The $700 Letter
Oct 5, 2023 12:02:05 #
My son was out sick from work for five days in July, and work wanted a doctor's note. That required a computer visit. The bill for that was around $350. Today, he received another bill for the following week. When he went to pick up the letter on August 8, the doctor checked him over for roughly $350. So, getting a letter for work got someone billed about $700. Fortunately, he has a $15 co-pay. What a system!
Oct 5, 2023 12:26:10 #
Yeah your son only had to pay $15. The doctor billed the insurance for $700 but perhaps he is in the network with the insurance so they had the discount and thus they paid a lot less.
Oct 5, 2023 12:26:56 #
Oct 5, 2023 12:35:36 #
jerryc41 wrote:
My son was out sick from work for five days in July, and work wanted a doctor's note. That required a computer visit. The bill for that was around $350. Today, he received another bill for the following week. When he went to pick up the letter on August 8, the doctor checked him over for roughly $350. So, getting a letter for work got someone billed about $700. Fortunately, he has a $15 co-pay. What a system!
Doctors always bill high. Insurance companies never pay it. When you son gets the EOB, tell us what the insurance company paid the doctors.
Oct 5, 2023 12:57:07 #
SteveR wrote:
Doctors always bill high. Insurance companies never pay it. When you son gets the EOB, tell us what the insurance company paid the doctors.
Yeah and only in the case that you don't have insurance that you have to pay the full $700 and chances are if you can't afford to have insurance you can't afford to pay that bill and you ended up going thru the bankruptcy.
Oct 5, 2023 13:14:40 #
BebuLamar wrote:
Yeah your son only had to pay $15. The doctor billed the insurance for $700 but perhaps he is in the network with the insurance so they had the discount and thus they paid a lot less.
Yes, there is always a substantial "Adjustment" made by the insurance company.
Oct 5, 2023 13:27:54 #
BebuLamar wrote:
Yeah and only in the case that you don't have insurance that you have to pay the full $700 and chances are if you can't afford to have insurance you can't afford to pay that bill and you ended up going thru the bankruptcy.
You're right!! Doctors contract with insurance companies to provide certain services for particular amounts. At times people find out that a doctor is not in network with a particular insurance company. So...you have to find another doctor. Don't have insurance? Not really a good idea. Obamacare was set up so that it would be available and affordable to everybody. The other alternative would be to go to a public clinic.
Oct 5, 2023 17:49:18 #
My ex-wife had a very bad accident when we were married and we didn't have insurance. We paid cash and it is amazing how much of a discount you can get paying cash. MRI 400 dollars. For example.
Oct 5, 2023 18:21:23 #
SteveR wrote:
Doctors always bill high. Insurance companies never pay it. When you son gets the EOB, tell us what the insurance company paid the doctors.
So very true. I was in an accident while riding my motorcycle in mid-August and required transportation to a trauma center. The transportation was by ambiluace on the ground to a helicopter to the trauma center. Fortunately my bike insurance and my health insurance provide excellent coverage. the transport charges were in excess of $20,000.00. My insurances paid less than $500.00 combined. I have not heard anything more about the transportation.
I'll let you know if the other shoe drops.
P.S. I am very grateful for the care I received and the concern shown by the caregivers. I am recovering well.
Oct 5, 2023 18:48:12 #
Oct 5, 2023 19:06:02 #
PAR4DCR wrote:
American health care is broken.
Don
Don
Why do you say that?
My son became septic from head to toe in 2020. He was in ICU for nearly two months. At the end of that time they discovered infection around his aortic valve that they said was inoperable. However, a surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic said the he could do the surgery and replace his aortic valve after scraping out the infection. So, he was flown by air ambulance from Dallas to Cleveland. We were fortunate to find an air ambulance company that would not charge us any more than what insurance would pay them. My son's total deductible was $4500 on a $650,000 bill (after initial charges were lowered). He's alive today because of medicine and health insurance. So why do you say health insurance is broken?
Oct 5, 2023 19:12:17 #
Oct 5, 2023 21:00:17 #
So - here's how it works.
The doctors office submits a bill for $950 and insurance pays $15. Co-pay is $15.
Doctors office submits a write-off / loss of $920 against profits.
Makes cents.
The doctors office submits a bill for $950 and insurance pays $15. Co-pay is $15.
Doctors office submits a write-off / loss of $920 against profits.
Makes cents.
Oct 6, 2023 05:32:48 #
SteveR wrote:
Why do you say that? br br My son became septic f... (show quote)
First awesome that your son made it. Yess I agree with you. We have the most state of the art medical system in the world. Yes there are problems. There are problems with everything on earth. We have doctors here that are the best in the world. People come from everywhere to take advantage of the best medical technology in the world. No the system doesn't work if you just go to the doctor and except what they say. You and your family have to be advocates for the ill person. Yes it is frustrating and hard at times but the system works for those that don't quit and continue to search and investigate to get repaired.
Oct 6, 2023 08:23:41 #
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