I had spinal fusion surgery in the middle of February. Vastly improved the quality if not the quantity of my life. I am extremely grateful to my chiropractor who introduced me to the surgeon and hospital where I had the surgery.
I was discharged the following day and in the course of the next six weeks with physical therapy, I can now ride bucking broncos without a saddle or a saddle sore. Or something like that.
That's NOT the funny story part of the funny story.
About two months after the surgery I received a statement from Medicare for the $54,000+ medical bill and the statement was 'NOPE.' I have retained my Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance and, as it happens, that insurance aside from a deductible, paid for the surgery.
Not surprisingly, I contested the Medicare decision. I have Medicare Part A and right there on my card, it says 'Hospital.' I received a phone call yesterday from the agency (or one of them I suspect) Medicare uses to fight with clients advising me that I needed to also have Part B for Medicare (which I don't because of the BC/BS) to pay for any of the surgery.
I pointed out (yet again) that my card specifically mentions 'Hospital,' and was told, 'Yes, BUT, a hospital stay must be more than three days before Medicare Part A provides coverage.'
And by the way, the Medicare initial ruling was 'UNappealable' and the implication was I had a lot of nerve contesting the decision. Yeah, the funny thing about that is the surgery for that nerve probably won't be covered either.
-bill kenny
