CASH ONLY, PLEASE

Physicians Practice ^ | July/August 2006 | Nancy J. Morgan MD

[Orange1998]

in the mail from United Healthcare saying they were paying $0.00 and that the patient (my husband) owed $200,000 to the hospital

And the basis of the denial? It sound absurd to deny the claim.

[girlscout]

We've written them and asked for a detailed explanation for the claim denial. In the statement they sent us no reason was stated. To date we have not heard back from them and I agree, it is absurd.

[Orange1998]

I wish you and the family best of luck on the claim. Maybe you can find attorney on contingency and make them pay.

[bmwcyle]

ping

[FormerACLUmember]

The thing I find amazing is that Doc Nancy and her husband were "not on contract with Medicare, Medicaid, or any insurance company," yet the totalitarian "state insurance commissioner decided that he did not approve of the concept of "concierge" medicine and announced that he would shut us down."

Freedom threatens to all tyrants throughout history. It is not about money. Doc Nancy gives the best medical bargain in Washington State. It is all about control and power that so threatens the bureucratic totalitarians.

[Xenalyte]

Believe me, when a patient is acutely ill, frightened, or in pain, there is nothing "kind" about forcing her to see a total stranger for her care.

I have been all three in doctors' offices. I still managed to get what I wanted, which was a) my chosen doctor b) diagnosing and c) prescribing.

Health care is active. You are never a passive recipient - or if you are, you're doing it wrong.

[Xenalyte]

United sucks. When I was "covered" by UHC, I spent more time explaining basics to those mental midgets than I spent sick.

[Uncle Vlad]

I'm in Omaha. Where did you grow up?

[redgolum]

Dodge County (north of Fremont about 21 miles).

[Uncle Vlad]

Aha!

[Marie]

My mom's GP allowed her to pay with fresh produce and meat from her farm. She'd even can the veggies for him.

She got treated for every illness for very little actual money (*lots* of labor!) and he actually got *more* out of the deal than if he'd been paid in cash. (Organic veggies are very pricy.)

The staff loved her. She'd bake for them. And I'm talking about a *lot* of food. Each member of the staff would get their own pie and loaf of bread. It didn't stop after the visit, either. She'd continue to bring in baskets of fresh eggs, milk, baked goods and preserves. During the fall they'd hit the mother lode. When she'd get hit with a winter bug, she was taken care of. When she had an accident, the shots were on the house. He even greased the skids for her to see a specialist with the same arrangement.

I miss the good ol' days where two consenting adults could come to a mutually satisfying arrangement without it being anyone's business but their own.