash but the doctor i went to has some kind of deal with the hospital. But it gets even better because that same doctor charged almost $900 dollars to read the PSG and tell me that I have severe obstructive sleep apnea...which i already knew. The only good thing about this whole situation is that because of those two things I hit my max for the year and I'm getting my hernias fixed for free.

BTW...Great site I wish i had found it before I went to the doctor...I would have just bought a cpap and played with the pressure

WOW Rob, you do win! Sorry that your insurance is like that.. If I had not met my deductible I would of been paying too. Welcome to the board!

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These inflated costs are one of the reasons for the current global financial turmoil. Many folks have to go into debt to pay for the inflated costs... makes me angry when I think most of this debt is so someone else can enjoy a healthy profit while a small portion covers the actual product or service. There is far too much debt and living high on the hog.

I too am fighting with my insurance over my sleep study -- because I went to a sleep center which was sponsored by Central Health, our local hospital, but not located in the hospital they said it was "out-patient" and only paid $1000.00, leaving me with $2300.00 to pay. This is even though it was an over-nite stay.

To top that off, I returned my CPAP machine that I was "renting" for three weeks, count them, three weeks to Lincare, and got a bill for $911.00.

I called, and they have charged me for a humidifier, $486.25, which I never got, because the CPAP machine I rented was a Fisher-Paykel with integreated humidifier. Then, they charged me for two months rent, when I only had the machine for three weeks. When I told them I was going to call the Better Business Bureau, she called back and took one of the monthly charges off. They have to check with the RT about which machine she gave me. She said they are authorized to charge for a full month even if you only have the machine a week during that month, under the Medicare guidelines. I told her I was not on medicare and this had nothing to do with me. I guess she could tell I was serious about NOT paying for a machine I did not have in my hands. I will also NOT pay for a humidifier that I did not use!!!!!!

It is a shame that this country cannot do better than this -- these health care businesses are ripping off the government and we who have health care are paying for it. There is no reason everyone in this country should not have some sort of affordable health care. It is a shame--

I have found, after going through breast cancer 9 years ago, that you have to take your health into your own hands -- do not accept verbadium what your doctor or health care provider tells you -- be informed - fight what you do not think is fair-- be in control of your own treatments -- let your doctor know how you feel, even if he/she does not want to hear it. If I had not persisted about my breast cancer, I might not be here today, as they wanted to take a "wait and see" attitude, and I said NO.

WOW - they felt good to get off my chest -- thanks for listening

Skittles

way to go skittles! You are an encouragement to all of us!!

So with the sounds of "go! go! go!" ringing in my ears, I'm off to my sleep doc tomorrow to get some answers!

Hey, if you don't take care of #1, who will???


Take Care

Skittles