Tom Contos, an avid runner, experienced rectal bleeding and underwent a diagnostic colonoscopy due to a family history of colon issues. The procedure found precancerous polyps and hemorrhoids but no cancer. The hospital charged $19,206, but after insurance negotiation, Contos was left with a $4,047 bill due to the hospital billing for two colonoscopies, which is common for multiple polyps removal. Despite appealing, Northwestern and Aetna confirmed the billing was correct. Contos was shocked by the high bill and threatened to go to collections. To lower costs, patients can consider freestanding endoscopy centers and check price transparency websites.
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