Seriously, out of network balance billing is a growing phenomena that can create havoc with a patient's health and finances.
What are your thoughts and opinions on this subject?
When I was at BCBSTX, they had regular board meetings with doctors to discuss insurance/patient matters. I wonder if they stopped doing that. Seems that this would never have been approved by that board.
Ok folks.
The reality is that health care has to be rationed. We cannot provide 100% care for 100% of the people. But no one can say that, politicians, insurance companies, doctors, and even us.
When I grew up it was rationed. We knew the doctor would cost money and we made decisions accordingly.
Lots of ER’s already end up giving free to to 30 or 40% of their patients thanks to EMTALA. This bullshit ( which we went through in the 80’s is going to be a major problem.
“We do not believe patients should be expected to self-diagnose to determine whether their symptoms are serious enough to warrant an emergency department visit.”
Just went thru major surgery at in Network Hospital..
The only thing the Ins. Company didn’t cover completely and I have been billed for are blood tests that were sent out which doesn’t make sense to me. I was treated at an in Network Hospital.
But I aint complaining after seeing what the Ins. Company did pay...
If the healthcare industry was prosecuted for it’s blatant violations of 100 year old U.S. laws, costs would drop 80% and this would not be an issue.
Part of the problem is that ER charges, even for non emergency care are way higher than if a person went to a walk-in clinic or GP. The solution would seem to be a change in coding so that insurance covered it at the Non ER rate. Not running every single test under the sun would reduce costs too.
I understand people should not use the ER for non emergencies but in some cases that is the only care available on short notice during certain hours.
Blue Shield dumped me 6 years ago. I was a paying customer for over 20 years.
Thanks Blue Shield and Obama.
Now they call me 3 times a week!
This is like using a howitzer to kill a mosquito.
If utilization rates are too high because some patients are abusing the system, raise the co-pays for unnecessary visits. And keep raising them until the problem is reduced.
Free standing emergency rooms not associated with hospitals are total ripoffs. My wife went to one when i was out of town and didn’t realize they were ripoffs. Charged her $900 for just a few services. After I called them, the cost was dropped to $350. I told them they could take it or sue us; and I would demand a jury trial.