If you too are embarking on an infertility adventure, I cannot emphasize enough -- keep careful records of bills paid and what each payment covers! I received a bill from Northwestern for $3200.00 last week. This seemed odd, considering that we have already paid the hospital $15,300 and that was supposed to cover the IVF and implantation. I called the number listed on the bill for enquiries, and -- surprise! The REI department has its own number. The operator transferred my call but as nobody answered, she was supposed to forward a message and my phone number. Either that didn't happen or the REI department was out of the office, because they didn't return my call. Today I called them and...the bill was a complete error! The only thing left to pay is $875.00 for embryo cryopreservation. (We haven't gotten that bill yet, despite it being a month since the event.)
So, the moral of the story is: If you think you received a bill in error, DON'T pay it until you are certain you actually owe them money! I can only imagine how difficult it is to get the money back once it's theirs. This message applies to any dealing with the health-care system, I suppose.
Moral number two: Big-name, fancy universities have billing departments no better than our own little UPG billing department. Gives me a sort of pride in my home school.
And in case you were curious: the running total for a ride on the Amazing Infertility Adventure, aka Operation Baby(Babies) has just about reached $100,000 after-tax dollars. Mazel tov I'm sure. Mostly, thank you Mama and Daddy and my wonderful, amazing grandparents and everyone in the family who has helped us out. I only pray we can pay this generosity forward.
No comments:
Post a Comment