Paying Cash at Urgent Care
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@johnhooks said:
I looked into them a while back. Samaritan looked like the best option of the HSNs. There is another one (the name is escaping me at the moment) and it worked more like an actual insurance plan, but it was much more expensive.
We looked into one or two of them and they seemed scary. Not from a numbers standpoint, but from how you send random people money and not very many oversights and such.
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@NetworkNerd said:
@johnhooks said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@johnhooks said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@NetworkNerd said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@NetworkNerd said:
Yep - that's about what they told me when I called a few minutes ago. And I have no clue what to expect a procedure like draining the puss / fluid from a kid's toe to cost. They couldn't tell me either (or just plain wouldn't).
Yup, wouldn't. They can't make their money if they agree to a price.
The good news is I was able to get here worked in at her pediatrician's office. The visit is only $84 (not nearly as hefty), and they will bill us for the rest. I'm not sure what that will be, but at least I don't have to pay an unknown amount up front.
But you still have to pay an unknown amount.
Only up to $300.
How does that work? Am I missing something?
The HSN covers after $300.
Yes, they do, but you get reimbursed later. So if you are expected to pay $1200 on the spot, for example, it's on you to have the cash available.
Right. But if the bill payment can be deferred for a long enough time you can just pay it with the cash coming in. I don't know how long it takes for the money to come in. I would hope those who control who is told to send the money uses people in as close to an area as they can.
That's a terrible sentence.
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@scottalanmiller said:
@johnhooks said:
I looked into them a while back. Samaritan looked like the best option of the HSNs. There is another one (the name is escaping me at the moment) and it worked more like an actual insurance plan, but it was much more expensive.
We looked into one or two of them and they seemed scary. Not from a numbers standpoint, but from how you send random people money and not very many oversights and such.
It revolves around the christian concept of trust and helping one another.
Needs are supposed to be verified before being broadcast.
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@JaredBusch said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@johnhooks said:
I looked into them a while back. Samaritan looked like the best option of the HSNs. There is another one (the name is escaping me at the moment) and it worked more like an actual insurance plan, but it was much more expensive.
We looked into one or two of them and they seemed scary. Not from a numbers standpoint, but from how you send random people money and not very many oversights and such.
It revolves around the christian concept of trust and helping one another.
Needs are supposed to be verified before being broadcast.
Ya, you need to follow certain standards to qualify and you need a letter of recommendation (not the right term) from your pastor.
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@NetworkNerd said:
@Minion-Queen said:
For me here in Western NY it costs me about $165 but that is just for the service fee doesn't cover any procedures beyond looking for ear infections sinus infections etc. If you have anything beyond that done all of that is extra.
Yep - that's about what they told me when I called a few minutes ago. And I have no clue what to expect a procedure like draining the puss / fluid from a kid's toe to cost. They couldn't tell me either (or just plain wouldn't).
I would demand a price before allowing service... hell walk in with $2000 cash in hand ready to show that you are ready to pay if needed, but need a price upfront. It's not life or death so you can walk away and go somewhere else.
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Even though the rest over $300 is hopefully covered, no reason to be railroaded by the healthcare system if you can help it.
Also, you look like a cash customer to them. You show the willingness to pay it all now, no financing, I bet they are even more willing to give you a better price - they know your account won't be going to collections, they won't be having to hassle with your account at all.
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I had poison ivy several years ago. I called the dermatologist and ask how much a normal visit costs. They told me, let's say $125 - OK fine plus meds, etc..
So I go, and get a bill for $145 - I asked - hey I called and you said it was $125...
They said "ohhh. .well you have asthma, that's a higher rating and a higher billing rate"
I checked with the billing manager at my office - yep.. they can charge more if you have designated pre existing conditions.
Of course I was completely surprised by this. Luckily I don't visit the doctor, so I had no idea off this. and was rather irked that the billing person I spoke to didn't leave any room in our discussion for the possibility of the price being higher because of pre existing conditions. -
@Dashrender said:
I had poison ivy several years ago. I called the dermatologist and ask how much a normal visit costs. They told me, let's say $125 - OK fine plus meds, etc..
So I go, and get a bill for $145 - I asked - hey I called and you said it was $125...
They said "ohhh. .well you have asthma, that's a higher rating and a higher billing rate"
I checked with the billing manager at my office - yep.. they can charge more if you have designated pre existing conditions.
Of course I was completely surprised by this. Luckily I don't visit the doctor, so I had no idea off this. and was rather irked that the billing person I spoke to didn't leave any room in our discussion for the possibility of the price being higher because of pre existing conditions.That's called bait and switch and isn't legal. That they can charge more, sure. That they can quote and lie, no.
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@scottalanmiller said:
@Dashrender said:
I had poison ivy several years ago. I called the dermatologist and ask how much a normal visit costs. They told me, let's say $125 - OK fine plus meds, etc..
So I go, and get a bill for $145 - I asked - hey I called and you said it was $125...
They said "ohhh. .well you have asthma, that's a higher rating and a higher billing rate"
I checked with the billing manager at my office - yep.. they can charge more if you have designated pre existing conditions.
Of course I was completely surprised by this. Luckily I don't visit the doctor, so I had no idea off this. and was rather irked that the billing person I spoke to didn't leave any room in our discussion for the possibility of the price being higher because of pre existing conditions.That's called bait and switch and isn't legal. That they can charge more, sure. That they can quote and lie, no.
That's an interesting point - I'm guessing it's to late to pursue it today... I will have to remember that the next time I call for pricing.
The impossible thing is getting them to give it in writing before hand.
I called my insurance company last week. They point blank told me that they couldn't confirm 100% if something was covered until after the doctor submitted the billing. Now this seems like a BS thing! and like Scott, this is a huge reason I hate the system in the US.
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@Dashrender said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@Dashrender said:
I had poison ivy several years ago. I called the dermatologist and ask how much a normal visit costs. They told me, let's say $125 - OK fine plus meds, etc..
So I go, and get a bill for $145 - I asked - hey I called and you said it was $125...
They said "ohhh. .well you have asthma, that's a higher rating and a higher billing rate"
I checked with the billing manager at my office - yep.. they can charge more if you have designated pre existing conditions.
Of course I was completely surprised by this. Luckily I don't visit the doctor, so I had no idea off this. and was rather irked that the billing person I spoke to didn't leave any room in our discussion for the possibility of the price being higher because of pre existing conditions.That's called bait and switch and isn't legal. That they can charge more, sure. That they can quote and lie, no.
That's an interesting point - I'm guessing it's to late to pursue it today... I will have to remember that the next time I call for pricing.
The impossible thing is getting them to give it in writing before hand.
In some cases you can record the phone call.
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@Dashrender said:
I called my insurance company last week. They point blank told me that they couldn't confirm 100% if something was covered until after the doctor submitted the billing. Now this seems like a BS thing! and like Scott, this is a huge reason I hate the system in the US.
Yeah... what they are saying is that it is the BILLING that they cover or don't cover, not the procedure. It's to the point that they don't even hide this any more. They don't even pretend that they are covering your medical needs. If the doctor says you are going to die but uses a form the insurance company doesn't "like", tough, pay out of pocket. Surprise.
There is no such thing as guaranteed insurance in the US. You are requires to pay for something that is smoke and mirrors. You have no choice but to pay, but there is no requirement for them to provide coverage.
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@scottalanmiller said:
@Dashrender said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@Dashrender said:
I had poison ivy several years ago. I called the dermatologist and ask how much a normal visit costs. They told me, let's say $125 - OK fine plus meds, etc..
So I go, and get a bill for $145 - I asked - hey I called and you said it was $125...
They said "ohhh. .well you have asthma, that's a higher rating and a higher billing rate"
I checked with the billing manager at my office - yep.. they can charge more if you have designated pre existing conditions.
Of course I was completely surprised by this. Luckily I don't visit the doctor, so I had no idea off this. and was rather irked that the billing person I spoke to didn't leave any room in our discussion for the possibility of the price being higher because of pre existing conditions.That's called bait and switch and isn't legal. That they can charge more, sure. That they can quote and lie, no.
That's an interesting point - I'm guessing it's to late to pursue it today... I will have to remember that the next time I call for pricing.
The impossible thing is getting them to give it in writing before hand.
In some cases you can record the phone call.
What I wonder about is if there is a clause in my insurance that prevents me from litigation because there is an contract price between them and my insurance carrrier, and even though this part was being completely covered by my deductible as part of my high deductible plan, I'm guessing I wouldn't have a leg to stand on.
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@Dashrender said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@Dashrender said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@Dashrender said:
I had poison ivy several years ago. I called the dermatologist and ask how much a normal visit costs. They told me, let's say $125 - OK fine plus meds, etc..
So I go, and get a bill for $145 - I asked - hey I called and you said it was $125...
They said "ohhh. .well you have asthma, that's a higher rating and a higher billing rate"
I checked with the billing manager at my office - yep.. they can charge more if you have designated pre existing conditions.
Of course I was completely surprised by this. Luckily I don't visit the doctor, so I had no idea off this. and was rather irked that the billing person I spoke to didn't leave any room in our discussion for the possibility of the price being higher because of pre existing conditions.That's called bait and switch and isn't legal. That they can charge more, sure. That they can quote and lie, no.
That's an interesting point - I'm guessing it's to late to pursue it today... I will have to remember that the next time I call for pricing.
The impossible thing is getting them to give it in writing before hand.
In some cases you can record the phone call.
What I wonder about is if there is a clause in my insurance that prevents me from litigation because there is an contract price between them and my insurance carrrier, and even though this part was being completely covered by my deductible as part of my high deductible plan, I'm guessing I wouldn't have a leg to stand on.
That there is a clause and that the clause is legal are two different things. There might be and it might be, but there is every possibility that they assume that you'll never get a lawyer and they are off the hook, and 99% of the time that's true. They know that a lawyer will cost even more than paying the bill yourself, so they have really no risk that's to the legal system.
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sad by true.
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Hence why I am planning a Vacation out of the country in the next few years to have some major surgery. I will either be going to Spain or Switzerland. The cost of a 2 week resort vacation with my surgery included is MUCH less than I have been quoted here.
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@Minion-Queen said:
Hence why I am planning a Vacation out of the country in the next few years to have some major surgery. I will either be going to Spain or Switzerland. The cost of a 2 week resort vacation with my surgery included is MUCH less than I have been quoted here.
Had a conversation this morning about this with my wife. Trying to figure out if we can swing no insurance in the US with planned procedures while in Japan.
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It's actually much easier to deal with than insurance. Getting procedures done else where is totally worth the savings.
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@JaredBusch said:
@Minion-Queen said:
Hence why I am planning a Vacation out of the country in the next few years to have some major surgery. I will either be going to Spain or Switzerland. The cost of a 2 week resort vacation with my surgery included is MUCH less than I have been quoted here.
Had a conversation this morning about this with my wife. Trying to figure out if we can swing no insurance in the US with planned procedures while in Japan.
We spent about a month considering this. We have it easier than you, whenever we are in the US we are either on the Canadian or Mexican borders (more or less) and outside of the US the vast majority of the year. It's a bit scary being in the US without insurance, but the reality is is that it is scary being in the US with insurance, so while it's scary, mostly it isn't the big deal that it seems to be.
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@scottalanmiller said:
@JaredBusch said:
@Minion-Queen said:
Hence why I am planning a Vacation out of the country in the next few years to have some major surgery. I will either be going to Spain or Switzerland. The cost of a 2 week resort vacation with my surgery included is MUCH less than I have been quoted here.
Had a conversation this morning about this with my wife. Trying to figure out if we can swing no insurance in the US with planned procedures while in Japan.
We spent about a month considering this. We have it easier than you, whenever we are in the US we are either on the Canadian or Mexican borders (more or less) and outside of the US the vast majority of the year. It's a bit scary being in the US without insurance, but the reality is is that it is scary being in the US with insurance, so while it's scary, mostly it isn't the big deal that it seems to be.
That was part of our discussion today. We paid over $10k last year in medical premiums alone. This year will be $8412 for the premium.
Last year we had a fractured elbow the resulted in ER visit because it was after hours for urgent care. and then referred to a children's er. so that was $1k in ER bills $500 copay twice). But still even with those fees if we had paid cash I am sure we would have been way under $10k.
The biggest part of it I have to overcome is my wife's insistence on insurance because she is not american.
She sees the bill and complains about it. but when we have these conversations, she is not yet able to break her mind away from having it and paying for services directly.
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I think most people have that feeling..... insurance is like bundling, we are so trained that it's good for its own sake that we forget that it's a balancing thing. That's how, for example, Best Buy makes so much money. The big money isn't selling a Blueray player, it's selling a big insurance plan on it that makes a huge profit. All of that insurance profit has to come from the people buying insurance. So many people say that any insurance is better than no insurance, but the reality is, that can't be the case.
