Our family doctor has routinely scheduled a colonoscopy as a routine diagnostic test in my annual physical every five years. I have never had a problem with coverage until this year when we switched our health insurance to Blue Cross Blue Shield. This year they billed this routine exam (which is covered under our policy as a routine diagnostic test as part of an annual physical exam) as surgery! Althought the health care provider billed the BCBS for a routine diagnostic exam, BCBS misrepresented the nature of the exam and sent us a bill for surgery with $2500 price tag to be applied against our annual deductible. Naturally we are fighting this and refuse to pay for the distorted misrepresentation of the procedure. Anyone experiencing similar charges from their insurerer should check with their state attorney general's office since many states offer safeguards for patients in health insurance coverage disputes. In MA we can appeal to a state board and/or file a consumer action against the insurer in state court. For most claims you can make use of small claims court which is DIY procedure and costs essentially nothing. I recommend that anyone billed inflated charges for this routine diagnostic test dispute the charges rather than pay them. Remember, it's the squeaky hinge that get oiled!
Votes: +0

It doesn't matter if you shop around. These hospitals will not tell you the hospital fees if you have insurance (I tried). I guess they want to rip off the insurance companies. They won't want to be transparent about the fees so that we can't shop around and they dictate the price they charge us. That’s why the fees get higher and higher every year. Votes: +0

When are hospitals, docotors & anethesiologists going to have to post prices for minimum or average "costs" just like contractors or any other business?? Maybe Obama and McCain should be getting this done for the general public.
Now, cost are a big secret till u get the bill.
Les Votes: +1

We were horrified when we got the bill for my husband's colonoscopy. He is a healthy male, age 51. His primary care physician recommended a colonoscopy as a routine screening. We didn't even think to check out the rates ahead of time. The doctor's fee was $4400.00; that included removal of two polyps. The surgery center's fee was $3300.00. We haven't received bills for the pathologist or anesthiesiologist yet. We live in West Bend, WI. The clinic was West Bend Clinic, and the procedure was done at the West Bend Surgery Center. When I called about the bill, I was told that the rates are set by looking at competing facilities in the area. Others we have talked to who have had colonoscopies have given us much lower prices for same procedures done at other facilities in the area. We have insurance, but even at that, we will owe about $1000.00. In a conversation with the billing supervisor, I asked if we had no insurance what amount we would owe. She said we'd owe the whole amount, almost $7700.00. Then I thought about the people who have or have had colon cancer; they probably have to have these 3 or 4 times a year!! Votes: +1

For a colonoscopy outpatient procedure in Spartanburg, SC at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, the fees are as follows:
Hospital: $2,255.94
Colonoscopy FLE: $1,170.00
Surg Pathology: $185.00
Total: $3,610.94
Votes: +1

My husband had a Colonoscopy October of 2005. One polyp was found (benign). The Surgery Center charge for this procedure totaled $4,376.00. One charge was for the procedure $2,188.00 and another $2188.00 to have the Polyp removed. Isn't a Colonoscopy procedure to find Polyps etc and remove them? We are contesting this charge. Votes: +0

I was told by Easton Hospital in Pennsylvania, a claim was sent to our Health Insurance Company for $7,400 for the test my wife had February 14th, 2006. It was a normal Colonoscopy test with good results. I was told my wife stayed in recovery an extra 15 minutes, she was waiting for the nurse to come after she was dressed and ready. This Hospital required payment upfront the 15% as our insurance paid 85%. They of course offered a finance plan to help. I have been reading that this test national average is $1,200-1,700. I can not imagine $7,000.00 Votes: +0

Three years ago, I had a colonoscopy, and the removal of a polyp. The total bill for that procedure came to $4077. Of that amount, $1974 was from the hospital (pharmacy, IV solutions, pathology/histology, anesthesia, recovery services, and gastrointestinal services).
In addition to the hospital bill, I was also billed $1281 from the surgeon, $115 from the pathologist, and $513 from the anesthesiologist. Fortunately my insurance covered most of the total $4077. Now I'm due for a follow-up colonoscopy. I checked with my present insurance company and was told that the colonoscopy is not covered as a preventative procedure because they consider the removal of the polyp 3 years ago as a pre-existing condition. Votes: +0

I am going to have a colonoscopy soon, I have seen quotes from $500 - $1000. I have Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance. Votes: +1

We just paid a total of $2950 for a colonoscopy in Houston, TX. That is $2200 to the facility at which the colonoscopy occurred plus another $750 to the doctor performing the procedure. Votes: +0

I have been quoted $2700 for a colonoscopy at Virginia Mason Hospital. $2877 with biopsies. Votes: +0

I did not check out the high cost of a colonoscopy either. My husband is 55 and the following charges are what we received in Rock Springs, Wyoming.

Doctor charged his consultation visit at $180
Procedure $1221
Follow up doctor visit $65
Pathology $160 (this was just skin tissue no polyps found)
Medication for procedure $50
Surgery Center charge $1000 (even though it was done in the office facility he has to pay for use of his equipment)
Total $2,676

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming HSA only covers $150 adult preventive annually and DOES NOT apply the remaining to the deductible. We had a bill! I wish I had known that before we had it done here because I would have shopped around considering it was a routine thing and did not need to be done right now. Live and learn. I also am looking for another insurance since this one keeps increasing our premiums every 6 mos! (they do that with everyone not just us) Votes: +0