I (25f) am a college student. This April I had an allergic reaction to an antibiotic that my doctor prescribed. My whole body was burning with hives and rashes and my throat and lips got swollen. I could not breathe and crying in pain. We dialed 911 and I was taken to the nearest hospital. It was an in-network hospital. But as soon as I was taken in the doctors decided that I had Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TENS) and immediately transferred me to the only hospital in South Texas that treats the condition, San Antonio Military Medical Hospital (SAMMC). I was transferred in the same ambulance I came in. SAMMC is an out-of-network military hospital. But they are the only hospital who treats TENS. It was the doctors' decision and I was in no condition to make a decision.
On my way to hospital, I was getting pushed pain killers, sedatives and had oxygen mask on. My whole body was burnt. My eyes, kidneys and genitals were all harmed.
SAMMC charged a bill of $40,000. I have a PPO with united healthcare, UHCSR. My insurance lists $11000 as discount; on EOB. Then they list $14000 as "ineligible cost" because the costs reported by the hospital were higher than the insurance's calculated usual and customary charges. Then they paid 11,000. Now the hospital has billed me $28,000.
I am a college student with no income. I have no job and my family is broke. The hospital has no financial assistance. They will send me to collection if I do not enroll in a payment plan. Their payment plan is 36-month maximum, which means minimum payment is $778/month to avoid collection. I am still having health issues from the external and internal burn. But I cannot afford treatment now. I am so scared even if I am insured. I do not understand. If the hospital is not giving discount, how can insurance decide 11k discount? I appealed with insurance but was rejected. I have appealed again.
What can I do with this $28,000 hospital bill? How can I get help. I do not understand. Please help!
Submitted November 17, 2018 at 12:39PM by cyclotron3 https://ift.tt/2RXD57W
