US EditionMontana Woman Fights Surprise $97K Medical Bill to Repair Broken Elbow
Uninsured patient disputes nearly $98,000 bill after surgery complications with bone shattered into more pieces than expected, facing full out-of-pocket costs despite a 20% self-pay discount.
- Deborah Buttgereit, a 60-year-old uninsured woman in Bozeman, Montana, fractured her left arm in December and had outpatient surgery four days later to repair it.
- She faced these costs after losing her husband in 2023 and struggling to afford coverage despite a subsidized health plan, which left her responsible for the full surgery bill.
- Bozeman Health initially estimated $50,560 out-of-pocket, but complications mid-surgery raised the bill to nearly $98,000, which Buttgereit contested as inflated and possibly erroneous.
- A billing employee offered a $7,000 discount with a payment plan, while federal officials informed Buttgereit she could dispute the bill under the 2022 No Surprises Act dispute process.
- Buttgereit continues contesting the charges with a $100 monthly plan, says, "I'll make payments the rest of my life," and feels cautiously hopeful about the dispute process ahead.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Montana woman disputes nearly $98K bill for broken elbow surgery: Report
A Montana woman faced a bill of nearly $98,000 for surgery to repair a shattered elbow after she slipped and fell on ice. Deborah Buttgereit, who was uninsured at the time, told KFF Health News she was first told by Bozeman Health officials she would be on the hook for more than $50,000. However, they said that the cost rose due to unexpected complications during the surgical procedure, including more bones shattered than expected and repair to …
Bozeman woman had a broken arm, no insurance — and a $97,000 Bill
As soon as she fell, Deborah Buttgereit knew she couldnt avoid going to the hospital.I could hear the bones moving around in my elbow, said Buttgereit, who was 60 when she slipped on a patch of ice in December outside her apartment in Bozeman, Montana.Emergency room scans showed she had fractured her left arm near the joint. Doctors told her she needed surgery to repair it.At the time, Buttgereit didnt have health insurance she had struggled to …
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