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That moment I saw the actual cost of a simple hospital peanut butter sandwich
I found out my insurance got charged $14 for a single peanut butter sandwich during a 3-day stay last spring. The itemized bill had it listed as "nutritional sustenance item" and I couldn't say anything to the billing lady without sounding crazy. Has anyone else seen weird markups on a hospital bill?
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xenarobinson17d ago
Next time ask the billing office for an itemized copy before you pay anything. Most hospitals will send you a summary bill that lumps everything together on purpose. I fought a $28 charge for a "mobility assistance device" that turned out to be a plastic cup with a straw. Always ask for the full breakdown with codes, then look up what each code actually means online. If they push back just keep asking to speak to a patient advocate or financial counselor, they have the power to remove those charges. Even a small savings helps when everything else is already way overpriced. Have you checked if your hospital has a charity care or discount program? Most people don't know they qualify.
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