We've been big time into our Home Inventory and purging a lot of paperwork and other things that we don't need anymore. I am pretty pleased to say I have cataloged all our DVD's, Video games, and I am through about 350 books in our 'library.' So anyhow, the other day we were shredding a ton of old things, and we came across this stack of bills and I handed them to Braden to shred. And he noticed they had his name on them. So, I took a closer look and turns out he was holding a stack of EOB's (the explanation of benefits the insurance company mails you after you've been billed) from about the first 10 months of his life. It was a few inches thick! One bill in particular made me laugh and I had to take a photo of it before I joyfully shredded it.
It was this bill for the LifeFlight that Braden took when he was just hours old from Mesa to Phoenix Children's. The total there- over $15,000. The $13,000 dollar charge was just for the helicopter to come! Then the $1400 dollars was for fuel, and finally the $500 ish dollars for the actual medical supplies they used on him during transport. I can still remember what the sky looked like when I walked to the mailbox of our old house and opened up this EOB- because our insurance had decided to take a stand against how much this company charged and used us as an example. They only paid about $400 dollars of the total bill...
I just remembered thinking and this was just the beginning of his bills! Luckily, we ended up being able to fight it and I LOVE Life Flight for writing off what the insurance company didn't pay after I wrote them a letter telling them just what we were in for financially wise.
Anyways. there was something so therapeutic about shredding this reminder about the less bright side of modern medicine.
Now I've just got to go to Hallmark and see if they have a "Thanks for being an amazing surgeon and saving my son's life" card for Dr Hanley. Somehow I think I'll have to go a more generic route with the card!
8 comments:
He's come SO far! I remember meeting you when you first moved in and couldn't believe what you were going thru! I'm so glad we become so close!
Wow, 7 years! What a mix of emotions it must be for you to have come across the old paperwork. I am so glad that he is doing so well! And I know I've said it before but I will always be grateful for the hope and support you gave me when Collin was going through his heart stuff.
Yeah for B-den!!! Love you guys!
It's insane, isn't it? Our 30 second ambulance ride to the hospital next door was $800.
I can't believe it's been 7 years. Congrats Braden :o)
Dr. bills are crazy!!! I can't believe it's been 7 years. Holy cow! Our kids are getting old, not us of course.
Wow!! I can't believe that was 7 years ago! My brother had the same experience with the air-vac for their priemie....20,000 for a 5 min ride to PHX. I have been having the same sleeping dilema with Ellie. I hate making them cry it out...but daddy just seems to "accidentally" turn the monitors off after I fall asleep. He has done this with all our kids around 7 months, but it has seemed to work! Let us know what you decide and how it works!!
I always wondered what your bill pile must have looked like. Now ours seems not so bad, thanks for that ;)
WOW, that is some serious medical bills. Glad that is 7 years behind you and you have healthy boy on your hands to show for it.
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