I had my gallbladder taken out last year. It was an emergency removal. (Went through the ER and was scheduled to have it removed within 12 hours. I spent 1 night in the hospital and this was a rural hospital)
Total was around $16,000 (what my insurance company was billed)
Now let me tell you a secret...
If your son or you can payoff any balance in full, then ask the hospital to discount the final amount due. Most hospitals will knock off an instant 10% or more if you pay the balance in full. You have to ask the hospital for the price break. Almost every hospital in the USA will give this 10% or more discount if you pay the balance due in full. Most hospitals will only give a 10% or more discount if the amount owed it $100 or more.
Don't ask for this discount unless you plan to pay the full balance due.
You simply say...
If I pay this balance due in full will you give me a discount?
If they say yes... then ask them how much they will know off the balance due.
This is not BS (most people do not know about this because the hospital is not allowed to tell you about it.)
The reason I know about it is I know someone that works in billing at a major hospital and they told me about it.
Everyone I have told who has had a hospital stay or hospital charges have asked the hospitals for this discount and every time they got discount.
I also got the discount at my rural hospital after getting my gallbladder removed last year.
Good luck and I hope your son is feeling better soon.
(just like others have told you)
Oops...
“know off” should be “knock off”