For Her Head Cold, Insurer Coughed Up $25,865

[Cattledog]

WTF!!!!!


Alexa Kasdan had a cold and a sore throat.

The 40-year-old public policy consultant from Brooklyn, N.Y., didn't want her upcoming vacation trip ruined by strep throat. So after it had lingered for more than a week, she decided to get it checked out.

Kasdan visited her primary care physician, Roya Fathollahi, at Manhattan Specialty Care, just off Park Avenue South and not far from tony Gramercy Park.

The visit was quick. Kasdan got her throat swabbed, gave a tube of blood and was sent out the door with a prescription for antibiotics.

She soon felt better, and the trip went off without a hitch.

Then the bill came.

Patient: Alexa Kasdan, 40, a public policy consultant in New York City, insured by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota through her partner's employer.

Total bill: $28,395.50 for an out-of-network throat swab. Her insurer cut a check for $25,865.24.

Service provider: Dr. Roya Fathollahi, Manhattan Specialty Care.

Medical service: lab tests to look at potential bacteria and viruses that could be related to Kasdan's cough and sore throat.

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/12/23/787403509/for-her-head-cold-insurer-coughed-up-25-865?utm_medium=social&utm_term=nprnews&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=npr&fbclid=IwAR1LdCCe63QyqfLS8EDVso2DRYcMav2i0drdXVhywfWKvEjDnF3rZjKvQjY

[House of Roberts]

1. Where I go for primary care,

that would cost $175 for an office visit with lab work with no insurance. I do fasting bloodwork twice a year, and they often do urinalysis also, which is included for the $175.

[lark]

2. I'd hope it was an error and would be quickly fixed.

If not, she needs to call that states version of Insurance Commissioner and file a complaint.

When I went to the hospital back in the 90's for a seizure and was there for 3 days, my bill was over $100,000. I asked for an itemized statement and found I was being billed twice for every service. Once they corrected, refiled with insurance and billed me again, the bill went from $10,000 my cost to about $300.