Posted on 11/17/2013 5:57:44 AM PST by M. Dodge Thomas
Before undergoing an MRI, a CT scan or a surgery to clean up that wobbly knee, consumers had better become accustomed to hearing: "How do you intend to pay for that?"...
The shift comes as more consumers enroll in so-called high-deductible health plans, which require consumers to pay more out of pocket in exchange for lower monthly premiums. As a result, health care providers must collect a larger portion of patient bills from consumers themselves, rather than their insurance companies.
It's a delicate balance for hospitals, which have certain legal and ethical obligations to care for people who arrive with critical health conditions regardless of their ability to pay. At the same time, hospitals believe they must become more insistent and methodical about screening patients' ability to pay, particularly people with scheduled procedures or elective surgeries.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
I think that people who have large deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses who have to do business with a hospital had better first get in touch with the billing/finance administrator and work out some haggling, myself. Cash up front can cut costs I believe.
Within "the system" an MRI averages $2,000.00
it was a sacrifice, but I came up with the 350 ... no WAY could I swing 2 grand.
I loved how the surgeon had me sign a financial responsibility form when I was laying face down with an open backed gown just before getting anesthesia for a colonoscopy.
Take my wife for a MRI,Please!
Just one nites’ stay is un-Affordable...
My GP is an Indian doctor that I’ve gone to for almost 30 years. He is a wizard at finding low-cost facilities for tests like MRIs in the price ranges you cited. I honestly don’t know what I would do for a doctor when he retires.
Yup. But before we can “shop” our medical purchases, the hospitals have to be willing to disclose their prices - which is anathema to a system that *depends* on non-transparent pricing.
Same, as regards benefits, for the insurance companies -I know some pretty smart people who are *shocked* to discover to discover what their “inexpensive” insurance did not cover, especially as regards yearly caps.
Here is the deal.
You have a MRI and the hospitalization pays the bill.
Look at that bill its says the cost of the MRI $2,315 dollars, Under that it says Hospitalization paid $435 dollars, the hospital accepted that and you owe nothing.
You go in there with a $3,000 dollars deductible and you will pay $2315 dollars right off the top.Not the $435.
Obamacare screwed you again.
Happy friggin Birthday.
We need to tar and feather every SOB who voted for this crap.
Cash up front only cuts costs when one is self-insured. The reason for this is the hospital doesn’t have to file paperwork with anyone else.
Cash upfront to assure the hospital you can meet your insurance deductible is not the same thing.
I don’t understand.
Is the $2000 billed to you or to the insurance company? And can you choose to pay by yourself even when you have insurance?
I don’t think this is about Obama Care high deductible plans, which are both expensive and have high deductibles. I think this is talking about high deduct plans (with or without HSAs) that have been around for a while.
We have one. It has a 10K deductible BUT…BUT...It is about 10 thousand dollars less expensive than a low deductible plan per year in premium…..it’s simpler, less paperwork and so on. I think most people who are on such a pln understand it. But again, we don’t have all the Obamacare strings attached to it.
It’s like the old major medical stuff…WHICH WORKED!
I think what he was saying is this: when these clinics have to put up with all the billing and papwerork bullsh-t - it cost 2 grand. OR….if you can just plunk down the cash, 350, done deal.
Which is, in a way, a very teachable moment about what is wrong with our system now,….AND how to solve it.
The 2g was from inquiries ... the ones giving that answer had no idea what an MRI costs ... they could only tell me what they charged the ins. co.
I understand that. But there is no reason you have to tell the hospital you have insurance is there?
“But before we can “shop” our medical purchases, the hospitals have to be willing to disclose their prices - which is anathema to a system that *depends* on non-transparent pricing.”
And before it is over, this will bring about some form of price fixing, just like they have in other parts of the world.
How negotiable are hospital / medical procedure costs in the US?
I have a high deductible insurance covering me whenever I am in the US (which is, quite often), and have wondered about just this.
as I predicted.
I believe his plan is a lot more nefarious.
Healthcare is a major part of the American economy, this many people without insurance will cause a collapse of the industry, it will rob many of their savings plans as they have to pay out of pocket for care, Hospitals and doctors won’t get paid and will default on their businesses plans causing a total collapse of the healthcare system in the USA. .
I think that’s the mess that the entire insurance industry / medical industry here is vilified for.
Same procedure gets charged $2000 to the insurer vs. $350 if upfront?
That’s so wrong, it’s amazing riots haven’t started over such theft.
I would guess that there is “dead” time on MRI machines in the middle of the night. Waiting for an open, unused otherwise time slot should be priced lower.
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