Tubes in ears -- How much does it cost ???

[heatherrae]

Devin has to get tubes in his ears. He has been very sick and this is his 9th ear infection. So, tubes are suggested. I have health insurance for me and him, but there is a $4000 deductible, with exceptions for baby immunizations, yada, yada, yada...

Does anyone know what an ENT charges, in general, for tubes in the ears. Looks like this is going to be out of pocket for me.

I'm still paying on my c-section.

 

[puddlemonkey]

Sell the GPS system.

 

[puddlemonkey]

I had a lot of ear infections as a kid, I turned out fine with no tubes.

 

[needtogetarmy]

Damn! $4,000! I have no idea how much it costs. Good luck though. Little Demitri needs good hearing.

 

[heatherrae]

Sell the GPS system.

LOL...

maybe I will have to sell my body. (4000 times)

 

[heatherrae]

I had a lot of ear infections as a kid, I turned out fine with no tubes.

That's a matter for debate.

lol.

 

[all the whey]

Looks like it's time for HR to start dating again.

 

[heatherrae]

Looks like it's time for HR to start dating again.

lol...mamma needs better health insurance.

 

[BBR100]

Devin has to get tubes in his ears. He has been very sick and this is his 9th ear infection. So, tubes are suggested. I have health insurance for me and him, but there is a $4000 deductible, with exceptions for baby immunizations, yada, yada, yada...

Does anyone know what an ENT charges, in general, for tubes in the ears. Looks like this is going to be out of pocket for me.

I'm still paying on my c-section.

Sorry, socialized medicine here so didn't have to pay directly so can't tell you what it might cost in States.
I can tell you that my son also suffered with chronic ear infections and had tubes put in at around two years old. Never had another infection so whatever the cost it is well worth it.
$4 Grand = OUCH.

 

[heatherrae]

Anyway, he hurts so badly..poor little munchkin.

He currently has strep throat, pink eye, bad infections in both ears, and a really bad rash on his penis and scrotum.

We've been pacing the floor for 3 days straight...no sleep.

 

[jnevin]

$1700-2800

 

[all the whey]

lol...mamma needs better health insurance.

You should trick someone that works for the government to marry you. They have excellent benefits.

 

[needtogetarmy]

We are lucky my wife and I have decent insurance. We've had over 20K in hospital bills etc. over the past few years plus with a baby on the way I'd be screwed.

I remember one of my cousins had tubes in his ears. I don't remember them complaining it cost that much.

This site says it can cost $3,000 - $4,000.

http://www.drgreene.com/21_553.html

 

[heatherrae]

Sorry, socialized medicine here so didn't have to pay directly so can't tell you what it might cost in States.
I can tell you that my son also suffered with chronic ear infections and had tubes put in at around two years old. Never had another infection so whatever the cost it is well worth it.
$4 Grand = OUCH.

Yeah, everyone I have asked said that after their kids got the tubes, it cleared the problem right up.

I wish we had socialized medicine here. These medical bills have me living like a pauper. C-section was $15,000. I don't know how much the tubes will be.

 

[all the whey]

$1700-2800

Damn that is expensive.

HR should just have java come over to tell Denny to just toughen up.

 

[heatherrae]

Okay, I'm averaging out the replies and assuming around $3000 give or take some. Holy crap, I hope they let me pay a bit at a time.

 

[heatherrae]

You should trick someone that works for the government to marry you. They have excellent benefits.

Good idea! I'm going to create my own religion where GOD wants women to have multiple husbands. Think of all the GPS's I could have!

 

[Mavafanculo]

hr - there's some debate on the tubes in the ears thing - its become the tonsillectomy of the moment. iow, a doctors panacea (if ur not a skeptic) or annuity (if you are skeptic)

in the meantime, you can strengthen his immune system with some simple supp's :

whey protein drink a few times a day
1 or 2 grams of glutamine mixed in with the above. (adjusted the dose for a kiddie)

there are studies demonstarting quantifiable increases in immune function with bed-ridden hospital/cancer/burn patients.

also, extra vitamin C - not only an immune booster but a natural antihistamine/drying agent which will help the ear thing

 

[heatherrae]

hr - there's some debate on the tubes in the ears thing - its become the tonsillectomy of the moment. iow, a doctors panacea (if ur not a skeptic) or annuity (if you are skeptic)

in the meantime, you can strengthen his immune system with some simple supp's :

whey protein drink a few times a day
1 or 2 grams of glutamine mixed in with the above. (adjusted the dose for a kiddie)

there are studies demonstarting quantifiable increases in immune function with bed-ridden hospital/cancer/burn patients.

also, extra vitamin C - not only an immune booster but a natural antihistamine/drying agent which will help the ear thing

I was skeptical and held out as long as I could. I'm still breat feeding him which is supposed to be the best thing for his immune system and feed him all really healthy foods, often making them myself for him in the blender. I just think the kid, unfortunately, has a prediliction for infections in the ear. I'm afraid his hearing is muffled, already.

I don't think he's allowed to have whey, because he isn't old enough to even drink cow's milk yet. You have to be a year old to drink cow's milk. I don't know. I could be wrong. I'm certainly not sure about giving him creatine. You have to be very careful of what you give them b4 they are one.

 

[stilleto]

take him off milk for a while. see if he gets another one.

my father told me he had to do that for my brothers and they never got another ear infection.

I tried it for my daughter, as a last ditch effort before seeing the ENT. I put her on soy milk for a few months and she never had another infection.

 

[heatherrae]

take him off milk for a while. see if he gets another one.

my father told me he had to do that for my brothers and they never got another ear infection.

I tried it for my daughter, as a last ditch effort before seeing the ENT. I put her on soy milk for a few months and she never had another infection.

So soy formula, huh?

How about breast feeding at night? Should I go all soy, or soy during the day and breastmilk at night?

 

[ortiz34]

Isn't this all caused by not holding properly while feeding. ???? IDK just heard Bikinimom say that.

 

[the_clockwork]

call your insurance company?!

I'd try alternative methods first

 

[heatherrae]

Isn't this all caused by not holding properly while feeding. ???? IDK just heard Bikinimom say that.

no, not all of it. Improper feeding can be a contributing factor but not necessarily. The cause is generally that infant's eustacian tubes are horizontal and only about 1/2 inch long, which causes fluids to pool in the middle ear. As they mature they lengthen to 1 & 1/2 inches and become more vertical, allowing fluids to drain.

 

[heatherrae]

call your insurance company?!

I'd try alternative methods first

I did call them. I know what they will cover, but I don't know what my ENT will charge yet.

 

[ceo]

Yeah, everyone I have asked said that after their kids got the tubes, it cleared the problem right up.

I wish we had socialized medicine here. These medical bills have me living like a pauper. C-section was $15,000. I don't know how much the tubes will be.

did your medical ins. not cover any of the c-section??? $4000 deductible? Wow. I assume this is insurance you are buying on your own? Does the firm you work at not have any group medical benefits?

I don't get it, the median base salary for a RE atty in (Bowling Green - didn't know where you lived so I randomly picked a zip) KY is around $100K (according to salary.com), which is a lot of $ in KY. $4000 is a lot, but when you're making $100K, should be pretty doable. Granted, you're paying on the $15K, and who knows what school loans, etc. you may still be paying on (not sure how long you've been an atty.).

Are you still loaning out so much money to people that $750 bounced check would cause you to go overdrawn? Just trying to figure out why the shortage. You always seem to have money issues/shortages (seems to come up on here a lot). Maybe you should put your resume out and find a firm that will pay better, or move to a bigger city where they pay more. Get paid what you're worth. I dunno...just trying to think out the situation here. Want the best for poor little DaShaun.

 

[stilleto]

So soy formula, huh?

How about breast feeding at night? Should I go all soy, or soy during the day and breastmilk at night?

well it's not good for him to be laying down and drinking, so i would make sure he's sitting up when nursing.

i think i would try soy during the day and breastmilk at night, but seriously consider drinking soy yourself.

When I spoke to my pediatrician about stopping milk and seeing if that works, she did tell me that she's had other patients that tried it and it worked for them, although she recommended stopping ALL whey products.

 

[Smurfy]

poor little guy!

 

[bw1]

Anyway, he hurts so badly..poor little munchkin.

He currently has strep throat, pink eye, bad infections in both ears, and a really bad rash on his penis and scrotum.

We've been pacing the floor for 3 days straight...no sleep.

Sounds like me after a date

 

[bigmann245]

is your deductible $4000 before they pay any or is it $4000 max per year. theres a difference. im also an insurance agent so i know i bit about how it works...

 

[Smurfy]

deductible = $ amount you the member pays before the benefit applies
out of pocket max = maximum $ amount you the member will pay out of your pocket and then once this is met, plan covers 100% (with the exception of a co-pay if you have a copay on your plan, some dont)
lifetime max = max $ amount the plan will pay for your care over a lifetime. once this amount is met, the plan pays no more

 

[bigmann245]

deductible = $ amount you the member pays before the benefit applies
out of pocket max = maximum $ amount you the member will pay out of your pocket and then once this is met, plan covers 100% (with the exception of a co-pay if you have a copay on your plan, some dont)
lifetime max = max $ amount the plan will pay for your care over a lifetime. once this amount is met, the plan pays no more

right, i just wanted to make sure she understood it because i never heard of a $4000 deductible before insurance pays. i heard of your max out of pocket expenses being that but not the deductible. thats outrageous.

 

[Smurfy]

right, i just wanted to make sure she understood it because i never heard of a $4000 deductible before insurance pays. i heard of your max out of pocket expenses being that but not the deductible. thats outrageous.

nowsdays there are some very high deductible plans
they are often cheaper premiums than the lower deductible/no deductible plans so who knows what plans her employer offers.

 

[heatherrae]

is your deductible $4000 before they pay any or is it $4000 max per year. theres a difference. im also an insurance agent so i know i bit about how it works...

It is very confusing. They have amounts that they pay for various things, office visits, immunizations, etc., then I pay the difference. The amounts that I pay go toward a family deductible of $4000. For example for his office visits, I usually pay around $50, but for his immunizations, I pay $0. What I do pay goes to the deductible. I called our insurance carrier, and they said that said that the surgery will be 100% toward the deductible, and they would pay 100% after the deductible is met. So far, this year, I have paid about $350 toward the deductible.

Does that make sense?

 

[heatherrae]

right, i just wanted to make sure she understood it because i never heard of a $4000 deductible before insurance pays. i heard of your max out of pocket expenses being that but not the deductible. thats outrageous.

I'm probably using the wrong terminology then. I've always had 80/20 plans before, and I actually liked them better. I called about my benefits today, and the representative actually got confused explaining them to me. lol.

 

[Cutiebaby]

Oh girl, it sucks at first but well worth it. Both my boys had to get tubes and it looks as though my youngest may get a second set. I keep demanding it, but they (dr's) tell me to wait. the problem is that I did wait with my oldest, and well the outcome was/is terrible. Speech delays etc...
You dont have health ins?

 

[Smurfy]

It is very confusing. They have amounts that they pay for various things, office visits, immunizations, etc., then I pay the difference. The amounts that I pay go toward a family deductible of $4000. For example for his office visits, I usually pay around $50, but for his immunizations, I pay $0. What I do pay goes to the deductible. I called our insurance carrier, and they said that said that the surgery will be 100% toward the deductible, and they would pay 100% after the deductible is met. So far, this year, I have paid about $350 toward the deductible.

Does that make sense?

yes

 

[heatherrae]

nowsdays there are some very high deductible plans
they are often cheaper premiums than the lower deductible/no deductible plans so who knows what plans her employer offers.

i have united healthcare, and it sucks. lol. It is employer provided. I pay an portion and they pay a portion.

 

[bigmann245]

It is very confusing. They have amounts that they pay for various things, office visits, immunizations, etc., then I pay the difference. The amounts that I pay go toward a family deductible of $4000. For example for his office visits, I usually pay around $50, but for his immunizations, I pay $0. What I do pay goes to the deductible. I called our insurance carrier, and they said that said that the surgery will be 100% toward the deductible, and they would pay 100% after the deductible is met. So far, this year, I have paid about $350 toward the deductible.

Does that make sense?

so they are making YOU pay 100% of the costs? that doesnt make sense. they should be paying something towards it. not a lot but something...

 

[heatherrae]

did your medical ins. not cover any of the c-section??? $4000 deductible? Wow. I assume this is insurance you are buying on your own? Does the firm you work at not have any group medical benefits?

I don't get it, the median base salary for a RE atty in (Bowling Green - didn't know where you lived so I randomly picked a zip) KY is around $100K (according to salary.com), which is a lot of $ in KY. $4000 is a lot, but when you're making $100K, should be pretty doable. Granted, you're paying on the $15K, and who knows what school loans, etc. you may still be paying on (not sure how long you've been an atty.).

Are you still loaning out so much money to people that $750 bounced check would cause you to go overdrawn? Just trying to figure out why the shortage. You always seem to have money issues/shortages (seems to come up on here a lot). Maybe you should put your resume out and find a firm that will pay better, or move to a bigger city where they pay more. Get paid what you're worth. I dunno...just trying to think out the situation here. Want the best for poor little DaShaun.

When I had my c-section, I wasn't working. I didn't start here until November, when the baby was about 2 months old.

That salary that you got from the website is highly inflated, for the area, actually. I don't think it is a real average. That sounds like an average from only very largest of law firms here in Ky.

I do make good money. I just had to start over from scratch from the mess that Devin's father left us in -- back bills he didn't pay that he promised he would, replacing furniture, buying all the items for the baby, etc. etc. I'm not poor. I'm middle class. Even though I make a good salary, you have to consider that there is only one bread winner in our family, whereas most families have 2 salaries to support the little munchkins.

I'm not complaining. I just wanted to get a ballpark of how much the surgery would cost so I can work it in to the budget. I think any middle class person would feel some bit of a pinch if they end up paying for an expensive surgery.

 

[Smurfy]

so they are making YOU pay 100% of the costs? that doesnt make sense. they should be paying something towards it. not a lot but something...

she has to meet the $4000 deductible first and then after that its covered @ 100%

 

[bigmann245]

When I had my c-section, I wasn't working. I didn't start here until November, when the baby was about 2 months old.

That salary that you got from the website is highly inflated, for the area, actually. I don't think it is a real average. That sounds like an average from only very largest of law firms here in Ky.

I do make good money. I just had to start over from scratch from the mess that Devin's father left us in -- back bills he didn't pay that he promised he would, replacing furniture, buying all the items for the baby, etc. etc. I'm not poor. I'm middle class. Even though I make a good salary, you have to consider that there is only one bread winner in our family, whereas most families have 2 salaries to support the little munchkins.

I'm not complaining. I just wanted to get a ballpark of how much the surgery would cost so I can work it in to the budget. I think any middle class person would feel some bit of a pinch if they end up paying for an expensive surgery.

a stupid person would think otherwise.....

 

[heatherrae]

well it's not good for him to be laying down and drinking, so i would make sure he's sitting up when nursing.

i think i would try soy during the day and breastmilk at night, but seriously consider drinking soy yourself.

When I spoke to my pediatrician about stopping milk and seeing if that works, she did tell me that she's had other patients that tried it and it worked for them, although she recommended stopping ALL whey products.

Good idea. I will try that. I actually have a container of soy formula in the cabinet. I'll start using that. It makes their poop black and weird, but, hey, no biggie...lol.

Thanks for the good suggestion.

 

[bigmann245]

she has to meet the $4000 deductible first and then after that its covered @ 100%

that blows... i still dont see it but if thats the way it is id be looking for my own healthcare plan. shit you can fund your own plan for $2000 along with the work plan and have everything paid....

 

[heatherrae]

she has to meet the $4000 deductible first and then after that its covered @ 100%

Yes, that is what she told me today. I was hoping part was covered before the deductible is met, as is the case with immunizations and office visits, but no such luck.

 

[Smurfy]

that blows... i still dont see it but if thats the way it is id be looking for my own healthcare plan. shit you can fund your own plan for $2000 along with the work plan and have everything paid....

yeah but you have to consider the premium cost being much lower if purchased through your employer b/c your employer is usually paying a portiong of the premium whereas if you buy a single policy, a) the premium is typically higher than through a group plan and b) you are responsible for 100% of the premium and the cost is staggering (probably more than $4000 per year)

 

[heatherrae]

yeah but you have to consider the premium cost being much lower if purchased through your employer b/c your employer is usually paying a portiong of the premium whereas if you buy a single policy, a) the premium is typically higher than through a group plan and b) you are responsible for 100% of the premium and the cost is staggering (probably more than $4000 per year)

Yes. That is the case.

I wish this policy was decipherable, though. Wow, I read it when I first got it, and it made 0 sense to me. Normally, I'm very good at reading things like that and understanding them. I think they intentionally made the terms inscrutible.

 

[bigmann245]

here in florida they have a plan for kids called "healthy kids" and its real cheap insurance but pays for a lot of medical costs.... my son is covered under my wifes plan but if not he would be on that plan....

 

[heatherrae]

here in florida they have a plan for kids called "healthy kids" and its real cheap insurance but pays for a lot of medical costs.... my son is covered under my wifes plan but if not he would be on that plan....

hmmmm...I will have to look into that. Health care costs with a baby get kind of crazy, especially when they are sick at least once per month, as mine is.

The co-pay alone on the eye drops he got for this bout of pink eye was $50! The bottle was only 3ml! It was TINY!

 

[Smurfy]

Yes, that is what she told me today. I was hoping part was covered before the deductible is met, as is the case with immunizations and office visits, but no such luck.

yeah preventative care (immun, well-baby visits, stuff like that) or even routine care (sick baby visits, etc) is usually covered at a higher level than other procedures that cost more money (surgeries)

 

[bigmann245]

hmmmm...I will have to look into that. Health care costs with a baby get kind of crazy, especially when they are sick at least once per month, as mine is.

The co-pay alone on the eye drops he got for this bout of pink eye was $50! The bottle was only 3ml! It was TINY!

i know, my sons meds are $50 each every month because there isnt a generic brand out. would have been $15 if there was. unreal i tell ya...

 

[heatherrae]

i know, my sons meds are $50 each every month because there isnt a generic brand out. would have been $15 if there was. unreal i tell ya...

each month? your son has a chronic condition?

 

[Smurfy]

yeah we pay hundreds of $ each month for prescriptions for our family

 

[heatherrae]

yeah we pay hundreds of $ each month for prescriptions for our family

wow.

Luckily, I don't have any health concerns that require regular prescriptions.

 

[blueta2]

yeah we pay hundreds of $ each month for prescriptions for our family

rx's that cost 5 cents to make and $5 to buy in mexico.
Pharma co's are the devil

 

[Smurfy]

wow.

Luckily, I don't have any health concerns that require regular prescriptions.

lots of mental health issues and also allergies and asthma in my house

 

[heatherrae]

lots of mental health issues and also allergies and asthma in my house

I see. I have allergies and was diagnosed with asthma (although I don't really think I have it). I used to have lots of scrips for that. Now I just use claritin -- easy.

 

[hanselthecaretaker]

I had a lot of ear infections as a kid, I turned out fine with no tubes.

Same. It's possible to ride it out with meds/topical treatment. There is varying risk of some hearing loss with chronic ear infections though, especially at very young ages.

 

[canadianhitman]

So soy formula, huh?

DO NOT put your son on soy!!!

Soy is not good for males...it's like feeding someone estrogen...do a lil' reading.

 

[bigmann245]

each month? your son has a chronic condition?

well the teachers say he has ADD but i dont think so and neither does the doctors but by choice and a million teacher conferences we decided to go ahead and put him on a mild ADD med plus another for something else but it makes the teachers happy they dont have to actually teach anymore.

 

[ceo]

I do make good money. I just had to start over from scratch from the mess that Devin's father left us in -- back bills he didn't pay that he promised he would, replacing furniture, buying all the items for the baby, etc. etc.

That fucker!

I'm not poor. I'm middle class. Even though I make a good salary, you have to consider that there is only one bread winner in our family, whereas most families have 2 salaries to support the little munchkins.

I hear ya sista!

I'm not complaining. I just wanted to get a ballpark of how much the surgery would cost so I can work it in to the budget. I think any middle class person would feel some bit of a pinch if they end up paying for an expensive surgery.

Oh, I know you're not. I agree, like I said $4000 is a lot of money.

I had a PPO plan through UHC. I liked it. Their HMO plan (the option I didn't choose) absolutely sucked ass. Sounds like you may have an HMO plan? Any chance your employer offers any other options? Maybe the next time open enrollment comes around you can switch if there's a better plan available?

 

[needtogetaas]

Anyway, he hurts so badly..poor little munchkin.

He currently has strep throat, pink eye, bad infections in both ears, and a really bad rash on his penis and scrotum.

We've been pacing the floor for 3 days straight...no sleep.

That sucks.

 

[heatherrae]

That fucker!



I hear ya sista!



Oh, I know you're not. I agree, like I said $4000 is a lot of money.

I had a PPO plan through UHC. I liked it. Their HMO plan (the option I didn't choose) absolutely sucked ass. Sounds like you may have an HMO plan? Any chance your employer offers any other options? Maybe the next time open enrollment comes around you can switch if there's a better plan available?

That was the only plan that they had, unfortunately. It isn't an HMO, thank God, but the deductible is pretty steep, indeed. =-)