bunionectomy - Foot Problems Message Board

oalpert58 · 03-08-2008, 04:03 PM

is $28,000 excessive for a bunionectomy...performed at the HSS by Dr. John G. Kennedy as an outpatient not including a $9,000. charge for hospital services and $1,400. for anesthesia? My insurance would pay only $6,500.00 of the $28,000.00 bill

pohtr · 03-08-2008, 04:35 PM

I personally think it's high. I paid under $6,000 for a double bunionectomy with spur removal, including the surgeon, outpatient surgical center and anesthesiologist. I received several discounts for uninsured and prepay and having the 2nd one done at the same time, and I got the prices before the surgery. I think its high because that's what they bill to insurance companies and don't expect to be paid that much.

RunnerMac · 03-08-2008, 06:25 PM

The hospital services and anesthesia sound comparable to what I had, but the $28,000 seems very high. You may be able to negotiate a lower price by presenting the evidence that your insurance won't pay the majority of it. What reason did the insurance give for covering about 1/4 of it? You might be able to use that reason in negotiations.
Sorry to hear of your bad luck!

KathJack · 03-08-2008, 10:30 PM

Close to $40,000 for one foot? Sounds high to me. (Mine was about half of that for two feet and HMO insurance paid 100%.) Where are you located?

RightFootMary · 03-09-2008, 02:54 PM

I take it the surgical center/hospital was not participating with your insurance company. I went to a surgical center that was nonparticipating for a bunionectomy 18 months ago but they accepted what my insurance paid. Likewise with the anestheologist. My doctor was participating and the funny thing was the insurance paid the anestheologist more than they paid the surgeon (now I understand why some don't participate). However all told mine was probably closer to $12,000 (billed but not actually paid). Anestheologist got around $1200 and my surgeon got a little over $1,000. Good luck dealing with all this. It's a terrible position to be in.

Mary in NY