Other Resources The Political Joe » South Portland doctor stops accepting insurance, posts prices online Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller Reply
2013-05-29 10:32 AM

User image

Subject: South Portland doctor stops accepting insurance, posts prices online


2013-05-29 11:21 AM
in reply to: 0

User image

Champion
6993
50001000500100100100100252525
Chicago, Illinois
Subject: RE: South Portland doctor stops accepting insurance, posts prices online
I was at a hospital Friday and they did have a board listing prices. Considering my surgery was $8600 but $1600 after insurance price reduction I paid $360 and the insurance company paid the rest I can see how things can get confusing.

Edit: I think he would get $10 less than what my doctor would get at least for the basic visit between insurance company and myself. I would still carry insurance for something but it could save everyone money except the insurance companies who would lose money in premiums.

Edited by chirunner134 2013-05-29 11:30 AM
2013-05-29 2:15 PM
in reply to: chirunner134

User image

Expert
852
5001001001002525
Evergreen, Colorado
Bronze member
Subject: RE: South Portland doctor stops accepting insurance, posts prices online

I would totally use this guy as my doctor. I'm self-employed and have insurance, but have a high deductible and pay most office visits out of pocket. It is next to IMPOSSIBLE to get a doctor's office to quote me a cash price for services, and it's not fun to make an appointment and find out later what I'm paying.

I recently switched pediatricians to someone closer to home for my kids. Then I got the $155 bill for a standard visit when my kid had croup. Previous doc ran $75 for the same thing so I'll be switching back. Wish I'd known BEFORE I got the bill for $80 more than I expected! There shouldn't be that much discrepancy in prices for the same service. It's ridiculous.

2013-05-29 2:43 PM
in reply to: Stacers

User image

Champion
14571
50005000200020005002525
the alamo city, Texas
Subject: RE: South Portland doctor stops accepting insurance, posts prices online
Originally posted by Stacers

I would totally use this guy as my doctor. I'm self-employed and have insurance, but have a high deductible and pay most office visits out of pocket. It is next to IMPOSSIBLE to get a doctor's office to quote me a cash price for services, and it's not fun to make an appointment and find out later what I'm paying.



I have had this problem. When my last company went to a high deductible plan, they promoted it as getting employees more involved in their healthcare. So when I had back issues and a doctor suggested an MRI, I tried to shop around for one. NOT ONE OFFICE would give me a price except "well between $1200 and $8000"

how am i supposed to be proactively involved in my healthcare? i ended up not getting one, doing a few weeks of PT, and suffering for the past 5 ish years.
2013-05-30 6:13 AM
in reply to: DanielG

User image

Champion
6046
5000100025
New York, NY
Subject: RE: South Portland doctor stops accepting insurance, posts prices online
and here is a great article on why I HATE dealing with insurance companies (and frankly Medicare is MUCH easier to deal with):

http://idealmedicalpractices.typepad.com/ideal_medical_practices/20...

it is why I am now employed rather than owning my own practice
2013-05-30 2:42 PM
in reply to: TriToy

New user
900
500100100100100
,
Subject: RE: South Portland doctor stops accepting insurance, posts prices online
My internist went this route about five years ago and opted out of medicare/medicare as well. It was a tough go for her at first but is now extremely successful. She said working for someone else (group/hospital) was not an option because someone else is still pulling your chain.


2013-05-31 12:25 PM
in reply to: NXS

User image

Master
1795
1000500100100252525
Boynton Beach, FL
Subject: RE: South Portland doctor stops accepting insurance, posts prices online
Never made sense why healthcare was one of just a few industries that operated outside the free market. People fight for cheap(er) insurance, but never decide on the price. Now, we do at the dentist and normally eye doctor so I am not lumping into one basket. But.... I wish everyone would ask for an "estimate" prior to their next appointment when checking in. This is more in the case when given a diagnosis etc vs initial visit. Would give you a better idea of how to "shop" for the best price/service/response time. Yet that might make way too much sense.
2013-05-31 1:04 PM
in reply to: cardenas1

User image

Champion
14571
50005000200020005002525
the alamo city, Texas
Subject: RE: South Portland doctor stops accepting insurance, posts prices online

Originally posted by cardenas1 Never made sense why healthcare was one of just a few industries that operated outside the free market. People fight for cheap(er) insurance, but never decide on the price. Now, we do at the dentist and normally eye doctor so I am not lumping into one basket. But.... I wish everyone would ask for an "estimate" prior to their next appointment when checking in. This is more in the case when given a diagnosis etc vs initial visit. Would give you a better idea of how to "shop" for the best price/service/response time. Yet that might make way too much sense.

THAT is the problem, though, because of insurance their offices can't give you an estimate.

2013-05-31 1:28 PM
in reply to: mehaner

User image

Extreme Veteran
815
500100100100
Shawnee, KS
Subject: RE: South Portland doctor stops accepting insurance, posts prices online
My family uses a concierge physician's services, and we could not be happier. If you have the $1500 it is worth every penny. We keep a high deductible insurance for catastrophic events too. I am a firm believer in preventative medicine, and the time and access we get to our doctor is amazing. With only 300 patients, he know each of us very well.
2013-06-01 1:43 PM
in reply to: #4760143

User image

Champion
6046
5000100025
New York, NY
Subject: RE: South Portland doctor stops accepting insurance, posts prices online
$1500 is a bargain. One of my partners is leaving to join a concierge practice that charges $50,000 per year per person
2013-06-03 12:46 PM
in reply to: joncolby

User image

Champion
14571
50005000200020005002525
the alamo city, Texas
Subject: RE: South Portland doctor stops accepting insurance, posts prices online

Originally posted by joncolby My family uses a concierge physician's services, and we could not be happier. If you have the $1500 it is worth every penny. We keep a high deductible insurance for catastrophic events too. I am a firm believer in preventative medicine, and the time and access we get to our doctor is amazing. With only 300 patients, he know each of us very well.

never heard of concierge medicine before so i googled it and ... i love it.  wish i had one in my area.  sounds AWESOME.



2013-06-04 10:28 AM
in reply to: DanielG

User image

Master
2264
20001001002525
Sunbury, Pennsylvania
Subject: RE: South Portland doctor stops accepting insurance, posts prices online
Time magazine did a huge whole-issue cover story a couple months ago called Bitter Pill, by Steven Brill. The premise of his article is to ask a question that is getting asked enough: why are the prices so high? We've gotten really fired up over the politics of who should pay and how, but we ignore for the most part, the pricing of healthcare. It is worth your time. The chargemaster is a term that we should all know a lot more about.
2013-06-07 7:31 AM
in reply to: TheClaaaw

User image

Pro
9391
500020002000100100100252525
Omaha, NE
Subject: RE: South Portland doctor stops accepting insurance, posts prices online

Originally posted by TheClaaaw Time magazine did a huge whole-issue cover story a couple months ago called Bitter Pill, by Steven Brill. The premise of his article is to ask a question that is getting asked enough: why are the prices so high? We've gotten really fired up over the politics of who should pay and how, but we ignore for the most part, the pricing of healthcare. It is worth your time. The chargemaster is a term that we should all know a lot more about.

The chargemaster is still just a symptom and not the cause.  The reason prices are high in hospitals and clinics is because there is way too much demand and not enough supply and insurance skews it badly.  If you have an $8000 surgery, you don't care because you're only paying $300 out of pocket.  You don't even care if it costs $800,000 if you're only paying $300.

If supply and demand is allowed to work and the hospitals don't have people beating down the door for frivolous care then the chargemaster wanting to jam the insurance company loses his power quickly.  Same thing if more of the costs are actually incurred by the patient versus being hidden by the insurance company.

As a comparison, lets take auto insurance.  I pay around $40 a month for my car insurance with a $1000 deductible.  I get a crack in my windshield I call around to a half a dozen glass shops and go to the cheapest one.  I pay my $300 out of pocket even though I have insurance.  The glass guy could try and charge me $1000 for the windshield, but he has plenty of competition so I ignore any gouging and go where the best deal is.
However, if my insurance was say $10 a month to me or free because my employer subsidized/paid for it and I only had to pay a $20 "copay" to get my windshield replaced I'd do that all day long.  Heck, I'd care a less about my windshield getting cracked.  Bring on the gravel roads, I have no fear...  I'd even go to the best, most expensive place in town.  The same effect would happen with all the other car owners, so now all of a sudden the demand for glass replacement has gone through the roof and the glass company has more business than he can handle so he starts jacking his prices up to $500, $600, or even $1000 to replace the same windshield.  He does this because the insurance companies keep on paying him to do it.
My insurance premium will go up due to the increased costs but I don't really care because my companies covering the vast majority of it and I'm only paying $15 a month now versus $10 and my copay went up to $30.

Obviously the whole healthcare/insurance thing is more complex than my little analogy due to things like frivolous lawsuits, unnecessary tests conducted for CYA purposes, etc... but you get the idea.

2013-06-17 8:16 AM
in reply to: 0

User image

Champion
14571
50005000200020005002525
the alamo city, Texas
Subject: RE: South Portland doctor stops accepting insurance, posts prices online

thought about this thread today.  i wanted to reschedule (aka cancel) a therapy appt for this afternoon, and forgot.  i'm well aware of the rule of cancel a day in advance or pay the fee so i ask the receptionist what the fee is.  "well, it can be $10 to $130, it's up to the doc.  when would you like to reschedule?" 

my copay is ~$80.  if the fee is greater than that i'll just run in, pay my copay, and leave.  if the fee is $10, send me a bill.  but i need to know the effing fee to make a decision here. 

just another symptom of how ridiculous this all is.  bring on socialism.



Edited by mehaner 2013-06-17 8:16 AM
2013-06-17 9:11 AM
in reply to: mehaner

User image

Veteran
1019
1000
St. Louis
Subject: RE: South Portland doctor stops accepting insurance, posts prices online
Originally posted by mehaner

thought about this thread today.  i wanted to reschedule (aka cancel) a therapy appt for this afternoon, and forgot.  i'm well aware of the rule of cancel a day in advance or pay the fee so i ask the receptionist what the fee is.  "well, it can be $10 to $130, it's up to the doc.  when would you like to reschedule?" 

my copay is ~$80.  if the fee is greater than that i'll just run in, pay my copay, and leave.  if the fee is $10, send me a bill.  but i need to know the effing fee to make a decision here. 

just another symptom of how ridiculous this all is.  bring on socialism.

Seems to me that if they don't have a written cancellation policy, you don't owe a thing.  Or at the very least, you're in a negotiation.  I would start the negotiations at you paying $0 and finding a new doc.  But I can't believe they have it set up where the doc can pick your penalty based on his mood.

2013-06-17 10:13 AM
in reply to: kevin_trapp

User image

Champion
14571
50005000200020005002525
the alamo city, Texas
Subject: RE: South Portland doctor stops accepting insurance, posts prices online
Originally posted by kevin_trapp
Originally posted by mehaner

thought about this thread today.  i wanted to reschedule (aka cancel) a therapy appt for this afternoon, and forgot.  i'm well aware of the rule of cancel a day in advance or pay the fee so i ask the receptionist what the fee is.  "well, it can be $10 to $130, it's up to the doc.  when would you like to reschedule?" 

my copay is ~$80.  if the fee is greater than that i'll just run in, pay my copay, and leave.  if the fee is $10, send me a bill.  but i need to know the effing fee to make a decision here. 

just another symptom of how ridiculous this all is.  bring on socialism.

Seems to me that if they don't have a written cancellation policy, you don't owe a thing.  Or at the very least, you're in a negotiation.  I would start the negotiations at you paying $0 and finding a new doc.  But I can't believe they have it set up where the doc can pick your penalty based on his mood.

usually the fee is a flat $50 or $75 or you will still be charged for your appointment, but it's clearly stated somewhere.

lucky for me, the appt was the last appt of the day at 515 pm and the doc decided to charge me nothing - she gets to go home an hour early, after all.  but yes, "it's up to the doctor" is crazy.  (ironic that it's crazy, this is my psychologist office we are talking about)



New Thread
Other Resources The Political Joe » South Portland doctor stops accepting insurance, posts prices online Rss Feed  
RELATED ARTICLES
date : March 4, 2008
author : sportfactory
comments : 4
When shopping for triathlon bike aerobars, considerations range from adjustability, comfort, aerodynamics, weight, and of course, price.
 
date : November 4, 2007
author : mrakes1
comments : 4
What you eat prior to your workout will determine your energy levels during a workout. What you eat after a workout will determine how quickly you recover.
date : October 30, 2005
author : AMSSM
comments : 0
How do I find a GP/family doctor that also understands swimming/running/biking
 
date : May 9, 2005
author : mikericci
comments : 0
Athletes should have completed at least one Olympic distance triathlon or swim 500 yards consecutively / bike 15 mile consecutively / run 3 miles consecutively.
date : May 9, 2005
author : mikericci
comments : 0
Sprint distance athletes should have completed 1-3 sprints and/or be able to swim 200 yards consecutively / bike 8 mile consecutively / run 1.5 miles consecutively.
 
date : September 4, 2004
comments : 0
Thoughts on low carbohydrate diets in conjuntion with triathlon training.
date : September 4, 2004
author : Team BT
comments : 0
We did really well with the beers, which will explain my reluctance to get out of bed on Saturday morning.