Coughing Blood Suddenly in Elderly? Next Healthcare Steps in Long Beach, CA

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Coughing Blood Suddenly in Elderly? Next Healthcare Steps in Long Beach, CA

If you or a loved one suddenly coughed up blood today and you don’t feel sick otherwise, it’s completely normal to feel scared and uncertain. This is not a symptom that should be ignored, especially when it happens out of the blue and for the first time. While it might not always indicate a serious problem, it’s important to understand what to do next.

This post is here to guide you through the first steps: who you might want to see for assessment in Long Beach, CA, what typical procedures and costs to expect, and how to prepare for your visit. You’re in the right place to get clear information to take confident action for your health.

Who to See for Your Symptoms in Long Beach, CA

Based on sudden coughing up blood, a few types of healthcare providers in your area could be the best starting points:

  • Emergency Medicine: This is for immediate and urgent evaluation, especially if the amount of blood is significant or you feel unwell. Emergency doctors are equipped to quickly diagnose and stabilize serious conditions.
  • Internal Medicine: These doctors specialize in adult health and can evaluate and diagnose a wide range of internal conditions that might cause coughing blood, including infections or cardiovascular issues.
  • Pulmonary Disease Specialists: These doctors focus on lung and airway health. If the bleeding is related to lung conditions such as infections, inflammation, or airway problems, they provide expert guidance and treatment.

Each of these providers has the expertise to investigate and manage the potential causes of coughing blood and decide what further testing or treatment is needed.

What to Expect: Initial Visits and Estimated Costs

Visit with an Emergency Medicine Provider

  • Procedure: Emergency department visit with moderate decision making (CPT Code: 99284)

  • Purpose: This visit quickly evaluates your symptoms to identify any life-threatening causes of coughing blood. It often involves urgent assessment and planning for tests or treatments.

  • Estimated Self-Pay Cost: $387.64 (typically ranges from $149.18 to $626.10)

  • Provider Availability: Based on 489 providers in Long Beach, CA.

  • Procedure: X-ray of chest, 2 views (CPT Code: 71046)

  • Purpose: A chest X-ray helps visualize your lungs and airways to look for infections, bleeding, or other abnormalities.

  • Estimated Self-Pay Cost: $59.82 (ranges from $44.87 to $74.78)

  • Provider Availability: 25 providers.

  • Procedure: Routine electrocardiogram (ECG) using at least 12 leads (CPT Code: 93010)

  • Purpose: This records your heart’s electrical activity, checking for heart conditions that might contribute to your symptoms.

  • Estimated Self-Pay Cost: $30.33 (ranges from $10.22 to $50.43)

  • Provider Availability: 322 providers.

  • Procedure: Complete blood cell count (CPT Code: 85025)

  • Purpose: A blood count test looks at your red and white blood cells and platelets to detect infections, anemia, or clotting problems.

  • Estimated Self-Pay Cost: $16.53 (ranges from $9.13 to $23.92)

  • Provider Availability: 12 providers.

  • Procedure: Needle insertion for blood sample collection (CPT Code: 36415)

  • Purpose: Needed to take blood samples for lab tests.

  • Estimated Self-Pay Cost: $14.25 (ranges from $9.73 to $18.77)

  • Provider Availability: 14 providers.

Visit with an Internal Medicine Provider

  • Procedure: Established patient visit, 30-39 minutes (CPT Code: 99214)

  • Purpose: A detailed office visit to discuss symptoms, examine you, and decide on further tests or treatments.

  • Estimated Self-Pay Cost: $209.33 (ranges from $157.00 to $261.66)

  • Provider Availability: 602 providers.

  • Procedure: X-ray of chest, 2 views (CPT Code: 71046)

  • Purpose: To visualize lungs and check for abnormalities.

  • Estimated Self-Pay Cost: $58.06 (ranges from $43.08 to $73.04)

  • Provider Availability: 37 providers.

  • Procedure: Needle insertion for blood sample collection (CPT Code: 36415)

  • Purpose: For taking blood samples for lab analysis.

  • Estimated Self-Pay Cost: $12.74 (ranges from $9.55 to $15.92)

  • Provider Availability: 232 providers.

  • Procedure: Routine electrocardiogram (ECG), interpretation and report (CPT Code: 93000)

  • Purpose: Heart function check via ECG.

  • Estimated Self-Pay Cost: $36.99 (ranges from $18.98 to $55.00)

  • Provider Availability: 241 providers.

Visit with a Pulmonary Disease Specialist

  • Procedure: Established patient visit, 30-39 minutes (CPT Code: 99214)

  • Purpose: A focused visit for lung-related symptoms to diagnose and manage potential respiratory causes of coughing blood.

  • Estimated Self-Pay Cost: $211.34 (ranges from $158.51 to $264.18)

  • Provider Availability: 75 providers.

  • Procedure: X-ray of chest, 2 views (CPT Code: 71046)

  • Purpose: To look deeply at lung and airway structures.

  • Estimated Self-Pay Cost: $77.64 (ranges from $43.02 to $112.26)

  • Provider Availability: 6 providers.

  • Procedure: Diagnostic lung airway exam using an endoscope (CPT Code: 31622)

  • Purpose: A procedure to look inside your airways with a camera to identify bleeding or other problems.

  • Estimated Self-Pay Cost: $315.16 (ranges from $161.58 to $468.74)

  • Provider Availability: 4 providers.

  • Procedure: Irrigation and suction of lung airways to obtain cells (CPT Code: 31624)

  • Purpose: Collecting airway cell samples to diagnose infections or cancer.

  • Estimated Self-Pay Cost: $327.88 (ranges from $55.13 to $600.63)

  • Provider Availability: 12 providers.

  • Procedure: Needle insertion for blood sample (CPT Code: 36415)

  • Purpose: For blood tests as part of diagnosis.

  • Estimated Self-Pay Cost: $12.10 (ranges from $9.07 to $15.12)

  • Provider Availability: 6 providers.

How to Interpret the Cost Estimates

Healthcare pricing in the U.S. often works like a marketplace with haggling. The prices you see here aren’t fixed like in a store but fall within a range depending on negotiations, insurance, and provider policies.

  • The maximum cost listed is close to the “charged amount”—what providers typically ask to be paid for a service.
  • The minimum cost is near the “Medicare allowed amount”—the rate Medicare has agreed to pay. Providers often make little to no profit at this price.

Knowing this range helps you understand what to expect and empowers you to ask questions about costs upfront.

Know Your Rights

You have important rights regarding costs and billing:

  • Under the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) law, if you’re paying out of pocket (no insurance), your doctor must give you an estimate of charges if you request it or book services at least 3 business days ahead.
  • Many providers offer self-pay discounts if you ask upfront. Don’t hesitate to inquire: “What is the cash price if I pay upfront?”
  • You have the right to request a detailed, itemized bill. You can challenge any charges you believe are wrong, duplicated, or too high.
  • Ask for billing codes like CPT codes to better understand your bills. Many states protect patients against unfair billing, especially those without insurance.

Taking action now will help ensure appropriate care and peace of mind:

  1. Schedule an Appointment: Contact an emergency doctor if bleeding is significant or comes with other symptoms. Alternatively, an Internal Medicine doctor or Pulmonary specialist can provide thorough evaluation.
  2. Prepare for Your Visit: Write down exactly what happened, how long symptoms have lasted, and any other health issues or questions.
  3. Discuss Costs: When you call to book your visit, ask about expected self-pay costs and whether discounts or payment plans are available.
  4. Stay Calm and Informed: Seeing a healthcare professional is the right step to diagnose the cause and get proper treatment.

Need Help Navigating Your Options?

Finding affordable, trustworthy care can be confusing, especially if you’re uninsured or new to the system. That’s why we built Transparent Health: a tool to help you understand your options and find the right provider for your needs.

Disclaimer: This blog post provides general information for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.