# Cost of appendectomy: $21K **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 5, 2009, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-appendectomy-21k/484637 "2009-02-05T23:14:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-appendectomy-21k/484637/41 "2009-02-08T13:29:53Z")
I haven’t required any major surgery, but me and hubby are both self-employed, meaning we are responsible for our own insurance & health care. We _do_ have insurance. I was diagnosed with diabetes in November. Total health care costs between Nov 20 & the end of the year: $2K. Our deductible is $3850, so that’s all out of pocket. This year, we’ll hit the deductible, so between insurance premiums and our out-of-pocket expenses, we’ll pay $8K. That’s _if_ the insurance covers everything. I think it’s OK insurance, so maybe they will. But maybe they won’t. Considering other people’s horror stories, that’s not too bad. But still, compared to other countries plans, that’s a lot to pay out of pocket, considering we’re the lucky types who had insurance before being diagnosed with anything major. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-appendectomy-21k/484637/42 "2009-02-08T14:50:37Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > \>I can’t run or cycle now but I ride a handcycle. > > Wow. Sorry - I didn’t notice you were riding the handcycle when you first posted. If you don’t mind my asking, is that because of the accident? What kind of changes did it leave you with? Just curious. [I’m missing part of the hamstring and sciatic nerve](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=323324). The leg is partly functional and I walk with a cane but I am limited in terms of time/distance. Fortunately, I had no other injuries and circulation in the leg is good. I do ride the handcycle as a result as riding a regular bike is not possible. ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-appendectomy-21k/484637/43 "2009-02-08T15:38:37Z")
I had my gallbladder out 5 years ago. At the time, I had a blockage from the gallstones that led to developing pancreatitis. A month later, I had another bout of pancreatitis when a “retained stone” got loose in the works somewhere. (They didn’t tell me about that possibility.) Because it was an emergency, life-threatening condition, both of those hospitalizations (10 days total) and the surgery were paid for by the good people of the state of Pennsylvania because of my low income and lack of insurance. That was a grand total of $42,000 and change. Fast forward six months. I have the privilege of going on vacation with my family (at no cost to broke me) and pancreatitis strikes again. Seven days in a hospital in South Carolina. South Carolina has no reciprocal agreement to pick up care for medicaid-eligible patients from states that do not border SC, and my state says “sorry, you went too far away, so even though this is the same illness, we’re not paying this time.” For seven days in a general medicine ward (albeit a private room) with no procedures other than daily bloodwork to check my liver enzymes and no food, just IV fluids and painkillers, I was billed roughly $34,000. I’ve paid about $750. They will **not** negotiate a lower total, and send demanding letters regularly about my “extremely high balance.” My guess is that I’ll die before I pay them off. It is prioritized, right now, somewhere above saving up for fencing lessons, somewhere below keeping the lights, heat and internet on. Despite having an income that is roughly 1/2 of the federal poverty level, because I’m not legally classed as disabled (even though I’m physically incapable of working more, and might be able to get a doctor to vouch for my disability from multiple ailments _if I could afford to see a doctor in an ongoing way to have a care relationship with one_) and because I’ve been responsible and don’t have kids I can’t afford to care for, I do not qualify for general medicaid. I qualify for a low-cost HMO program that the state subsidizes. There is a waiting list for that which was 18 months back when I first applied in 2003 (after my gallbladder surgery and being told that follow-up care would only be covered for 14 days), and then when I got to the top of the list, I couldn’t afford to pick up the coverage because you have to pay 3 months in advance to start, so I lost my turn to get it. With the ranks of the unemployed growing, I’m told that the waiting list now is close to 3.5 _years_. I haven’t bothered reapplying. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-appendectomy-21k/484637/44 "2009-02-08T15:45:49Z")
> [@seodoa](#): > > Did you try gluing on googly eyes and pipe cleaner hair? When I read this, I was reminded of the SNL skit with Christopher Walken where he puts “glues the googly eyes on the plants, so they’re not so scary.” I now have coffee all over my mouth, lips, t-shirt, and wife’s laptop. Thanks a lot. 😃 Tripler Stinkin’ waste of a cup ‘o’ Dunkin Donuts coffee too. :smack: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-appendectomy-21k/484637.md?page=2)