All I have is basic Medicare.
All I have is basic Medicare.
Looks like $1,156 is the magic number for you. But double-check what you have for coverage - Part A only, Part A and B, Part A, B & D...It can affect what your out of pocket costs are. Just send me a PM if you need help digging through the guide. The relevant stuff for you starts around page 32.
Good lessons are hard learned. Next time stick it out through the night (drinking is pretty fun,) call the Dr. in the A.M. and push for the earliest appointment. They'll usually take pity on you if you're all "I couldn't afford the ER and I've been up all night." Pay cash. $60 visit, shot to numb it, pair of pliers or digging it out, and a tentanus shot would probably be another hundred at the most. $150 out the door I'm guessing, plus maybe $4 worth of antibiotics and $20 worth of heavy duty ibuprofin.
Yeah, I just went through the whole insurance signup thing and was told that ER visits are stupid expensive. They say to use the Doc in a Box for non-life threatening stuff.
Some people just don't, though; a friend here locally went to the ER for blood in her urine. No pain etc, she said she didn't know anything was amiss till she looked. They ran blood tests, MRI's, you name it. All that to tell her she had a UTI and write a prescription for antibiotics.
The tab was ~$7,000.00. 
In reply to poopshovel:
Yeah, in hindsight I would have definitely done that. I wasn't aware of what my insurance policy and I knew I needed a tetanus shot so we went to the ER.
Update: Called them this morning. So far I can get 10% off my $780 bill and 25% off on my $255 bill. My mom paid in full the $461 bill so I am SOL for that one. What do you think? Take the deal and forget about it or try again? I have a week to decide and I don't want this hitting my credit report. How do I make sure they consider the bill paid and I don't get another bill in 5 months for the difference?
IMHO, pay it. You have a high deductible plan, so this should have been anticipated. We can argue until the cows come home about the cost of health care in this country, but at the end of the day this should not have been a surprise.
I also have a high deductible plan. I also max out my pay-check HSA contribution to cover it.
Enyar wrote: Update: Called them this morning. So far I can get 10% off my $780 bill and 25% off on my $255 bill. My mom paid in full the $461 bill so I am SOL for that one. What do you think? Take the deal and forget about it or try again? I have a week to decide and I don't want this hitting my credit report. How do I make sure they consider the bill paid and I don't get another bill in 5 months for the difference?
I'd argue some more. Tell them (insert random number) $300? Is the best you can do. Tell them you can pay CASH today. Get something in writing saying you're free and clear, but STILL go ahead and plan on them sending you more E36 M3 in the mail. DON'T EVER throw that receipt away.
Enyar wrote: I have a week to decide and I don't want this hitting my credit report.
I'm not sure it does. Seems to me because of the huge mess medical billing is that there was a prohibition on it being part of your credit record.
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