I supposed I should be used to this but this time it really puzzles me. I had two gallstones removed. No actual surgery. They inserted an endoscope to view the bile duct and pulled the stones out with a catheter with an inflatable end. Less then an hour from wheeling into surgery to awake in the recovery room. The actual procedure probably took a half hour. But - the preliminary invoice (before insurance) is $23,000.
There are line items for drugs, medical equipment, X-rays, anesthesia and 5 “surgery” charges from $2700 to $4700. I’m sure glad I have good insurance.
The “rack rate” for medical procedures is a bad joke. I’d bet your insurer knocks that down to 5,000 or less (my surgeon billed something like 40,000 dollars for my cholecystectomy, of which he got about 2,000). Similar things happened with the hospital charges etc.
I’m glad they were able to remove the stones! When I had my “attack”, it was most likely due to a stone in the duct. It had evidently passed by the time I had an ultrasound - but my gallbladder had plenty of others queued up, so I got a surgery referral right away.
its_the_mummy had a cholecystectomy last week. She’s recovering well, thanks.
But of course we live in the United Kingdom…