Self funding Private Health costs

[24623057]

Had a recent Cardiac MRI Scan. I was told the cost would be £1,050. Today I’ve received an invoice for £700, saying “Cardiac MRI Function”. I then the Cardiologists Secretary asking what this was as she had given me the £1,050 price. She has not been at all helpful. I’m now panicking that the £700 is for the use of the scanner itself, as I was told I maybe billed for use of hospital equipment. This seems a huge price to pay on top of the original figure. It’s stressing me out now. Has anyone had a similar issue? Thank you

[Tos92]

Hi 24623057

I’m also currently undergoing private health care.

A couple of months ago I went for what I thought would be a consultation only and paid for this in advance assuming there would be no other costs involved as I was not scheduled in for any tests due to it being my first meeting. During the appointment, they wanted to do an ECG and I thought nothing of it at the time as I thought it was just protocol. A week later, I received an invoice for the ECG which really surprised me. Sometimes there are hidden costs, or costs of using facilities that we wouldn’t think about twice and unfortunately, the administration team do not always make this obvious or transparent to us.

So yes, unfortunately, it can happen but hopefully in your case it isn’t an additional added cost and it is for you original scan.

[Hidden]

It is unlikely that the cardiologist's secretary is responsible for invoicing so talk to the accounts section at the hospital to confirm whether there are any additional costs yet to come. Hopefully you have written evidence of the quoted cost of your procedure should you be asked to pay more. I have to say that when I have been involved with private medicine self funding it is always the 'sales team' who first quote an indicative price and then confirm it with a proper quote in writing and it is never the specialist who provides this information unless it is for a consultation only. Finally if its any help I had a self funded pelvic MRI at the end of 2021and the cost was less than £1050.

[Etzel]

My wife had some minor surgery months back and what we discovered is they bill separately for consultant and the use of hospital equipment, I suspect you might get another bill for £350.

[Andian]

When my problems first started I went down the private route as waiting lists were not good for NHS. Each procedure I had was charged for as you say, then followed up with hospital costs which doubled up. ECG £250 plus the same costs. Consultation £250 the same. I had EKG and 48hr monitor. I think towards £2000 in the end. I had HA after a few weeks and have now reverted to NHS with pacemaker and ongoing HF team. I would do the same again but must be aware. Good luck

[Peter-l-h in reply to Andian]

I had a similar good experience. At the time of Covid was told 18 months wait minimum for first consultation after an ( Out of the blue) in surgery ECG and local doctors follow up. I had been putting a sum away each month for nearly 10 years since my works medical cover finished. At my first consultation I was upfront saying I could cover consultations and reasonable scans etc - but would not be in a position to self fund surgery. Again due to Covid I saw three consultants and in the end five medical facilities. At each stage I was told the expected cost and this was always accurate. The total cost though not low seemed proportionate. My two operations for pacemaker and later replaced aortic valve were carried out within the NHS and my total experience was within the initial quoted waiting time for a first consultation. Both myself and my wife are convinced I would not have survived the wait.

I am sure some would deplore this as ‘queue’ jumping - but personally 1 feel very fortunate.

I would add that the money I had saved by never smoking helped my ability to pay - - but I am sure that sounds too smug !

PH

[Wingnutty]

Seems to me that private medicine is acting like dodgy car hire firms abroad. I wonder if trading standards would be interested in these cases.

[Cruise1]

I was quoted a figure for angioplasty and when I was asked to pay once a date had been confirmed, it turned out to be almost double as the person dealing with private patients had apparently quoted for an angiogram! Very annoyed and despite my complaint to the hospital I had no alternative but to pay up. Fortunately my bill for the original angiogram done privately at another hospital was considerably less than anticipated. Unfortunately that hospital did not carry out angioplasty.

[Entabeni]

I also self funded for a stress cardiac MRI in mid October 2021. I was invoiced direct from University Hospitals of Leicester a total cost of £881, which was £531 for the cardiac MRI plus £350 consultant radiologist fee, Perhaps different health trusts charge different rates? I’m sorry your MRI was so expensive, or maybe yours was more thorough or complicated. I was 45 minutes in the torpedo tube, which is about the norm. Wishing you all the best heart wise.

[wischo]

Ignore the receptionist and go straight to accounts, most of the money goes to the hospital facility and a much smaller preportion to the cardiologist. I would say the £700 is facility fees and the £350 will go to the cardiologist. Dont worry they have set fees for both procedures and consultants and it is not their intentions to swindle or rip you off financially.

[heart_surgery]

It would help if the money people spend on private health care would be spent on maintaining excellence in the NHS. Sadly we are incompetently governed.

[andrew290171]

I paid £1500 for mine all in so not far from those 2 figures combined. That was in derby