Tricare Standard Insurance! - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

hexx2003 · 02-23-2009, 05:11 PM

Hi guys, I had my surgery 6 weeks ago tomorrow and i got the final bill from my hospital and insurance today. I just cant believe my eyes. I expected to pay overall $1000 for the surgery and pre op stuff because that is the catastrophic cap on my insurance. I didnt really know how this all worked since i hadn't had Tricare Standard for over 12 years, since I was a Tricare Prime baby! Well todays bill makes me do the HAPPY DANCE!! so all considering a move from prime to standard to get your way, LIKE I DID!! DO IT!!
Hospital Billed $37806 ( I had complications and had to stay 2 more days than planned)
Total Patiend responsibility.... DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!
$46.95!!
Other related costs totaled about $50 for xrays and a few other thinks that used outside people. I paid more for my PCP visits because of the $150 deductable before discounts happened.

I am in total shock and sooo happy!!!! Now i can put my money somewhere else!!!

CarrieP · 02-23-2009, 05:31 PM

Don't you love Tricare?! I'm Prime, but I guess Standard is just as good! I guess the healthcare coverage make up for the crappy regular wages! I just remember walking out after having my son and not worrying about paying a penny! We should consider ourselves VERY lucky!

niseyweesee · 02-23-2009, 06:00 PM

OMGGG Girlfriend that is totally AWESOMEEEE!!! Bow down to TriCare!!! he he he

Phoenixfire · 02-23-2009, 06:40 PM

Yeppers, having Tricare Prime meant my surgery and surgeon costs were just $62.00.

It was my parting gift from the exhusband.

hexx2003 · 02-23-2009, 06:45 PM

Its almost shocking to me that the cost for prime were almost as much as standard. I totally expected alot more of a cost and am so relieved that this life changing surgery cost me less than $100!! That works for me. This question has been asked by lots of people on how much tricare costs. I am glad that after battling Prime to allow me to go offpost for surgery and me deciding to drop prime vs going to the base to have the surgery performed (while waiting up to 2 years!!), that I made the right decision and a decision that cost so very little in the end. I am sending my check in tomorrow to take care of this final bill!!

YEPPIE!

RebeccaNV · 02-23-2009, 11:02 PM

Thanks for this info!

mistymee · 02-24-2009, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RebeccaNV

Thanks for this info!

Sorry, thread-jack...

Rebecca, how have you been? Are you getting any closer to a surgery date?

RebeccaNV · 03-18-2009, 12:21 PM

Ok Hexx, I wanna know how u pulled that off, lol. Your post inspired me to call my local weight loss center and I went for a consult on the 10th. I have Tricare Standard but since this center is a perferred provider, it gets bumped up to Tricare Extra. I have a 80/20 cost share. $150 deductible. I paid $45 for the consult. I was told to call the hospital and find out what I have to pay upfront before the surgery. They want $2000. Then I called the anesthesiologists. $1,656 for an hour and a half of their time..so 20% of that. My paperwork doesn't tell me what my surgeons fees will be, oddly. My catastropic cap is $3,000, so I expect to fully pay that, plus $350 for their classes that aren't covered by Tricare, plus another $300 for their liquid meal replacement for a 4 week liquid diet prior to surgery. I am not complaining, but rather I am documenting this for anyone else with Tricare Standard so that they know what they may be in for.

hexx2003 · 03-18-2009, 12:57 PM

I dont know much about Tricare Extra, mine was all put through standard. The classes thing they talk about, that is a standard thing. I paid $750 for using my surgeon that wasnt covered by insurance. I am not sure why it gets changed to extra for it being a preferred surgeon. As far as I know mine was preferred as it is the only one within 25 miles. But i dont know offhand. Not sure why your hospital is expecting money up front. I have had a few surgeries that were on tricare standard and was never asked for money upfront from a hospital. Usually they do it, put it through insurance then you get a bill for it. Thats why I had no idea how much I would be charged until they finally sent me a bill. I expected to pay the $1000 catastrophic cap. Going into any surgery, i would have expected that. But it didnt happen, luckily. It just sounds weird how that would go through Extra vs Standard. But I am not a tricare expert, i just know what happened to me. but it doesnt sound all right.

hexx2003 · 03-18-2009, 01:00 PM

also, that that type of payment seems pretty standard for Tricare Standard patients. I have compared mine to several people who had surgery through the same practice and accross the US. Its a problem with Extra not Standard.. And again, i dont quite understand why this "preferred physician" makes it Extra.