A Peoria woman's reconstructive surgery bill comes as a shock after her insurance contract expires unexpectedly.
Terri Griffin, a resident of Peoria, Arizona, faced a challenging situation when her scheduled reconstructive surgery on her nose took an unexpected turn. She had to undergo a series of three operations due to a large hole left after skin cancer removal. Despite her insurance coverage for the first two surgeries at St. Joseph's Hospital, the third operation resulted in a surprise medical bill of over $15,000.
Griffin's insurance, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, had a contract with Dignity Health, St. Joseph's parent company, which expired one day before her third surgery. Unbeknownst to her, this change in contract status led to the hospital's out-of-network charges. The flap reconstruction procedure, typically performed in three stages, was unexpectedly costly.
After the surgery, Griffin attempted to negotiate with the hospital, but they refused to reduce the bill. She was offered a payment plan of $396 for 36 months, which was not financially feasible for her. Seeking assistance, Griffin contacted the On Your Side team, who intervened and negotiated a significant reduction in the bill.
The hospital executive offered to lower the bill from $15,448 to $2,277, and with immediate payment, it was halved again, resulting in a final payment of $1,138. Griffin expressed her relief and gratitude, stating that she felt like an angel for the assistance provided.
This incident highlights the potential impact on thousands of patients with similar out-of-network charges, as the dispute between Dignity Health and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield lasted six weeks. The story serves as a reminder of the importance of insurance contract awareness and the potential financial burdens that can arise from unexpected changes.
