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What I've learned from spending a year researching and collating California's hospital prices? - Paying cash for services in California is often a very good id
by pricehacker 7y ago
What I've learned from spending a year researching and collating California's hospital prices?
- Paying cash for services in California is often a very good idea, since cash prices for hospital services approach medicare reimbursement rates (or about 80-95% off hospital's list prices).
- The average insurer discount is low (only 30% off the lis price - a FAIR estimate) and often far, far above the medicare reimbursement rates.
- LA has way better cash prices than the Bay Area where a few hospital systems really dominate.
- uhuh 7y agoNobody come dis ya dance wid yuh fussing and yuh fighting
- mdorazio 7y agoThe last time I tried to do this at an urgent care center because I didn't want to have to pay my stupidly high deductible for 5 minutes of doctor time and a prescription for what I already knew I had, the front desk didn't even know if paying cash was an option, let alone how much things cost. I'd love to see this as an option at more places until we can get a less-insane healthcare system.
- pricehacker 7y agoHospitals (and maybe urgent care facilities) will try very hard to prevent you from paying cash prices if you have insurance, because they will make less money. Some hospitals might even refuse to share their cash rates with you if you tell them you have insurance. Even if you have shared your insurance with a health provider, you can pay cash prices, but you have to sign a document informing not to bill your insurance. The best cash rates are in Los Angeles with a few hospitals that are the medicare reimbursement rates or the medicare rates plus 5%. There are also hospitals that cap surgical costs for self-payers in LA, which is can be an awesome deal. Sadly those kind of excellent cash deals do not exist in the Bay Area or San Diego.