UPDATE: How does one "shop around" for medical ser

[48Rob]

It seems as though those who have insurance help pay for those who can't get it or can't afford it.

Funny how that works...

Try the same routine at an auto body repair shop.
Very expensive if you have insurance, but tell them up front you're having to pay for it, and the price is much lower...or even worse, tell them you need the bill to be "a little higher" so you can cover your deductable, or repair some previous (unrelated) damage, and some will "help you out"

Sounds great if you're one of those who have an insurance company that's paying the bill, but it really isn't so great.

Doctors/home repair/body shops, whoever, are charging more because you "have insurance", and "they" are paying the bill.

But of course anyone with half an ounce of common sense can see that the insurance company isn't "paying for" anything...WE ARE!

Business doesn't pay one cent for anything.

No, not one cent!

We, the consumer/customer pays every penny of every bill.

[martha24]

Elumia wrote:

My wife's insurance doesn't pay for a mammogram. The usual cost is about $500. She relayed this info to one of the ladies at her Doctor's office. She said to ask for the "cash price" as if you had no insurance. Apparently they only charge those w/o insurance about $100.

I have a friend who can't get insurance. When she broke her leg, she did something similar and couldn't believe how much lower the price was for her than what was originally quoted. It seems as though those who have insurance help pay for those who can't get it or can't afford it.

That could be part of it, but it also costs less for the doctor's office not to have to deal with the insurance company. I would presume a fair amount of time is spent in billing and dealing with insurance companies and some one is being paid to do it.

I have seen on occasion where my doctor had to submit the bill various times because the insurance company didn't like it for whatever reason. That does add to the cost of doing business.

[caseydog]

I did some research using WebMD, and made some calls. I got a price of $820 for the MRI I need.

The first provider wanted a "down payment" of $2,800, with more to be paid later.

Here is the deal. The first provider, which my Doctor referred me to, is a Hospital, and they charge way more than independent imaging providers.

Advice -- NEVER use a hospital if you have a choice of providers of medical services.

[caseydog]

BTW, now I am pissed at my doctor. She sent me to the same provider (Medical Center of McKinney) a few months ago for some other tests. The bill to me was $931.

I did some calling around to some independent providers, and got estimates for the same service ranging from 300 to 400 dollars.

Why didn't my doctors know that a hospital charges double, triple, and sometimes more for services.

Do they get kickbacks?

[Nitetimes]

BTW, now I am pissed at my doctor. She sent me to the same provider (Medical Center of McKinney) a few months ago for some other tests. The bill to me was $931.

I did some calling around to some independent providers, and got estimates for the same service ranging from 300 to 400 dollars.

Why didn't my doctors know that a hospital charges double, triple, and sometimes more for services.

Do they get kickbacks?

I would say some of them do, I know ours is now directly associated with the local hospital as are a lot of the services around here and they tend to refer you to them.

[Larwyn]

I had a bit of laser surgery for sleep apnea a few years ago. One year after the surgery I got a ltter from the doctor stating that he would like to run another sleep study to evaluate the surgery. The letter actually stated "If you still have insurance the cost will be $500, if not there will be no charge for the sleep study." That just hit the wrong nerve with me, I ended up never having the study done. They are out of control.

[Miriam C.]

BTW, now I am pissed at my doctor. She sent me to the same provider (Medical Center of McKinney) a few months ago for some other tests. The bill to me was $931.

I did some calling around to some independent providers, and got estimates for the same service ranging from 300 to 400 dollars.

Why didn't my doctors know that a hospital charges double, triple, and sometimes more for services.

Do they get kickbacks?

I would say some of them do, I know ours is now directly associated with the local hospital as are a lot of the services around here and they tend to refer you to them.

My Dr. is now a Hospital Dr. I am thinking they have quotas and their insurance may be cheaper. I know from the nurse that the hospital requires I get my results at a second appointment. And they charge me and the insurance company.

[greg755]

The cost of MRI's are all over the board. My son has had many (brain tumor surgery/follow ups - he is ok) and they were all different prices depending on how many things they scanned or how in depth they got (levels)

My problem is that hospitals don't have to "post a price" up front, Every other business will tell you what their product or service will cost. I think a law should be passed that Hospitals MUST post rates for routine procedures.


I have never had one of them ask me for payment up front so that is new to me.

What I have done is ask around for guarantee's They are not required by law to guarantee their work so if they take blurry pictures, to bad you pay again for new ones. I have found several places that will guarantee that if the scan comes out bad they will redo it for free.

Second I want to know WHO is reading the results. More than once we got really bad news because an unqualified labtec or newbie read them wrong and we had to pay to again to send them to another specialist. So ask for specifics.

I know you wont like this next statement, But look on the bright side at this point you still have a choice to go to who YOU want and the freedom to insist on the quality of care.

You are in the drivers seat tell your Doctor what you want and expect, settle for nothing less.

Also you may find a tumor or cancer survival group in your area, they have been through this many times and can point you to the better facilities.

Good luck and may God rest his healing hands upon you.
G

[planovet]

BTW, now I am pissed at my doctor. She sent me to the same provider (Medical Center of McKinney) a few months ago for some other tests. The bill to me was $931.

I did some calling around to some independent providers, and got estimates for the same service ranging from 300 to 400 dollars.

Why didn't my doctors know that a hospital charges double, triple, and sometimes more for services.

Do they get kickbacks?

Hospitals tend to have a "captive audience". People that come to a hospital (especially the ER) are in no condition to shop around when the doc says that they need a certain procedure. That's why their prices are higher. Independent labs are more competitive and their prices tend to reflect that. Why your doctor sent you to that particular hospital is anyone's guess. Fortunately this time it was something that you had time to shop around for.

[caseydog]

Fortunately this time it was something that you had time to shop around for.

Oh yeah!

Back in 06, when I was diagnosed with cancer, I went to my doctor on a Wednesday, who referred me to a specialist to whom I went on Thursday, and on Friday I was in surgery.

Talk about a lamb among wolves. I just slapped my Visa card down at every stop and figured the insurance company would clean everything up after the fact.

I'll NEVER do THAT again. I'd sooner give my credit card to a pack of teenage girls in a shopping mall than give it to a hospital.

CD

[caseydog]

Oh, BTW, another lesson I leaned about using credit cards for sudden, multiple and large medical charges is that some of them will spot the charges and screw you over.

MBNA called me about the charges, and asked if I was okay. Like a fool, I was candid with the caller, who put me on hold for a few minutes, and then came back ad told me my credit limit had been lowered from $15,000 to $500, and that my balance over my new credit limit was subject to an interest rate of 24.99 percent.

I figured that surely, they could not do that, legally. But, sure enough, it's in the fine print that they can lower your limit and jack your rate at any time and for any reason they want.

The other credit card I used was from RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) and they were great. My limit and rate stayed steady and reasonable.

Chase also jacked my rates to 24.99 percent, although I had not charged any of the medical expenses on my Chase card. I'm not sure what that was about, but it happened the same week that MBNA screwed me.

CD

[S. Heisley]

CD:

Blood Suckers don't only exist in hospitals. With credit companies, when you're on top, they stroke and charm you. When you slide down, you get the cold shoulder or a kick in the lower anatomy and they think of you as no longer an asset but, more likely, a liability.

It sounds like the fellow you talked to at MBNA may have updated your credit rating with a "down-rating". But, it may have also been caused by the amount of money owed because of the hospital fees charged. Your credit rating is based on both your credit history and your ability to pay. The logic used is that the larger the balance owed, (also, the larger the number of credit cards owed on) the harder it is for the debtor to make the payments.

Credit companies base their fees and services on your credit rating score, which tells them how much of a risk you are. You want to keep that score above 7 (good), if you can. Above 8 is considered excellent.
Individuals are only a small part of the equation. Rules are made by a group of people and those rules are then fed into the computers. Computers have no hearts. They just do what they are programmed to do. You might be able to figure out what happened and what your credit score was/is by looking at your credit report before and after the problem occurred. By federal law, you're allowed one free credit report each year.

Thank you for starting this post about medical bills. It's an eye-opener for many people. I know I will definitely be more aware, should I need major medical services in the future.

[martha24]

CaseyDog,
Thanks for sharing some of your lessons you learned the hard way. Sorry you had to learn them the hard way though.
I certainly wouldn't have realized all the things you mentioned, so you have educated a number of people.
I guess the credit card company figured you were a bad risk since you were having cancer treatment.

The best advocate you have is yourself as professionals or businesses may or may not look out for you. Though sometimes it is hard to learn the things needed to be able to make the best decisions for yourself or to know if the professionals or businesses are giving you good advice. I think we all have learned some lessons the hard way.

[Miriam C.]

Oh, BTW, another lesson I leaned about using credit cards for sudden, multiple and large medical charges is that some of them will spot the charges and screw you over.

MBNA called me about the charges, and asked if I was okay. Like a fool, I was candid with the caller, who put me on hold for a few minutes, and then came back ad told me my credit limit had been lowered from $15,000 to $500, and that my balance over my new credit limit was subject to an interest rate of 24.99 percent.

I figured that surely, they could not do that, legally. But, sure enough, it's in the fine print that they can lower your limit and jack your rate at any time and for any reason they want.

The other credit card I used was from RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) and they were great. My limit and rate stayed steady and reasonable.

Chase also jacked my rates to 24.99 percent, although I had not charged any of the medical expenses on my Chase card. I'm not sure what that was about, but it happened the same week that MBNA screwed me.

CD

Glen, let your congressman and your state Rep. know the bank did this. They are talking of changing the laws to not allow this but taking their time cause it doesn't effect them.

We closed one of ours because they offered to take our rate to 29% if we were ever late with a payment. They called to remind us we had a payment due in a couple of weeks. Boy was Mike mad.

I don't think they can drop you below what you actually owe and demand a higher interest for the amount you already owed. You might ask the Congressman.

I agree with the others Thanks for bringing this up.

[caseydog]

Oh, BTW, another lesson I leaned about using credit cards for sudden, multiple and large medical charges is that some of them will spot the charges and screw you over.

MBNA called me about the charges, and asked if I was okay. Like a fool, I was candid with the caller, who put me on hold for a few minutes, and then came back ad told me my credit limit had been lowered from $15,000 to $500, and that my balance over my new credit limit was subject to an interest rate of 24.99 percent.

I figured that surely, they could not do that, legally. But, sure enough, it's in the fine print that they can lower your limit and jack your rate at any time and for any reason they want.

The other credit card I used was from RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) and they were great. My limit and rate stayed steady and reasonable.

Chase also jacked my rates to 24.99 percent, although I had not charged any of the medical expenses on my Chase card. I'm not sure what that was about, but it happened the same week that MBNA screwed me.

CD

Glen, let your congressman and your state Rep. know the bank did this. They are talking of changing the laws to not allow this but taking their time cause it doesn't effect them.

We closed one of ours because they offered to take our rate to 29% if we were ever late with a payment. They called to remind us we had a payment due in a couple of weeks. Boy was Mike mad.

I don't think they can drop you below what you actually owe and demand a higher interest for the amount you already owed. You might ask the Congressman.

I agree with the others Thanks for bringing this up.

My congressman is opposed to the new credit card laws under discussion, and supported the law changes a few years ago to make it harder for consumers to file for bankruptcy, even in cases where the bankruptcy was due to catastrophic medical debt.

I wrote him one time to ask him NOT to support a piece of legislation, and he sent me a reply (robo-email) thanking me for SUPPORTING the legislation I was opposed to.

He's basically a tool of big business. No point writing to him.