Concussion in NoVA - Expense

[Anonymous]

My young son got hit hard in the head by a soccer ball during a weekend game, and we were advised to get him checked for a concussion. We took him to the Pediatric Emergency Room at Inova Fairfax, which was smooth—great staff, in and out in about an hour, no scans needed, and thankfully no concussion. But the bill shocked us: nearly $800 after insurance discounts, down from ~$2,000! We have decent insurance, so this felt steep for a quick visit.

With young kids in sports, we expect more bumps and bruises. Is this cost normal for a pediatric ER concussion check in Northern VA? Are there less expensive options for sports-related injuries, like urgent care or specialized concussion clinics? Has anyone used Inova’s Sports Medicine Concussion Program or places like Fairfax Family Practice for follow-ups? Any tips to lower costs like a different facility? We’re close to Fairfax/Arlington/Mclean/Alexandria and open to nearby providers. Thanks for any insights!

[Anonymous]

No specific input, but thank you for posting this as it's extremely helpful and needs to be talked about. I hope others can shed some light on this.

[Anonymous]

I think this is more of an insurance issue than a concussion issue. For us, urgent care in network is $20, hospital in network is $100. We did have a concussion/hospital visit (was a concussion), and it was $100.

For our kids, it's been thousands in sports injury fees:
-sprained ankles (more than 1, because once you do it once, its more likely to happen again)
-broken fingers
-concussion (2 kids, 1 concussion each, one diagnosed at hospital 1 diagnosed at urgent care)
-broken wrist
-broken sesamoids (this caused long-term problems)
I'm sure there's more I am just not remembering.

Part of being a kid who plays sports intently

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My young son got hit hard in the head by a soccer ball during a weekend game, and we were advised to get him checked for a concussion. We took him to the Pediatric Emergency Room at Inova Fairfax, which was smooth—great staff, in and out in about an hour, no scans needed, and thankfully no concussion. But the bill shocked us: nearly $800 after insurance discounts, down from ~$2,000! We have decent insurance, so this felt steep for a quick visit.

With young kids in sports, we expect more bumps and bruises. Is this cost normal for a pediatric ER concussion check in Northern VA? Are there less expensive options for sports-related injuries, like urgent care or specialized concussion clinics? Has anyone used Inova’s Sports Medicine Concussion Program or places like Fairfax Family Practice for follow-ups? Any tips to lower costs like a different facility? We’re close to Fairfax/Arlington/Mclean/Alexandria and open to nearby providers. Thanks for any insights!

ER is always going to be a lot more. Your insurance probably has pre-defined ER rates. If not emergency, urgent care will be a lot less, a regular family practice appointment will be even less.

[Anonymous]

concussion: patient first (need a bit long wait) or ER

Foot injury
1: could not move, likely bone fracture, ACL, etc
go to emergency care, or ER

2: very painful but be able to handle and could walk by him/herself, likely bone bruise/bone fracture, or other muscle injury
make an appointment to any pediatric care doctor in your insurance network

[Anonymous]

We just paid a $75 deductible.

[Anonymous]

Health care companies are price gouging now

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Health care companies are price gouging now

Now?

[Anonymous]

$800 shocked you? That's what they charge just to walk in the door. The minimum I've ever spent for ER services out of pocket is like $2500.

[Anonymous]

Who advised you to get him checked out first a concussion? That’s nuts to go to the ER because he got hit in the head by a soccer ball? That’s just ridiculous.

And no urgent care wants to deal with it because of the liability that it is the one in a million case there is a significant injury and they miss it.

[Anonymous]

Inova has a concussion clinic that is fantastic.

https://www.inova.org/our-services/inova-concussion-program

I would not do the ER unless there is vomitting or something really serious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who advised you to get him checked out first a concussion? That’s nuts to go to the ER because he got hit in the head by a soccer ball? That’s just ridiculous.

And no urgent care wants to deal with it because of the liability that it is the one in a million case there is a significant injury and they miss it.

If they went to the ER, it was obviously a huge hit. Be glad it didn’t happen to your kid

[Anonymous]

This very much depends on your healthcare plan - it sounds like you have a high deductible plan. You must get through your deductible (ours is $1500/individual or $3600/family) before the lower fees kick in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who advised you to get him checked out first a concussion? That’s nuts to go to the ER because he got hit in the head by a soccer ball? That’s just ridiculous.

And no urgent care wants to deal with it because of the liability that it is the one in a million case there is a significant injury and they miss it.

If they went to the ER, it was obviously a huge hit. Be glad it didn’t happen to your kid

In and out in an hour with no scans or concussions = not a big hit. It's a soccer ball being kicked by young kid.

I realized ER's aren't going to do much after I was pitching baseballs to my 11 year old son and he hit a line drive straight into my forehead right above my eyes. I was standing in front of the pitching mound on flat ground not the hill like a moron without the portable fence. I fell to the ground and immediately my forehead started swelling. By the next morning I had the start of two black eyes and a huge raised bump with the imprint of a baseball lace stitching. My husband drove me to urgent care but they told me to go to the ER. The ER doctor said they don't worry as much when you get hit on the forehead. Released with no scan, mild concussion and a $1100 bill AFTER insurance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This very much depends on your healthcare plan - it sounds like you have a high deductible plan. You must get through your deductible (ours is $1500/individual or $3600/family) before the lower fees kick in.

Nope. $800 is CHEAP for an ER visit. We have a PPO and its 20% of the Er bill plus a
Copay. ERs are absurdly expensive.