Man Faced With Unexpected Medical Bills After Back Surgery

A New Yorker saved from paralysis by emergency back surgery was stunned to receive crippling medical bills for the procedure.

Frank Esposito told CBS News that he saw a specialist for debilitating back pain in March 2019 after excruciating pain left him unable to move. The specialist ordered an MRI which showed a bulge in the spine. The doctor sent Esposito to the emergency room.

Upon arrival, doctors informed Esposito that he had such a severe herniation it “could cut his nerve and render him paralyzed.” Panicked by the news, Esposito underwent surgery, which was a success. Unfortunately, that is where his luck ended.

Following surgery, Esposito’s insurance company determined the procedure was not a medically necessary emergency and refused to cover the costs, leaving Esposito to figure out how to pay more than $650,000 in unexpected medical bills.

“What was my choice? Just be paralyzed for the rest of my life?” Esposito told CBS. “Then to get these bills that were so overwhelming. You say, this can’t be real, I mean, I really don’t have to pay this. How am I going to pay this? And you sit there. And you start crying ’cause you don’t know what you’re going do.”

Esposito hired a company to help negotiate the balance of some of his bills. His insurance company eventually agreed to cover part of the balance, however even after withdrawing $49,000 from his retirement funds, Esposito was left with a $220,000 balance.

Due to the attention from the CBS piece in Esposito’s story, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo caught wind of the problem. Shortly afterward, the governor sent the following statement to CBS: “I am pleased to announce today that the insurer has agreed to make sure that Mr. Esposito is not stuck with these bills.“

In the Sept. 26 interview, Esposito said he feels “a little lighter” after his bills have been taken care off, although he still feels somewhat bitter. He notes that Americans have to spend money on lawyers and advocates in order to negotiate their balances. He called for “a major revamp in our healthcare system.”

In addition to helping with Esposito’s situation, the governor will reportedly be sending letters to insurance companies reminding them that New York consumers may be protected by the state’s surprise medical bill law.

As of Mar. 31, 2015, New York residents are protected from unexpected medical bills when they receive emergency services from an out-of-network doctor at a participating hospital. New Yorkers can  file a dispute with the state if they receive an unexpected medical bill.

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If you were hit with a surprise medical bill from an out-of-network doctor at an in-network hospital, you may be entitled to compensation.

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented 
for informational purposes only.