Was I overcharged? Not sure where this would go.

[JVanRN]

I was just wondering if someone could answer this question for me? I'm just curious, I do plan on asking my insurance company about it. Here goes:

The other day I went in for my first prenatal appointment (I'm 8 weeks pg). I had a Transvag US done while I was there. The original reason for the US was to follow up on an ovarian cyst...not to check the baby. Well since I was pregnant they also checked the baby...you know since they were right there and all. Whole thing took a total of 10 minutes. Everything looked fine.

Well then I go to pay my co-pay...I have okay insurance. It covers 70% and I pay 30%. Usually for a TVUS I end up paying about $120 or so. So when I get up there to pay, she tells my my US is $256.00:eek: (I know these things are expensive, but that was not what I was used to paying...that was a huge increase from 3 months before, so I was shocked) Much to my embarassment, I had to tell the lady I didn't have the whole amount and I just paid what I could and will pay the rest before my next visit. Still I was wondering why I had been charged so much?

So when I got home I call the doctor's office and the lady in billing said that becuase I had 2 differents concerns (pregnancy and cyst) that I was being billed for 2 ultrasounds and this is perfectly okay. My question is...Is that routine? To double charge for that? What if I had not know I was pregnant? I honestly don't know if the doctor would have even ordered on otherwise...if not for the cyst. This just isn't making alot of sense to me.

If this is legit, I will pay it, of course, I just want to make sure I'm not being overcharged. I'm not all that familiar with how insurance is billed, other than my routine office visits, as I hardly ever go to the doctor. This little booger is turning out to be expensive already..I just couldn't imagine if I didn't have insurance:chuckle Thanks in advance.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Gosh - I too would be concerned. I can't address the billing but would certainly contact your insurance company. Good luck.

[Nurse Ratched, RN]

I can tell you that in my area, a pelvic ultrasound and an abdominal ultrasound are two different procedures, generating two different readings (reports) and presumably two charges. I hear you - seems like they were already there - shouldn't be double, but I think it is.

[gr8rnpjt, RN]

This sounds to me like double billing. You did not ask them to look at the pregnancy--did you?

I would call your insurance company and ask if they have a fraud and abuse department, and file a complaint.

[SmilingBluEyes]

I can tell you that in my area, a pelvic ultrasound and an abdominal ultrasound are two different procedures, generating two different readings (reports) and presumably two charges. I hear you - seems like they were already there - shouldn't be double, but I think it is.

Agree. A call to the insurance co. is in order. We can't tell you for sure what happened here.

[GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

If it was a translady partsl u/s, how can they charge twice? They only used one instrument! They were already in side of you and both the baby and the cyst could be checked at the same time. I had a cyst and my baby checked at the same time and charged only once... I would call the insurance company about this... Im sure they don't want to pay twice either.

[JVanRN]

I can tell you that in my area, a pelvic ultrasound and an abdominal ultrasound are two different procedures, generating two different readings (reports) and presumably two charges. I hear you - seems like they were already there - shouldn't be double, but I think it is.

I called the insurance company and sure enough this was was the case. It was a legit charge. Just wanted to be sure. Thanks for the replies.

[JBudd, MSN]

I would ask the doctor's office to waive the copay for the second US fee, since you weren't actually asking to have the pregnancy checked. They got the insurance to pay the double fee, they may be willing to charge you only the one copay. It's worth asking.