u/Rare_Composer9714

Hello, I live in GA and I had to go to lots of testings and biopsies throughout this year - all with the same hospital network. Now I have multiple outstanding bills and one of them is in final notice phase, that is, it will be sent to collection if I don’t pay.

Would be grateful if someobody can share their wisdom for my questions:

1. I heard you can negotiate the cost. Should I do that with the billing department or collection agency?

Where do I even begin? I got itemized bills and the EOB but still had no clue what to do next, since I have at least 5 different bills for more services than I can remember and that’s overwhelming.

1. Can I negotiate for the total of money I owed, like several bills at once? Or do I need to negotiate one bill at a time?
2. Best practices for negotiating? Or any tips I should be aware of would be appreciated. What is the reasonable % reduction I should request?

I’m not good at negotiating but I simply can’t pay the full amount. I literally just finished paying of $3000 from LAST year in monthly installments.

I am going through so much and I just want to let it out.

This is my second biopsy. Two month earlier, I found out I have ADH on the right side, and I thought that was bad enough, but then the breast surgeon ordered an MRI before discussing surgery plan just so there won’t be any surprise. And voila, the MRI picked up something on the left side, which led to an ultrasound (my 3rd one this year) and then this biopsy. They said the biopsy results would come back in less than a week, and it’s been a week without any update.

The most frustrating part is they have required me to do so many tests over this past 10 months, which just led to more tests. I was supposed to meet with the surgeon last month, but she rescheduled it till we got the second biopsy done. The decision to reschedule made sense 100%, but why didn’t they just let me reschedule to a new date in the meantime to reduce waiting time given how busy the surgeon’s schedule is? Like if I wait until AFTER the result is back, it’s going to take me at least another month just to see her. And who knows if I need more tests?

I’ve been trying to call the scheduling office and unable to reach anyone me. I also got the number of the scheduling assistant who said I could call her directly when I got the date of the biopsy, but my calls always go the her voicemail. Left a voicemail and never heard back. And I’m with one of the top health system in a metropolitan area.

Before this it has already been a journey of over 9 months just to be taken seriously. A radiologist was so dismissive she me feel horrible for even asking for a biopsy and seeking second opinion. As a result, I almost wanted to skip the biopsy at first, thinking maybe I was having severe anxiety. But my boyfriend said I should go just for peace of mind. And guess what? They found ADH on the right side! I went from “yea you are having anxiety” to being upgraded to the high risk breast clinic and a patient in the cancer department. And now with more uncertainty ahead with the second biopsy I’m just so so sick of this.

And it doesn’t help that I cannot share this with my mom who is the main caregiver of my dad after he was diagnosed with cancer and he’s been in and out of the hospital following his treatment (they don’t live in America).

I just feel so isolating and helpless throughout this process. I feel like I’m in limbo. I don’t know I’m just ranting to get it off my chest or looking for advice