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[quote=”jperryfly1″]I was just informed the cost of one day stay in hospital and a heart cath with one stent is $14,500. I was amazed. So unless you have insurance in CR you may as well get it done in the US.[/quote]
This is a compelling argument in favor of enrolling in Medicare Part B when you become eligible. Medicare will not cover services rendered outside the U.S., but for anything at all “elective”, returning to the U.S. for care may make a lot of sense.
Unfortunate but true.
If you are admitted to a CAJA hospital in [i]an emergency situation[/i][b][/b] and need to have this procedure, there would be no cost to you. Just remember to pack your pillow, soap, toilet paper…..[quote=”jperryfly1″]I was just informed the cost of one day stay in hospital and a heart cath with one stent is $14,500. I was amazed. So unless you have insurance in CR you may as well get it done in the US.[/quote]
Based on the conversations I’ve had with a variety of Doctors in Costa Rica this sounds VERY, very odd indeed – Are we sure we’re comparing apples to apples here?
Based on the conversations I’ve had with a variety of Doctors in Costa Rica this sounds VERY, very odd indeed – Are we sure we’re comparing apples to apples here?[/quote]
Hi Scott, This was the Dr that Mary Hickcox was representing. It is just too much for me. Really not even close. Here is her costs:
“I know cost is a huge factor. Anyway, here is the cost breakdown:
$4,800 …. Cost of the clinic and one day hospitalization plus (?)
$4,000 … Medical diagnosis
$3,500 … One stent
$ 350 for one balloon
$ 500 for one guiding catheter
$ 350 for one guidewire
$1,000 medical fee per stent
——————————————
US$14,500 ”Thanks, John
Scott:
This seems exactly correct. Our experience involved a three day day (two in ICU), one stent and attendant angioplasty, the emergency room charges (which were small) and the other charges as outlined for the procedure. My husband’s more specialized stent cost $6,500, not $3,500 and doctor’s fees were another addition. The total for these procedures was nearly $26,000. (Another – unrelated – procedure the same week added another $9,000 to our costs.)
As to the previous questions regarding “working out a payment schedule”, I asked that and was given absolutely NO option to do so. The billing department at CIMA continued to successfully seek me out during my husband’s stay and require additional credit card payments as the cost went up.
I agree that the hospital must now operate this way as a result of previous patients who just walked away from big bills and left the country. I do understand their requirements, just wanted people to know that these procedures are very, VERY expensive for the average person to pay out of pocket. We just talked with another couple in our area who had the same experience two weeks ago, used up their credit limits and had to borrow money to cover the balance. They also showed their paid receipt to the guard on the way out.
As to returning to the U.S. for this kind of treatment….with emergency chest pains leading to heart attack…how exactly does one get back to the States for treatment in time to avoid a full-on heart attack? Most arterial stents are placed as a result of a near or complete heart attack. There are often no other symptoms.
I offer this information as critical to anyone who may have a similar condition and is considering a move here.
David
Could I ask you to please copy and paste this into a new Discussion Forum thread because it is very important and you can always link back to this thread … ?
Scott
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