Can anyone tell me what they paid to consult with Dr. Tobias. I just got a bill for $1000. I paid Dr. Costantino $350. Thanks
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Hi! My bill for Costantino & Tobias was $895 each before the insurance adjustment. That was for the initial consultation. After adjustment both were $376.73 each. Then for another visit it was $550 for Tobias & $390 for Costantino. Hope you’re feeling well and continuing to improve!
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@Chrickychricky - That’s a ridiculous amount for an initial visit. He’d have needed to do some sort of a costly procedure while you were there to jack the price up that high. I’d sure call & question it. I hope his ofc has a good explanation!
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Thanks @vap and @Isaiah_40_31 It seems like all of these numbers are not actually real. What I have been finding out is that everything is up for negotiation. When I first contacted Dr. Costantino’s office they told me it would be $350 out-of–pocket which I agreed to only to find out later that someone on the forum paid $250. So when that ridiculous bill came in from Dr. Tobias’s office I went in with a plan to negotiate. Banner Hospital, where I had the surgery, has something on their website for people paying out-of-pocket that they usually collect 25% of what gets billed from insurance companies and they expect to collect that 25% plus 125% of that, roughly 29% from out-of-pocket people. When I spoke with the biller from Dr. Tobias’s office I started lower, proposing $200 expecting to have to go up a little but they accepted that! I’m still working through the insurance issue from the surgery but at least I have the consultation bill taken care of!
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GOOD FOR YOU, @Chrickychricky!! That was a brilliant move on your part to low ball the offer. I’m really glad they just took it w/o question. Also, thank you for the info about negotiating w/ the hospital as well. I have mentioned negotiating cost of doctor/surgery bills for cash paying patients on here before because I knew it was possible but wasn’t sure what it looked like in reality. Your info has helped make how to negotiate more clear.
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Well done, it sounds a crazy system! 
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