Will insurance cover a surgery if you left the hospital without being discharged?

My husband had surgery yesterday and just left the hospital tonight without getting discharged. He went back 20 minutes later but the Dr was so mad that she said she could not re-admit him and wasn't sure if insurance would now cover the surgery.

I understand her being upset...but this was a VERY expensive operation and now we aren't sure if its covered anymore

Does any one know?

Re: Will insurance cover a surgery if you left the hospital without being discharged?

I would definitely call your insurance company. Usually when you leave AMA they don't cover you but I would call them to be sure. Maybe if the service was so poor and that's why he left you can explain that to them. Not sure why he left though. Good luck

Re: Will insurance cover a surgery if you left the hospital without being discharged?

Can I ask why he left the hospital? Was it an emergency at home or something?

Re: Will insurance cover a surgery if you left the hospital without being discharged?

He left because he felt better and he missed our son and wanted to say goodnight. He was very sore and seemed disoreinted that I had my Brother in Law drive him back. He went back to the hospital but was denied because he left. He is trying to work this out with his Doctor today...

We were told if you leave "against Medial advice" insurance would not cover the surgery and hospital stay. We think this may total 30k!!! We are now freaking out.

Re: Will insurance cover a surgery if you left the hospital without being discharged?

Re: Will insurance cover a surgery if you left the hospital without being discharged?

If you sign out against medical advice then in most situations you are liable for the costs... my late husband left one er to go to another becuae he wasnt happy with the care... i now have a 5000.00 bill i am expected to pay

Re: Will insurance cover a surgery if you left the hospital without being discharged?

I work in a hospital and as far as I know they will NOT pay the bill if you elope or leave AMA. I would contact the insurance company to find out if they will cover part of it. The poster above me who wrote about the ER visit, that is quite common, and I know that the insurance company will not pay one penny of it. I always warn people who want to leave that this will happen, some people stay, others dont listen and then complain that they get a bill for thousands. It makes no difference if the person complains to the hospital that they were not happy with the service, they will still not pay the bill. A scheduled surgery and hospital stay I dont know if they will cover part of it or not, that may be different from an ER visit. If you find out the answer let me know, I am curious.

Message edited 10/14/2006 3:04:01 PM.

Re: Will insurance cover a surgery if you left the hospital without being discharged?

When I had medical issues and spent a few days in the hospital...I tried to leave in my jammies and a bathrobe at 3am. I was dillusional and just wanted a ciggareete. The floor nurse stopped me and said, " If you walk through those doors and g-d forbid something happens, you will have to go back down to the ER and wait another 7 hours for a room. Are you okay with that?"
So I walked back into my room and turned on the TV. They called my FH (now my DH) to come and sit with me. They explained to him that if I made it out without being noticed....he would have a huge bill on his hands, due to the fact insurance would not cover it.
Soooo he sat with me the rest of the night and made sure I was not going to leave again.

Re: Will insurance cover a surgery if you left the hospital without being discharged?

If you leave AMA you take resposibility for insurance, your health, etc, but...definitely speak to the doc and MORE importantly the social worker, I'm sure they will work something out. Did he drive home in a hospital gown or was he dessed? It; is pretty scary if he was dressed and ready to go and no one on the unit saw him and tried to stop him
ALSO.. you also have to "sign out" AMA, did he sign any paperwork or did he just elope for a little while? Sorry you are going through this Stef, i;m sure it was tough enough having your hubby in the hospital

Re: Will insurance cover a surgery if you left the hospital without being discharged?

He didn't sign the paperwork...he just left...got dressed and left. He said his IV was burning and he waited over a 1/2 hour for a nurse to come help him - so he ripped it out, dressed and left. He wanted to see our son and be at home. No one even saw or noticed him leave. He realized his mistake and came back. They wouldn't let him come back so his Dr. called him and said if he felt ok then to just leave. She was PO'd at him. She told him that if he needed re-admittance to go to the ER. He refused to sign the AMA...

Since then his Dr. said that she would try to work something out so that insurance wouldn't be a problem. It was a crazy night though!

Thanks for everyone's thoughts...

Re: Will insurance cover a surgery if you left the hospital without being discharged?

i think it depends on the insurance carrier too - i have signed out ama and they have always paid the bill.
try to reason with them explain your husband was not thinking straight.

Re: Will insurance cover a surgery if you left the hospital without being discharged?

Re: Will insurance cover a surgery if you left the hospital without being discharged?

Whatever happened? Did everything work out?

Re: Will insurance cover a surgery if you left the hospital without being discharged?

I'm curious too and have been checking this thread to find out.

Re: Will insurance cover a surgery if you left the hospital without being discharged?

What hospital was it?