Layout:
Home > Sticker Shock

Sticker Shock

May 4th, 2011 at 12:19 am

After the “Insurance Discount”, I owe the doctors a shade under $500 because I finally went in to figure out why I was “chronically fatigued” just to find out I have a Vitamin D deficiency. I was ready for two hundred or so, but almost $500 blew my mind. $500 is about two month’s leftover money right now. I’ll probably dip into savings to pay for it, but it will still take 2 months to pay savings back. *sigh*

AND they wanted me to come back in 8 weeks to do a follow up test. I am going to call and ask if that is really necessary, because I really don’t want to spend another two hundred on that test and a visit.

The sad thing is that it doesn’t even make a dent in my deductible of $5,400 and I pay 100% of my premium that pretty much eats up my entire paycheck. Gah.

…And people wonder why I balk at going to the doctors and put it off as long as possible. *sigh*

One step forward, two steps back. Not the end of the world, but very frustrating.

6 Responses to “Sticker Shock”

  1. crazyliblady Says:
    1304473690

    Call them and work out a payment plan. You were prepared to pay something, but obviously they did not give you a hint as to how much.

  2. CampFrugal Says:
    1304516409

    What did he tell you to do for a vitamin D deficiency, besides laying in the sun. I think a lot of people are suffereing from that this year, with the lack of sun. My neighbor friend was just told she had a vitamin D deficiency.

  3. TarWalker Says:
    1304525000

    CrazyLibLady- I will probably just pay it in full. It's easier than having a re-occuring debt to worry about. I've worked hard to be in this position where I have the funds if something like this comes up. It just delays my savings/debt payoff plan for a little while.

    CampFrugal: They put me on a 50,000 iu (i think) vitamin D pills once a week for 8 weeks to "jump start" my system. The pills were cheap 8 for $12. Not sure what happens after that, if I'll need to take a lower dose daily pill or take it when I need it.

  4. Buckeye Says:
    1304529666

    I've jump started with the Vitamin D, and followed with an over the counter 2,000 mg. It was my finger nails which became bizarre, splitting breaking and discolored, plus the cuticles turned orange. The D took care of it and I have the hands to prove it. I did not go back for a follow up nor was I asked to.

  5. scottish girl Says:
    1304531107

    $500 with your discount? What would it have been before? Did that include your vitamin D pills?
    If it were like that here people would stop going to the doctor as much.
    I know I really shouldn't comment since I live in the UK but that does seem a lot.

  6. Jerry Says:
    1304720130

    Health care costs in the US are out of control, even with insurance (and I say that as an American medical student, although I am studying in Europe). Your situation is a perfect example, and I would be willing to bet that your discount was more than the entire visit would cost in many other parts of the world. It leads me to wonder about how long the system can maintain itself in the US, it really does.
    Jerry

Leave a Reply

(Note: If you were logged in, we could automatically fill in these fields for you.)
*
Will not be published.
   

* Please spell out the number 4.  [ Why? ]

vB Code: You can use these tags: [b] [i] [u] [url] [email]