GOD THE NEGOTIATOR

                                         GOD, THE NEGOTIATOR

     Since the small boutique hospital where my husband Steve had his two surgeries to remove numerous cancers was not a Blue Cross/Blue Shield provider, Steve had two large hospital bills.
     Medicare paid the twelve day hospital stay, but they didn't pay for the surgery to implant the chemo port (two hour surgery) since it was outpatient. Neither did they pay anything for the emergency room visit after the first surgery for the locked bowels. Blue Cross/Blue Shield was the only one who possibly could pay, but they were not providers at the time of the outpatient surgery and the emergency room visit; so they wouldn't pay.
     The hospital bill was $3,300 for the outpatient surgery and $1,000 for the emergency room visit.
     Steve kept telling me that he would take care of it, that he was going to negotiate with the hospital and try to get them to settle for half of both bills.
     He called the CEO of the hospital, with whom he got to be real friendly while a patient, and told the CEO that he wanted to try to negotiate the bill. The CEO told Steve that that wasn't his area of expertise, that he would have the business manager call Steve.
     During Bible study one Tuesday at our house, the phone rang and Steve was waking from his nap so he answered it. It was the hospital business manager. She said that they would cut the outpatient surgery bill from $3,300 down to $475 and completely wipe out the emergency room cost of $1,000, settling for the $330 Steve had already paid on it.
     Steve asked how much he was going to owe on the 10 day surgery stay. She said about $42.
     Hallelujah!  Steve said he would have settled for half so this was a Christmas gift from God!
     This was wonderful news since the MD Anderson bills add up, even though we're current with those, plus the motel and plane flights.
     Steve's healing from cancer was the primary blessing and we are overjoyed that he is cancer free, but this news is also wonderful!
     He came home from the hospital with a bill that has a zero balance on it. God is a fantastic negotiator! His grace covers everything. Praise Him forever!
     The adventure continues with God's hand prints and footprints visible at every turn.