The Cost of A Hysterectomy in America
All of my bills have been coming in lately. But one of them really drives home just how expensive surgery truly is and why for people without insurance, things like this are utterly impossible to obtain. And I wanted to share it to help illustrate why I support Health Care Reform.
This is why I needed insurance for my surgery. Without insurance there would be no way I could pay for this procedure. This is the EOB or “Explanation of Benefits” from my insurance (PCIP) showing the submitted claim for my hysterectomy from the hospital.
This is ONLY the hospital and does not include the doctor, the assistant, the anesthesiologist, the labs, my primary doctor (for pre-surgery clearance) or any other provider.
The hospital billed $40,316.02 Forty-thousand dollars. Of that, the agreed rates between the insurance and the hospital took off $6,047.40. My portion due is $4,155.69. Almost forty-two hundred bucks. Which is a hell of a lot less than $40k, but still shows how HUGE an expense this surgery is. It’s why healthcare needs to be affordable for everyone.
And it’s why I’ve said it before but I’ll proudly say it again, I am ObamaCare.
Without Health Care Reform, PCIP would not exist and I would not have been able to get the insurance I needed to get the surgery I required.
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Tags: bill for hysterectomy, eob, explanation of benefits, finances, financial assistance, fundraiser, fundraising, healing, health care reform, help pay medical bills, how much does a hysterectomy cost, hysterectomy, hysterectomy bill, i am obamacare, i am the 99%, medical assistance, medical bills, obamacare, post op, post op hysterectomy, post surgery, price of a hysterectomy, surgery, tlh, total laparoscopic hysterectomy, trying to raise money for medical bills
:: about ::
40 year old Pagan woman who lives in Florida with her guy and two cats, loves Disney, reads fanatically, tinkers in photography and runs her own handcrafted artisan jewelry business.
Inadvertently became the face of Healthcare Reform in America by posting the (in)famous "I am Obamacare" image and sharing the story of her hysterectomy at age 34. Now runs her own small business, PhoenixFire Designs, specalizing in handmade tree of life pendants, full moon tree of life necklaces, family birthstone jewelry, wire wrapped jewelry and more full-time.
Our best friend passed away suddenly March 13, 2010. Five years later, it's still hard. The full story can be read here.Hysterectomy Fund
October 2013 Update: Happy 2 Year Anniversary!! I'm amazed at how different life is two years later. Though the hardest thing I've ever been through in my life, I've grown so much as a result of having overcome such terrifying and daunting medical issues. In a weird way, I'm better for having experienced these hardships. I'm more sure of myself these days and more confident I can face life's challenges better.
I have tried to turn this medical challenge into an opportunity and using this as a means to push forward with my small jewelry business and as a way to support myself again.
Your continued support is appreciated right now and even links to my shop are appreciated. Thank you to everyone who's helped and spread the word. All of you helped make it possible for me to be here and healthy.:: calendar ::
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1 Comment
I’m so pleased I live in the UK and we have such a good system with the NHS. I did look into private care when my date for hysterectomy was post poned and I could not afford it. Today is ‘H’ day for me so I’ll sample good NHS care first hand, despite me working for the same service.