3 ms·

I tried to get a doctor to tell me how much they would bill me for an office visit (not ER) and they kicked me out of the office. It was literally, sign this do

I tried to get a doctor to tell me how much they would bill me for an office visit (not ER) and they kicked me out of the office. It was literally, sign this document agreeing to pay any charge we decide to bill or we will not see you. This was a doctor that I went to only because they were recommended by my insurance company as being in network. They also didn't understand why anyone would even ask the question. They kept saying, "for patients that can't afford to pay we usually work out a payment plan." They didn't understand that I could afford anything and that was the problem. I can write a seven figure check which is why I'm careful not to open myself up to that kind of liability.

deathanatos 9y ago
I also tried to ask "how much?" on my last doctor's visit. I was looking for a ballpark estimate, not an exact figure. The person at the desk refused to give me one, citing that insurance plans make that too difficult. I insisted that since I was covered by a major insurer that she must surely deal with regularly given their customer base, and that their office was in-network for my plan, she must have some idea, but again, she refused, saying she didn't know. It's ridiculous, and it should be illegal. At the time, my reason for visiting was a condition that required treatment, so not going to the doctors really wasn't an option. But the inability to even begin to determine what I'm going to pay is ridiculous. (I did this after a prior visit to a different doctor stiff'd me something like $3k for the use of what amounts to glorified camera. A camera whose photos I never obtained, despite asking for them — to which the doctor replied "we've never had anyone ever ask for that" — i.e., for their medical records. I could understand that medical-grade cameras might not be cheap, but at $3k per use, my gut says money is raining from the sky.)

deathanatos 9y ago

I also tried to ask "how much?" on my last doctor's visit. I was looking for a ballpark estimate, not an exact figure. The person at the desk refused to give me one, citing that insurance plans make that too difficult. I insisted that since I was covered by a major insurer that she must surely deal with regularly given their customer base, and that their office was in-network for my plan, she must have some idea, but again, she refused, saying she didn't know. It's ridiculous, and it should be illegal. At the time, my reason for visiting was a condition that required treatment, so not going to the doctors really wasn't an option. But the inability to even begin to determine what I'm going to pay is ridiculous. (I did this after a prior visit to a different doctor stiff'd me something like $3k for the use of what amounts to glorified camera. A camera whose photos I never obtained, despite asking for them — to which the doctor replied "we've never had anyone ever ask for that" — i.e., for their medical records. I could understand that medical-grade cameras might not be cheap, but at $3k per use, my gut says money is raining from the sky.)