What timing

[mowens]

So, I go Monday for my heart cath. My wife is flying in on Sunday to be there.

My cardiologist only goes to one outpatient facility to do these procedures. He's part owner and Chief Medical Officer. I assumed since he was in network, the facility was in network so I didn't check.

They waited until yesterday to tell me they were not in network. I don't know if my out of network deductible has been met yet. If it has been they will pay 60%. If not, it's all on me. They said the procedure was between $1500 to $2000 dollars. I think that it could be a lot more, I expect to get a stent or be recommended for bypass surgery. So I asked about changing locations. They just mumbled something. So my choice is, either eat the cost, which really isn't that big of a deal, or call it off and start all over with  a new cardiologist. I said that I would still go through with it and then they wanted a down payment.

I said, "okay, how much do you want?".
She said, "how much can you pay"?
I repied "I prefer you tell me how much you need and I'll see if I can do it".

She went to ask her business manager and she came back with a figure of $250 and I paid it out of my health
savings account.

The reason this bothers me because they waited until canceling would be a major inconvenience to tell me this.

I have a feeling that this happened because of incompetence in the business office rather than some nefarious plan. When she first called she had what she though was my insurance pulled up. She ask if I had BCBS. I told her that I hadn't had that in over 20 years. She started getting a little panicked about needing my insurance info and if we could get it approved on time and I said before we do that, I want to make sure you have the right Mike and gave her may birthday. Low and behold, she had the wrong page pulled up.

I still wonder if I should have dumped my HSA and used medicare. Either way will cost me money.

[Del.]

I'd find another cardiologist personally.

[mowens]

That's probably what I should do. I'll see what happens Monday.